Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 35

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 35

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Mr. William Tait, the deceased husband of Mrs. Gordon, died in 1843, at his home on section 16, in Copley Township. William Tait, Jr., is a physician at Galesburg, and was married to Miss Rhoda Sperry, a native of Oneida County, N. Y. To them have

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been born two children, both living-May J. and Margaret M. Houston P. united in wedlock with Mary Levalley, a native of Knox County, and they are the parents of one child-Annie J.

Mr. Gordon is Republican in politics and an im- portant factor in his community, and, with his wife, is a working member of the Presbyterian Church.

harles W. Harrison. Standing out in bold relief on the records of Knox County is the name of our subject, who is a farmer, residing on section 1, Copley Township, and who, for enterprise and energy, has no supe- rior. Possessed of that "push" which is the larger element in the success of a life, he has made his way despite many drawbacks, and stands high above the trivial crosses and losses of the world.

Mr. Harrison was born in Ohio, May 16, 1837. His parents, Alfred and Margaret (Cherington) Har- rison, were natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively. They were engaged in the retired and peaceful vo- cation of farming, "shut in from the world outside," and to their home came seven children, our subject being the third in order of birth. He remained at home until the age of 27, working on the farm and attending school. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. K, of Col. A. C. Harding's regiment of Illinois Volunteers, which was afterward commanded by Col. Smith, now Judge of the Circuit Court of Knox County, and was in the army three years. He was engaged in the second battle of Fort Donelson and was Com- missary Sergeant of Co. K, and at the expiration of his term of service was honorably discharged. He came to Illinois with his father in 1855, and settled in Copley Township, on section 24, where the latter died in 1866. His mother died in Ohio in 1846.

At the close of the war Charles W. returned to Illinois and lived on the old homestead until 1868. He then purchased the farm of 160 acres where he now lives, and in 1869 moved onto the same. This he has improved and cultivated, fencing and modern- izing and making it convenient and desirable. In 1869 he was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Knapp, a native of Copley Township, and to them were born two children-Charles C. and Eliza N.

Mrs. Harrison died in April, 1871, and Mr. Har-

rison contracted a second marriage, Nov. 8, 1883, with Miss Laura L. Hankins, daughter of Jeremiah and Polly A. (O'Neil) Hankins. She was born in Mc- Donough County. Her parents were natives of Indiana and Kentucky, and came to Illinois in 1835, settling in Brown County. The father engaged in the pottery business and employed a large number of men; as it was the first enterprise of the kind in that section, it created something of a " boom." He finally sold out his business and moved to Mercer County, where he entered upon mercantile pursuits and was thus engaged for two years. He next went to Galva, where he engaged in hardware business, and in 1871 went to Macomb, and pursued the same calling in which he had been engaged at Galva. He still resides at Macomb, where he is a leading bus- iness man and a substantial citizen.

Mrs. Harrison taught school eight years. She was a graduate of the class of 1866 at Galva. Mr. Harrison, in politics, is a Republican, and has held the office of Road Commissioner in the town where he lives. Both himself and wife are useful and con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the doctrines of which faith they zealously uphold, having gained possession of the "pearl of great price." By his marriage with his second wife Mr. Harrison has had one child, named Bertha.

dwin G. Deuel. Prominent among the practical farmers and worthy citizens of Knox County may be named the subject of this biographical notice, who is a resident of Salem Township. His home lies on section 20, and his success in the vocation he has adopted has been most flattering. He has erected a fine set of frame buildings upon his farm, furnished with all modern conveniences, and has beautified the residence grounds with trees and shrubbery.

Mr. Deuel was born in Pittsburg, Pa., Nov. 18, 1843. His father, Joseph E. Deuel, is a native of New York State. The latter was a pioneer of Ful- ton County, coming as early as 1837 to this part of the State, and later locating in Salem Township, Knox County, in 1840. There he lived until 1868, when he returned to Fulton County and remained until 1883. At that date he removed to California,

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settling at Santa Anna, Los Angeles County. He has a small fruit farm in that State, but lives a retired life, enjoying the results of past years of labor. Mrs. Deuel was Clarissa Porter, a native of New York State.

