Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 65

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 65

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Shumaker was born in Jackson County, Ohio, Sept. 25, 1819, and came with his parents to this ' Oct. 7, 1863, died Feb. 12, 1865 ; Dell, born April

610

KNOX COUNTY.

5, 1865; Carrie, born Nov. 28, 1866, died in 1868; Cora, born Sept. 24, 1868; and Edna, March 16, 1870.

Mr. Shumaker is the owner of 190 acres of excel- lent land; he has a good dwelling-house and con- venient out-buildings, and is engaged in the rearing of cattle and horses. He has 14 head of Short-horn cattle, and a bull, named Gladstone, two years of age. The name of Mr. Shumaker's farm is the " Gold Mine Herd Farm," and it is located four and a half miles southeast of Abingdon, about two and a half miles northwest from Herman. His location is beautiful, giving a fine view of the surrounding coun- try, with its gently undulating surface and fields of waving grain. Looking it over, he may well think proudly, "I am monarch of all I survey." In con- nection with his farming interests and breeding of cattle, he raises Clydesdale horses, and has an inter- est in two stallions-Romeo and Western Monarch, three and five years of age respectively. He has been very successful in his stock-raising ventures, and, in truth, in nearly everything he has attempted. Both himself and wife are able and useful members of the society in which they mingle, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Her- man. He is an evidence of the truth of the saying, " Nothing succeeds like success." In politics he was originally an old-line Whig, and when the Re- publican party came into power he joined that or- ganization and has been a Republican ever since.

eorge Houston, deceased, one of the early settlers of Lynn Township, and a gentleman highly respected as a citizen and successful as a farmer and stock-raiser, is he of whom we write. George Houston was born in Steuben County, N. Y., July 11, 1804. He was the son of Alex. and Elizabeth (Mills) Houston, natives of York State, and his father a farmer by vocation.

When George Houston, who was one of 11 chil- dren, was three years of age, his parents moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. There, four years later, George's father died, and his mother, together with her family of children, moved to Hamilton, Butler County, in that State, and it was while living there that the de-

mise of our subject's mother occurred when in her 71st year. It was also in that county, at Hamilton, that George grew to manhood, in the meantime de- voting his time to agricultural pursuits. Almost the first thing he did after attaining his majority-that is, after he had had about four years to think the matter over-was to unite himself in marriage with Miss Susan Stewart, the date of their nuptials being Nov. 12, 1839. His bride was born in Clermont County, and was there reared to womanhood, and there resided until within a short time prior to her marriage. Her father was a farmer, and both her parents died in Indiana, the major portion of their lives, however, having been passed in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Houston became the parents of two chil- dren. Matilda became the wife of Fred Mack, a machinist by trade; Martin was married and is at present a resident of Utah. It was while Mr. and Mrs. Houston were living near Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, that the wife and mother died, the date of her demise being in 1844.

Mr. Houston formed a second matrimonial alli- ance with Miss Nancy J. Harr, Aug. 21, 1851 ; she was born near Hamilton, Ohio, Feb. 26, 1829. She is a daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Moudy) Harr. Mrs. Harr was born in Hagerstown, Washington Co., Md., in 1798; the father in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1786. The father was reared in his native county, but went to Washington County, Md., prior to his marriage, where he was engaged in farming. Shortly after his marriage he moved to Butler County, Ohio, where he became actively engaged in agricult- ural pursuits, and at the time of his death-1855- owned a valuable property. Later his wife, mother of Mrs. Houston, went to Clay County, Ind., where her demise occurred, in March, 1868.

Mrs. Houston was the younger but two of a family of 11 children, seven of whom are living at this writ- ing, and all married. One lives in Iowa, three in Indiana, two in Missouri and one in this State. Mrs. Houston was educated in the public schools, and continued to reside with her parents until her mar- riage. She is an intelligent lady, and has kept time with the progress of events since the time of her school days, by continual reading.

The same year that our subject was married they came to this State and located in what is now the thriving city of Peoria. There Mr. Houston was en- gaged in mercantile pursuits for a number of years,

611

- Y -

KNOX COUNTY.

meeting with more than ordinary success. In 1856 he abandoned the busy life of a city, came to this county, and purchased 320 acres of wild prairie land, on section 4, in Lynn Township, on which he located with his family and at once engaged in its improve- ment and cultivation, and where he continued to re- side until his death. The tract which he originally purchased presents a far different appearance to day, it being under advanced cultivation and having thereon elegant improvements, and valued at $85 per acre. This fine competency Mr. Houston left unincumbered to his wife and children at the date of his demise. He was a gentleman active and ener- getic in every measure he thought was for the benefit of the community in which he resided, and was never known to turn a deaf ear to true charity, and died respected by all who knew him for his honesty and straightforwardness. His death occurred at his home while his good wife was visiting at Hamilton, Ohio, Dec. 22, 1874, the cause being heart disease, he having suffered considerable for some years prior to his death. In politics he was a stanch Democrat ; in religion liberal, and socially a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Galva, and the Chapter at Kewanee.

