Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 72

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 72

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The subject of this brief notice was one of a fan- ily of twelve children and the seventh in order of birth, the record being as follows : Richard S., Adam (deceased), Mary A., Eliza J., Rebecca, Will- iam, Elijah, Benjamin, Malah and Mahala (twins), and Anseline, together with one who died in infancy unnamed. William Cramer, the father of our sub- ject, was a second time married, Mrs. Jacobs becom- ing his wife, but their union was without issue.

The subject of this sketch was married to Miss Jennie Haynes, Jan. 20, 1861. She was the daugh- · ter of Harmon L. and Cerilda Haynes, and was born in 1839 in Orange Township. Six children have been born to brighten the home of our subject, named as follows. Haney, born March 25, 1862 ; Cerilda, born Sept. 8, 1864, deceased; Emma M., born April 21, 1866; Lewis H., Nov. 16, 1868; Sarah A., June 25, 1871 ; and Edwin D., March 26, 1877. The wife and mother died Feb. 20, 1881, and lies buried in the cemetery at Knoxville.

For his second wife Mr. Cramer of this notice married Mrs. Nancy Mather, widow of Lewis R. Mather, the ceremony taking place April 19, 1883, and of their union there has been no issue. By her former marriage she had three children-Francis, born June 8, 1859, deceased; Joseph M., born July 19, 1861 ; and Lewis R., born Nov. 20, 1862.

Elijah Cramer, although not a gentleman seeking office, has held that of Commissioner of Highways for 12 years. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal Church, and his landed interests in the township comprise 212 acres, 90 of which are located on section 32, where his home residence is, 75 acres on section 30 and 38 acres on section 31. All the land is located in Orange Township, and the 90 on which he resides is under an advanced state of cul- tivation, has a good two-story frame building upon it and a fine barn, 40 x 56 feet in dimensions, cost-

ing about $t,ooo. Our subject has met with success in his calling, and the same is attributable to no legacy, but to honest labor and fair dealing. He is a stanch Republican in politics.

ames McMaster. This gentleman is one one of the older members of the McMaster family, who are numbered among the most prominent farmers of Knox County, especially in the district of Walnut Grove and Copley Townships. At present he resides on section - 33, in the former township. Here he owns 160 acres of good land, bearing the improvements of his own hands. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, April 30, 1832, where he spent his early life with his father's family until emigrating to the United States in 1852. Since this date he has passed his time in farming near Walnut Grove and Copley Townships. For many years he was partner with his brother in stock- growing and agricultural pursuits. The joint bus- iness continued up to 1878, since which time he has farmed entirely on his own account. That this gen- * tleman has been thoroughly successful in life is readily seen from his spacious home and the number of good friends who recognize his ability and position. Though a Republican, he has a thorough abhorrence of office-seeking politicians. In him the cause of Republicanism has always found a stanch supporter. Mr. James McMaster still leads a bachelor's life.

rancis G. Sanburn. Among the promi- nent citizens of Knox County and business men of Knoxville whose interests have been identified with the growth and develop- ment of the latter place, from childhood to the present time, is the subject of this biographical sketch. He was born in Knoxville Oct. 4, 1843, for 43 years has been a resident of that place, and is at present one of its most substantial and respected citizens, holding the position of President of the Farmers' National Bank.

The father of Mr. Sanburn, John Gold Sanburn, was one of the early settlers of Knox County, and was born in Canandaigua, Ontario Co., N. Y., March 13, 1797. His father, Nathaniel Sanburn, was a

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native of Connecticut, and born Feb. 6, 1757; and his father, Jedediah Sanburn, was a resident of Massachusetts.

