Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 51

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 51

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ames Warnock, resident on section 33, Alba Township, came to Henry County in the spring of 1873. He was born in Ire- land, in County Down, March 26, 1834. His parents were natives of the " Green Isle " also, and came with their son to the United States in 1848 and landed at the port of New York. James Warnock proceeded thence to Philadelphia, Pa., and was a resident of that State until 1855. He was a painter by trade and he pursued that business while he continued in the Keystone State. The years 1855 and 1856 he passed in the city of Chicago, where he was similarly occupied. In the fall of 1857 he went to New Orleans and also remained until the latter part of the following year. In 1858 he came back to Pennsylvania and remained in the Quaker City until he entered the military service of the Government of the United States.

He enlisted April 26, 1861, under the first call for troops, in the 29th Pa. Vol. Inf., and was mustered in July 4, following. The regiment was ordered to Harper's. Ferry. The first battle in which Mr. War- nock was a participant was the hard-fought field of Antietam, and afterwards the command was assigned to the Corps of General Banks, and took part in the fight at Winchester and in the three-days contest at Chancellorsville. The next engagement was at Gettysburg, where the brigade to which his regiment belonged was commanded by General Kane. Mr. Warnock has never recovered from the effects of wounds received at the battle of Chancellorsville. He was in the actions at Lookout Mountain and at Wahatchee, in Tennessee. He also fought at Mis- sion Ridge and at Ringgold, Ga. He held the rank of Sergeant Major when he went into the action at Gettysburg, and was there promoted to that of

Second Lieutenant. In the engagement there he was in the thickest of the fight, and came out with clothing pierced with bullets. In 1864 he resigned his commission and returned to his home after a military service of three years. He continued in the city of Philadelphia until the 30th day of March, 1873, when he came, as has been stated, to Henry County. He bought 120 acres of land in the town- ship of Alba, on which he has since founded a home. Mr. Warnock is following the trade of a painter in connection with his business as a farmer. In the latter he is successful, and has a fine assortment of graded stock. He is the present Supervisor of Alba Township, and is serving as School Director, in which latter capacity he has operated six years con- secutively. He is the Past Commander of Post T. T. Dow, G. A. R., located at Annawan.

He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah B. More- land, Sept. 14, 1859, and they have had five children, viz. : Mary Ann was born June 23, 1860; James, Feb. 11, 1862 ; Hugh, Oct. 9, 1864 ; Sarah, Feb. 15, 1868; Jane E., April 5, 1875. The oldest child died when seven months old. Mrs. Warnock was born March 1, 1837, in County Down, Ireland. Mr. Warnock is a Republican and is a member of the Congregational Church. Postoffice, Annawan.

nton Becht, a wagon-maker and general blacksmith at Colona, was born in Hohen- zollern, Germany, Nov. 30, 1830. He is the son of Anton and Catherine (Hinger) Becht, who were both natives of the same Prussian State.

Mr. Becht passed through the routine prescribed by the laws of his native country for the manage- ment of the youth of the land, and attended school from the age of six to fourteen years. He was then apprenticed to learn the trade to which he has de- voted his life, and he passed between two and three years in the acquisition of a knowledge of its details. He then passed some time in doing " jour work." He acted in that capacity until 1853, when he left his native land and came to the United States. He left Germany in September, and landed at the port of New York on the IIth of November following. He had no difficulty in obtaining employment at his

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trade in the great city, and he remained there three years. He came thence to Davenport, and there operated as a wagon-maker until 1858. In that year he came to Colona, and was engaged in mining one year. In 1859 he came to the village in which he has since resided, and opened the business which he has since continued to prosecute. He is engaged in the manufacture of wagons and sleighs, and main- tains a general repair shop. His business relations are extensive and profitable.

