Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 18

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 850

USA > Illinois > Henry County > Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 18

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D. Underwood, who is engaged as a farmer on section 33, Oxford Township, was born in Oxford Township, Henry County, Dec. II, 1839, and is a son of Almeron and Per- melia (Coldgrove) Underwood, who were na- tives of New York. They came to Illinois in 1836, and remained through the winter in Fulton County. In the spring of the following year they went to Oxford Township and "took up" land on section 31, 160 acres, which they afterwards in- creased by taking 160 more adjoining. This they- began work upon, and by their energy and industry succeeded in the task of its improvement and culti- vation. They were the first settlers in Oxford Town- ship, where they lived until their deaths, occurring in 1868 and 1876 respectively.

A. D., our subject, attended the district schools, and later the Galesburg Academy, thus receiving a fine education; in the meantime he assisted his father on the farm, remaining at home until he at- tained the age of 21 years. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. D, 83d Ill. Vol. Inf., and was in the service for about three years, at the end of which time he re- ceived an honorable discharge.

March 31, 1870, Mr. Underwood was married to Miss Ellen L. Sinden, a native of the State of Illi- nois. Their home circle has been blessed by the birth of four children, namely: Hester P., Bruce A., Sidney R. and Mabel E. Mr. U. is a Republi- can in political sentiments. He has been Assessor and Justice of the Peace, and socially is a member of the Order of Masons. Since his marriage he has resided on 80 acres of land on section 33, his pres-

ent homestead, which he has improved and put under excellent cultivation, and 20 acres in Knox County. Mr. U. is one of the solid and prominent men of Ox- ford Township.

homas Cain, a farmer of section 29, Clover Township, was born on the Isle of Man, Nov. 10, 1850, and in emigration to this country he arrived in Altona, Ill., April 29, 1868. He was brought up to agricultural labor, received a common-school education, and at Altona he commenced to work upon a farm for his uncle, David Patty ; but after the expiration of about five months he was severely attacked with typhoid fever, which laid him up for ten weeks; the next summer he worked for nine months upon a farm in this county, and then went to Galva, where he was a farm laborer for two years. In 1885 he purchased an 80-acre farm in Clover Township, upon section 29, where he is now a resident. He has some very fine horses and some grade cattle.

Mr. Cain is a Republican, is a School Director, and has held other offices in his township. He is a very benevolent man as well as enterprising, and both himself and wife belong to the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

He was united in the bonds of matrimony in 1872, to Miss Bathia E. Riner, a native of Ohio, and they have six children : Elizabeth A., William T., Martha J., Cora A , Blanche M. and Nellie G.

elson Gustus, Supervisor of Lynn Town- ship, residing on section 30, where he is likewise engaged in the occupation of farming and stock-raising, was born in Swe- den, Aug. 22, 1836. His father, Gustaf Nilson, was also a native of Sweden, a farmer by occupation, and was united in marriage in that country to Maria H. Anderson, a daughter of a Swedish farmer and a native of the same province as hiniself. The issue of their union was four children, namely : Carl M., who is married and resides on a farm in his native province in Sweden; Johanna G. is like- wise married to a Swedish farmer; Carl J. Dahlberg,

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who emigrated to this country after his marriage, and is at present residing in retirement at Randolph, Riley Co., Kan .; Anna S., who married J. L. Lund, also a native of Sweden; they emigrated to the United States and settled near Orion, where her husband died, and Mrs. L. at present resides in McPherson, McPherson Co., Kan., in retirement.

Nelson Gustus, the subject of this notice, was the youngest son of his parents' children. He resided at home, assisting his father in the labors on the farm and attending school, until he attained the age of 17 years. At this period in his life's history, hoping to better his financial condition in life, he emigrated to this, the land of promise and progress. Soon after arriving in this country he located in Henry County, where he engaged in general labor on the railroad and on the farm for three years. At the end of this time he rented land in Lynn Town- ship, this county, and continued farming in that manner for four years. In 1860 he purchased 40 acres of land located on section 31, Lynn Township. On this small farm, which was in its natural condi- tion and on which the hand of civilization was not to be seen, he entered upon the arduous and pro- tracted task of establishing a home. By energetic effort and economy he succeeded in placing his 40 acres under good methods of cultivation, and a few years later he purchased 20 acres more. Having a firm belief in the future development of the county, he continued on his farm, and labored hard, and the outcome of his good judgment and industry has enabled him at the present time to be the owner of 329 acres of good land, in an advanced state of cultivation. He has his farm in first-class con- dition, well supplied with good farm buildings and an elegant residence, and is enjoying the fruits of a laborious life, and meeting with signal success in his chosen vocation, agriculture. In addition to his agricultural labors he is somewhat engaged in stock- growing, and in breeding and selling it.

