Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 88

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 88

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KNOX COUNTY.

March 5, 1884; one child blessed their union -- Claud Chester, born Feb. 10, 1885.

Mrs. Ground's father is a native of Scotland, born June 17, 1835 ; her mother was born in Kentucky, May 5, 1835 ; they were united in marriage, June 18, 1860, and are living in Nebraska. They were the parents of seven children, by name as follows : Min- nie A., John W., William J., James M., Robert A., Charles C. and Anna E. Minnie A. is the only one married.

Mr. Ground is the possessor of a finely cultivated farm, which he works very successfully, and is also engaged in the breeding of stock; he watches with much interest the growth of his Scotch-Galloway cat- tle. He has 25 head of pure-blood and high-grade animals, and has in his possession Black Ned, No. 703; and Tam O'Shanter, No. 2446. Black Ned weighs 1,500 pounds, and is two years old. Mr. Ground bred Tam O'Shanter and bought Black Ned. He began with this herd two years ago and has had the best of success. His place is called the Gallo- way Stock Farm. He has the two noted cows Alice May, No. 660, and Lucy's Maid, No. 662 ; they both have heifer calves, which are highly valued. Mr. Ground thoroughly understands the habits and needs of stock and the chief requisites for their successful breeding. The premiums at the New Orleans World's Fair for the best bullock of any age or breed, both in the ring and on the block, were awarded to a Galloway steer owned by A. B. Matthews, of Mis- souri.

In addition to these, Mr. Ground raises Norman grade horses and breeds Poland-China hogs. He is an active public worker and in politics is a Demo- crat.

els Nelson, Secretary of the Scandinavian Mutual Aid Association, whose headquar- ters are at Galesburg, was born in Sweden, July 13, 1840, and came to America in 1856, his parents, Nels and Hannah (Johnson) Bengt- son, having preceded him to this country about two years.

To the Scandinavian the variation of surnames here noticeable presents no anomaly; but to the per- son unacquainted with the custom of these people in reference to nomenclature a brief explanation is prob-

ably due. In Sweden, the given name of the head of the family, often, though not always, supplies the initial syllable to what becomes, as understood by the Saxon, Celt and Teutonic races, a family or sur- name. Thus, in this instance Nels Nelson is ob- served to be descended from Nels Bengtson ; in other words, he is Nels, son of Nels, while his father was Nels, son of Bengt. All the sons of Nels Bengtson would be surnamed Nelson, while the daughters of that gentleman would end their names as "Nels' daughter." Arriving in this country, the native cus- tom is dropped; in fact, the Swede, more readily than any other foreigner coming to our shores, aban- dons old-country customs and accepts, heart and soul, the higher and better ideas of government and society here found.

Our subject was 16 years of age when he arrived in this country. His father died at Chicago immediately upon arriving in that city, and the mother made her way to Galesburg, where he found her, and where she yet lives. Nels' first obligation, viz. : the refunding to his benefactor of his passage money, was promptly discharged from his very first earnings. He then set about earning a livelihood and acquiring a knowledge of the English language. The latter was hastily ob- tained, and by attendance at the public schools he was not long in possessing himself of a good business education. He farmed a year or two ; worked with the C., B. & Q R. R. people awhile; alternating the winters and summers with study and labor.

At the outbreak of the war we find him at work cabinet-making, which he abandoned Sept. 1, 1861, to enter Co. C, 43d Ill. Vol. Inf., as a private soldier. Upon the organization of the regiment he was made Fifth Sergeant, and served till Nov. 30, 1865, leaving the army as First Lieutenant. He was twice sent home on recruiting service, and did detail duty awhile as superintendent of the military prison at Lit- tle Rock, Ark. The rest of the time he was with his regiment. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Jackson, Tenn., Salem Cemetery and Bolivar, Tenn., Mechanicsburg, Miss., through Arkansas under Gen. Steele and in any number of skirmishes. Returning to Galesburg in December, 1865, he clerked awhile in the grocery business, and in 1867 engaged in bus- iness for himself in the firm of Bengtson, Nelson & Co., the partnership lasting four years, when ill health made it necessary for him to sell out.

