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 36
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mos Dyal, general farmer and stock-raiser
on section 14, Western Township, was born in the city of Pittsburg, Pa., March 7, 1834. His father, William H. Dyal, was a native also of that State, of German-English ancestry, and for some time after marriage followed the business of boating, with coal barges. He married Eliza Stewart, who was born in Fayette Co., Pa., of Scotch-Irish descent, and of their seven children the subject of our sketch is the fourth. In 1845 the parents moved with their family to Coshoc- ton Co., Ohio, where Mr. D. is yet living, aged about 78 years ; Mrs. D. died at her home in Ohio, July 4, 1 883, aged about 78 years.
Mr. Amos Dyal resided at the parental home un- til he was about 22 years old, and in 1856 he came to Illinois and settled in this county. He worked upon various farms in Osco Township for a few years. In 1863, he purchased his first land, which consisted of 80 acres on section 14, Western Town- ship, which is now a part of the homestead : the lat- ter at present comprises 160 acres, upon which Mr. Dyal has proved himself to be very successful in his calling.
Mr. Dyal was first married in Andover, Nov. 7, 1860, to Miss Isabella J. McFarland, who was born in Holmes Co., Ohio, Feb. 8, 1838, was reared and educated there, and came with her parents to Illi- nois in 1857; they located in Andover Township, where the mother died; the father now resides in
Cambridge. Mrs. D. died at her home in Western Township, Sept 4, 1872, and Mr. Dyal was again married, in Cambridge Township, Oct. 25, 1874, to Mrs. Marietta E. Hovey, nee Talbot. She is a daughter of Deacon W. and Mary (Terry) Talbot, and was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., Dec. 12, 1841. Before she was three years old, her parents came to Illinois, settling near Cambridge, this county, where Mrs. D. was brought up and educated. She was first married Oct. 5, 1864, to Marcus D. LaFayette Hovey, who came to Illinois from Terre Haute, Ind., where he was born Nov. 5, 1834. The latter re- moved to this county in 1854 and died in Cambridge, Sept. 4, 1874, of consumption. By his first wife, Mr. Dyal's two children were : Ida E., who was born Oct. 1, 1861, and married Dec. 3, 1884, Henry W. McLease; the latter was born May 30, 1857, in Bucks Co., Pa., and came West in 1876. For his parental history, see sketch of Joseph Watson. Mr. Dyal's second child, Robert K., was born July 18, 1866, is well educated and is yet a resident at home.
Mrs. D., and son and daughter of Mr. D., are members of the Baptist Church; and Mr. Dyal, in his political principles, sympathizes with the Dem- ocratic party.
Kenry G. Griffin. The gentleman of whom this personal sketch is written, is one of the earliest pioneers to this section of Illinois, and is a prominent and well-to-do farmer, resid- ing on section 2, Andover Township. Although living on the old home farm, he has retired from the active labors of farm life. He was born in Stockbridge, Mass., July 19, 1819.
His father, John Griffin, was a son of a New England farmer by the name of Samuel Griffin, who came to Massachusetts prior to his marriage. There he married a lady by the name of Nahusta Caldwell. She was born of New England parents, who were of Welsh and New England descent. The great-grand- father of our subject, William Griffin, came from Wales and made a settlement in Connecticut, and was the progenitor in America of the present large family of Griffins who are scattered throughout the United States. He was married, lived and died in Connecticut. The grandfather and grandmother of
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Henry G. were both reared and lived to an advanced age in Massachusetts. Like their parents, they were farmers. The father of our subject lived at his home in Massachusetts until 18 years of age, when he went to New York State, where he was appren- ticed to learn the carpenter and joiner's trade. Dur- ing his service here he was drafted into the War of 1812, in which he served as a private. After his discharge at the close of the war, he returned to his work. He subsequently suffered from ill health and returned to Massachusetts. While in New York, however, he was married and reared a family of eight children, our subject being the eldest but one.