Mr. Gustus was united in marriage, Feb. 26, 1862, at Andover, Henry County, with Miss Clara M. Magnusson, a native of Sweden. She was only a small child when she came to the United States with her parents, who settled in Lynn Townsnip, this county. Her mother at present resides in Swe- dona, with her daughter, Mrs. Johanna E. Esbjorn, where her husband died, in 1877. She is in her

83d year. Mr. and Mr. Gustus are the parents of three children, viz .: John E., who resides at Linds- borg, Kan., is a professor of plain and ornament- al penmanship, and Principal of the Business De- partment of the Bethany Normal Institute; Oscar T., who is well educated, and possesses in a high degree the art of portrait-drawing and journalism; Hulda R. is a young lady, likewise possessed of a good education, received in the district schools of the county.

The family are all members of the Evangelical Lutheran Swedish Church at Swedona. Mr. Gustus was Assessor 12 years, Road Commissioner eight years, and has held the position of Supervisor of his township for five years; has been President of the Svea Mutual Fire Insurance Company ten years ; is a staunch and active Republican, and takes consider- able interest in the local politics of his township and county, and is one of the respected and honored citizens of Henry County. His wife has been for the past eight years a confirmed invalid, yet bears her pain with that fortitude characteristic of the disposition she possesses.

D. Timberlake, retired farmer, residing on section 33, Oxford Township, was born in Green Co, Ky., Dec. 17, 1807. His parents were Joseph and Anna (Douglas) Timberlake, natives of Virginia. They were occupied in farming in Kentucky, where they remained until their deaths. The father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

R. D., whose name heads this notice, remained at home until ten years of age, the death of his mother occurring at that time. From that time in life the boy supported himself working out by the month or year, and followed the same for 20 years. In 1833 he moved to Sangamon Co., Ill., where he superin- tended a large farm for Richard F. Barrett, for four years; then, in 1837, he removed to Oxford Town- ship, Henry County, and "took up" 240 acres of land on section 33, his present residence, and later added to his original purchase by buying 660 acres, until he now has 900 acres, on which he entered vig- orously and energetically upon the task of improve- ment and cultivation. Upon his large and valuable

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farm he carries on general farming, doing splendidly and succeeding well.

R. D. Timberlake was united in marriage Nov. 13, 1834, with Miss Jemima Simms, who was born in Kentucky and came when four years of age to Sangamon Co., where she was married. Of this union have been born nine children, viz .: Joseph, William S., Ann, Robert and George (twins), Susan, Delilah, Jeminah and Lucy. They are all married. Mr. Timberlake has 27 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is a Democrat in political views, and is one of the first settlers in Oxford Township; is thought of as a representative and solid man.

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3 rs. C. C. Houghton, residing in Clover Township, and the widow of Calvin C. Houghton, came with her husband to this State in 1852, and located in Clover Town ship, on section 33, where her husband "took up" 160 acres of land, on which they resided for three years. They then moved to Galesburg, Knox County, this State, where they purchased ten acres of land in that vicinity and on which they lived two years.

Mr. Houghton, husband of the subject of this no- tive, was born in Vermont in 1817. He received a good common-school education in his native State, and at the age of 16 years, left home and engaged in the hardware business. In 1845 he was united in marriage with Lucy E. Johnson, a native of Chester, Vt. They resided in that State for seven years and then came to Illinois. The issue of their union was six children-Curtis, Henry, Fred, Hugh, Winnifred and Nellie. Curtis formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Frances Brooks, and the issue of their union was two children-Hall and Glenn; Fred married Maggie Benn, and they are the parents of two children-Inez M. and Hugh M .; Hugh married Alice Remine, and to them have been born three children-Fred and Mabel and one deceased; Win- nifred married John Oliver and they also had two children-Henry and Ned. Henry lives with his mother and manages her business and is Supervisor of the township of Clover.