Since the death of her husband Mrs. Houston has successfully managed the farm, together with the assistance of her sons. She has at the same time devoted considerable of her time to the education of her children, and in every instance has been re- warded by their success in acquiring knowledge. The issue of her union with Mr. Houston was II children. The living are Jennie K., wife of Byron H. Richardson, a resident of Eureka, Kan .; he is en- gaged in the luniber business at that place, in which he is meeting with success ; they have three children living, whose names are Clara B., George E. and Evalina. Josephine became the wife of John W. Guthrie, wuo is an extensive cattle-dealer at Omio, Kan .; they have three children, name.l Vir- gia, Nancy and Deborah Maud. Deborah was the wife of J. F. Cummings, deceased. Frances C. mar- ried Albert Stuckey, a farmer in Walnut Grove Town- ship, and has one child, named Glenn H. Alex. C. lives at Hamilton, Kan., and is engaged in the lum- ber business in connection with Mr. Richardson. Della is a teacher in the public schools of this county ; she is a graduate of the High School at Galva, and also of Knox College, Galesburg. George 1

M. attended the Business College at Davenport, lowa, and is superintending a farm now. Sam J. resides near Randall, Kan , and is engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising. Mills R. lives at home and assists his mother in running the farm. Luella was born Nov. 27, 1870, and died Feb. 8, 1871. Laura N. also resides on the old homestead and assists her mother at the household duties, having received n good education in the common schools. Mrs. Hous- ton, together with five of her daughters and one of her sons, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

3 artin W. Gay, President of the Second National Bank, Galesburg, capitalist, real estate and money broker at that city, is a native of Bridgeport, Addison Co., Vt., whence his parents, Luther and Eliza (Water- man) Gay, removed with their family to Knox County in 1836.

The farm upon which the senior Mr. Gay located was the northwest quarter of section 3, lying in Galesburg Township and about two miles north of the town as then laid out. Here the old gentleman spent the rest of his life, dying in 1858, in the 60th year of his age. His widow survived him only about one year and died at the age of 59 years. The Gay family, so far as is known, came originally from England; the Waterman family probably came from Ireland and were of Scotch ancestry. Both families were found to have been among the colonists of New England, where their names are more familiar to-day than in any other part of the country.

The subject of our sketch is the eldest of three sons, the two younger being Theodore R. Gay, now of San Diego, Cal., and William H. Gay, Ticket Agent of the C., B. & Q. R. R., at Aurora, III. M. W. Gay was born Dec. 17, 1822 ; he was therefore a lad of 14 years when the family arrived here. At that time the schools of Galesburg were of a most excel- lent character, a fact easily traceable in the lives of the men who were boys here 50 years ago. Young Gay attended the Galesburg school, acquiring thereat a thorough English education. His early desire, and intention in fact, was to study law, but from some cause that idea was abandoned, and the only thing he ever embarked in approximating a profession was

612

KNOX COUNTY.

that of school teacher. In 1849 he started a gen- eral store in Henderson Township, and conducted it with more or less success for about seven years. In 1864 he came to Galesburg and engaged at once in his present business and has here remained. He was one of the organizers of the Second National Bank of this city, a member of its first Board of Directors, and of every succeeding Board, except one year. Mr. Gay is a reliable Republican ; no office seeker, never held or desired to hold a political office in his life; is identified with no particular church and has never belonged to any secret order. He was married at Galesburg, Oct. 3, 1872, to Miss Loraine E. Gay, who is a native of Vermont. Her parents came to this county in 1857. They were Joseph and Maria (Rhodes) Gay, both deceased.

.04.

ustin Gaines, one of the retired farmers of Knox County, is the occupant of a hand- some residence on section 24, Copley Township, and ranks high among the good men of the county-not only morally good, but possessing the enterprise, perseverance and in- tegrity which are the attributes of all citizens to whom the term is properly applied. He was born in Connecticut, Oct. 10, 1812, and his parents are Sam- uel and Esther (Blakesly) Gaines, natives of Con- necticut. The father died in September, 1834, in Delaware County, N. Y., while the mother came to Illinois in 1842, and lived with her children a num- ber of years, her death occurring in 1862. They had a family of eight children, four of whom are still liv- ing-Austin, Linda, Nelson and Harriet ; those de- ceased are Esther, Clarissa, Sylvester and Elmira.

