Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 43

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 43

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it, settling on the 160 acres which his father had pre- viously purchased, and which was located in what is now Sparta Township. His parents had nine chil- dren, who were named Charles, Edwin, Polly M., Cynthia, Anson, Wilshire, Allen, Newton and Myra. Prior to his removal to this county, Edwin Calkins had learned the trade of a carpenter, and worked at the same in his native State for five years. Since coming here in 1837, he continued to reside on the identical tract of land which his father purchased 50 years ago, and there, for 49 years, he has lived and labored at his chosen profession. What a wonderful change he has witnessed! Then, the lands were un- cultivated, and the broad prairies on which we to-day see such magnificent farms were hardly deemed worth settling upon, and even the woodlands were sparsely settled. To-day every acre is enclosed, and here are to be found some of the finest homesteads in the State. True, the old pioneers passed through many trials and encountered many obstacles, but they were rewarded; many of them by goodly pos- sessions, and those who did not accumulate largely experienced satisfaction in watching the develop- ment of the county, and of this number is Edwin Calkins.

Prior to his coming here, Mr. Calkins concluded that it would be better for him to undergo the " terri- ble ordeal " of becoming a benedict, to the end that he might have a companion to share with him his successes-for he never dreamed of reverses in this undeveloped country. Consequently, on July 20, 1836, he was married to Harriet E. Parker, a native of Berkshire County, Mass., who accompanied him hither, and lived with him as his faithful companion until Nov. 5, 1871, the date of her demise. Of their union five children were born-Frederick, Edwin J., Aurilla, Amasa C. and Harriet B. Aurilla married Harvey Bishop, and they have two children-Frede- rick and Harry; Frederick P. Calkins united his des- tiny with Emma Higgins, and to them five children have been born -- Milton, Edith, Dale, Herbert and Hartley ; Judson Calkins married Salinda Green, and they have three children-Charles, Bertha and Hen- rietta; and he died Feb. 11, 1882; Amasa C. mar- ried Miss Van Vleet, and their children are Edith, Ar- thur and Mabel; Harriet Calkins married Tilman Lumpkin, and they have one child-Inez.

The father of our subject, after coming here and purchasing land, as stated, for his children, returned

LIBRARY OF THE (' !!! VERSITY OF ILLINO'S

Respectfully yours R. L. Alomamano

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to New York and lived there until 1857, when he came back here and resided with his son-in-law, Mr. Robbins, until his death, which took place May 2, 1857. His wife lived until Aug. 5, 1878. Edwin Calkins, our subject, in politics voted with the Re- publican party. Religiously, he was a member of the Methodist Church. He held the office of School Di- rector, and was one of the respected and honored cit- zens of Knox County.

udge Robert L. Hannaman. No county in the State can boast of a better class of citizens in all the different departments of life than Knox County, whether of business men, agriculturists, mechanics, or the profes- sions. Probably no other gentleman in the county has a greater number of friends or is more widely known than Robert L. Hannaman, who is passing the sunset of life in peace and quiet retire- ment at his home in Knoxville. His record has been an honorable one, and of the many hundreds who have been associated with him in the develop- ment of this county and in connection with its his- tory none can whisper of a dishonorable act and rightly impute it to him. Mr. Hannaman was born 30 miles above Portsmouth, on the Scioto River, in Scioto County, Ohio, Sept. 5, 1803, and his father, John Hannaman, was born in Cherry Valley, N. Y., Feb. 15, 1760.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Hannaman, Christopher Hannaman, was born in Germany, and the patronymic in the "Faderland " was spelled Hahnemann. The grandfather was married in his native country, and soon afterward emigrated to the United States, locating at Cherry Valley, N. Y., where he resided for a time, when he removed to Virginia, and there lived, near Wheeling, until his death. The father of our subject went to Virginia with his parents and there grew to manhood. He was married to Susanna Beebe, who was born on the shores of Maryland, June 11, 1771. Late in the last century they emigrated to that part of the Span- ish possessions now included within the State of Illinois, being induced to come here by a proclama- tion issued by the Spanish Government, offering a tract of land to all who would make actual settle-

