Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 43

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 43

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When Mr. Ayers was a lad of ten years his father removed his family and interest to the Western Re- serve, Ohio, and there bought 100 acres of land,

which he cleared from the stump, as the saying went in those early days. The location was then Geauga County, but the town of Chester, in which they lived, has been by a more recent division assigned to Lake County. The son became a carpenter and a inill-right, and grew to the estate of manhood in the vicinity where his father settled. He was married Sept. 1, 1833, to Miss Sarah Osborne. She was the daughter of Ransom and Sarah (Hurd) Osborne, and was born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Conn., Sept. 2, 1816. In descent she is of English extraction, and her ancestors were residents of New England for several generations. To them have been born II children. Seven are now living.

Soon after their marriage they removed to Wil- loughby, in the Buckeye State, and there their two oldest children were born. Sheldon H. was born April 23, 1835, and was twice married. He was first joined in marriage to Louisa Emery, Jan. 22, 1857. Her decease took place at Galva, in Henry County, March 12, 1864. Sarah Fronk became his wife in May, 1865. Sheldon Ayers went to Kan- sas during the troublesome times in that State, and took a prominent part as a Free-State man. The second child, Orlando B., was born July 26, 1836. He married Annie L. Stone, and is engaged in the practice of law at Knoxville, Iowa. In the spring of 1837 Mr. Ayers and his family removed to Hicks- ville, Defiance Co., Ohio, where six of their children were born, as follows: George W., Jan. 6, 1839, died Oct. 10, following; Mary A. Nov. 22, 1840, died Nov, 25, 1840 ; Samuel P., May 16, 1842, mar- ried Mary Englefield, April 6, 1871, and is a prac- ticing attorney in Knoxville, Iowa; Esther E., born May 14, 1845, is the wife of J. D. Hill, a farmer of the township of Munson, to whom she was married Sept. 30, 1868. Mr. Hill was a soldier of the late war, and a member of the 1 12th Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf. He served three years. Roderick W. was born April 26, 1847, and he was married Feb. 12, 1874, to Sa- die M. Englefield. He is a farmer in the township of Bussey, Marion Co., Iowa. His first wife died, and he was again married Dec. 27, 1877, to Edith Swain ; Ransom O. was born in Bureau Co., Ill., Oct 24, 1852 ; he was married Jan. 18, 1878, to Fannie Rea- ber, and is engaged in the pursuit of a farmer in Knoxville, Iowa ; Azoline was born in Munson, Ill., Aug. 24, 1854, and died three days later; John C. was born in Munson, Ill., Aug. 26, 1856; he was

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$11/49

married Dec. 25, 1879, to Allie Martin, and is a farmer of Munson Township; Helen E., the young- est, was born in Munson Township, Sept. 3, 1859, and died Oct. 13, 1862.

Mr. Ayers remained in the State of Ohio, and operated as a mechanic until 1850, when he went to Fond du Lac, Wis. He operated there as a mill- wright about a year, and was engaged in the con- struction of some important mills. In 1851 he came to Illinois, and passed two years in Bureau County. He worked at his trade there, and in 1853 came to Henry County, and purchased a farm in the town- ship of Munson. He is still the owner of 320 acres of land there, which is in an excellent state of culti- vation. Besides, he is the owner of 160 acres in the township of Cambridge in Henry County. Mr. Ayers continued a resident of Munson Township until 1877, when he took possession of the pleasant residence his family have since occupied in the city of Geneseo. He has been an energetic, upright business man, a first-class mechanic, and a farmer, the excellence of whose methods and judgment is proven by the results he has achieved. He has passed the space allotted to human life, but is still vigorous and is in unbroken physical vigor. With the exception of impaired eyesight, he is still in the possession of all his faculties.

In the days of his early political connections he was a Whig; he is. now a Republican. In religious opinions he is a liberal.

ee Chamberlin, stock buyer and shipper, located at Alpha, was born in Morrow Co., Ohio, Aug. 11, 1845. His parents, who were John and Mary (Titus) Chamberlin, were natives of New Jersey and Pennsylvania re- spectively, came to Illinois in the year 1850, and settled in Whiteside County, near Morrison. They remained there for three years, when they moved into Henry County, locating in Oxford Town- ship, where they purchased a quarter of section 32. To this they subsequently added 80 acres. In 1883 they sold out their Henry County property and re- moved into Iowa, settling in Taylor County.