Mr. Griffin, the subject of this narrative, was edu- cated in the public schools, and made his home with his parents until he was 18 years of age. He then left the parental roof, all his friends, and everything that was near and dear to him, and, came alone to then wild prairies of Illinois. This was in 1837. He arrived in Mercer County, and located 160 acres of wild land, which is now in Greene Township. Upon this he subsequently built a house and made other improvements. Three years later he was mar- ried at what is now Viola, in that county. This event occurred on the 4th of August, 1840, and Miss Isabella, daughter of Alexander and Rebecca (Tor- rence) McGaughey, was the lady chosen for his wife. Mr. McGaughey was a wagon-maker and also a farmer, and, as well as his wife, was a native of Adams Co., Pa., where they were married. Shortly after their union they came to Mercer Co., Pa., and it was at New Bedford, that county, that Mrs. Griffin was born. She was only ten years of age when her parents died. After this sad event she went to Coitsville, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and lived with her sister, Mrs. Agnes Stewart. In 1839, the family came West and settled on a farm where Viola, Ill., now stands. It was here that the sturdy young man from Massachusetts met Miss McGaughey, and a year after her arrival they were married.
To Mr. and Mrs. Griffin have been born nine children, four of whom are deceased: John A. mar- ried Mary Payne .and lives at Danville, Ill .; Mary A. lives at Mira, Dakota, upon a farm, and is the wife of J. M. Merrill; Rebecca A. is the wife of Rufus Anderson, of Cambridge ; Julia A. resides at home; Sarah A. is the wife of C. K. Fillmore, of Tiffin; Iowa. Those deceased are William A., Gil- bert A., French B. and James M.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Griffin lived in Mercer County for four years, when they moved into Warren County, near Little York, where they settled on a rented farm. For two years they remained there, when, in the spring of 1846, they moved into this county, locating on a farm in Cambridge Town- ship. Three years later, he purchased a farm of 160 acres near the city of Cambridge. In 185 1 he sold this and purchased 200 acres where he now lives. At that time it was in a wild, unimproved condition, but since then he has brought it into a high state of cultivation. He sold 100 acres of this and purchased an 80-acre tract adjoining. He also púrchased 40 acres, which he generously gave Au- gustus E. Anderson, a young Swede who lived with him, and of whom a sketch and portrait are given elsewhere in this ALBUM.
Mr. Griffin is one of the progressive, enterprising and intelligent farmers of Henry County, and is highly esteemed by all his neighbors. He has served as Justice of the Peace for 16 years, and is now rep- resenting his township in the Board of Supervisors, which he has also done for nine years. He has also served as County School Commissioner for two years. Politically, he is a true Republican. The family are members of the Congregational Church, of which Mr. G. has been a Deacon for 34 years consecu- tively.
Mr. Griffin's eldest son, John A., who is now a minister of the Congregational Church at Danville, enlisted at the first call for troops to defend our flag, joining Co. D, 17th Ill. Inf. He served five years and was promoted from the rank of Sergeant to that of Second Lieutenant. At the close of his first en- listment he re-enlisted, and was retained for one year after the close of the war. At Pittsburg Land- ing he was wounded in the left side. After his son had been out a little more than a year, Mr. Griffin himself enlisted, Aug. 11, 1862, in Co. D, 112th Ill. Vol. Inf. He served for three years, and during the time was taken prisoner, Nov. 18, 1863, in action, at Knoxville, Tenn. He was sent to Libby prison in December following, where he lay and suffered until May 17 of the next year, when he was transferred as a prisoner of war and kept in the stockade at Macon, Ga., until Aug. 24, 1864. Then he was confined in the jail-yard at Charleston, S. C., until Oct. 6. He was then taken to Columbia, and again, Feb. 12, 1865, transferred to Charlotte, N. C., and then to
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Raleigh, and afterward to Goldsboro, where he was paroled Feb. 28, 1865, and was marched to the Union line and joined his own company the same day. He was honorably discharged at Chicago, July 7, 1865, after serving his country faithfully and suf- fering as a good soldier.
As one of the representative men of Henry County, we take pleasure in giving the portrait of Mr. Griffin upon the page opposite the beginning of this sketch.
ames Stitt, one of the self-made men of this county, as well as energetic and pro- gressive farmers and stock dealers, residing on section 27, Oxford Township, is a native of Franklin Co., Pa., where he was born Oct. 4, 1827. The parents of Mr. Stitt, William and Margaret (Harmony) Stitt, were also natives of Penn- sylvania, and came to this State in 1856, settling in Oxford Township, this county, where they resided until their deaths. James was an inmate of the parental family, and resided on the old homestead until he attained the age of 18 years. He then en- gaged to learn the tailoring business, and served three years as an apprentice at that trade, which he mastered and continued to follow for 18 months. His education was received in the district schools of his native county. In 1850, when 23 years of age, Mr. Stitt went to California, where he was engaged in the gold mines for one year. He met with suc- cess in mining, and at the end of the year he was the possessor of more than $1,000, with which he returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained for a year. He then went to Michigan, and invested in land in that State; but after remaining there for about a year, he sold all the interest he possessed in real estate and came to Illinois. He arrived July 4, 1854, and located on section 27, Oxford Town- ship, this county, where he at that time purchased 160 acres of land. He has at present, in addition to his original purchase, 320 acres in Iowa and also 320 in Nebraska. Coming here at a comparatively early day, he realized that the time was not far dis- tant when the country would be thoroughly devel- oped, and consequently the land would increase in value, and held on to his original purchase. He has a fine farm under an advanced state of cultivation,
and is meeting with success in his chosen vocation.