Nathaniel Sanborn, paternal grandfather of our subject, was a farmer and singing-master by voca- tion; that is, he devoted his time to agricultural pursuits, except during the winter months, when he was engaged in teaching music in what was then known as the winter-evening singing-school. His wife was formerly a Miss Hannah Gold, a native of Connecticut, and born Feb. 17, 1763. She was a woman of great energy and enterprise. In 1790, Nathaniel Sanburn emigrated with his family to what was then called the "Far West," and located on the present site of the busy city of Canandaigua, where he purchased a tract of timbered land, which is at the present time included within the corporate limits of that city, and fronts on Main street. A few years after their location there Mrs. Sanburn returned to her native home, making the entire journey alone through the trackless wilderness on horseback. Their house at Canandaigua was open to the travel- ing public and became a favorite stopping place. He died at that place June 25, 1814, aged 57 years. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, an old pioneer of that county, and a gentleman loved and respected by all who knew him. His wife survived him many years, her death occurring Nov. 6, 1856, at the venerable age of 94 years. From the history of the Holland Land Company's Purchase, published by O. Turner in 1851, we quote: "Mrs. Hannah Sanburn is the oldest surviving resident of the vil- lage (Canandaigua) and with few exceptions the oldest upon Phelps & Gorham's purchase. She is now in her 88th year, and exhibits but few of the infirmities of that advanced age, with faculties, especially that of memory of early events, but slightly impaired. The author found her in high spirits, even gay and humorous, enjoying the hearty laugh of middle age when her memory called up some mirthful reminis- cence. Upon her table were some of the latest publications, and she alluded in conversation to Headley's fine descriptions in his ' Sacred Mountains,' as if she had enjoyed them with all the zest of her younger days. She had just finished a letter in a fair hand, showing but little of the tremor of age, which was to be addressed to a great-granddaughter. To Mrs. Sanburn I am greatly indebted for reminis- cences of pioneer events at Canandaigua. Nathaniel

Sanburn, husband of Hannah Sanburn, died in 1814. There is scarcely a pioneer settler in the Genesee country that did not know the early landlord and landlady. Mrs. S. was the daughter of James Gold, of Lyme, Conn., and the aunt of James Gold, of Albany. Her sons, John, William and Nathaniel, live in Illinois. Her third daughter was the first white child born in Canandaigua, is now 60 years of age, and the wife of Dr. Jacobs, of that city. Another daughter is the wife of Henry Fellows of Penfield, and another is the wife of Erastus Granger, of Buf- falo, while a fourth is a maiden daughter residing with her mother. Early in the spring of 1790, Mr. Sanburn came with his wife and two young children to Schenectady, where he joined Judah Colt, and the two chartered a boat, with which they came to the head of navigation of the Canandaigua outlet. Mrs. S gives us a graphic account of this journey. The last house the party slept in after leaving Schenec- tady, until they arrived at the cabin on the Canan- daigua outlet, was the then one log house in the now thriving and busy city of Utica. It was then crowded with boatmen from Niagara. Mrs. Sanburn spread her bed upon the floor for herself, husband and chil- dren, and the boatmen begged the privilege of laying their weary heads upon its borders; after that they camped wherever night overtook them; on the Oswego River they took possession of a deserted camp, and just as they had prepared their frugal meal, two stout Indians came and claimed the camp and threatened to eject them. The conflicting claim was amicably adjusted, but Mrs. S. says it was the first of the Indian race she had ever seen, and she could not help but become a little frightened. Mr. Sanburn moved into the log hut that he had erected in the Robinson neighborhood, where, however, they staid but a short time, Mrs. S. choosing to go where she could have more than one neighbor within eight miles, and they consequently removed to the little village of Canandaigua. Mrs. S. says that in May, 1790, there were residing at that place Joseph Smith, living on the bank of the lake; Daniel Brainard, in a little log house near the present cemetery ; Capt. Martin Dudley, in the house built by Mr. Walker, and James D. Fish, in a log house down near the lake. Gen. Chapin, who had been there the fall before, had erected a small frame house for his fam- ily, but it was unoccupied, and Mr. Sanburn moved into it until he was enabled to erect a small frame

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house on the Atwater corner, and after moving into it engaged as "mine host, " which, with exception of that which had been kept by Joseph Smith, was the first tavern west of Seneca Lake, and was the only one for four years. Mrs. Sanburn enumerated among her early guests many who became prominent in the country's history, such as Oliver Phelps, Charles Williamson, Aaron Burr, Thomas Morris, Rev. M. Kirkland, Augustus and Peter B. l'orter, James and William Wadsworth, early judges of the Supreme Court of this State, Bishop Chase and many other eminent men, but few of whom are living at this writing. Mrs. Sanburn well remembers the Picker- ing treaty of 1794, and gives a graphic description of scenes and incidents of this treaty, which space will not permit me to copy. The first Court of Com- mon Pleas and General Sessions was held at the house of Nathaniel Sanburn in Canandaigua in 1794 ; there was a grand jury and one indictment found. The first permanent church organization was that of St. Matthew's Church, organized Feb. 4, 1799, at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Sanburn, at Canandaigua."