Mr. Becht was married in the city of New York to Antonia Beck. She was born jin the same province as her husband. Their children are five in number, and was born in the following order : Josephine, Frank, Bertha, John and Polly. The oldest daughter is the widow of Henry Buckholz. Bertha married Charles Pyle, and they live in Colona.

illiam H. Brawley, of Edford Township, has been a citizen of Henry County since 1856. He is the son of John and Eliza- beth (Carr) Brawley, and he was born April 22, 1822, in the township of Harrison, Darke Co., Ohio. His father was a native of Green- brier Co., Va., and his mother was born in Versail- les, Woodford Co., Ky. Soon after their marriage they settled in Darke County, in the Buckeye State, and were among the earliest of the pioneer settlers there. On their way from Kentucky they passed through Cincinnati, where then stood three log houses. The father bought a considerable tract of timber from the United States Government and pro- ceeded to improve a farm. On this place he passed the remainder of his life. The family passed through the experiences of pioneers whose stories have filled the pages of fiction with tales more interesting than those of the imagination, and which in many in- stances have shared the fate common to the struc- tures of fancy, being too remarkable for credibility. But the Indians were then on the frontiers, and as this period preceded that of the Black Hawk War, the red-skins were still without the bounds of the control which was in force soon after the defeat of the haughty chief named. The senior Brawley was accustomed to take his gun with him to the field where he worked in order to protect himself from the

crafty and exasperated race who saw a foe in every white man.

Mr. Brawley spent his minority on the Ohio farm, and obtained his education in the log school-house of that period. The structure was of the most prim- itive kind, a log being left out to admit the light, the aperture being covered with an oiled paper to keep out the wind and let in the light. All his schooling was obtained in the sessions of winter school, his summers being passed in farm labor.

He was married Jan. 14, 1847, to Permelia, daugh- ter of Ellis and Cerilla (James) Thomas. Her father was born in Virginia and his mother was a native of the District of Columbia. Mrs. Brawley was born in Tyler Co., Va., May 1, 1828. In the autumn of 1830 she accompanied her parents to Darke Co., Ohio, where she was married to Mr. Brawley. Soon after their union they set up housekeeping in Hollensburg in the same county, and Mr. Brawley embarked in a mercantile enterprise in which he was interested one year. Two years subsequent he passed in the call- ing of a hotel-keeper, and he then became interested in the hardware business, which he followed one year. He then assumed the management of the family homestead, and he continued his connection therewith until 1856. He then came to Illinois, and located in the county where he has since operated as an agriculturist. He came here six weeks previous to the removal of his family and bought a claim on section 29, of what was then town 17, and is now Edford. The entire tract was in a state of nature, and when Mr. Brawley decided that the place was suitable for a location he erected a small frame house for the temporary occupation of his family, in which they lived until their circumstances permitted the enlargement and rebuilding of the little home where the family was contented, if they could not boast of splendor.

In the same autumn in which he removed to Henry County the proprietor broke a few acres and put in a crop. In 1857 he raised the first full crop in the place, and he also rented the same year 40 acres of improved land, on which he raised a crop of wheat. The yield averaged 40 bushels to the acre. He was the owner and occupant of the place until 1876, when he removed his family to Geneseo. He had acquired the ownership of property at that place, and he was a resident of that city until 1884. In that year the family returned to the homestead

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in Edford Township. The farm contains 280 acres, and it is all under cultivation. The place is well supplied with all necessary farm buildings and all appurtenances for the well-being of the stock.

The record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Braw- ley is as follows: Ellis T. lives in Peoria ; Civilla is the wife of Fremont Allford, and they are residents of Indianapolis, Ind .; Melena married Felix Smith, and they live near Lenox, Taylor Co., Iowa; Cassius M. is at home, as is Florence L. and William H .; George was born April 27, 1859, and died June 9, 1879; he sustained an injury from the kick of a horse, which caused his death; Mary E. and two children unnamed died in infancy.

The parents of Mrs. Brawley are still living, and are each 81 years of age. Mr. Brawley is a Re- publican and has been from the foundation of the party. He has no idea of being anything else, whether the party is triumphant or defeated.

ohn Lewis, retired farmer, resident at Gen- eseo, has been a citizen of Henry County since 1850. He is a native of Pennsylva- nia, and was born in Indiana Township, in Indiana County, April 17, 1820. His parents, William and Elizabeth (Lydia) Lewis, were na- tives of the Keystone State, and when their son was three years old they effected a removal of their fam- ily and interests to Jackson Co., Ohio. They lo- cated in the township of Richland, and were resi- dents on a farm.