Mr. Stitt enlisted in the war for the Union, Aug. 9, 1862, joining Co. D, 112th Ill. Vol. Inf. He was wounded during an engagement, and was disabled from duty for two months. He participated in. the battles of Knoxville, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Fort Anderson and Franklin, Tenn., and many others of less import. He was also engaged in the raid on Knoxville to burn the Strawberry Plain Bridge, and was seven days and nights in the sad- dle. He received an honorable discharge in June, I865.
The marriage of Mr. Stitt to Miss Elizabeth Ham- mond, a native of Pennsylvania, occurred in March, 1853, and the issue of their union has been seven children, namely: Lawrence F., Amanda M., Frank E., Wesley K., Elmer M. ; and Rose A. and Henry, deceased. Mrs. Stitt departed this life in January, 1869, and Mr. S. was again married, to Miss Mary J. Paden, a native of Illinois. Of the second union, seven children were born,-Charles, James H., Will- iam L., Margaret L. and Harry W. The deceased are Jesse and Amos.
Politically, Mr. Stitt is identified with the Green- back party. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Stitt is at present School Trustee of his district, and socially is a mem- ber of the G. A. R.
W. Peregoy, who resides on section 10, Clover Township, is a farmer by occupa- tion. He was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, Sept. 4, 1846, his parents being David and Mary (Frush) Peregoy, natives of Ohio. Mr. P., subject of this notice, remained with his parents until 19 years of age, receiving a fine educa- tion. At that time in his life's history, or rather previous to that, when 17 years old, he began teach- ing in the district schools, and followed that profes- sion for four years in Ohio. In 1868 he came to this State and rented a farm, which he successively culti- vated for five years, teaching, meantime, during winters. At the expiration of this time he purchased 60 acres of land, located on section 10, Clover Town- ship, this county, where he is at present residing. He labored hard and was economical, and thereby
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secured sufficient to enable him to purchase 117 acres additional, and at present is the proprietor of 177 acres. He has carried on general farming and stock-raising ever since he came to Clover Town- ship, and has met with no small degree of success in his chosen vocation.
The marriage of Mr. Peregoy to Miss Polly New- ton, a native of Morgan Co., Ohio, occurred in 1866. They have seven living children : Nettie L., Nellie O., Lillie M., Jennie M., Verda L., Lulu M. and Jessie N. Politically, Mr. P. affiliates with the Re- publican party. He and his wife and oldest daughter belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Peregoy holds the office of Road Commissioner of his town, and is one of the active, progressive farm- ers, as well as respected citizens of Clover Town- ship.
dam Mealman, who resides upon section 13 of Western Township, and devotes his attention to general farming, was born in Franklin Co., Pa., on the 25th of August, 1882. His father, John Mealman, was also a native of the Keystone State, and by callng a farmer. The girl of his choice, Miss Sarah Rosenburg, was also a native of Franklin County. There they were married and lived for many years. In 1839, when Adam was 17 years of age, they came West, locating first in Rock Island County, where, in 1844, the mother died. The elder Mealman afterward came to Bishop Hill, where, about 1875, he died, at the age of 73 years.
When a young man, our subject had learned the trade of cooper, which he continued to follow for 15 years. While living in Rock Island County, he was married to Harriet Kimball, who was born in Ohio, and came to Illinois when a young woman. She died at her home in Western Township, Dec. 27, 1865, at the age of 32 years. She had given birth to seven children, four of whom, two daughters and two sons, are now living. Mr. M. was again married in 1868, to Miss Rachel L. Dial, who was born in Ohio. She came to Illinois with her parents when she was 22 years of age, and has become the mother of four children.
In 1847 Mr. Mealman settled on 160 acres of land on the southwest quarter of section 13, when it
was all an unbroken prairie, but by his industry and perseverance has it now all well improved and under a fine state of cultivation. Politically, Mr. M. is identified with the Democratic party, being a first- class Democrat.