The subject of our biography was the second child in order of birth. He commenced to learn the wagon trade at the age of 17, served four years, and then went to work for himself, continuing at his trade for 27 years. He moved to Ohio in 1836, and there lived three years. He then emigrated to Illinois, which was at the beginning of 1840. Settling in Cop- ley Township, he purchased 80 acres on section 2, and lived on the same eight years. At the expiration of that time, he sold out and purchased 220 acres in sec- tion 25, Copley Township, afterward adding almost 400 acres. On this he lived until 1884. He then moved onto section 24, where he now lives.

He was united in marriage, in 1836, with Henrietta Olmsted, and they are the parents of eight children, five still living-Darius, Homer, George, Harvey and Chauncey. Darius is married to Vashti Cherington, and of their union three children have been born, as follows : Samuel, Clara and Chauncey E. ; they are now living in Adair County, Iowa ; Homer is a merchant in Greenfield, Iowa; he married Martha Boyer, and the result of their union is six boys-Frank, Judson, Arthur, Harley, Daniel and Robert; George Gaines united in marriage with Rachel Knapp, and four children are the result of this alliance-William C., Myra, Clinton and George; he has a farm in Copley Township; Harvey took to wife Ellen Cook ; three children were born to them- Susan Henrietta, Angie Belle and Elton H .; they are living on the old homestead; Mrs. Harvey Gaines died April 20, 1885 ; Chauncey married Charity Rick- son, and they have four children-Clarence A., Ma- bel, Irene and Howard R .; Chauncey is cashier of a bank in Oakland, California; Mrs Austin Gaines died July 20, 1865.

For his second wife, Mr. Gaines married Mrs. Ange- line Dales, the daughter of John and Betsy Ann (Dur- ham) Levalley. They came to Illinois in 1843, and settled in Henderson Township, where they lived until the death of the father in 1860 ; the mother survived him a number of years, and died in 1871. Mr. Gaines was in the grocery business in Galva, Henry County, for two years.

Mr. Austin Gaines is in conversation a markedly pleasant and congenial man, and by his affable man- ners and agreeable behavior, coupled with sterling worth, has won the respect and esteem of those about him, and could be elected to any office in his town- ship, and probably in his county. He is a Republican in politics, and held the offices of Constable and Township Collector. Mrs. Gaines is a member of the Baptist Church.

*百米仁

obert D. Thompson is a farmer and stock- breeder of Knox County whose prominence and influence are unquestioned, while his På ability in his chosen field has brought decided success. He is a man of extreme usefulness in the community, and spares no effort to forward all moral and religious movements intro

613

KNOX COUNTY.

duced, both by personal endeavor and with financial support.

Mr. Thompson was born in Monmouth County, N. J., Nov. 24, 1812, and at the age of 13 emigrated with his parents to Cincinnati, Ohio. Land was pur- chased in Clermont County, where our subject lived until 1855, in the fall of which year he came to Illi- nois, locating on section 11, in Chestnut Township, where he now lives.

Mr. Thompson was united in the bonds of matri- mony with Miss Margaret Sloan, in 1831. She was a native of Clermont County, Ohio, born in 1809, and departed this life in 1853, leaving a large family cir- cle, consisting of 13 children. Her remains were in- terred at Edenton, Ohio. The names of her chil- dren were as follows: James, William, Elizabeth, Benton, Malvina, Jane, Robert, Alice and five who died in infancy.

In 1854 our subject formed a second matrimonial connection with Miss Aime J. Baremor, a native of the State of New Jersey. She was born April 21, 1826, and resulting from this union was the birth of seven children, four living and the remainder de- ceased. The names of the living are David, Charles, Ella and Lillie. David united in marriage with Miss Clara Nichols ; Charles married Miss Clara Rockenfield and they have three children, and are residents of Barber County, Kan ; Ella is the wife of Henry Gibson, of Iowa, and they have two children ; Lillie remains at home.