Lee, of whom we write, remained until 23 years of age with his parents, receiving during that time a

good education in the ordinary branches. His first enterprise after leaving home was to embark in farm- ing on a rented place in Oxford Township; here he remained for five years. In 1874 his mother died, when he returned to the old homestead and worked the farm until 1883. At that time he came into Alpha village to live, where he has since been en- gaged in buying and selling stock. Here he is well known and respected, and is recognized as one of the leading citizens of the place.

During the year 1869 an important event occurred in the lives of Miss Urania M. Bundy and Mr. Lee Camberlin. This was their union in the holy bonds of matrimony. Their home has been blessed with three children, to whom they have given the follow- ing names : Howard E., Mary B. and Clarence H.

eroy Woodruff established his business as a dealer in ice, at Geneseo, in 1864, and is still interested in the same enterprise, and "has been since that time without intermission. He has the exclusive control of the trade in ice, and sells annually an average of 300 tons, which is obtained from Green River. He is also a member of the firm of Way & Woodruff, manufacturers of the " Little Gem Creamer."

The article which the firm of Way & Woodruff are manufacturing is one of the most popular in the dairy business, and is their own invention. They took out letters patent July 20, 1880. The " Little Gem " is an entire success, and bears comparison with the various creamers in use. It is used with cold water.

Mr. Woodruff was born Oct. 13, 1839, in Oswego Co., N. Y., and is the son of Rev. George C. Wood- ruff, of whom a personal account is given elsewhere in this work. His father being a minister in the Methodist Church, the childhood of the son was passed in the migratory manner which is a feature of the existence of that class of men. He was a few months past his majority when the infatuation of the South culminated in the attack on Fort Sumter, and he entered the service of the Union within the first year of the war. He enlisted Sept. 13, 1861, in Co. M, Fourth Ill. Cav. He was one of the first men to enter Fort Henry after its capture, and was almost immediately made one of the aids of Colonel Wal-

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lace, and was the Orderly of that officer. He was also a participant in the siege of Fort Donelson. At Shiloh and at Corinth he was in the advance guard of Sherman. After the latter battle he was sent to the hospital at St. Louis, and was discharged at Memphis before the termination of the first year of service, because of his inability to perform military duty.

Mr. Woodruff was united in marriage with Jennie M. Barse, Dec. 24, 1862. Their marriage took place at Burlington, Vt. Mrs. Woodruff was born in St. Albans, Vt., Sept. 7, 1842, and she is the daughter of Eli Barse. The three children now included in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff were born as follows : Amasa D., Dec. 28, 1866; Cora M., Nov. 13, 1872 ; and Edna F., Oct. 4, 1880.

Mr. Woodruff came to Henry County in June, 1 855, and has continued a resident within its limits since that date, with the exception of the time he passed in the army. He passed eight years in farm- ing in the township of Edford. In the fall of 1864 he fixed his residence at Geneseo.

In political preference he is a Republican, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is prominent in the Order of Odd Fellows, and has represented Lodge No. 172. of Geneseo, in the Grand Lodge. He is also Secre- tary of the Independent Order of Mutual Aid, and has been a representative of that body in the Grand Lodge. He is the Assessor of the city and township of Geneseo.

V. Fisher, hardware merchant at Geneseo, was born Oct. 15, 1848, at Wilkesbarre, Pa., and is the son of C. V. and Elizabeth V. Fisher. His father was a native of the State of New Jersey, and in his early life went to Pennsylvania. He was one of the first to be- come interested in the coal business in the Keystone State, and he became one of the leading operators in that line of business.

Mr. Fisher came from his native State to Aurora, Ill., in 1869; and, after a short stay three, he came in 1870 to Geneseo. He established the hardware trade, in which he has since been engaged, in the same year of his arrival, under the firm style of C. B.

& H. V. Fisher. The firm was changed in 1875, its factors being H. V. and S. A. Fisher, and they are still the proprietors. They are transacting a heavy business, and are carrying a stock whose estimated value is about $12,000. Mr. Fisher is also one of the proprietors of the Eagle Stove Works, of Gen- eseo.

He is one of the reliable and trustworthy citizens of Geneseo, and considered one of the most enter- prising and liberal-minded of its business men. He takes a practical interest in its affairs, and has served nine years as a member of the Board of Education. He has also officiated as one of the Council. He has been a straightforward and consistent Republi- can from the period when he assumed the privileges of his citizenship. He is connected with the Con- gregational Church by membership.

ohn Lewen, residing on section 26, Galva Township, was born in February, 1842, on the Isle of Man. He came to Galva, this county, at the age of 14 years, where he re- ceived all the schooling he has acquired, not having attended school any in his native country.