Mr. Lewis of this sketch was reared on the Ohio farm, and thoroughly instructed in the various details pertaining to agriculture. He was married in that State, to Mary Cozad. She is the daughter of Abram and Charity Cozad, and was born in the same county where her marriage took place. That event was cel- ebrated May 4, 1847. She bore two sons while she and her husband continued to reside in Ohio. After their removal to Illinois, they had eight sons and two daughters. William F. resides in the township of Cornwall; Abraham is also a citizen of the same township, as are Samuel A. and John H .; Andrew is unmarried, and is a resident of Geneseo; George W. and Francis M. live in Cornwall ; Charles A. re- sides in the township of Atkinson; Charity A. is the

wife of James Fell, who lives in Burns Township; Stephen A. and Alfred are unmarried. Albert T. died in infancy, and is the only one deceased. He was a twin with Alfred. Robert and Mary E. are the two younger children.

Mr. Lewis settled in Cornwall Township on his removal to Henry County. He purchased a tract of land on section 21, where he is still the owner of 400 acres, all in the finest possible agricultural condition, as is the case with another farm, which includes 410 acres, and lies in the same township, with the excep- tion of 40 acres. In 1878 Mr. Lewis removed to Geneseo, but still retains the control and personally superintends the management of the estate.

In former days he was a Democrat in political con- nections, but at present endorses the principles of the National Greenback party.

harles Baum, an extensive farmer of Col- ona Township, was born Feb. 22, 1840, in Jefferson Co., N. Y., and was eight years of age when his parents came to the State of Illinois. John J. Baum, his father, was a pioneer of Henry County and was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., June 4, 1805. He went to Jefferson County before he had attained to the estate of manhood, and when he was ready to settle in life he bought a farm in that county. He was its owner and occupant until 1848. In that year he came to Illinois. He had exchanged his land in Jefferson County for prairie in Colona Township, and the lat- ter tract included 127 acres of farming land and 43 acres of timber situated on section 2. The property was wholly untilled and without a house. Mr. Baum built a board house, 12 × 14 feet in dimensions, into which his family moved, and he turned his attention with all possible vigor and energy to the work of placing his land in a state of cultivation. He after- ward made an addition to the house, and it was oc- cupied by the family until their removal to the vil- lage of Colona in 1854. In that year they made the transfer referred to, and the father bought 75 acres adjoining the village plat, on which he erected a large frame house, and it was his home until his death. His decease occurred in December, 1874. He had been successful in all his business opera- tions, and had an estate of more than 500 acres.

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His wife before her marriage was Maria Petrie. She was born Aug. 1, 1802, in Herkimer Co., N. Y., and died April 9, 1876. Of the eight children born of their union but two are living. Franklin is a resi- dent of Hutchinson Co., Neb., and is engaged in farming.

Mr. Baum of this sketch grew to manhood in the township of Colona, and he acquired his education in the public schools. The first eventful period of his life was his marriage, which took place in 1867. His wife, who was Miss Angelina Meer before her marriage, was born in Ohio. At the time of their union in the bonds of matrimony, they settled on the homestead, and were associated with the parents as long as their lives continued. Three children were born to them,-Harvey, Amos and Ettie. The mother died Dec. 29, 1873, at the age of 26 years.

Mr. Baum is the owner of about 500 acres of land, and it is all in first-class agricultural condition. He is largely interested in growing stock.

eorge S. Wells, a prominent citizen of Geneseo, has been identified with the de- velopment of the farming interests of Henry County since his removal hither in 1855. He was born in Guildhall, Essex Co., Vt., Oct. 27, 1834. John Sullivan Wells, his father, was born in Durham, N. H., Oct. 18, 1803. The name of Sullivan was given him because it was the family name of his maternal grandmother, who was the daughter of John Sullivan, of Berwick, Me., and the sister of Gen. John Sullivan, after whom Sullivan's Island was named, and of James Sullivan, who was one of the Governors of the State to which the island belongs. John S. Wells secured by active life in his younger days the foundation of a robust, physical development, and obtained a sound ele- mentary education.

