Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 116

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1130

USA > Illinois > Knox County > Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois > Part 116

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on. George Cromwell Lanphere. The

late Judge Lanphere was United States Commissioner and a distinguished attorney and counselor at law of Galesburg at the time of his death. He was the son of George and Martha (Pierce) Lanphere, natives of Connect- icut and Massachusetts, respectively, and of French Huguenot and Saxon-English extraction. He was born in Oneida County, N. Y., June 30, 1814. His parents were married in Schoharie County, N. Y., but shortly afterward removed to Delaware County and subsequently to Oneida County. They reared four sons and one daughter, the subject of our sketch being the youngest.

His father was for several years a civil engineer or surveyor, but later on devoted his time to contracting and building. He died in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1834, in the 66th year of his agc. His widow re- married, but ere many years she was again alone in the world with her children, and the year 1842 found her in Warren County, Ill., whither her son George had preceded her, and where she spent the rest of her life. She died in 1858, in her 83d year.

At the common and select schools George Lan- phere received a limited education, and from the age of 17 to 21 years taught during the winters in his native county. The summer season found him em- ployed at farming. He was about 22 years of age when he began the study of law with Alanson Ben- nett, of Rome, N. Y. After a few months' reading, he gathered his worldly effects and, with his wife and child, started overland for the Great West, and the year 1838 found them at Monmouth, in Warren County. For their transportation the wagoner charged $50, and to pay it young Lanphere had $17.50. But those were days when the bright exam- ple of "railroad enterprise" and the grinding selfish- ness of the power of money had not yet obscured humanity. The creditor was satisfied and happy at having improved the opportunity to benefit a fellow- man, and the young lawyer was able to "foot " the difference in about a year.

In 1838 Mr. Lanphere was admitted to the bar at Vandalia, Ill., being examined before Justices Brown and Lockwood, of the Supreme Court. Monmouth was the scene of his first forensic efforts, and Ivory Quinby, afterward Judge of the Warren County Court for many years, was his first law partner. The partnership lasted up to 1839, when the subject of our sketch was elected Judge of the County Court. Leaving the office of Judge at the expiration of his term, Judge Stephen A. Douglas appointed him Master in Chancery, and he continued the practice of law up to 1847, at Monmouth. At the outbreak of the Mexican War, associated with W. B. Stapp, of Monmouth, he raised a company of volunteers, in which, as First Lieutenant, he was absent about one year. Their company, known as Capt. Stapp's Mounted Volunteers, was rejected in 1846, but in the following year, in response to the importunities of Lieut. Lanphere, the Secretary of War accepted them, and they went forward to Mexico in 1847, ar- riving there, however, too late to participate in any of the more important battles. The company was disbanded at Alton, Ill., in July, 1848, and Lieut. Lanphere returned to Monmouth and resumed his law practice. About that time he launched fully into politics, and it may be truthfully said that thence- forward his services could be fully relied upon by the party of his choice. In 1848 he removed from Mon- mouth to Galesburg, and the following year, during his absence from the State, the Democrats of Knox X

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County placed him upon their ticket as the candi- date for the County Judgeship. The nomination proved the wisdom of their choice so far as party success was concerned, but sometime after his elec- tion his opponents discovered what proved fatal to his eligibility. The new constitution of the State, which had been a short time in force, provided that before any person should hold the office of County Judge, such person should have been a resident of the county at least two years prior to the election. Since coming to Galesburg, Mr. Lanphere had been engaged in the drug business, and, not anticipating that he should be called upon to run for any office so soon after coming into the county, much less to fill one, the new constitution had not been examined by him. So his position was, in law, scarcely debatable, and a writ of quo warranto was laid and his office declared vacant. However, the success of his oppo- nents was short-lived. They at once renominated their defeated candidate, and Lanphere, who had by this time been fully two years in the county, beat him by a much larger majority than in the first instance. Judge Lanphere was appointed United States Com - missioner in 1857, and held the office continually till his death. He was always an ardent Democrat, and from the age of 15 up to 56 an active and per- sistent worker for the success of that party. He was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the Central Military Tract Railroad (now the C., B. & Q.), was a member of the first Board of Directors, and for some years Secretary of the Company.

In speaking of Judge Lanphere's public career, we should not forget to mention a fact that reflects credit upon his already good name, and attests the high standard of his manhood. In 1854 President Pierce appointed him to the Postmastership at Gales- burg. When Mr. Buchanan came into power, and the subsequent difficulty developed between him and Senator Douglas, a number of Illinois Postmasters were notified that the tenure of their official positions rested upon their denunciation of Mr. Douglas. As is well known, many of Mr. Douglas' whilom friends did not stand by him and hence received their re- ward in renewed commissions, but the Postmaster of Galesburg, suffice it to say, stood by his principles and consequently lost his office.