In April, 1871, our subject was elected City Treas-

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urer and Collector, and was re-elected four successive terms, resigning before the expiration of his last term on account of failing health. From 1876 to 1880 he held the office of Supervisor; was on the Board of Education four years ; Trustee and Treas- urer of the First Lutheran Church for thirteen years; Manager of the Commercial Union Co-operative Store one year. He was in the book and stationery business for three years. From 1879-82 he was, in company with N. P. Swenson, in the grocery bus- iness. This they sold out to the Commercial Union. At the organization of the Scandinavian Mutual Aid Assocation (g. v.) he was made Secretary.

Mr. Nelson was married May 19, 1868, at Gales- burg, to Miss Sarah Nelson. They have buried one child, and have one-Arthur, now a promising stu- dent.

athew Pierce is a prominent and success- ful farmer, residing on section 9, in Wal- nut Grove Township. He owns 160 acres of highly improved land, which, from a farming point of view, has all the requirements necessary for successful agriculture. He came to this county from Lewis County, N. Y., where he was born on the 15th day of July, 1833. Locating in this county, Dec. 7, 1853, he has since made such progress as to win the esteem of those who are prac- tical farmers. He made his first purchase of land in 1856, on section 31. This consisted of 72 acres. Here he resided until 1875, when he sold out and took up his residence on his present location. The death of his father, Robert Pierce, occurred when Mathew was in his tenth year, the date being 1843. His mother's maiden name was Mary Crosby, her de- cease taking place a month earlier, in the same year. Our subject was the oldest son but two of a family of seven children -- four sons and three daughters. Early in years he found the battle of life was not to be won except by strict perseverance, combined with industry and economy. He labored in his native county up to the age of 21, when he came to Knox, and was married in Copley Township, April 16, 1857, to Mary Hobbs. This lady was born in Knox County, Jan. 21, 1839. She was brought up in her parents' home, the latter being of English descent, but arriv- ing in the United States soon after their marriage in.

the old country. Mrs. Pierce died at her home in this township, Feb. 16, 1862. She was the mother of three children-Charles, Ella and Mary. Charles married Amanda Bartlett, and resides in Altona; he is a switchman in the service of the C., B. & Q. R. R. ; Ella is married to Morse Whiting, proprietor of a meat-market in Altona; Mary, who married Alexan- der W. Anderson, resides in Galva, her husband fol- lowing the occupation of a druggist. Mrs. Pierce was a lady widely known and highly esteemed by a large circle of acquaintances in her vicinity. Mr. P. was again married in Oneida, Feb. 15, 1865, to Miss Amelia C. Mix, a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., born April 29, 1841. She was the daughter of Daniel and Charlotte (Park) Mix, natives respectively of Dutchess and Westchester Counties, New York. They were of English and French ancestry. In 1855, Dan- iel Mix and family came to Illinois and located in this county, the mother having previously died in Dutch- ess County, N. Y. The father subsequently married a sister of his first wife, named Sophia. The father only lived in this county up to the fall of 1864, when he emigrated to Woodson County, Kan., where he is at present residing. He was born on the 7th of April, 1801.

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pierce there have been five children born, four of whom survive: Del- bert died Sept. 24, 1883 ; Charlotte E., William E., Lorenzo D., each residing at home, and Park M. Mr. Pierce and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Pierce is a Trustee. The grandfather of this gentleman was born in Ire- land and followed the occupation of farming; later he came to the United States and died in Lewis County, N. Y. In politics Mr. Pierce has always been a stanch adherent of the Republican party.

ohn G. West, who died June 9, 1886, was a prominent farmer on section 17, Gales- burg Township. He was born on the 2 1st of January, 1812, in Cayuga County, N. Y., and lived at the home of his parents until he had attained his majority. While working on his father's farm he at the same time attended the district school. and managed to secure a good com- mon-school education.

He married Miss Amy Rooks on the 29th of De-

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cember, 1836, in Genesee County, N. Y., and arrived in Illinois Feb. 17, 1837. He had, however, come to Log City, in this State, June 3, 1836, a few months before his marriage, and returned in the autumn of the same year and was married as above stated. He subsequently purchased 80 acres of land on sec- tion 17, and had from time to time added to it until it had reached the aggregate of 400 acres of good land. He from time to time sold portions of his land and divided some of it up among his sons until at the time of his death he only practically farmed 73 acres. On this farm are a comfortable dwelling- house and out-buildings. For one year he was located at Log City, and resided in a log house until he built a frame dwelling on the present section.