On arriving here he worked on a farm at $10 per month for two years, and after that worked by the month for other wages for several years. Then he rented land, which he cultivated for his own indi- vidual benefit, and by energetic labor and economy he succeeded in acquiring sufficient means to pur- chase 80 acres in the northeast corner of Knox County. He soon afterward sold that, and in the spring of 1880 he purchased 240 acres, located on section 26, Galva Township, which he still owns. He has improved the same, and last summer erected a barn on it, which cost him $2,000. He has fenced the land, set out trees and otherwise improved the place until it to-day presents an attractive appear- ance, and is not only indicative of good taste and judgment, but a fair representative of what may be accomplished by laborious toil combined with a wise foresight.

Robert Lewen, deceased, father of the subject of this notice, was born in Ramsey, Isle of Man, and died in Galva, this county, Sept. 20, 1857, aged 5 1

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years. He was a son of William and Isabella (Ker- ruish) Lewen, whose father was a hatter in his na- tive country and there died. His wife afterward married James Collins, a Sergeant in the British army, who participated in the battle of Waterloo. Robert Lewen was a millwright and carpenter on the Isle of Man. He was married in that country, June 6, 1835, to Miss Isabella Kissick, who was born May 12, 1811, in Kirk Maughold, Isle of Man. They resided for about 20 years on the island, where he followed his trade, and then they emigrated to this country, arriving here June 1, 1856. On coming to this country, Mr. Lewen followed his trade at Galva, this county, until his death. He was a lib- eral-minded man, and religiously was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is likewise his widow, who resides on the homestead with her son, John. Robert Lewen and wife became the par- ents of nine children, three of whom are yet living : Robert, Jr., a resident of Ford County, this State, where he is engaged in farming ; John, the subject of this sketch; and Isabella, the wife of John J. Corkill. The other children were, Mrs. Jane Kneale, who died in her 35th year; Thomas, in his 21st year; Margaret and William, when three years old; and William, Jr., and Catherine, who died in infancy.

oseph F. Cox, farmer and stock-raiser, re- siding on section 20, Oxford Township, was born in Port Byron, Rock Island County, this State, Jan. 16, 1840. His parents were John W. and Juliett (Williamson) Cox, na- tives of Kentucky. (See sketch of the latter, on another page.)

Joseph Cox remained at home until he became 21 years of age, when he enlisted in the war for the Union, Sept. 3, 1861, in Co. M, Fourth Ill. Cav. He remained in the service for three years and a month, participating in the following battles: Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, and many smaller engagements. He was sick at the hospital in Keo- kuk, Iowa, for a year. After returning home he im- mediately engaged in farming. He purchased 80 acres of good land on section 16, Oxford Township, and 80 acres on section 15, which land he put under good cultivation and then sold. In 1875 he pur-

chased the land that he is now residing upon, being 160 acres ; upon this he entered vigorously and en- ergetically on the task of improvement, and later added to his original purchase by buying land in Pawnee Co., Neb., where he has 320 acres of good farming land.

Dec. 6, 1864, Mr. Joseph Cox chose for his wife Miss Jane W. Sutton, a native of Canada. Of their union have been born six children, living, namely : Wilhelmina G., Elmer S., Clinton C., Walter K., Daisy M. and Treva. Mr. C. in politics is a Re- publican. Socially, he is a member of the Order of Masons. He has been Supervisor, and is considered one of the solid and reliable men of Oxford Town- ship.

illiam G. Heaps. Here and there through- out the county, one meets the gray-haired pioneer. However, those who came to the county and " took up " their claim upon the broad, unbroken prairie, or settled on some point of timbered land, are fast passing away. As another decade rolls by the number, though at present small, will be still further diminished.

William G. Heaps, one of these gray-haired vet- erans, was born on the 17th of December, 1810, in Maryland. When a young man of 22 years, he mar- ried Miss Hester Green, the wedding occurring Jan. II, 1832. Mrs. Heaps was born in Pennsylvania in 1816, and ten years after their marriage she accom- panied her husband to Illinois. They located near Quincy, in Adams County, where they remained for about six years, when they moved north and settled on Rock River, in Rock Co., Wis. They remained there, however, only two years, when they came into Henry County, and located upon section 32, Anna- wan Township, where they expected to spend the remainder of their earthly life. Among the old pion- eers he was well known, and always joined in aiding every public enterprise. Though 75 years of age, he is strong and rugged. He is temperate in every respect, save in the use of tobacco. Though using it since he was 12 years of age, it cannot be truly said that he is intemperate with it. He is steady in all his habits, and a devoted and faithful member of his Church, and never so happy as when he meets