ment thereon. He located near the Mississippi River. It was a sickly locality in which he settled, and, two of his children dying there, he decided to emigrate. He accordingly removed to Kentucky, in consequence of which removal he lost the title to his land and the benefit of the improvements he had made thereon. In 1798-99 he left Kentucky and took up a residence in the then Territory of Ohio, becoming a pioneer of the Scioto Valley. He bought a tract of timber land near the mouth of Camp Creek, on which he located with his family, and there lived and labored, occupied in the improvement of his place, until 1811. During this year he sold his farm and moved to Fayette County, where, three miles from the county seat, he purchased a farm, on which he lived for six years. Selling this land, he moved to Union County, where he purchased a tract of heavy timber land and improved another farm. In 1823 he sold this farm and moved to Indiana, locating in Hamilton County, where he again pur- chased land and entered upon his chosen vocation. Of this tract he cleared 100 acres and there lived until 1830. In that year he sold his landed in- terests in Indiana and came to the Prairie State, set- tling in Livingston County, where he "took up" Government land, on which he continued to re- side until Nov. 15, 1832, the date of his demise. His wife died in Knoxville ten years later, April 2, 1842. They were the parents of 14 children, 12 of which large family grew to attain the age of man and womanhood.

The subject of this notice was the tenth in order of birth of his parents' large family of children, and made his home with them until he was 19 years of age. He was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. When he was 16 years of age he studied surveying with Rev. Moses Hinkel, near Springfield, Ohio. During the winter seasons he taught school and in the summer worked on the farm. He then went to Indiana and was there en- gaged in surveying the subdivisions of the sections in Marion and Hamilton Counties. He was a resi- dent of the latter county when it was organized, and as a candidate of the Whig party was elected its first Recorder, before attaining his 20th year.

Mr. Hannaman was married in Union County, Ohio, March 6, 1823, to Hannah Plummer, born in Massachusetts, Feb. 6, 1803. She was a daughter of Asa and Deborah Plummer. Directly after his

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marriage, he returned with his bride to Hamilton County, Indiana, where he entered upon the duties of the office to which he had been elected. His father gave him 30 acres of timber land and built a log house upon it, in which the young couple began their first housekeeping. In the winter of 1824-25 our subject taught school near his log cabin in Ham- ilton County. His trials in life began early, for two years after his marriage, in 1825, his house with all its contents was destroyed by fire, together with all the county records of which he was custodian. He was thus robbed of all his possessions except his ax and his wife's spinning-wheel, these not being in the house, and with these they again began life anew. The following summer he rebuilt his cabin and there lived until the spring of 1826, when he sold out, and, having been appointed Sheriff of Hamilton County by Gov. Ray, he moved to Noblesville, the county seat of that county. His commission was dated Nov. 15, 1825. The following year he was elected County Surveyor and for ten years served in that capacity. The duties of that office, however, were chiefly performed by a deputy, and our subject in the meantime taught school. He also spent some time reading medicine, with the intention of practic- ing, but changed his mind and engaged in the study of law. After following up the latter study for three years, Nov. 13, 1830, he was admitted to the bar.

In 1831, Mr. Hannaman formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Jeremiah Leming, and they embarked in the mercantile trade at Nobles- ville, and successfully conducted the same for two years, when the partnership was dissolved and our subject continued the business alone for one year. He then took into partnership Deacons Stoops and Malery, and they continued to do an excellent bus- iness for two years, when, on account of President Jackson's action in withdrawing the funds of the United States Government from the United States Bank, in 1833, the partnership was dissolved. In 1834 Mr. Hannaman was elected to the Legislature and served two terms. In 1836 he came to this State, locating at Knoxville, where he engaged in the mercantile business, and was thus occupied for six years.

In October, 1837, our subject was appointed Master in Chancery by Judge Ralston, which posi- tion he held several years. He was elected Probate Judge for a term of four years, at the expiration of

which time he was re-elected. In 1844 he was nominated and placed on the Whig ticket-which party had sprung into existence from the withdrawal of the Government funds from the United States Banks-for the Legislature, the main issue at that time being the annexation of Texas. Mr. Hanna- man opposed this and was defeated by 45 votes. At the close of the canvass he formed a partnership with his successful opponent, Julius Manning, in the practice of law, which copartnership existed until 1851, when Mr. Manning was elected Attorney and Mr. Hannaman Secretary of the Peoria & Oquawka Railroad Company. At the close of his connection with that company he returned to the practice of his profession, and at different times was associated with T. J. Hale, Clayton Hale, George Kretsinger and F. A. Willoughby.