The subject of our sketch made his home with his parents until he attained to years of discretion, at- tending the district school and working on the farm. He thus gained a fairly good and practical educa- tion. He was united in marriage Feb. 1, 1871, to Mrs. Salome Hoppins, nee Skeels, who was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., Nov. 2, 1842, and is the daughter of Alanson and Naomi (Phillips) Skeels. After their marriage they located on the farm he now occupies and owns, and to which he has bent every endeavor to make it a bright and handsome abiding place. Evidences of his thrift are seen on every hand, and he has proven himself an industrious and worthy citizen. He is an active member of Farming- ton Lodge, No. 192, A. F. & A. M .; politically he is a Democrat in sentiment, and supports and votes with that party.

A view of the beautiful home of Mr. Deuel is given in connection with this biography.

osiah Nelson One of the old pioneers of Knox County, who yet lives to tell of the trials and hardships through which the early settler passed while attempting to establish a home for himself and family in this county, 1s Josiah Nelson. He came here in March, 1838, from Louisiana, and made settlement on section 2, Elba Township, where he has since lived. Thus we see that for nearly 50 years Mr. Nelson has lived in Elba Township, and we further state that during this lengthy period of time he has been closely iden- tified with the agricultural development of that por- tion of the county. Mr. Nelson is the owner of nearly 600 acres of productive land in Elba Town- ship, and in his chosen vocation has met with that success which energy and perseverance, backed up by good judgment, are sure to bring.

Josiah Nelson was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., June 25, 1816, and is the son of John and Catherine (Hommar) Nelson. The father was of Irish descent, and the mother of German ancestry. He was born at Valley Forge, in 1772, and distinctly

recollected seeing George Washington while he was encamped with his army at Valley Forge, in 1778. Both the parents lived and died in Pennsylvania. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Nelson was a sol- dier in the War of the Revolution, and was from Hesse-Cassel, Germany. After his arrival in this country, and learning the true cause of the rebellion of the colonies against Great Britian, he abandoned the army. He was an educated man-in fact, was fresh from the college in his native State. He en- tered the ministry and preached during the remainder of his life. He died in Huntingdon County, Pa. When our subject was 12 years of age he began work- ing in the iron mines in his native State, and con- tinued to labor in them during the remainder of the time that he was a resident of that State. From there he went to West Virginia, where he engaged in the same occupation at which he had labored in Pennsylvania, and also in boating on the Ohio River. The hard times and stress of money matters during the panic of 1837 led Mr. Nelson to go to Louisiana, 1 where he was occupied in getting out wood for steamers which plied the Mississippi River, and where he remained from that fall until the spring of 1838. He fell in with a Kentuckian by the name of McLaughlin, who told him that money was plenty in Illinois, which was not the case in Louisiana, and he was therefore induced to leave Louisiana for the Prairie State. He made his way to this county and settled, as stated, in Elba Township.

Mr. Nelson was married at Knoxville, June 1, 1841, to Margaret King, daughter of John and Mary (Tucker) King, natives of Pennsylvania. Her father died in Peoria County, this State, and her mother in Elba Township, Feb. 16, 1869. Mrs. Nelson was born in Richland County, Ohio, March 15, 1819, and has borne her husband eight children, who are named Mary, Caroline, John H., Jane T., Oliver P., George W., Martha A. and William W. John ac- cidently shot himself in March, 1867, the wound causing his death. Mr. Nelson, during the years he has been a resident of this county, has held the office of Highway Commissioner, and in politics is identified with the Republican party. Of the chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, Mary became the wife of John Tucker, a resident of Peoria County, and their household has been gladdened by the birth of nine children, named Emma, Margaret, Dolly A., John A., Minnie, Clem, Caroline, Celia and Elmer.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

RESIDENCE OF GEO. WOODMANSEE SEC, 35 KNOX TOWNSHIP

RESIDENCE OF DAVID HENDERSON, SEC . 12 . HENDERSON TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF W. R.PARSELL SEC. 35. ELBA TOWNSHIP

RESIDENCE OF WM GOOLD, SEC. 14 SALEM TOWNSHIP.

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KNOX COUNTY.