H. Newman, who follows the occupation of a farmer, on section 23, Clover Town- ship, was born in Westchester Co., N. Y., June 19, 1833. The parents of Mr. Newman were Banks and Sarah (Reynolds) Newman. The father was a farmer by occupation, and also followed the trade of shoemaker.
J. H. Newman, the subject of this biographical notice, remained with his parents until the death of his father, which occurred when he was 11 years of age. He then went to live with an uncle, with whom he remained till he was 16 years old, receiving a good education in the district schools. On attain- ing the age of 16 years he left the residence of his uncle, and engaged to learn the carpenter's trade, which, after an apprenticeship, he mastered. In 1854, in the winter, he came to this State, where at various places he was engaged in working at his trade for seven years, until 1861, and until the breaking out of the late Civil War. Soon after the news had flashed across the continent that rebel shot and shell had been thundered against Fort Sumter, Mr. Newman enlisted in Co. E, Ist Ill. Reg. of light artillery, known as the Waterhouse Battery, and was engaged in the service three years. He was Quartermaster-Sergeant, and during the war participated in the battles of Shiloh, Vicksburg, Jackson, Guntown and Tupelo, and was honorably discharged Dec. 19, 1864.
Returning from the war, he doffed his uniform, laid aside his accoutrements, and once more entered actively into the peaceful pursuits of life. He pur- . chased 80 acres of land, where he at present resides, and by laborious toil and economy, coupled with the active co-operation of his good helpmeet, he suc- ceeded in accumulating sufficient to make an addi- tional purchase of 60 acres, making his total acreage 140. He has made numerous improvements upon his land, such as the setting out of trees, erection of a residence, etc., has a fine farm, the outgrowth
HENRY COUNTY.
34I
of his own indomitable energy, perseverance and economy.
Mr. Newman was married to Miss Cynthia, daugh- ter of A. R. Hayden, in 1865, and has borne him two children, -- Clarke. E. and Orris H. Politically, Mr. N. affiliates with the Republican party. Relig- iously, he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. N. has held the office of Supervisor for three years, and also Justice of the Peace, and at present is filling the office of Township Trustee. a position he has held for some years.
illiam Harbaugh, a dealer in sportsmen's supplies at Geneseo, has been a resident in Henry County since his removal hither in 1852. He was born Nov. 17, 1844, in Wayne Co., Ohio, and is the son of John Eliza (Byers) Harbaugh. The family removed from Ohio to Bureau Co., Ill., in 1850, when the son was six years of age. In 1852 another removal was made to the township of Phenix, in Henry County. The father of Mr. Harbaugh settled on a farm, on which the son was reared to the time of his entering the military service of the United States during the Civil War.
The latter enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. K, 112th Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf., and his regiment was as- signed to the 23d Army Corps in the Army of the Tennessee. Mr. Harbaugh was under fire in the actions at Monticello, and Richmond in Kentucky, Philadelphia, Knoxville and Beans's Station in Tenessee, Utaw Creek, Atlanta, Rough and Ready, Jonesboro, Kenesaw Mountain, and Pine Moun- tain, in Georgia, Columbia, Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., and at Fort Anderson and Wilmington, in North Carolina. He was discharged June 20, 1865, at Greensboro, N. C., and was musered out in July following.
On his return from the army Mr. Harbaugh came to Geneseo, and became interested in mercantile business, in company with I. S. Felger, who was the senior partner. The firm continued business until December, 1879, when they sold out, and in 1880 Mr. Harbaugh instituted the business in which he is at present operating. He is a Republican of radical stripe.
His marriage to Matilda Luther took place Nov.
17, 1867, and they have one child, a daughter, Bere- nice R. Mrs. Harbaugh is the daughter of George and Salome Luther. With her husband, she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
evi Pillsbury, general -farmer and stock- raiser, residing on section 8, Andover Township, was born in Parishville, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., March 22, 1823. His father, Caleb Pillsbury, was a farmer and died about 1838, in Lynn Grove, Lynn Township, where he was the owner of a small farm. Levi's mother died in the same township, in 1862.