In 1873 Mr. and Mrs. Hannaman celebrated their golden wedding, at which time there was a family re- union, which proved a most pleasant and enjoyable occasion. His wife died three years later, Jan. 24, 1876. She joined the Presbyterian Church in 1830, but on their removal to Knoxville united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which denomination she was an active, working member.

In 1835 Mr. Hannaman, in company with F. B. Cogswell, started on horseback to explore the west- ern country. They visited Flint Hills, now Burling- ton, Iowa, where they had the pleasure of seeing Black Hawk, who was at that time temporarily camped near Burlington. Oquawka was then called " Lower Yellow Banks," and New Boston "Upper Yellow Banks."

Of the 11 children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hanna- man, three survive : William T. lives at Cherry- vale, Montgomery Co., Kan .; Ella is the wife of Capt. R. R. Harding, of Chicago; and George L. is a resident of Galesburg, where he has served as Cir- cuit Clerk for 12 years. Mr. Hannaman was the second time married, Nov. 26, 1879, to Mrs. Susie A. Corwin (nee Shaw). She was born in Windsor, Windsor Co., Vt., Feb. 8, 1835, and is a daughter of Seth and Elizabeth (Barrett) Shaw. Her father was a native of Massachusetts and her mother of Vermont. Mrs. Hannaman was first married to Rev. James Corwin, a native of Pendenleton District, South Car- olina, and was licensed as a preacher in the Method- ist Church when 30 years of age. He was sent to California, in 1849, as a missionary, crossing the

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plains to that State. He was a pioneer of that church on the Pacific Coast, and was present at the organization of the California Conference. He trav- eled over a great part of the State in the cause of Christianity, and was extensively known and uni- versally respected. He served as Presiding Elder for seven years. His death occurred Dec. 1, 1876.

Mr. Hannaman has been a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church since he was 16 years of age. and joined the church at Knoxville at the same time with his wife, on their arrival here. He was connected with the Sabbath-school at Knoxville for 49 years, and gave his services about 20 years as Superintendent. and 10 or 15 years as Secretary and Treasurer. He resigned these positions in the spring of 1885. He is now Trustee in the church and was for many years Steward.

A portrait of Judge Hannaman appears on another page.

enry Frailey. This worthy gentleman oc- cupies a farmi on section 8, in Cedar Town- ship, a.id was born in Armstrong County, Pa., Nov. 22, 1832. Here he was raised and lived until his 20th year. His father's name was John Frailey, a prominent native of Penn- sylvania, who died at the age of 63 in the year 1859. He married Miss Mary Garry, also a native of the Keystone State, who died in 1869, at the age of 65. They are both buried in the State referred to, and by their union had six children-John, George and William (twins), Margaret, Elizabeth and Henry.

Mr. Frailey, our subject, married Miss Artimitia Kays, on the 6th of March, 186r. This good lady was born Feb. 24, 1840, in Cedar Township, this county. She is the daughter of William and Eliza- beth (Bracken) Kays, both natives of Kentucky. Her father's birth occurred April 11, 1804, and her mother was born in 1807 and died Jan. 5, 1870. They were the parents of 12 children, viz. : William A., Mary, James, Nancy J., Henry, Abigail, Artimi- tia, Delia A., Jackson, George, Francis and Charles. Of eight children, Mr. Frailey has six living-John A., born Nov. 17, 1862; Mary E., June 5, 1865 ; Lil- lie V., May 28, 1869; Charlie, Aug. 26, 1873; George, April 15, 1876; and Willie F., Feb. 4, 1880. -

These children form a most interesting family and are a great comfort to their parents.

In 1858 Mr. Frailey entered Illinois and worked on a farm by the month for three years. At the close of that time his marriage took place, and in 1866 he purchased 80 acres of good land, to which he has since added other lots, amounting in all to 166 acres. In the year 1875 he erected for himself a very desirable dwelling-house.

This gentleman and his wife are respected mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while in politics he has always represented the interests of the Republican party. Before closing, it is only right to mention that Mr. Frailey has two interesting grandchildren-Harrison A. L. and George Frailey.

illiam C. Koons, the Clerk of Henderson Township, has a neatly cultivated farm on section 15. He is the son of Felix and Agnes (Reagan) Koons, natives re spectively of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Mr. Koons, Sr., was one of the very early set- tlers of Knox County, arriving here in 1835. His decease took place in the township named in 1874, his wife dying in the same township April 4, 1867. There were four children by the marriage, of whom William was the eldest. The date of his birth was June 12, 1857, since which he has been a constant resident of the county and devoted himself to agri- cultural pursuits and stock-raising. In the latter he has succeeded in producing some fine strains of cattle.