The demise of Mr. Houghton occurred in 1874. Politically he was identified with the Republican

party. He was a farmer by occupation, and also an extensive dealer in stock, and his life was one of ac- tivity and energetic labor. He was a gentleman always ready to aid in any good undertaking and was calculated to benefit the community in which he resided. His life of effort and economy, coupled with the active co-operation of his good helpmeet, was such as enabled him to leave his wife and chil- dren a fine property.

F. Beals, a farmer residing on section 35, Clover Township, this county, was born near Cleveland, O., Aug. 12, 1832, and is a son of Abner S. and Jane (Shepard) Beals, natives of New York and Pennsylvania re- spectively. The parents of Mr. Beals came . to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1818, where they purchased a farm of 50 acres, on which they resided for a time and then sold the same. In 1868 they moved to Michigan and settled in Cass County, where they continued to reside until their deaths, that of the father occurring Oct. 1, 1876, and the mother May 30, of the same year. R. F. Beals, son of the parents mentioned, was an inmate of their family for 19 years, and during that time received an education in the district schools and assisted in the labors of the farm. Arriving at the age mentioned, he left home to make his own way in the world, and engaged first in chop- ping wood. He followed this occupation only a short time, when he engaged to learn the carpenter trade at Cleveland, Ohio. He soon mastered the same and took contracts for the building of houses, barns and all kinds of other buildings, and employed a set of hands. In 1855, he left Ohio and came to this State, where, in Oneida, Knox County, he was occu- pied for a time and then came to Clover Township, this county, the date of his arrival being 1856. Ar- riving here he worked at his trade for two years, taking contracts for the building of houses through- out the township.

In 1858; Mr. Beals purchased 80 acres of land, on which he located, and engaged in its cultivation and improvement. He has subsequently increased his landed interests by the purchase of 170 acres addi- tional, lying partly in Knox and partly in this county, making his aggregate of acres 250. He has bought and sold other lands, but the latter acreage com-

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prises his present farm. He has made many im- provements upon his place, such as the erection of his residence, barn, fences, the setting out of trees, etc .; and the appearance of his farm is indicative not only of good judgment, but of energetic and la- borious toil.

Mr. Beals enlisted in the war for the Union .in August, 1862, joining Co. I, 102d Ill. Vol. Inf., and participated in all the battles of the Atlanta cam- paign, prominent among which were Resaca, New Hope Church, Peach-Tree Creek and siege of At- lanta. He was slightly wounded while on the skir- mish line, and served three years in defense of the Union cause. He was with Sherman in his march to the sea; was promoted as Orderly Sergeant, and on several occasions commanded his company. He received an honcrable discharge at the close of the war, and returned home, where, doffing his uni- form, he again engaged in the peaceful pursuits of life.

Mr. Beals formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Adeline H. McClellan in 1857. She was a bride for only one short year and passed to the land of the hereafter. Mr. Beals was again married in 1865, to Miss Amanda M. Hayden, who was the daughter of A. R. Hayden, of Clover Township. Politically, Mr. Beals is a believer in the tenets of the Republican party. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., the Masonic Order, and of the G. A. R., and is Commander of Holden Post, of the latter society. He has held the office of Supervisor for four years, that of Justice of the Peace, and other minor offices within the gift of the people of his township, and is one of the respected and hon- ored citizens of the same.

ames Bachus, residing on section 30, Ox- ford Township, where he is engaged in the occupation of farming, is a native of Ohio, where, in Gallia County, that State, he was born, Oct. 14, 1823. The parents of Mr. Bachus were Jacob and Nancy (Long) Bachus, with whom James resided until 1831. At that date his mother died, and he was bound out to a farmer until he should arrive at the age of majority. On be- coming his own man in life he came to Oxford Town-

ship, and purchased 51 acres of land. Mr. B. is a self-made man in every sense of the word. On com- ing here he was very poor, and for many years worked hard to procure a home. By energetic ef- fort, economy and perseverance, he has been enabled to purchase 59 acres additional, and now has a fine farm of IIo acres. He has held the office of Trus- tee of his township for 28 years, and is also School Director of his district. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1845, Mr. Bachus was united in marriage with Miss Mary James. Of their union eight children were born, seven of whom survive, namely: James, Benjamin, Mary, Archibald, Charles, Foss and Jane. Arvilla is deceased. Mrs. Bachus died in 1875, and Mr. B. formed a second matrimonial alliance, with Miss Catherine Maxy, in 1876. They have become the parents of two children-Minnie B. and Leroy. Mr. Bachus is a Prohibitionist in his political views, and is one of the respected citizens of Oxford Town- ship.