Mr. Pillsbury, the subject of this notice, resided in the county of his nativity until he attained the age of 15 years, when he came West with his par- ents. At that early day, 1836, there were but three families who could be counted their neighbors ; on the east of them it was many miles to the residence of any white family. Two years after the death of his father, he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a number of years. In 1841, he made his first purchase of land, of 80 acres on section 18, Andover Township, of his uncle, Rev. I. Pillsbury. He afterwards conducted this farm on a large scale, and he now owns 240 acres, besides ten acres of timber, and six village lots. He form- erly was the proprietor of a much larger area of land, but he has given considerably to his sons. Politi- cally, he is a good Democrat.
ev. George C. Woodruff has been con- nected with the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Henry County since he came to Illinois, in 1855. His headquar- ters have been in Geneseo during that time, and he has been a permanent resident there since 1873.
He was born Dec. 16, 1807, in Essex Co., N. Y. His father, Timothy Woodruff, was a native of Con- necticut, and his mother, who was before her mar- riage Miss Eunice Newell, was born in the State of New Hampshire.
Mr, Woodruff joined the Methodist Church at the
e
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age of 19. On his 2Ist birthday he began the life of a circuit preacher, and he has now been in the min- istry 57 years, being, however, on the "superan- nuated list " since 1873. In that year he was dis- abled by a sunstroke, but has preached almost with- out intermission, and is now officiating every week in that capacity.
While he operated in Northern New York he oc- cupied the position of Presiding Elder seven years in the Adams and Potsdam District. He came to Illi- nois June 16, 1855, and was appointed on the New Boston Circuit, and he has served one year as Pre- siding Elder in this State.
He was married at Fort Covington, Franklin Co., N. Y., Aug. 21, 1832, to Pauline, daughter of Luther and Henrietta Danforth. Mrs. Woodruff was born in the county in which she was married. She has borne five children, and but two survive : Elizabeth was the wife of James T. Hall, and died Sept. 21, 1880; L. E. Woodruff, whose sketch may be found elsewhere in this work, is the second child in order of birth; Mary J., wife of L. H. Cady, died Feb. 28, 1872; Gertrude S. is the wife of Frank Carpenter, and they reside at Livermore, Iowa ; and George H. died in 1866, aged 12 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff celebrated their golden wedding Aug. 21, 1882. The occasion was a joyful one from the many expressions of kindly sentiment. The Masonic body of Geneseo presented Mr. Wood- ruff with a beautiful gold-headed cane, appropriately inscribed. He was made a Mason at New Boston, Ill., in 1858.
He is a Republican in political preference.
aniel Grant, dealer in agricultural imple- ments at Orion, was born in North Scot- land about 1830. His father, Alexander, was a farmér, and died in his native country, Scotland; the mother afterward came to Ameri. ca, with her five children, in 1843, locating in Jefferson Co., Ohio, where she died about six years later.
After her death, Mr. Daniel Grant set out into the world to take care of himself, by first learning the carpenter's trade at Pittsburg, Pa. ; but after follow- ing it two years, he returned, on account of failing
health, to farm life in Allegheny Co., Pa. In 1856 he came to Illinois, locating upon '80 acres of wild prairie land, where he lived until the year 1884, making many and substantial improvements. In the year named he commenced in his present business at Orion, where he carries a full line of the various machines and apparatus needed by the farming community.
In 185 , Mr. Grant was married, in Allegheny Co., Pa., to Ellen Ferguson, who was born in Ireland, and came to America when a young lady, with her father, her mother having died in the old country. Her father died in Butler Co., Pa., about 1865. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Grant are Anna, John and Alexander. Mr. Grant is a reliable Republican, and both himself and Mrs. G. are members of the Pres- byterian Church.
A lexander Maher, a resident of section 2I, Clover Township, where he follows the vocation of a farmer, is a native of New York, having been born in Westerlo, Albany County, that State, Nov. 21, 1825. His pa- rents were Patrick and Phebe (Tenyck) Ma- her, natives of Ireland and New York respectively. His father followed the occupation of a farmer in " York " State, and resided there until his death, which occurred Jan. 16, 1860. His wife died in the same State, Jan. 8, 1844.
Alexander Maher, son of the parents spoken of, was an inmate of the paternal household until he attained his 22d year. His years of minority were passed in attendance at the common schools and in labor on the farm. One year after attaining his ma- jority, when 22 years of age, he left the house of his parents and went forth upon the sea of life to carve a future for himself. His first labor was on the Erie Canal, where he worked for two years, and was then engaged on the Hudson River for one year. After that he worked out by the month on the farm, until he came to this State, the date thereof being 1857. Arriving in this State he worked for Selden Gale, a farmer in Knox County, and continued to remain with him for two years. At the end of that time he worked for Elijah Brot one year. In 1861 he en- gaged in farming on shares, and for two years was
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