Mr. T. is the owner of 345 acres of land, all in one body, on which stand two convenient and pleasant dwelling-houses. He is a man of considerable pop- ularity and power ; is a member of Maquon Lodge, No. 530, A. F. & A. M., joining the fraternity in 1855. He belongs to Knoxville Chapter and Gales- burg Commandery, No. 8, K. T. He has filled the stations in the South and West at different times, and estems and upholds Masonic principles with unabat- ed zeal. He also belongs to the I. O. O. F., having joined the order in 185 1, and is a member of the En- campment at Abingdon. He has filled all the offices in the subordinate lodge. and has proved a help rather than a hindrance, in that he has never drawn upon them financially to any extent. He is of a lit- erary turn of mind and possessed of high mental at- tainments. He was educated in the Methodist Epis- copal doctrines by his parents, but is at the present

time a Universalist in belief, besides being the pos- sessor of pure and high morality and a strong belief in the Golden Rule. IIe donated liberally toward the erection of the First Methodist Church at Ma- quon, and is ever ready to forward all church move- ments or anything in which the good of the commu- nity at large is concerned. He is well known as a devoted husband and father, and his latter days have passed by peacefully " as a tale that is told." Evi- dently he is a man of deeds, not of words. Politi- cally he is a Jeffersonian Democrat, and has stuck to his party principles through evil as well as good re- port.

ohn Wilson, a farmer, residing on section 27, Galesburg Township, was born in Per- sifer Township Sept. 23, 1841. He is the son of Francis and Elizabeth (McPherrin) Wil- son. (See sketch of Francis Wilson.) Mr. Wil- son was born March 1, 1809, in Pennsylvania. She was born Dec. 15, 1819, and died Aug. 15, 1882 ; the former is still living. She moved to Illinois in 1835, and married Mr. Wilson Nov. 26, 1840, in Knoxville, this county. They had five children, as follows : John, James A., Francis M., Drucilla J. and Mary E .; the two girls being deceased.

Mr. John Wilson married Miss Annie Carr Sept. 5, 1865. She was born in Vinton County, Ohio, Dec. 21, 1843, and came to Illinois in 1864. They have two children living-William C., born July 27, 1866, and Katie M., born June 6, 1875. Mrs. Wil- son is the daughter of Cornelius and Catherine (Lotts) Carr. He was a native of Connecticut, where he was born in 1801, inheriting the rugged vir- tues of that land of steady habits, and died in Ohio, Sept. 5, 1877. His wife was born July 4, 1804, and is still living in the latter State. They had six chil- dren- Marshall P., Caroline Carr, Sylvester, John K., Annie and Harriet S. Annie, the youngest of the family, married Mr. John Wilson, the subject of this sketch Mr. Wilson is really one of the pioneers of this county, having been born, as above stated, within its limits, and has witnessed its growth from the wilds of the prairie to one of the most populous and thrifty counties of the State. He has 280 acres of fine land in this section, all under a high state of cul- tivation. He has a fine dwelling-house, two stories high and built at a cost of $4,000. It is elegantly

614

KNOX COUNTY.

finished in all its departments, and has a fine base- ment under the entire building. Mr. Wilson bought this farm in 1871, and has since begun the breeding of Polled-Angus cattle, thus keeping pace with the enter- prise and improvement of the day. He has on his farm 2,4co rods of tile draining, of from four to eight inch tile; he has also three miles of good hedge fence and a beautiful maple grove around his dwelling.

Mr. Wilson is a Democrat like his father before him, and practices the principles of toleration pecul- iar to the Declaration of Independence as enunciated by Thomas Jefferson. He is an enterprising, public- spirited citizen, a good neighbor and a successful business man, and keeps up with the improvements of his time.

rank S. Beamer, a goodly land owner of Persifer Township, and one of the re- spected and honored citizens of the county, as well as successful farmers, is the gentleman whose biographical notice we write. He re- sides on section 8, in Persifer Township, and is there industriously engaged in the prosecution of that most independent of all callings, farming, meet - ing with signal success.

Mr. Beamer came to this county in the spring of 1867, from Adams County, Pa , and made settlement in Knox Township. There he lived and labored, engaged in agricultural pursuits, for about ten years, when he moved to Persifer Township, and settled on the farm on which he is at present residing, which now consists of about 175 acres, finely cultivated.

Mr. Beamer was born in Gettysburg, Pa., March 10, 1844, and was the fourth child of a family of ten children, viz .: Henry H., Harriet E., Walter J., F. S. (our subject), John, Jacob H., Emma, Philip, Charles and Martha. John, Charles and Martha are deceased.

The subject of this history was a resident of his native State until he came to this county. Soon after the breaking out of the late war, in October, 1862, he enlisted in the 165th Pa. Vol. Inf. for nine months. He afterward served in an independent company for 100 days, and in February, 1865, again enlisted, this time joining the 74th Pa. Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war. His business has been that of agriculture, in which he has met with success through his own energy and perseverance.