The Judge was a Mason, and in religion a Swed- enborgian. He was married at Boonville, Oneida Co., N. Y., Oct. 20, 1835, to Miss Matilda G. Kent,

with whom he had just celebrated his golden wed- ding. Of the nine children born to Judge and Mrs. Lanphere we have the following brief memoranda : Ione, wife of Frank E. Short, of Kansas City ; Sabina, wife of O. F. Price, Attorney for the C., B. & Q. R. R .; Jane, wife of W. H. Wood, a merchant of Wataga, Ill .; Mary, wife of J. E. Shears, of Ottumwa, Iowa; George H., a railroad man at Kansas City, and Frank E., conductor on the U. P. Railroad.

Judge Lanphere died while this work was being prepared and after this sketch was written. His loss was greatly felt, and his death mourned by the entire community.

homas D. Stafford. There are many ex- tensive and important manufactories in and around the busy and thriving city of Gales- burg, prominent among which is the brick manufactory of Stafford & Wood. The senior member of this well-known and popular firm ? is Thomas D. Stafford, subject of this biographical notice. He was born in Essex County, N. Y., May 14, 1816, and remained with his parents until he at- tained the age of manhood, in the meantime work- ing on the farm and attending the common schools. On attaining his majority he engaged to learn the brick-making business and has followed the same for a livelihood ever since.

In 1841 Mr. Stafford commenced to make brick on his own account, in Rochester, Sangamon Co., this State, where he was engaged for one year. He then removed to Springfield, remained two years and returned to Rochester, where he resided until the spring of 1856, and then came to Galesburg. On his arrival in that city he immediately began the making of brick, in a yard which he established, and from which the present firm, as stated, sprang. Their business is an extensive one and they have manufactured over 1,000,000 per annum for the last 30 years.

Mr. Stafford was married to Miss Polly M. Fisher in 1837. She died Jan. 17, 1873, after having borne her husband three children-Eliza J., Cecelia L. and Ellen M. The first born married George W. Flag, and died Dec. 2, 1876, leaving four children to the care of her husband-Lillie, Thomas I., Alva and Gilbert ; Ellen M. departed this life May 19, 1881; Cecelia is the happy wife of N. C. Woods. The second -

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matrimonial alliance of our subject occurred Aug. 1 1, 1873, at which time Mrs. Ann Eliza Dutcher, the widow of G. M. Dutcher, became his wife. She had three children by Mr. Dutcher, named Hattie A., born Aug. 18, 1850; Deyo W., born Dec. 11, 1854, and Carrie M., born June 1, 1857. Hattie A. was married Dec. 1, 1869, to Thomas G. Brooks, a har- ness-maker doing business in Appleton City, Mo. Their offspring are as follows : Bert D., born March 16, 187 1; Roy D., born Nov. 23, 1872 ; Essie died Jan. 24, 1880, aged 2 years, 3 months and 12 days ; Blythe O., born November, 1879; Alta G., born March 18, 1884, and an infant daughter, born June 5, 1886 (unnamed.) Deyo was married May 1, 1876, to Miss Alma H. Brown; one child was born to them, viz., Roy H., April 5, 1877. Carrie M. was married Sept. 17, 1874, to Frank H. Slater, a tinner by trade, residing in Creston, Iowa ; they have one child living-Louie, born Aug. 9, 1877 ; Mamie, the eldest, was born Aug. 11, 1875, and died Oct. 17, 1877-

Mr. Stafford is the proprietor of two acres of land in Galesburg, on which he has a fine residence two stories in height. Aug. 6, 1870, he lost his eye- sight-a misfortune which has never been repaired, and one the more keenly felt as Mr. Stafford enjoyed to the fullest extent the sight of associates and friends. In all these afflictions Mr. Stafford is sus- tained by the consolation of religion, both he and his wife being members of the Universalist Church. The Stafford family in America is traced back to the time of the landing of the Mayflower, in which ves- sel the ancestors of our subject came from England, and the subject of this notice in character and repu- tation has well sustained the dignity of his origin. He came to Illinois in 1840, and in politics is a Re- publican. He has always been enterprising and pub- lic spirited, and worthy of being designated as a highly esteemed member of society.

ohn W. Olson, senior member of the firm of Olson Bros., at Maquon, is a son of Olof and Jennie Olson. The parents were born in America ; married and settled in Knoxville, where the father died in December, 1862. Mrs. Olson died in Kansas. She met her death by being caught in a cyclone. They had four

children, three of whom lived to maturity. Their names are William, John W., Emma and Olof.