arah Houghton, the wife of Thomas P. Houghton, deceased, and whose maiden name was Sarah Barton, is a resident of Clover Township, residing on section 35. Thomas P. Houghton, deceased, husband of the subject of this notice, was born in Graf- ton Township, Windham Co., Vt., in 1806, and died the old homestead in Clover Township, this on county, in May, 1871. He remained with his par- ents until 1855, when he came to this county and rented land, and continued to farm in that manner for six years. He then purchased 80 acres of land, and by good judgment, energetic labor and economy he subsequently added 200 acres to his original pur- chase, the same being located on section 35, Clover Township, on which he located with his family and entered vigorously and energetically upon the task of its improvement. He was a great worker during his life-time, and was respected and honored for his straightforward and honest dealings. He held num- erous offices within the gift of the people of his town- ship, and was at one time Postmaster. He was a gentleman noted for his liberality, and always lent a helping hand in time of need to the deserving. He could be found interested in everything that was cal-

Samuel Pritchard

HENRY COUNTY.

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culated to benefit the community in which he resided, and by his constant labor and good judgment, when called to the hereafter, left a fine home and suffi- ciency of this world's goods to his wife and children.

The marriage of Mr. Houghton to Miss Barton, which occurred Dec. 3, 1840, in Massachusetts, was blessed by the birth of five children, one of whom is deceased. The record is as follows: John, Lucia, Wilhelmina W., Charles E. and Martha, who died at the age of two years. John was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Deevolo; Lucia married Alexander Maher; Wilhelmina married Lewis W. Slosson; and Charles was united in marriage with Lucinda Clough. Charles E. runs the home farm, where the mother resides, aged 77 years.

ohn J. Thorp, residing on section 26, Clover Township, where he is engaged in the oc- cupation of a farmer, was born in the town- ship in which he at present resides, Sept, 12, 1853, his parents being John and Elizabeth (Judy) Thorp. His parents were natives of Indiana and Pennsylvania respectively, and came to this State in 1852, settling in Clover Township, this county, where his father purchased 165 acres of land, located on section 26, and where the parents resided until the death of the father, which occurred Dec. 9, 1864. He was a soldier in the late war, and was with Sherman in his famous march from Atlanta to the sea. During the march he was taken sick with fever, and died, and was buried in Georgia. He enlisted in 1864, in the 31st Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf., Co. B.

John J. Thorp, of whom we write, remained on the parental homestead, and on attaining his ma- jority he took the same, and has subsequently pur- chased the interest of the other heirs. He received an education in the common schools of his county, and has devoted his entire life to agricultural pur- suits.

He was married to Miss Lena E. Reeve, a native of this county, Jan. 26, 1876. She was a daughter of George Reeve, of this county, and has borne her husband three children,-Charles E., Claude M. and Orabelle. Mrs. Thorp died May 13, 1885, leaving a husband and three children to mourn her loss.

Politically, Mr. Thorp is identified with the Re- publican party. He has held the office of School Director in his township, and, although a young man, has bright prospects. In addition to his agricultural duties on the farm, he has been engaged in running an engine for threshing and shelling corn for the past five years.

S amuel Pritchard. Though the early years of his life were not the most favorable for a successful and prominent career, Mr. Pritchard, who resides upon a farm on section 25, Oxford Township, has become a well-to- do and representative man of his community. He was born in Rochester, N. Y., April 9, 1830. His parents, Lucius and Sally (Sampson) Pritchard, who were natives of Vermont and Connecticut re- spectively, both died when Samuel was only five years of age. The lonely orphan, thus bereft of nature's guardians at so early an age, was taken charge of by an aunt. He remained with her for five years, attending school, which he did tolerably regularly until he attained the age of 19 years.