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with his brethren within its sacred walls. He is con- nected with the United Brethren, and for the last 30 years has been a Class-leader. For over half a cen- tury Mr. and Mrs. Heaps journeyed together in their pilgrimage on earth, and it was not until April 12 of this year (1885) that they were separated, by the death of Mrs. H. They reared a respected and well known family of children, of whom sketches are given elsewhere in this volume. Politically, he is a Democrat.

homas E. Milchrist, an energetic and rep- resentative citizen of Galva Township, Henry Co., Ill., is a son of John and Ann Milchrist, having been born in Peel, Isle of Man, April 12, 1841. Mr. John Milchrist, the father, was a sailor and stone-mason, and em- igrated to Illinois in 1848 with his family. They loctated at Brimfield, Peoria Co., this State, where he engaged in farming, remaining there until 1853. In that year he removed to Valley Township, Stark Co., where he followed the occupation of a farmer, but later moved to Galva, and has been a resident there since 1874. John Milchrist was born in 1804. Ann Conly Milchrist, the mother, was born June 15, 1806. They have four children,-our subject, Mrs. Catherine Kelley, Mrs. Margaret Speers, deceased, and William, an attorney at Storm Lake, Iowa.

Mr. Thomas E. Milchrist, whose name heads this notice, acquired his education by attendance at the common schools, during the years 1861-2. Having to assist in the maintenance of the family, he found but little time to devote to study. Being desirous of studying law, he began September, 1865, under the instruction of John I. Bennett, now a Master in Chancery of the Federal Court in Chicago, and was admitted to the Bar April 2, 1867. He then hung out his shingle in Galva, where he soon built up an enviable reputation as a reliable lawyer. In the fall of 1872 he was elected to the office of State's Attor- ney, and was re-elected in 1876, 1880 and 1884, filling the office with tact and ability. Mr. Milchrist is also a member of the School Board.

He was married Oct. 29, 1867, the lady chosen for his wife being Miss Lottie P. Ayres, daughter of John A. Ayres, a pioneer of Henry Co., Ill. She

was born in Andover, Ill., Aug. 14, 1843, and is the mother of four children, viz .: William A., born Dec. 7, 1868; Ella, born Sept. 21, 1870 ; Dora, born Sept. 28, 1878; and Frank, born Feb. 7, 1882.

Mr. Milchrist enlisted in the late war Aug. 12, 1862, at Galva, in Co. G, 112th Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf., the regiment commanded by Colonel, afterward General, Thomas J. Henderson. Mr. M. was commissioned Second Lieutenant, Sept. 12, 1862, and was after- ward promoted First Lieutenant, May 20, 1863, taking effect March 31. Later he was promoted as Captain, on the 29th of June, 1865, and was trans- ferred to Co. F, of the 65th Ill. Vol. Vet. Inf. He was in all the battles and engagements that his regi- ment participated in, among which were the siege of Knoxville, Tenn., Atlanta campaign, Franklin and Nashville, and was then transferred to Fort Fisher, N. C., and was with that army until the close of the war. Mr. Milchrist received quite an injury in Au- gust, 1864, by his horse falling on him, having been shot while he was riding it. He was honorably dis- charged July 13, 1865, having served his country faithfully.

Mr. M. affiliates with the Republican party, and socially is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Galva Lodge, No. 243, Galesburg Commandery, K. T. and the G. A. R. Mrs. Milchrist is a member of the Baptist Church.

enry Dewitt. Upon section 28 of Anna- wan Township, the gentleman whose name heads this biography, is engaged in general farming. He was born in Durham, Greene Co., N. Y., May 20, 1824, and in 1851 came to Henry County and purchased 100 acres of land in Kewanee Township. At that time there were but little improvements made in the township, and Mr. Dewitt became one of its pioneers. He built a log house 12 x 16 feet in size upon his land, and began its improvement. Here he lived until 1871, when he sold out the old farm, and bought the 240-acre place in Annawan, where he now lives. Upon this he has a good two-story dwelling 40 feet square, and other good farm improvements. He is devoting his attention to raising Short-horn cattle and has some very fine Norman and Hambletonian horses. He has one colt of the English Draft breed which is

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one year old (May, 1885), and weighs 1,300 pounds ! His hogs are of the Poland-China variety. The In- dian trail leading from the Mississippi to Hennepin crossed this farm and in places is now to be seen.