John W. was born in Knoxville, April 22, 1857. He received a common-school education, and lived there till he came to Maquon, in 1871, where he has since made his home, with the exception of one year in Elmwood. His father was a cabinet-maker, and John learned the wagon maker's trade, which he still follows. He formed a partnership with his brother Olof, under the firm name of Olson Bros., in the spring of 1884, and located in Maquon, where they still continue and carry on a good business. He was married in Knoxville, Ill., Feb. 28, 1883, to Addie Green, daughter of George and Jannie Green. Mrs. Olson was born in Peoria, Feb. 28, 1864. They have one child-George P. Mr. Olson is a member of the Odd Fellows. In politics is a Democrat.

karwin B. Day, of Walnut Grove Township, is one of the old settlers of Knox County, where he has lived for nearly half a cent- nry, having come first to the county in 1837, from Onondaga County, N. Y. He was horn in that county Jan. 27, 1810. His father, Thomas C. Day, was a practising physician, and a native of the same county and State as his son, and lived and died there. He was of New England pa-, rentage and ancestry, and was married in Onondaga County, N. Y., to Julia Cappell. She was of parent- age of people who had come from Nova Scotia, and she also lived and died in Onondaga County.

Our subject is the oldest of three children, and the only one who now survives. He had a brother and a sister, Elzina, the latter having died unmarried when a young woman 18 years old. In 1880 the brother, David E., died in this county, near Galesburg. He had been a successful farmer, and came here in 1838. While he was living in his native county, he was married, in December, 1830, to Miss Sarah Vorse, who was born in Onondaga County, N. Y. She lived to come to Illinois with her husband, and soon after- ward died at Log City, this county, March 19, 1840. She was the mother of two children- Francis P., de- ceased, and Charles H., a farmer, married and re- siding in Lyons County, Kan.

Mr. Day was the second time married, in Knox

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County, Oct. 5, 1845, to Miss Narcissa Fuqua. She was from Kentucky, having come to Illinois when a child. She died in Sparta Township, Knox County, Sept. 28, 1873. She was the mother of seven chil- dren : David died in the army, after serving one year ; John H. is married and carrying on a farm in Ne- braska; Norman and Sidney are married and farmers, and both live in Adair County, Iowa; Julia is the wife of I. Aldrich, a mechanic, and they live in Guthrie Centre, Iowa; Daniel is married and resides in Oneida; Emma is the wife of John Spurgen, a farmer, and resides in Nebraska. Mr. Day was mar- ried in Galesburg to Mrs. Mehitabel (Firkins) Hitch- cock, who was born in Cato, Cayuga Co., N. Y., March 13, 1820. Her father, George Firkins, was born and reared in London, England. He came to the United States when a young man, during the French War, with a merchant vessel. He was captured by the French, and after six weeks was sur- rendered, having in the meantime lost all his goods and everything but his wearing apparel. He then settled at Philadelphia. He was married in Spafford, N. Y., to Lydia Cappell. He had served in the Revolutionary War, and was in the War of 1812. He was a highly educated man and an extensive writer, and served as aid to generals through these wars. He and his wife lived to be very old people, and died in DeKalb County, near Shabbona Grove, on the 11th day of May, 186r; he was 98 years old. The mother died ten years and a day later, and was then of the same age as her husband when he died. They were the parents of 11 children, six sons and five daughters. Mrs. Day, of this sketch, was the younger but two; all lived to be grown. Three of the latter and one of the sous are yet living; the son in De Kalb County. Mrs. Day was reared and edu- cated in Wolcott, Wayne Co, N. Y. She came, when 19 years of age, with her parents, who first set- tled in Henderson, Knox County. She was first married to J. P. Hitchcock, who was killed while de- fending the flag of his country, by the guerrillas, at Frankfort, Ky., Feb. 28, 1865. He was born in Crawford County. Ind., April 21, 1818, and came West when a young man, early in the history of this county, with his parents.

Mr. Day was one of the early settlers of Log City, and helped to build the first saw-mill there. He went thence to Knoxville four years later, and has since been a citizen of this county. He came to this

place in March, 1881. He owns 80 acres of good land where he now lives. He has been a successful farmer, and helped all his children to a start in life.