After leaving the school-room he worked by the month for a number of years, when, in 1852, he em- barked in the hotel business at Rochester. He remained as landlord at this place for three years, when he sold out and came to Bureau Co., Ill., in- tending to make a purchase of real estate there. He, however, returned to Rochester without making any investment. In 1855 he made a second visit to Illinois, stopping where he now lives. Here he purchased 80 acres of wild land, to which he subse- quently added 40 adjoining. He has since made purchases of land in Henry and Knox Counties, amounting to 836 acres. He has made all the im- provements on the home farm, and to-day has a very pleasant and well-improved place.

Mr. Pritchard was married on the Ist of April, 1860, to Miss Edna Brown, a native of New York. She has become the mother of two children,-La- Fayette E. and Forest T. The former married Fannie Gamble, a native of Woodhull, this county, and resides at that place. Mrs. Pritchard died Dec. 10, 1867, and Mr. Pritchard was subsequently mar- ried Dec. 23. 1868, to Amanda J. Butts, daughter

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of Frederick W. and Harriet Butts, natives of Ohio. She was born July 14, 1834, and was brought to Illinois by her parents the same year. Politically, Mr. P. is a Democrat, and belongs to the Presby- terian Church. His wife is connected with the Christian Church.

The public will doubtless be pleased to find Mr. Pritchard's portrait in this ALBUM.

S. Thayer, an energetic and worthy farmer of Clover Township, section 36 being the location of his residence, was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., Aug. 19, 1832. He is a son of Harry and Elizabeth (Hall) Thayer, also natives of New York State and New Hampshire respectively. The subject of this sketch remained at home under the influence of his parents until he attained the age of 19 years, in the meantime assisting on the farm and receiving an education, attending the Lima Seminary.

After leaving home, he came to Knox Co., Ill., and engaged to work on a farm on shares for four years, at the end of which time he left for Clover Township, this county, where he purchased 80 acres on sec- tion 36, his present residence, and later 20 acres adjoining, which he has under excellent cultivation.

Miss Eliza Conners was the lady chosen to share the joys and sorrows, successes and reverses of life with Mr. Thayer, the event occurring in the year 1874. Of their union have been born three children -Harry M., Alice C. and George Erving. Politi- cally, Mr. Thayer is a Republican.

illiam R. Tracy. The following is the sketch of one of the promising and enter- prising young men of Oxford Township, who is engaged in general farming on sec- tion 20 : He is one of the very few farmers or business men of the county who was born in this section of the State. In reading over the per- sonal sketches of the active men of the county of to-day, one is impressed with the large number who were born in the East or a foreign country, and the

fewness of those who are natives of Illinois. Mr. Tracy was born in Richland Grove Township, Mercer Co., Ill., Jan. 26, 1852. His parents were Joab and Mary J. (Coon) Tracy, natives of Montgomery Co., Ind. They came to Illinois and located in Mercer County in 1851. There the elder Tracy rented a farm and for three years cultivated it. He then came into Henry County and purchased 160 acres of land in Lynn Township. He has subsequently bought 1,200 acres, and is still living in Lynn.

William R. remained at home until 21 years of age, enjoying excellent advantages for an education. The winter previous to his leaving home, he taught school. He then for six years had the use of one of his father's farms. At the end of that period he bought a farm in his native township, Mercer County, of 160 acres. After living upon it for five years, he sold out and came into Oxford Township, this county, where he now lives and owns 300 acres of land. Besides the farm work that he has done, he has taught district schools for eight winters. Polit- ically, he is identified with the Democratic party.

In 1873, April 17, he was married to Miss Mary D. Barrett, a native of Henry County. To them have been born two children,-Grace and Will- iam R.

W. Turner, a retired farmer residing on section 29, Clover Township, is a native of the Empire State, and a son of Isaac and Matilda (Travise) Turner, natives also of that State. The senior Mr. Turner was a mechanic by occupation. L. W., our subject, was born May 3I, 1829, received in his boyhood and youth a com- mon-school education, and at the age of 15 years he left home and learned the carriage and wagon mak- er's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He followed that trade three years longer, and then he removed to Ohio, arriving there June 25, 1850, and engaged in millwrighting, also in the manufac- ture of wagons and carriages, for two years. Previous to his removal to Ohio, however, he worked for two years on the New York & Erie Railroad, building a bridge. In 1855, he rented a farm, which he oc- cupied and cultivated until 1861, when he came to Woodhull, this county, and purchased a farm of 80

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Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 18

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 850

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 850