Mr. Koons married Miss Ella Martin in Wataga, 111., Sept. 18, 1879. This good lady was the daugh- ter of William and Drusilla Martin, natives of Penn- sylvania and Virginia. Her birth took place in Warren County, Ill., on the 29th of August, 1861. By our subject's marriage there have been three chil- dren born-Georgia, Clarence and Daniel.

Mr. K. was elected Clerk of Henderson Township in the spring of 1885, and in this office has given universal satisfaction. His farm in all consists of 87 acres, 57 of which are in the fullest sense fertile and very tillable land.

As a Republican in politics he has always dis-

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played the warmest interest in the good of his party, and allows no incident affecting Republicanism to pass without noticing its good or evil effect on the future of the country.

P. DeLong. Among the numerous well- to-do farmers of Sparta Township is the gentleman whose name heads this no- tice, and who resides on his fine farm on section 31. He is a native of the Green Mountain State, having been born in Addison County, Vt., June 14, 1826. The parents of Mr. De- Long, Julius and Julina (Sandford) DeLong, were likewise natives of Vermont. The father was an early emigrant to this State, having moved here in 1836, and passed the winter of that year at Henderson Grove. In 1837 he purchased 72 acres of land on the section above named, and moved onto the same in January, 1838. It must be recollected that this was at a time when there had been but little settlement made in the county, and consequently the land on which Julius DeLong settled was in its original con- dition. He nevertheless began the work of its im- provement, and there lived and labored, encountering many obstacles, but overcoming them, until his death, in 1870; that of his good wife taking place six months later. They were the parents of three children -- Marshall P., Mary A. and Harriet T.

The subject of this notice was the only son of his parents, always resided on the farm, and received his education in the common schools and Knox Academy. On the death of his parents he came into possession of the old homestead on section 31, where he has since lived, and has continued to follow his chosen vocation until the present time. He has added to the original purchase of his father, until at present his farm consists of 102 acres, with a good residence and substantial out-buildings, and the land is under an advanced state of cultivation. In 1849, Mr. De- Long was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Harding, a native of New York, and a daughter of Jones and Mary (Rowley) Harding, likewise natives of that State. Her parents came to Knox County in 1837, and settled near Galesburg. Mrs. Harding died in Galesburg in 1848. Her father is yet living and resides with the subject of this notice.

Mr. and Mrs. DeLong have three children-Mary,

Harriet and Walter. Mary married Charles Neely, and they have three children-Arthur M., Walter D. and Cora A .: the family reside in Sparta Township; Harriet DeLong married A. W. Hastie, and they also have three children-Walter, Warren and Irma, and the family reside in Deadwood, Dak. ; little Irma has lately died.

Mr. DeLong, in his political opinions, coincides with the principles advocated by the Republican party. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for 25 years, having been elected to that position in 1861. He is at present Postmaster at Centre Point, and has held the office of Supervisor of Sparta Township in the days that are past and gone. He was one of the managers of the Agricultural Board of Knox County for several years, and was for three

years President of the Society. He has recently been appointed to the Superintendency of the Knox County Almshouse. Mr. DeLong and his wife are members of the First Church at Galesburg, and as a representative citizen of the agricultural class of Knox County, Mr. DeLong occupies a high position.

red. Ehrenhart, of the firm of Pister & Ehrenhart, was born in Germany, March 7. 1861. His parents were Michael and Susan (Lentz) Ehrenhart, who were natives of the same country. The mother died in Germany in 1863, and the father came to America in 1865, settling at Galesburg with a family of eight children.

The subject of this sketch left home at the early age of five years, going to live with an uncle, with whom he remained for ten years, and then went with a Mr. Pister to learn the art of painting, at which he worked three years. He then went into partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. Pister, in the manufactur- ing of tile at Abingdon, continuing for five years in that business. They sold out and came to Wataga, where they engaged in the same business.

Mr. Ehrenhart was married in 1883, to Miss Lutie Churchill, a daughter of Joseph Churchill of Wataga. A little son, Georgie, and another little son, Freddie, brighten the home of these enterprising parents.