His amiable wife, Mrs. West, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., on the 4th of September, 1818. She was the daughter of Ira and Philena (Sharp) Rooks, both natives of Connecticut. Her father was born in 1785 and died in 1828. Her mother's birth took { place in January, 1785, and her demise in 1865, in Knox County. They had four children-Amy, Mary, Elizabeth and Sarah. Amy and Sarah are the only surviving members of the family. They also had four sons, but all these died in infancy.

Mr. West's father was John West, born on the 15th of February, 1770, in the State of Connecticut. His birth took place at Lenox, and his marriage to to Miss Sallie Woodcock dated Nov. 7, 1793. This good lady was born Sept. 2, 1772, at Williamstown, Mass. Soon after their marriage they removed to Washington County, N. Y., where he made a pur- chase of some land that was heavily timbered. This he cut down, and the soil was soon prepared for cul- tivation. In this locality he remained until iSo5, when he sold out and purchased land in Cayuga County, N. Y. This latter purchase consisted of 100 acres, which, being covered with timber, he again undertook took to clear, and soon made it fit for ag- ricultural purposes. On this farm he remained until 1814, when he sold out and moved to Genesee County, N. Y. Here he comfortably lived until 1837, when he came to Illinois and spent the balance of his life with his son John, the subject of this biog- raphy. His decease took place on the toth of Feb- ruary, 1852, at a ripe old age. His wife's decease had taken place five years earlier, on the rith of November, also at the home of her son. They were both respected members of the Presbyterian Church

at Galesburg, and were the parents of 11 children. All these latter survived, and each in due course was married. Their names are Hannah, born Dec. 31, 1794 ; Esther, Sept. 4, 1796; Eliza and Pamelia, twins, July 6, 1798; Nehemiah, Aug. 26, 1800; Laura, June 23, 1802, and who is now living in Iowa; Charles P., Aug. 9, 1805 ; Lois, Feb. 19, 1808; Minerva, Feb. 18, 1810; John G., Jan. 21, 1812; and Sallie, Nov. 17, 1814.

Mr. West of this notice was the youngest but one of his parents' family. He left six sons, who have all grown to manhood, but unfortunately buried three little daughters when quite young. The sons are Charles, born Jan. 10, 1838; Lyman, on the 20th of the same month, 1840 ; Homer, Dec. 27, 1842 ; Ira, April 24. 1845; Nehemiah, Sept. 21, 1847; and Willard, May 10, 1855.

Mr. West may be looked upon as one of the fore- most pioneers of Knox County. He worked in- dustriously among the early settlers and won for himself an enduring reputation He was Supervisor for one year and was Assessor, in his township, for over 20 years. Besides, he filled the office of Trustee of the Old First Church of Christ, of Gales- burg. This body was organized in 1836. Mr. W. acted in the capacity just stated for more than 40 years. All his family are members of that church.

He was an Anti-Mason. Politically he was a consistent and very active Republican, whose views of his party were only formed by time, close observa- tion and the desire to be on the side of the right.

On the occasion of Mr. West's death, a Galesburg paper said of him :

" He had a part in every good word and work connected with Galesburg. Log City records show not only the formation of the Old First Church as laid there, but .an anti-slavery and a temperance society, to both of which he belonged ; later, when Galesburg became a station on the Underground Railroad, he was occasionally a conductor thereon. When Log City moved out to the prairie and be- came Galesburg, John West, who was a farmer, bought his land two and a half miles west of town, where he lived ever after, moving from one side of the road to the other, as his increasing family made a larger house necessary, but returned to the original spot when the marriage of his sons and their going to homes of their own made the larger house seem

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lonesome. Widely scattered as his children are, his friends and influence extended much farther. A gentleman remarked to-day, ' 1 believe there is not a county in Nebraska in which there is not someone who knew him and will feel that in John West's death he has lost a friend.' This widespread in- fluence was not gained by public service, but by 50 years of faithfully doing the duty that stood next him. To do the right, as God gave him to see the right, was the rule of his life, and he lived so near his Savior that he never lacked guidance."

siram Mars, head of the firm of Mars & Hamilton, the representative lumber dealers of Galesburg, the sole survivors of the va- rious successors in turn to the business of Ed- win Post, the pioneer lumber merchant of this place. He came here from Quincy, Ill., in 1856, and erected a planing-mill, which he operated about two and a half years, afterward converting it it into a paper-mill. The paper-mill died more than 25 years ago with the same disease that caused the untimely taking off of the Galesburg Water-works, in 1884-5, to-wit : chronic drouth.