In the early days he broke a large area of the prairie sod, and added his full quota to the cultiva- tion of the virgin soil. Mrs. Day is a member of the Universalist Church. In politics, Mr. D. was formerly a Republican, but now casts his vote with the Prohibitionists.

ewitt Smith, a successful farmer and re- spected citizen of this county, residing on section 13, Maquon Township, was born in Pennyslvania, Nov. 19, 1834, and was quite young when his parents moved to this county. He has lived in Knox County since that time, with the exception of five months in Fulton County. In 1859 he went to California, where he spent three years, or rather two years there, one year en route to and from. He met with fair success.

He was married in Salem Township, this county, ! to Phobe Day ; they have one child living-Victor. His parents were V. R. and Angeline (Catlin) Smith, and hers Aaron and Permilla (Randall) Day, natives of Ohio and Massachusetts respectively. They settled in Clermont County, Ohio, where he still resides. She is dead.

Mr. Smith has been Road Commissioner six years. In politics he is a Republican. He is the owner of 80 acres in Maquon Township, the most of which is tillable.

amuel G. Holyoke was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 27, 1824, and was fourth son of William and Lucy (Greenleaf) Holyoke, of early Massachusetts families. The senior Mr. Holyoke brought his effects to Knox County in 1837, and here carried on farming and wagon-making. He learned wagon-making while young, and carried it on in Cincinnati several years. He made the first wagon ever constructed in Knox County. The old man died in 1867. aged 68 years, and his widow followed him in 1876.

Samuel G. was educated at Knox College ; learned

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to be a mechanic while a boy and worked at farming ; started a wagon-shop in 1842 in Galesburg ; carried it on till 1855, and made the first covered carriage ever constructed in this county. In 1871-72 he en- gaged with G. W. Brown as wheel-man, and, as such invented the machinery for making the kind of wheels now used in the famous Brown Corn-Planter. Since 1878 he has been at the head of the pattern depart- ment of G. W. Brown & Co., and is recognized as a workman of extraordinary skill.

He was married in Knoxville Township June 2, 1847, to Miss Amanda L. Hoag, of Otsego, N. Y., and has two sons-James E., collecting agent for the C., B. & Q. R. R., Hastings, Neb., and Rev. Edward O. Holyoke, in charge of the Baptist Church at Pittsfield, Mass., a position of high rank in that great de- nomination, and one to which he was called immedi- ately upon leaving the seminary.

The subject of our sketch is a brother of Hon. J. M. Holyoke, who represented Knox County three terms in the Illinois Legislature, and is now (1885) Enrolling Secretary of the Colorado Senate.

enry W. Smith is a farmer on section 12, Haw Creek Township, Knox County, Ill. He was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, Aug. 9, 1828, and is the son of Abraham and Hester Ann (Winslow) Smith is the eldest of a family of six children, the others being named as follows: Daniel, Margaret, Samuel, Ozias and Amy, four of whom are living; Daniel and Amy are dead.

The father of the subject of this notice was a farmer by occupation, and a native of New Jersey. With his wife he removed from Ohio to Knox Coun- ty, in 1850, and resided here up to the time of his decease, March 14, 1853; the mother died in Mis- souri, March 16, 18So.

Henry W. Smith was married to Amanda McHen- ry, Aug. 23, 1849. She is the daughter of John and Harriet (Richardson) McHenry, who were the parents of 13 children, Mrs. Smith being the fourth; they were named James, Mary, Eliza, Amanda, Elizabeth, Daniel, Harriet, Carrie A., John, Nancy, and three died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of seven children-Daniel, born Sept. 13, 1850, died

July, 18, 1851 ; Abraham, born Feb. 16, 1852, died Feb. 23, 1852 ; Harriet, born March 27, 1853; John W., born Jan. 1, 1855 ; Belle, born Jan. 15, 1859; Leefie J., born Aug. 18, 1862 ; Flora, Sept. 29, 1868.

Mr. Smith enlisted in the 571h Ill Vol. Inf., Co. F, Capt. F. A. Battey, and served until July, 1865, and was mustered out at Louisville Ky., and was dis- charged and paid off at Chicago, Ill. He was with his regiment all the time that he served, in its marches, campaigns and battles, and, after his discharge, came home and went to farmng. He is a Republican and has held the office of School Direct- or. He has 40 acres of land, all under fence, and has good farm improvements and everything in prime condition. The parents of Mrs. Smith are natives of Pennsylvania. The father served in the late war and is still living; the mother is deceased.