Caroline Nelson, wife of P. V. R. Dafoe, is a resi- dent of Nebraska, and their two children are Albert and Frank. Jane T. married Elida Parish, who is a resident of Iowa, and they have become the parents of nine children-John M., Dora B., Peter J., Min- nie, Mary, George, Etta, Bertha and Eliner .1. Oliver P. Nelson selected as his companion in life Elizabeth J. Oberholtzer, and they live in T'ruro Township and have five children, namely, Josiah, Nellie M., Lloyd, Louisa J. and Nettie A. George W. Nelson and Miss Lucy J. Cole became life part- ners and are living in Elba Township, their union having been blessed by the birth of five children- John, Etta, Margaret, Nora and Addie. Martha A. Nelson and Frank Cole were united in the holy bonds of matrimony, and live on a farm in Truro Township, their household having been increased by the birth of three children, named Mary A., Maud and Lemuel. William W. Nelson is a resident of Elba Township, unmarried, and is engaged in mercantile pursuits in the village of Eugene. Harry Nelson married Emma Tucker, and they have one son, which makes the subject of this sketch and his wife great-grand- parents.

r. James C. McMurtry is a prominent res- ident of Knox County, on section 3, of Henderson Township. He first came with his parents to Knox County in 1829. they having previously resided in Crawford County, Ind., where the subject of this history was born, Feb. 3, of the same year. (See sketch of Hon. W'm. McMurtry.) Since the time referred to, with the exception of the period he spent in a'tending school, he has been a continuous resident of this township Up to his 18th year he resided at his father's home. when he went to Galesburg and attended Knox Col- lege for three years, and then proceeded to Schenec tady, N. Y., and attended the Union College for one year. He first graduated in 1852, when he succeeded in securing his diploma. Returning to Knox County. be re-commenced his medical studies under the di- rection of Dr. Joseph Henderson, with whom he re- mained three years, attending, in the interim, Rush Medical College, in Chicago. At this institution he subsequently graduated, doing great credit to his own

efforts and the careful teaching of his preceptors. Returning to Henderson Township, he began the practice of his profession, which he has successfully pursued since the date referred to.

Aside from his profession, he has a very desirable farm of 330 acres, three-fourths of which is tillable land. In Warren County, Ill., on the 9th of June, 1855, the Doctor married Miss Caroline Nelson, of Attica, N. Y. Her birthday occurred on March 20, IS35. By this marriage there have been five children -James W., Franklin H., Susan H., Caroline and Mary. To the great grief of his parents, Franklin died when he was five years old; James W. is a resi- dent of Peoria, Ill .; and the other children are at- tending college at Galesburg. The subject of our history is a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity. whom the brethren hold in the highest esteen. He belongs to Hiiam Lodge, No. 26, at Henderson, of which he has been Master for twenty-two years ; to Horeb Chapter, No. 4, and Galesburg Commandery, .No. S.

Politically he has always identified himself with the Republican party, by whose principles he has stood firmly through its varying fortunes and solid suc- cesses. He is also Grand Marshal of the Masonic Grand Lodge, a post he has held for several years. In his Chapter he has held all of the different offices, including also that of Grand High Priest of Illinois, in IS78. He is also a member of Henderson Lodge, No. 156, I O. O. F., and has from time to time held all the offices of that Lodge.

Apart from the standing the Doctor's family have always maintained in Knox County, his own charac- ter and geniality of disposition have been sufficient to win to his side the good fellowship and universal commendation of the communities in which it has been his lot to move. The Doctor is what is known as "a jolly good fellow " and a thorough gentleman.

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illiam R. Parsell. Among those who have made agriculture their vocation through life, and who through their own indomita- ble energy and perseverance have succeeded in their calling, is the gentleman whose Dame heads this notice. Mr. Parsell came to this county in the spring of 1867, from Peoria County, this State, and made settlement on section

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KNOX COUNTY.

35, Elba Township. There he purchased 80 acres of uncultivated land, and has subsequently added thereto an additional 40 acres. This land he has brought to a high state of cultivation, has a good, substantial residence upon it, and is meeting with far more than ordinary success in his independent call- ing.

Mr. Parsell was born in Elmwood Township, Peoria County, this State, March 13, 1841. He re- ceived an education in the common schools of his native county, and there lived and labored on the farm, developing into manhood. He continued to re- side in his native county until coming here, with the exception of the three years he spent in fighting for the Union. He enlisted at the very beginning of the late Civil War, in September, 1861, in Co. B, 8th Mo. Inf., and for three years did valiant service for his country. In May, 1862, while before Corinth, he received a wound in the left leg, in consequence of which he was detached to do duty at the military post-office, at Fort Pickering. He returned to his regiment just prior to the battle of Mission Ridge, and while participating in the same received another wound, in the thigh, by a piece of shell striking him, and consequently, being incapacitated for service, he received an honorable discharge Sept. 21, 1864.