When the war broke out Mr. Mars was clerking in a lumber office, and in the early part of 1863 he was appointed Assistant Supervising Agent in the United . States Treasury in Memphis, Tenn., a position he filled until 1864. In 1870, in company with N. An- thony, he succeeded Mr. Post in the lumber bus- iness, and to this he has given most of his attention.

Mr. Mars was born near Louisville, Ky., Jan. 7, 1830. His father, Andrew Mars, died at the age of 35. and his mother, who before marriage was Miss Elizabeth P. Whips, died in 1849, in Quincy, to which place the family came from Kentucky in 1843. Hiram was the eldest of three sons, and was brought up to the calling of a farmer, receiving his education at Jacksonville (Ill.) College. He began study with a view to the medical profession, but at the death of his mother abandoned the idea and took charge of the farm and the affairs of the family. Upon the completion of his task, which was in March, 1856, he came to Galesburg. Here he distinguished him- self as the friend of public enterprise and a lover of learning. For years he has been identified with the

public library, as he has also with the public parks, and in horticulture and floriculture to the extent of beautifying the parks, adorning the homes of citi- zens, and thereby helping to beautify the city, and inducing emigration to the handsomest city in Illi- nois. He is an appreciative patron of literature and the drama, active in the I. O. O. F., and a wide- awake member of the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Mars married in Quincy Ill., in 1852, Miss Louisa F. Barr, who died at Galesburg in 1864, leaving one child, now Mrs. F. H. Holmes. May 14, 1872, Mr. Mars married his second wife, Miss Lizzie H. Smith, at Wellsburg, W. Va., and the chil- dren born to them are Katie M., James A. and Mary Elizabeth.

Politically he was an old-line Whig until the aban- donment of that political organization, then voted for Fremont in 1856, and from that time to the pres- ent has been a stanch and active Republican.

C. Crandall, proprietor of the Crandall House and transfer lines at Galesburg, is a son of George and Margaret (Carpenter) Crandall, natives respectively of New York and Rhode Island, and of English descent. Our subject was born July 26, 1840, in Nor- way, Herkimer Co., N. Y. He attended the common schools while a boy, and learned the molder's trade before he was 20 years of age. The family came to this State in 1844, settling first in Knox County, and moved thence to Warren, where the senior Mr. Crandall died in 1868. The subject of this sketch began business for himself as a farmer in Warren County, whence he removed to Knox County. In 1884, he engaged in his present business, and a year later sold the farm upon which he spent several years near Knoxville. While engaged at farming he carried on, at various times, the milk-dairy business, and run omnibuses and peddling wagons. Our sub- ject was married at Galesburg, March 9, 1865, to Mrs. Sarah Holmes, nee Keffer, a native of Fayette County, Pa., and widow of John K. Holmes, who died in the Union Army, leaving her with two sons -Albert, now a farmer, and Hampden, an engineer,

Mr. and Mrs. Crandall have had two children born to them, both daughters-Eliza S. P. and

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLING:3

MO Shea

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Mattie L. T., both of whom are graduates of Knox College. In his business Mr. Crandall is deservedly a recognized leader. Night or day, rain or shine, cold or hot, he is one man who may be depended upon. This reputation has made him popular, and in whatever business he has been engaged this is the kind of character he has made. Sober, honest, court- eous and obliging, we take pleasure in writing J. C. Crandall's name among the representative men of Knox County.

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homas McMaster. It requires very little comment or special notice to point out that the above-named gentleman is one of the most successful farmers of Walnut Grove Township, owning 465 acres in this and Copley Townships. He has a delightful residence on section 34, with all the necessary modern building improvements. He is a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, where he was born April 14, 1843. He was only eight years old when, with his father's family, he entered the United States. He is the youngest mem- ber of his family, and noted for his great industry and thoroughness of purpose. The subject of this sketch received a good common-school education, and, though beginning life as a hard-working boy, made such progress that even in his early years he was enabled to save money and purchase land. Soon after he came of age, he began to purchase property, and, joining his brother James, they together bought 800 acres. This they rapidly improved, plowing to- gether, to the amount of 360 acres, continuing in the partnership up to 1878, when they dissolved. Sub- sequently the gentleman whose name graces this history commenced the purchase of land on his own account. In his neighborhood he is considered one of the most successful growers of Poland-China swine and Short-horn cattle.