The father of the subject of this notice was the sixth child in order of birth of his parents' family. He was raised on the farm and grew to manhood in his native county, receiving an academical education at Canandaigua Academy. In 1817 he went to Ohio, where he taught school one year. In 1818, he started West on a prospecting tour in company with some other young men. They made their way to the Ohio River, where they secured a small boat and drifted down the waters of that river to a little above the mouth of the Wabash River. During this trip they visited Illinois, and later he returned to New York, having made the greater portion of the return journey on foot. After his return home he engaged in clerking at Black Rock, which he con- tinued until 1825. That year he again started West and joined an elder brother, who was in the land business at Vandalia, Ill., and assisted his brother, and dealt in land to some considerable extent until 1830. He then came to this county and located at Henderson Grove, where he put in a stock of goods and was the first to engage in mercantile pursuits at that place. He continued to do business there until the county seat was located at Knoxville, in the spring of 1832, when he removed his stock of goods to that city. Mr. Sanburn had been instrumental in

securing the organization of the county, being secre- tary of the meeting which was called to elect a committee to present a petition to the Judge of Ful- ton County for the organization, and when the county was organized he became the first Circuit Clerk. When the land of this county was placed in market by the Government, Mr. Sanburn entered a tract, which he superintended and had cultivated and improved, although he continued to reside in the city. After continuing in active mercantile business for a few years he retired from the same, and at the time of his death, April 14, 1865, he was the owner of quite a tract of land, a portion of which has since been made a part of the present city of Knoxville. He also owned at the date of his demise a well- improved farm adjoining the city. He was married Nov. 3, 1831, to Alethea Owen. She was born near Geneva, Ontario Co., N. Y., and was the daughter of Dr. Noah and Elizabeth (Gilmore) Owen. Her father having died, she, in company with her mother and brother, came to this county in 1829 and settled near the present site of Gilson. There were seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sanborn-Elizabeth, wife of James Fitch, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio; Mary L., wife of E. L. Phillips, of Galesburg; John Henry, died Dec. 1, 1883, at Abingdon ; Charles W., a resident of Berea, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio; Francis G., subject of this notice; Alethea, a teacher, and Walter G., a resident of Chicago. The father had filled various official positions, among which were Circuit Clerk, Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court, Postmaster and also Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue. He was a member of the Epis- copal Church and was Senior Warden of St. John's Church, Knoxville, for many years.

Francis G. Sanburn was educated in the city schools of Knoxville and supplemented the same by a two years' course at Knox College. Upon his father's death he served his unexpired term as City Clerk, and was elected to the position the following election. In 1866 he resigned the position to which he had been elected, to engage in teaching in Sparta Township. He was appointed Assistant Internal Revenue Assessor, which office he filled with credit. In 1868 he went to Kansas, and spent one season as a clerk in a dry goods store at Topeka. Returning to this State, we find him, in 1869, as Assistant Post- master at Watseka, where he remained till the fall of 1871, when he resigned and returned home. In the

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spring and winter of 1872 he was industriously occu- pied at Topeka, Kan., and in the following fall, 1873, he again returned to this county and was employed by Phillips Bros., commission dealers and loan agents, with whom he remained until the fall of 1875. November 1 of that year he accepted the position of clerk in the First National Bank of Knoxville, and in the following December was elected Cashier. He continued to act in that capacity until the charter of the Bank expired. In January, 1885, the Farmers' National Bank of Knoxville was organized, and Mr. Sanburn was elected its President.

He is a gentleman of far more than ordinary bus- iness ability, and one who takes great interest in the development of his city and county. His past has been an honorable one, and his accumulation of this world's goods is attributable to his own indomitable energy and perseverance. He is a liberal contribu- tor to all measures calculated to advance the interest of the community in which he resides, and likewise to charity.

Mr. Sanburn was married Aug. 1, 1878, to Miss Mary H. McCracken. She was born in Franklin County, near Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 9, 1852. She died Feb. 7, 1881, leaving one child-Mary L., born Feb. 6, 1881. Mr. Sanburn cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has ever since voted with that party which he so ably represented. Religiously, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

illiam Jones. Prominent among the more influential and able business men engaged in actual service in Knox County may be found William Jones, manufacturer of tile and brick, who conducts his flourishing bus- iness within the limits of the city of Knoxville, and who receives a flattering patronage from the res- idents of that section of the country.