Elucus Dewitt, the father of our subject, was born at Durham, N. Y., in 1795, and lived until November, 1877. He was married in 1817, to Miss Mary Wil- liams, a native of the Empire State, who was born in 1794. She is of Welsh descent and is still living.

Mr. Dewitt and Miss Sarah Ann Nelson were joined in the holy bonds of matrimony, May 5, 1849. She was born Oct. 18, 1831. She was the daughter of James Nelson, who was born in New York State in 1801, and died June 9, 1844. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Kinney, a native of New Brunswick, where she was born in 1795. Their marriage oc- curred in 1882. The wife, after becoming the mother of four children, died. Their names are Israel, Lovina, Sarah Ann, the wife of our subject, and William B. Of these, Sarah Ann is the only survivor.

Mr. and Mrs. Dewitt's marriage occurred in Upper Canada, where they lived but a short time after that event. To them have been born six children, namely: Harriet E., Feb. 22, 1851; Orin D., June 19, 1853; Elucus N., June 22, 1857 ; Lovina J., Sept. 15, 1860; Ada B., Sept. 14, 1868, and Henry S., Nov. 29, 1872.

lbert P. Kemerling. At this compara- tively early day in the history of this sec- tion of Illinois, it is rarely that one meets an active business man who was born here. The biographical writers of this ALBUM in their travel through the country meet but few such. Among this limited number, and one who is also to- day a prominent farmer of Burns Township, is Mr. Elbert P. Kemerling, of section 35. He was born in Burns Township, Feb. 1, 1851. Here he was reared and received a good common-school education, and has thus far in life resided. His parents, Jacob and Sarah (Albraight) Kemerling, were natives of Ohio, and early in the history of this county became resi- dents here. They had a family of nine children, of whom Elbert was the youngest. They were: Levi J., Barbara S., Sophronia, Ellen, Henry H., Prudence

H., Charlotte and Elbert P., besides one who died in infancy. The elder Kemerling died Jan. 13, 1882; he was born May 18, 1807. His wife was born July 9, 1807, and died Sept. 25, 1864.

Elbert was married in Lawrence Co., Pa., Oct. 3, 1878, to Elvira Dean, who was a native of that county, and who was born Sept. 17, 1852. William J. is their only child. Mrs. K. is a member of the Baptist Church, and Mr. K. affiliates with the Dem- ocratic party.

eginald H. Hinman. This gentleman has been foremost in the affairs of Osco Town- ship for many years, even prior to the or- ganization of the county under the township law. His residence is located upon section 27, where he has a large and valuable farm. His father, Willis Hinman, was a native of Connect- icut, where he met and married Olive Atwater, also of the same State. In May, 1851, they came West, and found a desirable location in Osco Township. Here they lived and farmed until 1858, when they moved into the village of Geneseo. Subsequently they moved to Cambridge, where they now reside. They are the parents of three children,-C. R., Regi- nald H. and William W.

Reginald H. was born in Connecticut, Feb. 4, 1828. He received an ordinary education, and, his father being a carpenter, he learned that trade, but for the past 37 years has been engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. In January, 1851, we find him in Henry County, preceding his parents. In 1854 he settled on a quarter of a section of land entered by his father in 1851, being section 27 of Osco Town- ship, where he now resides. Here he has erected splendid farm buildings, and has 253 acres of till- able land.

His first marriage occurred in Troy, Ohio, Oct. 9, 1852, Miss Elizabeth Miller being the lady wlio joined him in the holy bonds of matrimony at this time. She was the daughter of Christley and Han- nah (Wright) Miller. She accompanied him to his prairie home, and in Osco Township, on the 4th of October, 1866, she died. She had become the mother of three children, William Elliott, Frank M. and Jennie M. Mr. Hinman was subsequently

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married to Mrs. Susan Corl, widow of Henry Corl, and daughter of Thomas and Ann (Fraly) Combs. Their wedding occurred in Osco Township, Oct. 18, 1867. Henry Corl was a member of the 112th Ill. Vol. Inf., and died while in the service of his coun- try at Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 18, 1864. Mrs. H. was born in Germantown, Pa., May 2, 1832.

Mr. H. has occupied more than two ordinary positions in the affairs of his township, and is re- garded as a man of superior judgment and thor- oughly honest in person. He has held the office of Supervisor for several years, has been Collector, and was the first man to fill that office after the organi- zation of the township. He has also served as Jus- tice of the Peace for many years, and also been Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. He has been Secretary of the Henry County Agricultural Society for 13 years. In politics he is a Democrat, is a member of the Masonic Order, and both himself and wife are members of the Episcopal Church.

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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 43

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