Mr. Ehrenhart is a Democrat politically, and with his wife belongs to the Congregational Church. Hav-

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ing been early thrown upon his own resources and taught the value of industry and economy in that best of schools, experience, he has profited by the same, growing up into manhood with a strong, self-reliant character, being already, though young in years, one of the representative men of the county, a useful and valuable citizen.

ames M. Cool, a resident of Yates City and one of Knox County's able and worthy cit- izens, is the subject of this sketch. He has, in time past, proven himself worthy of a strong claim to public notice and esteem, and is identified with the growth of this section of the country. Mr. Cool was born in Highland County, Ohio, Nov. 5, 1821. His father, William Cool, was a native of West Virginia, and his grandfather, John Cool, of German ancestry and probably birth. The patronymic is sometimes spelled Kuhl. Our sub- ject's grandfather removed to Ohio from Virginia, and was one of the early settlers of Highland County. He bought timber land there, a part of which now lies in the city of Greenfield, but was a blacksmith by trade, at which vocation he con- tinned until he engaged in farming pursuits, which he kept up until the date of his death.

The father of J. M. Cool, when quite young, re- moved to Highland County, and when a young man to Fayette County, where he served an apprentice- ship, learning the trade of a hatter. Completing that, and having served out his time, he established himself in the business at Greenfield, conducting the same for some years. He then removed to Raiasboro, Highland County, taking his business to that place and continuing it until his death, in 1866.

The maiden name of our subject's mother was Alice Ware, of Highland County, daughter of Hugh and Rebecca (Hanson) Ware, natives of Pennsyl- vania. She died in Greenfield, Ohio, in 1831, leav- ing five children. Of these our subject was the eldest child, and learned the trade of a hatter that he might acquire more self-dependence. He fol- lowed it until 1847, then rented land in Highland County for three years, and in 1850 removed to Ross County, where he rented land until 1854. Accom- panied by his wife and two children, he in that year

started for Illinois with a pair of horses and a cov- ered wagon. He made the entire journey overland, and finally located at Shir.town and spent the winter there. In 1855 he rented a farm of W. K. Ware for three years, then bought a quarter of section 9, Salem Township. It was raw, uncultivated prairie land, but he immediately built a house and began to improve it, and soon had the property all fenced. On this he erected a good set of frame buildings, and in 1885 rented the farm and removed to Yates City, where he now lives retired.

He was united in marriage with Sarah S. Stout, Nov. 23, 1848. She was originally of Fayette County, born May 29, 1828, and was a daughter of Peter and Nancy (Eyre) Stout. Her father was born in Tennessee and her mother was from Vir- ginia. Three children were the result of this union -Peter A., living in Rock Island; Alice E. A., wife of David Enochs, whose home is in Shenandoah, Iowa; and Della Josephine. Mr. and Mrs. Cool and all the children are united with the Methodist 1 Episcopal Church, and Mr. C. is a Class Leader in the organization, besides being Steward and Trustee. Both he and his wife are active, earnest Christians, and carry into their daily lives the strength and help of a pure and undefiled religion. Their only son, Peter A., is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and is Presiding Elder of the Rock Island District.

Politically, Mr. Cool was formerly a Whig, but joined the Republican party at its formation, and votes the straight ticket, upholding his party princi- ples with a vigorous and energetic spirit.

liver Ellison. a farmer, of Salem Township, resident on section 1, was born in Washing- ton County, Md., Oct. 26, 1806. His father, Peter Ellison, was a native of New York, and was born Aug. 17, 1791, of English lineage. His mother bore the maiden name of Polly Molter. She was a native of Dauphin County, l'a., and of German ancestry.

Peter Ellison was a shoemaker by trade, and fol- lowed the same until 1816, at which time he moved to that portion of Bedford now in Fulton County, Pa. There he secured a farm, upon which were

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located a grist and saw mill, and which he operated a few years, when his property was entirely destroyed by fire. But he was not the man to give up, and soon resumed his trade. About the year 1830 Mr. Ellison removed to McConnellsburg, renting a large farm at that place, which, with the assistance of his three sons, he operated with considerable success for three years. At the expiration of this time, the father of our subject had the misfortune to lose his wife, and in consequence, March 6, 1839, he re- turned to his former home, where he spent the re- mainder of his days, his death occurring Nov. 13, 1845.

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Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 43

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