P. Burnett is a farmer and stock-raiser on section 30, Haw Creek Township. He was born in Putnam County, Ind., April IT, 1834, and is the son of Joshua and Eliza- beth (Housh) Burnett, natives of Georgia, who emigrated from Indiana to Knox County, Ill., in 1836, coming overland with a team of oxen. The subject of this sketch was married to Sarah Conser, Sept. 27, 1855. She is the daughter of George and Catherine Conser; she was born March 5, 1827. To this union there were born five children : Mary E, June 13, 1856, is the wife of L. P. Dar- nell, living in this township; Joshua F., born July 28, 1857, is married to Rosa A. Allen, and lives in this township; Ella A., born Feb. 4, 1859, is the wife of William E. Housh, living in this township; Sarah A., born Nov. 17, 1861; Flora B., June 24, 1864, and they are raising a boy named James A. Nevett, born April 1, 1872. Mr. Burnett makes the breeding and raising of Short-horn Durham cattle a specialty, also fine horses and stock of all kinds. He has traveled over the Southern and Western States, and has been shipping steck for a number of years, mostly to the Western States. He owns 500 acres of good land, all under fence, and the most of it improved, with good buildings of all kinds and everything in a flourishing condition.

Mr. Burnett has been a successful hunter of all

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kinds of game that infested the Illinois prairies, and is the owner of the celebrated English foxhounds, the only dogs that can, unaided, capture and kill a wolf. He has a rifle carried by his grandfather, Joshua Burnett, through the Wars of the Revolution and of 1812 and the Black Hawk War, and the old piece is now in good condition, all the changes made being that the old flint lock is modernized by the percussion cap, and the stock, formerly six feet in length, has been cut off to the length of guns of the present day.

rasmus J. Earel. Among the more prom- inent and enterprising farmers of Knox County, noteworthy for persistent indus- try and financial ability, may be counted the subject of this sketch, a brief summary of whose personal history is herein given. He owns a farm on section 10, of Indian Point Town- ship, and upon it stands a pleasant and attractive home. He is within a convenient distance of town privileges, living two and three-quarter miles south- east of Abingdon.

Mr. Earel, of this writing, was born ja Adams County, Ill., March 28, 1855, and came to Knox County in 1865, at the age of ten years. Considera- ble attention was given to his educational training and he seemed to possess a natural predilection for intellectual industry. He attended Hedding College three terms and his application won him golden opinions. He is the son of Harvey D. and Margaret Earel, the former of whom was born in Ohio, in 1831, and the date of the latter parent's birth not being positively known, the records, by some unfortunate circumstance, being lost.

Mr. Earel, of this sketch, lost his mother when about eight years of age. She died of congestive chills, the date of her death being 1863. She was the mother of five children, by name Mary E., who died at the early age of four years; Erasmus, Silas, Mary F. and Jennie F.

Mr. and Mrs. Erasmus Earel were united in the holy bonds of wedlock, July 3, 1878, and his wife's maiden name was Mary Elwell. She was born Feb. 9, 1859, and was at the time of her marriage 19 years of age. She was the daughter of Jacob and Harriet (Haynes) Elwell, and her father was born in

Indiana, July 4, 1835, while her mother, Miss Har- riet Haynes, first saw the light of day Oct. 2, 1841. The father now lives in Van Buren County, Iowa. She died Aug 20, 1865, leaving one child, a daugh- ter, who is the wife of our subject. One year after Mrs. Elwell died, Mr. Elwell remarried, Mrs. Emily A. Laymon, of Ohio, being his chosen companion. Both she and her husband survive, and are living in the State of Iowa. To them were born five children, viz: Araminta, who died in infancy; Anna W., Myra, Hattie and Ora. To Mr. and Mrs Earel, of this sketch, have been given two children-Harley D., born April 18, 1879; and Jamie R., Aug. 30, 1882.

Mr. Earel is the owner of 100 acres of fine land and devotes himself to the breeding of good blooded cattle. He has always been prominent in public affairs and has held the office of School Director for a long period. In politics he affiliates with the Re- publican party and keeps his eyes open relative to public and private good. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Abingdon, and formerly attended the St. Mary's Seminary at Knox- ville, at which institution she remained two years. Mr. Earel has an intelligent and interesting family, and the home is a place of pleasant resort to friends and neighbors.

ames T. Main is of English birth and de- scent, and is the son of John and Martha Main. He came to America about 1854, and worked at blacksmithing in Chicago two and a half years. Thence he came to Ontario

Township, followed his trade for a time, and, by the exercise of industry and economy, was enabled to purchase a farm of 80 acres, to which he subse- quently added 80 acres more and now has a good farm and good buildings.

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Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 116

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 1130

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1130