He entered upon the preparatory to the profession of a lawyer at Pembroke Academy, and was after- wards à student of law in the office of Hon. D. C. Atkinson, of Sanbornton, and later he completed his course under the preceptorship of Hon. W. Mattox, of Vermont. He began his practice at Guildhall, and five years after removed to Lancaster, N. H. In 1846 he went thence to Exeter, in the same State,

where he passed the remainder of his life in the active prosecution of his business, and in the service of his generation. He represented the town of Lan- caster for four terms in the State Legislature, and in ' 1841 was the Speaker of the House. He acted in the capacity of Solicitor of the county of Coos sev- eral years. He was State Senator from his district, and in the session of 1852-3 he officiated as the President of that body. In 1847 he was made At- torney-General of New Hampshire, but resigned the position at the end of a year. In 1854 he was the Democratic nominee for United States Senator, and was elected in the Senate, but was defeated in the House by five votes, on account of his endorsement of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill. In 1855 he was again a candidate for the same office, and received the un- qualified support of his friends. In the same year he was appointed by Gov. Baker to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Senator Norris. In 1856-7, he was the Democratic candidate for Governor of the State, and managed the canvass in such a man- ner that the Republicans failed to carry the State on the popular vote, and the result was accomplished in the Assembly. Mr. Wells was a Delegate to two Democratic National Conventions, and in 1858 was one of the Visiting Committee to West Point. He was a man of refined tastes, scholarly attainments and spotless character. He was a gentleman of the old school, courtly, chivalrous and well bred, and under all circumstances, even in the heat of political debate, and in the ardor of a closely contested cam- paign, he never descended from the dignity which was his distinguished trait.

He married Rebecca E. Bellows, in 1832. The family to which his wife belonged is well known in the circles of influence and intelligence. She was the daughter of Josiah Bellows, of Lancaster, N. H., and was a member of the same generation as the Rev. Dr. Bellows, of New York. The family of Bel- lows is of English origin and were Normans. They settled in England in 1066, and fac similes of their coats of arms are preserved by the descendants. John Bellows, who came to America on the " Hope- well" in 1635, is the first ancestor who settled in the United States. Benjamin Bellows, his grandson, was the founder of Walpole, N. H., and from him the line is distinct. He was the grandfather of Mrs. Wells. John S. Wells died at Exeter, Aug. 1, 1860. They had six children, of whom three are yet liv-

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ing. They were born in the following order : Henry B., George S., Nellie, Kate V., John S. and Emma. The two oldest sons and the second daughter are "the survivors. The latter married Thomas Redding- ton, and lives in the city of Washington, D. C. H. B. Wells is a merchant in Boston, Mass.

Mr. Wells, of this personal account, was 13 years of age when his father removed his family to New Hampshire. He went to sea before he reached the age of 20. He entered the merchant service, and sailed from Boston to Liverpool, making but a single voyage. Later he went to the city of New York, and there embarked in mercantile business, and was af- terwards similarly interested in trade in the city of Boston.

He came to Henry County in 1855, and bought a farm in the township of Edford. It is situated on section 23, and comprises 160 acres. The proprietor has put the place under excellent improvements, and has erected a good class of buildings for farming purposes. In 1872 he removed to the city of Gen- eseo, but retains the ownership and personal super- vision of his farm.

Oct. 4, 1859, he contracted a matrimonial alliance with Nellie P. Stewart, of Geneseo. She was born in Fowlerville, in the State of New York, and is the granddaughter of Roderick R. Stewart, one of the earliest settlers in Henry County, and of whom a full account may be found in another department of this work. She is the daughter of I. N. Stewart, who is deceased. Fred Burt, born Nov. 22, 1872, at Geneseo, is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Wells.

Mr. Wells is a Republican, and adheres to the principles of temperance. He has supported the issues of the former party since its organization. He has served in the capacity of Alderman of Geneseo two years.

illiam McHenry, deceased, formerly a resident on section 22, Phenix Township, was a pioneer of Henry County and also of the State of Illinois. He was born in Barren Co., Ky., Jan. 16, 1803. He was the oldest son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Jones) McHenry, and his parents were also natives of that historic State.