The marriage of Mr. Parsell took place at Gales- burg, Nov. 22, 1865, at which time Miss Caroline, the intelligent and accomplished daughter of Squire J. and Mary (Pugh) Dixon, natives of Ohio, became his wife. Her parents emigrated from the latter State to Peoria County in 1850, and there her father died Feb. 18, 1851. Her mother still survives. Their union was blessed by the birth of five children -Emeline, Caroline, Elizabeth, Harrison and Riley. Mrs. Parsell was born in Preble Co., Ohio, Sept. 15, 1844, and was only six years of age when her par- ents moved to Peoria County.

Mr. and Mrs. Parsell have had three children-Har- lan B., Albert and Lura. Albert died of diphtheria, June 1, 1883, when 13 years of age. Both heads of the family are members of the Universalist Church, and in politics Mr. Parsell is a stanch Republican. The parents of our subject were Joseph and Hettie A. (Ralston) Parsell, natives of Hamilton County, Ohio. They moved to Peoria County, this State, in 1839, and made settlement in what is now Elmwood Township, where the good mother and loving wife died April 17, 1850. The father died at the resi-

dence of Walter Bailey, in this county, Jan. 13, 1880. The children were 11 in number, and named James, Susan, Eliza A., George, John R., Richard, Harriet L., Joseph, William R., Sarah J., Garret H. and Het- tie H. The subject of this notice has passed the en- tire years of his life in agricultural pursuits, and is still following that vocation on his fine place on sec- tion 35, and meeting with success.

A view of Mr. Parsell's home and its surroundings will be found among our illustrations.

lexander O. Donason. The gentleman of whose life we give a brief sketch in the fol- lowing biography was a farmer on section 10, Maquon Township, where he met with success in the prosecution of the same until his death, which occurred Oct. 6, 1880.

Alex. O. came to Knox County with his grand- parents when he was about six years of age, emigrat -. ing from Belmont County, Ohio. His grandfather, whose name was Alfred P. Weeden, located in Haw Creek Township, our subject continuing to make his home with him until he attained the age of 12 years, at which time he engaged to work by the month for Benona Simpkins for seven years.

From the date of our subject's arrival, in 1840, in Knox County, until the period of his demise-with the exception of one year spent in Ohio-he resided in this county. He was born in Belmont County, Ohio, Oct. 10, 1834. His first purchase of land was made in Maquon Township, consisting of 80 acres located on section 10. Upon this place he erected a good and substantial brick dwelling, accompanied by necessary and convenient out-buildings, and at the time of his death was the proprietor of 400 acres of prime land, 320 of which was under a most excel- lent state of cultivation.

Alexander O. Donason took to wife in Maquon Township, March 11, 1855, Miss Ann M., daughter of Nathan and Calista (Loomis) Barbero, who were natives of New York. (Mrs. D. is a sister of the wife of J. M. McGirr. See sketch.) The parents of Mrs. D. came to Knox County in 1839 and settled in Maquon, where they resided until the father's death, Jan. 1, 1885. The mother still survives hint (see sketch). They had a family of four children-Ann M., Lodema, Henry and John J. Mrs. Donason

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was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., June 9, 1833, and she is the mother of seven children, namely : Nathan, Jack, Calista G., Charles, Fred, Frank and Katie. Jack Donason married Minnie Sylvester, and they live in Nebraska ; Charles married Ada D). Simpkins, and their home is in Maquon Township; Calista G. is the wife of Samuel Love, and they re- side in Maquon Township ; she has borne her hus- band three children-Florence, Lodema and John- nie, of whom Florence and Lodema are deceased.

Mr. D. of this notice died at Eureka Springs, Ark., where he had gone for his health, Oct. 6, 1880. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Maquon Lodge, No. 530.

Mr. Donason received a common-school educa- tion, which was supplemented by a term at Lombard University, Galesburg. He served his township as Supervisor and also held several minor offices. In his political views he took sides with the Greenback party. He was a good neighbor and his loss was felt by the community in which he had taken such an active part to further the growth and development of his township.