Mr. Beamer was married in Knoxville, Feb. 25, 1869, to Mary A. England, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Koons) England. (See sketch of the England family.) Mrs. Beamer was born in Bedford County, Pa., May 17, 1850, and two children have been born to them-Harry E., born May 12, 1870, and Maggie A., born April 25, 1872.

Mr. Beamer has held the office of School Director and likewise that of School Trustee and Commis- sioner of Highways. His parents were Jacob and Polly (Wentz) Beamer, natives of the Keystone State, and his father was a farmer by vocation. In politics our subject casts his vote with the Republican party.

harles G. Gibbs, present Supervisior of Lynn Township, was born Sept. 8, 1842, in Camden County, New Jersey. He is the eldest son of Joseph D. and Elizabeth (Get- singer) Gibbs. His father was born in 1817, in the same county and State. His mother is a native of Cape May County, N. J. She was the daughter of Christopher and Catherine (Allman) Get- singer. Both the parents still survive, and are resi- dents of Lynn Township. They removed to Phila- delphia in 1843, and in 1857 came West to Knox County, Ill. Charles G. remained at home until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in Co. D, Ist Ill. Cav. The regiment was mustered in at St. Louis. They remained in service until 1862, when they were mustered out and discharged. The com- mand was captured and released on parole, in which was specified that they were " not to bear arms against the Southern Confederacy." This mistake in the papers compelled their discharge from the serv- ice. He subsequently enlisted in the 31st Mo. Vol, Inf., and was mustered out and honorably discharged in 1863. He then returned home and engaged in, farming, in which he still continues. November 16, 1 869, he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca F. Gibbs, a daughter of Jonathan Gibbs. Four children have been born to them. One died in infancy and one in its third year. Wallace and Pearl are the names of those living, aged respectively ten and five years. Mr. Gibbs is a member of Galva Post, No. 33, G. A. R., and also a member of the Masonic frater- nity. Politically he has always been a stanch Re- publican. At present he represents his township in the Board of Supervisors.

- 1 --

615

KNOX COUNTY.

ervey D. Earel. The Earel family are de- scended from English ancestry on the pa- ternal side, and from Irish on the maternal. James Earel, Sr., was born in England in April, 1745. He emigrated to America and settle l in Maryland, where he died in 1830. Susanah, - his wife, was born in Ireland in July, 1745, and died also in Maryland, July 21, 1830. Among the chil- dren of James and Susanah Earel was James Earel. Jr. He was born in Maryland June 21. 1794. and died Oct. 6, 1846, at Columbus, Adams Co., Ill. He married Margaret Given, who was born in West Virginia, March 16, 1801. The date of the marriage was Feb. 9, 1826. She died at Columbus, Adams County, Dec. 22, 1885. There was born to James Earel, Jr., and Margaret, his wife, the following named children: John Maguire, born in Virginia. April 6, 1827 ; Hervey D., born in Virginia, Sept. 25. 1828; Selden G., born in Ohio, Nov. 22, 1836 ; Bar- zillia, born in Illinois, June 4, 1839; Angeline G., born Aug. 14. 1830, died Feb. 13, 1835 ; Alcinda, born April 28, 1832. died Feb. 23, 1835; Margaret A., born March 21, 1834, died April 7, 1835; Ange- line, born April 16, 1841, died Feb. 2, 1842, in Illi- nois. These three children died in Ohio from scarlet fever and the latter in Adams County, Ill.

Hervey D. Earel, the subject of this sketch, was reared at home and received the rudiments of a fair English education. The family removed to Ohio, and settled in Athens County, where they remained until 1838, when they came to Illinois and settled in Adams County. He remained at home with his par- ents until his marriage, which took place in Adams County. The name of his wife was Margaret A. Sam- mons; the date of the marriage was Feb. 26, 1852. Margaret A. Sammons was a daughter of William and Jennie (Robinson) Sammons, natives of Virginia, but residents of Ohio, where Mrs. Earel was born. The date of her birth was Sept. 14, 1832. She died Aug. 14, 1862, in Adams County, Ill. By this union there were five children ; the following are the names in the order of their birth: Mary E., born Sept. 28, 1853, and died April 10, 1858. Erasmus J., born March 28, 1855, and married May Ellwell, July 3. 1878, and is a farmer in Indian Point Township, in this county. Silas R., born Jan. 18, 1857, and mar-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 65

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