Mr. Jones was born in Crawford County, Pa., on the 31st of January, 1834. His father, John M. Jones, of the same county, was born of Welsh ances- try, and was reared on a farm in his native county. Early in life he married Nancy A. Stainbrook, a na- tive of Crawford County, who was of German descent. He was by trade a shoemaker and at that he worked until 1847, when he bought a farm and

worked it until 1862. At that time he sold out and came to Illinois, locating in Chestnut Township, where he died Nov. 1, 1865. His wife survived him, living until April 21, 1881, when she died at Knox- ville.

The fruit of this union was 10 children-David, of whom the last reports were received in 1862, at which time he was crossing the plains, supposed to have been killed by the Indians; William, our sub- ject ; Sarah E., wife of G. W. Fay, who has a home near Otis, Mass .; Easack, living in Warren County, Pa., who served three years in the 83d Ill. Vol. Inf. ; Eleanor, now deceased; Thomas W., who served four years in the 10th Pa. Vol. Inf., was a prisoner at Anderson and Libby prisons 18 months, and died Oct. 10, 1867, and was buried in Marmaton, Kan .; Daniel, who lives in Fulton County, Ill., and served four years in the 83d Pa. Reg., participating in 29 hard-fought battles and was twice wounded John, who died in 1863, at the age of 17 years; Ru-' fus, who died in 1864, in Otis, Mass .; and Mary, who married and removed to Texas.

Our subject was the second child in order of birth and learned the shoemaker's trade, working at it with his father and making his home with him in Pennsylvania until 1855, when he started for Minne- sota, intending to join a brother. On his way he stopped to visit an uncle in Knox County, and was so much pleased with Illinois, as seen in that sec- tion, that he opened a shop in Maquon, and worked at his trade for two and a half years. In the summer of 1857, he visited the then Territories of Nebraska and Kansas; then returning to Maquon,again resumed his former work, continuing till 1859. In the spring of that year he started with a number of others for Pike's Peak, but, as they continually met persons re- turning with bad reports, they turned back after reaching Ft. Kearney. Our subject staked a claim in Johnson County, Neb., and there remained from May until the following December, and in the meantime entered it at the Government Land-Office. In De- cember he returned to Knox County and bought a team, with which he engaged in breaking prairie and in ditching, continuing at this until August, 1862.

Mr. Jones enlisted in the 83d Ill. Vol. Inf., in the year last named, joined the regiment at Monmouth, and went South to unite with the Army of the Cum- berland. He served in his regiment as Sergeant until 1863, when, in September, he was ordered to Nash-

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ville, and examined by the Military Board and com- missioned as Second Lieutenant in Co. D, 16th Reg. U. S. C. I., on the 15th of October, 1863. He was promoted to a First Lieutenancy in July, 1865, and served with his regiment until he obtained an honor- able discharge at Nashville, Tenn., May 1, 1866.

On his return to Chestnut Township he engaged in farming on the land that he had bought previous to enlisting, and at this he continued successfully until 1876, when he came to Knoxville, and established nis brick and tile works. He at first began on a small scale, but his trade increased from year to year until he now does a good business, estimating his annual in- come from $6,000 to $8,000. He still owns his farm in Chestnut Township, of 270 acres, which is managed by tenants.

He united in marriage Oct. 20, 1868, with Hattie E. Mendenhall. She was born in Fulton County, Ill., July 15, 1840, and was the daughter of William W. and Margaret Mendenhall. Her father was a na- · tive of North Carolina and her mother of Ohio. They are the parents of two children-Harley J., born Sept. 24, 1871 ; and Homer C., born Feb. 21, 1873.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones are desirable members of the society to which they belong, Mrs. J. being a mem- ber of the Baptist Church, in Galesburg, and living out the doctrines of its faith in a consistent Christian experience. Two children have been born to them -Arthur, the first-born, Dec. 25, 1869, died in Sep- tember, 1870; and Florence, the only daughter, born Aug. 27, 1877, and died Dec. 21, 1877.

In politics Mr Jones is a Republican, his first pres - idential vote having been cast for Gen. Fremont.