B enjamin Brooks Shaffer is a retired citi- zen of Yates City, and figures prominently among the men of substantial worth in Knox County. He was born in Lycoming County, Pa., Oct. 5, 1814, and his father, James Shaffer, was a native of New Jersey. Our subject's grandfather, Henry Shaffer, was a na- tive of Germany. He was in his 17th year when, unac- companied with his parents, he came to America and settled in New Jersey. There he learned the trade of a tanner, which he followed for a number of years, removing to Lycoming County, Pa., about 1800, rent- ing land and engaging in farming. Previous to the War of 1812, he visited the State of Ohio, where he bought a tract of land in Delaware County, and as it possessed a stream which promised abundant water power, he erected a grist-mill on it, which was one of the first in that section. His sons had made the first im- provements previous to the War of 1812, but he did not move with his family until after its close. Ac- cumulating a large property, which he modernized and improved, he made it his home until called away

by death. He was twice married, his first wife, grand- mother of our subject, being Mary Miller, of German descent and American birth. She died in Lycoming County, Pa., prior to the removal to Ohio.

The father of B. B. Shaffer was a boy in his teens when his parents removed to Pennsylvania. Prior to the War of 1812, he in company with an older brother, William by name, went to Ohio to improve the father's property, making all those alterations previously spoken of. While there he served in the war, being one of a party of eight that went down the river to carry important dispatches to Gen. Har- rison. He figured in the battle of Ft. Meigs, and was active in some important engagements in the strug- gle. In 1813, he returned to Pennsylvania and bought land in what is now Clinton County, which he engaged in clearing and cultivating. He remained in that section of country until his demise. The father there built two mills, a grist and saw mill; the first was a good one and is still in operation.

The maiden name of his wife was Margaret Brooks, 1 of Bucks County, Pa. Her father, Benjamin Brooks, was an Englishman ; also an early settler in Lycon- ing County. James Shaffer was the father of a fam- > ily of 15 children, ten sons and five daughters, all of whom married and reared families, and nine of whom are still living.

Our subject was the fourth child and third son in this family. He grew to manhood in his native county, working on the farm during the summer sea- son and lumbering the remainder of the year. He was married Nov. 6, 1838, to Elizabeth Caldwell, of the same county, and remained a resident of Clinton County until 1856, when he came to Illinois. Pur- chasing 160 acres in Truro Township, he began its cultivation, adding, in the meantime, to his first pur- chase on section 27, until he became the owner ol 640 acres of land. Living there until 1870, he re- moved to Yates City, where he bought the residence he now occupies.

Mrs. Shaffer departed this life in May, 1849, leav- ing four children as follows: William, deceased ; James A., who lives in Truro Township (see sketch) ; Sarah J., wife of Finley Westfall, who resides in Yates City ; and Franklin, living at Summit. Mr. S. was re-married June 6, 1853, to Phobe Hess, of Clinton County, of German and English extraction. Having lost her by death, his last matrimonial alli- ance was consummated May 4, 1873, with Mary J.,

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daughter of William and Mary Hale (Mann) Darby, of Genesee County, N. Y. The date of her birth was July 25, 1827. Her father was a native of Vermont, and her mother was born in Orford, N. H., and be- longed to the families of Mann and Hale, whose names are prominently connected with the history of New England. This was Mrs. Shaffer's third mar- riage. She first became a wife Feb. 25, 1850, uniting with Cornelius T. Bradley, who died Oct. 16, 1851. Her second alliance, with M. L. Knowlton Huso, was celebrated Feb. 21, 1853, in Fulton County, Ill .; he died at Elmwood. Mrs. Shaffer, in religious belief, is a Congregationalist, of which church she is a mem- ber, and her husband is a Methodist. On her mother's side her great-grandfather was a native of Massachusetts, and was one of the pioneers of Orford, to which place he removed from Massachusetts in early times, both he and wife riding one horse, after the manner of those times. He was a man of fine endowments. Of this union there were born 12 sons and three daughters, who were an honor and credit to their parents, becoming worthy men and women, some of them adopting professions. The family was originally from County Kent, England, and came over at an early period, prior to the Revolution. Politically he was a Democrat, but now he is a Greenbacker and Prohibitionist.

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ames M. Foster. There are many success- ful and well-to-do farmers in Knox County, and Maquon Township certainly has its quota. Among those who have attained suc- cess in life through perseverance and deter- mination is the subject of this sketch, residing on section 28, Maquon Township, where he is fol- lowing his chosen vocation, agriculture. He came from Fulton County, in March, 1833, settling in Ma- quon Township where he purchased a tract of land and upon which he has since resided. He is at the present time proprietor of 1 80 acres of improved and valuable land. Mr. Foster came to Fulton County in September, 1830. He served during the Black Hawk War in the command of Gen. Stillman, and un- der Capt. Asa F. Ball. He is one of the first set-

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Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 35

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