In 1812 the family came to White Co., Ill., and

there the son who is the subject of this sketch at- tained to the estate of manhood. He was married there, Sept. 16, 1827, to Susannah Land. She was a native of that county and was born March 17, 18II. Her parents, Robert and Lucy (Fike) Land, were born in South Carolina. Mr. McHenry became a citizen of Henry County, settling in what is now Osco Township, where he secured a claim of land. After making the necessary legal arrangements, he returned to White County and remained there until 1838, when he severed his connection with that locality and transferred all his interests to his new home in Henry County. He removed hither with his family and household possessions, traveling with five horses and a wagon and living, as the custom was in those days of no railroads or stage routes, after the gipsy fashion of the present day, cooking and camping by the way. They left White County the Ist day of April, and they passed four weeks on the journey, arriving at the farm in Osco Township on the ist day of May. The father made a camp for their accommodation and comfort, which, with the wagon, gave the shelter until their log house was completed. The family then included five children, and the duties of the head of the household were of a varied character, to suit the requirements of the case. The first crops were marketed at Chicago and at Galena. The trips to the former city con- sumed two weeks, and as the returns from the products carried there were so small, there was little left to pay hotel expenses, and those who were obliged to go there on such errands were accustomed to sleep either on or under their wagons.

Mr. McHenry lived but one year on the place in Osco Township. He then removed to the present town of Phenix, then designated on the Government charts as town 18, range 3, in which he made a claim on section 22, entering the land as soon as it came into market. He at first erected a log house for a temporary residence, which he covered with clapboards and " shakes," both of which were split by hand. He lived to see his family installed in a good frame house and to place his farm in a state of advanced cultivation; and he also lived a sufficient length of time to rejoice in the progress of the county to whose development he had given the best years of his life. His death transpired March 15, 1868, at his home. Ten of the 12 children born to him and his wife are still living. Their present record is as

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follows: Francis A. lives in Phenix Township; Thomas C. is a resident of Pratt Co., Kan. ; Joseph B. lives in Phenix; Charles H. is a citizen of Osco Township; Elizabeth A. is the widow of Isaac Staf- ford and lives in Geneseo; Mary R. is the wife of L. B. Mapes, a citizen of Atlantic, Cass Co., Iowa; Lucy G. married G. W. Imel, of Phenix Township ; Malinda is the wife of A. Y. King, and they reside in Merrick Co., Neb .; Emma is the widow of S. W. Aldrich, and resides in Phenix Township; Laura is the wife of F. M. Cox and lives in Chadron, Neb.

Mrs. McHenry and her widowed daughter, Mrs. Aldrich, reside on the homestead. The mother is also the owner of 160 acres of land in Osco Town- ship, where they first settled.

R osseter F. Schoonover. Burns Township, can justly boast of having many well-to .. do farmers within its borders. Prominent among these is Mr. R. F. Schoonover, who resides on section 34, where he has a splendid farm of 420 acres, well equipped for agricul- tural purposes and provided with comfortable build- ings.

He was born in Washington Co., Ohio, April II, 1833. There he received a common-school educa- tion, which, however, was somewhat limited on ac- count of the death of his father, when Rosseter was a small boy. He passed the years until he was 19 on a farm in Washington County. When he arrived at that age he journeyed westward, stopping in Bu- reau Co., Ill., for a short time. He then went into Peoria County, where he lived for five years. At the end of that time, in 1857, he came into Henry County and located on a farm in Burns Township, since which time this has been his home. His parents were Henry and Eunice (Hopkins) Schoonover, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Con- necticut. On the 4th of March, 1842, the elder Schoonover was instantly killed by being thrown from a horse. They were the parents of six children, of whom Rosseter was the eldest. The second child born to them was Emeline, the wife of John T. Finch, of Burns Township, of whom a sketch appears in this volume.

While living in Peoria County, Mr. Schoonover was

married to Miss Margery Harlan, on the Ist of Janu- ary, 1857. She was a native of Peoria County, and was born March 7, 1840. Her parents, Moses and Mary A. (Butler) Harlan, were early pioneers in that , county, where the former died, Sept. 2, 1842. Both were natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Harlan after- ward married, moved to Henry County and died there, Nov. 21, 1876. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. S. number ten. We give them in the order of their birth: Mary E., Joseph W., Lee, Adolphus A., Etta, who died when three years of age ; Emeline, John R., Grace, Ruie A. and Olive.

obert B. Paul, a farmer of Geneseo Town- ship, is a pioneer of Henry County of 1856. On coming to Illinois he located in the township of Edford, and removed thence to · section 20, in the township where he has since pursued the business of a farmer.

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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 51

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