¿ euben Castle. This gentleman's farm is located on section 12, in Cedar Township. He was born in West Virginia, Sept. 15, 1813, but came to Illinois with his father in 1833, and took up his position on the present section, where he made a claim, but settled here in 1834, at which time the property came into market. His parents were Henry and Sarah (Curry) Castle. They were both natives of West Virginia ; his father was born in 1768, and died in 1840, in the State of Illinois, at the advanced age of 72 years. His mother's birth occurred in 1780, and her death

in the State of Virginia in 1831. By this desirable marriage there were eight children-George, Oliver, Catharine, Susanna, May, Mary, Henry, Reuben and John. Reuben, the seventh and the second young- est child, the only survivor of the family, married Miss Mary A. Long, March 18, 1841. She was born Oct. 18, 1814, in Allegheny County, near Pittsburg, Pa. She came to Ohio with her parents, where she established herself with them at Muskingum, and re- mained up to her 20th year; with them she removed into Illinois about this date, where they landed in November, 1835.

After the location of her parents in Knoxville, they remained here five years and then moved into Cedar Township, where they concluded the remainder of their days on the farmn they then possessed. Their names were George and Catharine (Duffey) Long. He was born in 1780, and died in 1863. She was born in 1790, and died in 1850. Their marriage took place in 1813, and by the union nine children were the result-Mary A., Sarah, George M., Eliza J., William, Margaret, Charles, Martha and Harriet. To grace their household, Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Castle have four interesting children-George H., born Aug. 30, 1843 ; Rufus, born April 12, 1842 ; Sarah C., May 14, 1845, and Curtis H., born Oct. 4, 1848. All these children are now happily married. Two of them live in Iowa, and one son, a physician, is at Point Arena, on the Pacific coast, whither he pro- ceeded Nov. 1, 1882.

Mr. Castle's farm is land of the first quality, and consists of 210 acres. He took it in the wild state, and has now brought it to a higli degree of cultiva- tion. Here he erected a fine dwelling-house in 1855. He has successively held the office of School Director and Commissioner of Highways. £ Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Knoxville, in which church he has held the office of Steward, reflecting thereby much credit upon him- self and benefit upon the congregation. Mr. Castle is a Republican in politics and a stanch adherent of the party.

George and Rufus, his oldest sons, enlisted in the 59th and 83d Regs. Ill. Vol. Inf. In this position George remained five years, and was present at the battles of Stone River, Pea Ridge. Perryville and Franklin. He went forward to attend with Gen. Thomas, and on his way was wounded in the left jaw. Owing to this casualty he draws a regular

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pension. These two sons, like their father, are both good Republicans. Rufus married Alice V. Boylan, March 29, 1869. They have three children-Carroll C., aged 14; Reuben Raymond, aged 11, and Faith A., aged 6 years. George H. married Gertrude Swigert, and their union has been blest with six chil- dren-Mary C., Grace, George M., Curtis H., Nellie M. and Ruth. George H. is an attorney at law, re- siding at Shenandoah, Iowa. Sarah C. is the wife of John H. Griffith. Their marriage was solemnized in February, 1866, and they have become the parents of five children, whose names are Blanche E., Gay- lord C., Mary A., Edna E. and John L. They re- side in Page County, and he is a farmer by occupa- tion. Curtis H., who is a physician, residing in Cal- ifornia, was married to Miss Alma Taber, Oct. 9. 1879. They are the parents of two children-Grace and Curtis H. George is a graduate of Knox Col- lege, in the class of 1872, and Curtis at the North- western University at Evanston, Ill. He also won laurels for himself at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa. Rufus enlisted in Co. C of the 83d Ill. Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war. George enlisted in Co. A of the 59th Ill. Vol. Inf., in 1861, and veteranized and served until the close of the war, when he was dis- charged with honors in February, 1866.

saac N. West, deceased, formerly a pros- perous and progressive farmer and identi- fied with the growth of Knox County, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, Oct. 17, 1835, and was the third son of John and Elizabeth (George) West. (See sketch of W. G. West.) He was but ten years of age when he removed to Knox County with his parents. He had spent some time previous on the farm and in the pioneer schools, and continued to assist his father, making his home under the parental roof, up to the date of his mar- riage. At this time he started for himself, buying a tract of land on section 2, in Salem Township. The land had been broken and fenced, but there were no buildings upon it at the time. He at once set to work and erected a frame house, and immediately began further improvements. He was industrious, thrifty and prudent, and these characteristics, united

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Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 72

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