He was married on the 19th of March, 1878, at Galesburg, Ill., to Miss Sarah E. Hawk, who was born in Ohio, Aug. 4, 1852. This lady was a de- scendant of Jacob and Lavina Garland, who were themselves natives of Ohio and Virginia respectively. These parents were of German extraction. Mrs McMaster was the oldest of four children and the

only one born in Ohio. She first came to Illinois with her parents when an infant only one year old, her father settling in Copley Township. Her father died in this place in October, 1859. Her mother is still living, having married the second time. She, with Mr. David Simpson, her husband, now resides in Walnut Grove Township.

By the happy union of Mr. and Mrs. McMaster there are three children-Ida, born Aug. 26, 1879; George R., Dec. 19, 1883, but now deceased, and an infant also deceased. Mrs. McMaster is a regular and prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and well deserving of the high esteem in which she is held by that body. Politically, Mr. Mc- . Master is a firm Republican, advocating the princi ples of the party without fear, and is highly esteemed by those holding similar convictions.

ichael O'Shea, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, was born in the county of Limerick, Ireland, in the year 1828. His father was Timothy O'Shea, who mar- ried Miss Honora Fitzgerald. The name of his grandfather was Thomas O'Shea. Our sub- ject emigrated to this country in the year 1850, and located in Albany, N. Y., where he remained for five years. He came West in November, 1855, and lo- cated on a farm near Galesburg, where he remained for about five years. At the end of that time he ac- cepted a position on the C., B. & Q. R. R., where he has been continuously for a period of more than a quarter of a century, and is now one of the old landmarks of the "Q." In his long service he has made many friends, and in the city he is well known as one of its representative men.

Mr. O'Shea was married in Albany, N. Y., July 2, 1853, to Miss Ellen Nash, who was also born in the county of Limerick, Ireland, in 1828. She came to this country with her parents in 1850; they were John and Mary (Hourigan) Nash. Her grandfather was John Nash, who married Mary Hogan. On the maternal side her grandfather's name was Conor Hourigan, who married Eleanor Fitzgerald. The union of Mr. and Mrs. O'Shea has been blest by a family of seven boys and two girls, viz .: John L.,

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who is a passenger conductor on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad; William, yardmaster for the C., B. & Q. R. R. at Galesburg. The third son, Ed. F. O'Shea, who is Grand Secretary and Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen, was born near Galesburg, Ill., Sept. 12, 1860. He attended the public schools until his 16th year, and then took a thorough course in the Western Business College in that city, where he graduated June 8, 1877. He immediately entered the service of the C., B. & Q. R. R., in the shops at Galesburg, where he remained one year. Tiring of this, he commenced active serv- ice in the train department, where he served as brakeman, yard-clerk and yard-foreman, until Octo. ber, 1882, when he entered the service of the M. & St. L. Ry., at Minneapolis, Minn., as yard-foreman, where he remained one year. Returning to the C., B. & Q. R. R., he served as brakeman until Jan. I, 1885, when he was called to Chicago to take charge of the affairs of this great brotherhood.

Mr. Ed. O'Shea was a charter member of " C. E. Judge " Lodge, No. 24, of the brotherhood, which was organized at Galesburg, Aug. 11, 1884, and was their delegate to the first convention of the order held at Oneonta, N. Y., in October of that year. I was here that he became prominently identified with the brotherhood, and was elected Secretary of the Executive Committee. When he assumed charge of the affairs of this brotherhood, he found the organ- ization deeply in debt, owing to the dishonesty of his predecessor in office, and its affairs in very bad shape generally. By close attention and hard work he has brought order out of chaos and set the brotherhood on a solid financial basis.

Since his appointment the order up the present time, June 24, 1886, has paid over $100,000 to the families of dead and disabled members, and is rapidly increasing in favor and membership. At the second convention of the brotherhood, held at Bur- lington, Iowa, in October, 1885, Mr. O'Shea was unanimously re-elected to his present position to serve for three years, and as a testimonial of his serv- ices the Grand Lodge was moved from Chicago to his home at Galesburg.

The fourth son, Thomas, is employed by the C., B. & Q. R. R. Co. at Chicago, as locomotive engineer. The fifth son, Michael, Jr., is employed as locomotive fireman at the same place. Joseph and Henry are

employed by the C., B. & Q. R. R. Co. at Galesburg. Ella resides at home, and Mary died in infancy.

The entire family are members of the Roman Catholic Church. The men vote the Democratic ticket, but take no active part in politics.

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Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 88

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