Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 95

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 95

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KNOX COUNTY.

meeting who could read or write. His past career has been an honorable one, and he is one of the re- spected and honored citizens not only of Sparta Township, but of Knox County.

Mr. Calkins bears the reputation of being one of the best carpenters in the country, and is a thorough- ly reliable business man. At his old home in New York he was esteemed the best posted man in mili- tary tactics, and was compelled to drill the field and staff officers of the militia regiment to which he belonged.

imothy Moshier, capitalist, Galesburg, was born in Washington County, N. Y., May 18, 1812. His father, Timothy Moshier, was a native of Canada, and his mother, nee Rachel Curtis, was a native of Washington County, N. Y. They were married in Wash- ington County, where they reared five sons and four daughters. The senior Mr. Moshier was a farmer by occupation. He died in Cayuga County, N. Y., Aug. 4, 1828, at the age of 47 years. His widow survived him 23 years, when she died in the same county at the age of 69.

The subject of this sketch was the eldest son and was brought up on his father's farm until 16 years of age, when he began life for himself. His educa- tion was somewhat meager, but he was possessed of extraordinary natural ability and a sound judgment, accompanied by a stout heart and great physical force. He left Cayuga County when he was 23 years of age, and took up his abode in Cass County, Mich., where he remained three years, going thence, in 1838, to the Platte Purchase in Missouri, and from there, five years later, to Warren County, Ill. In the lat- ter county he farmed with much success for ten con- secutive years, and in 1852 removed to Galesburg, where his industrious habits have since been applied to farming, stock raising, trading and shipping. His farm closely adjoins the city, thus enabling him to spend his time without inconvenience in or out of town. The large and valuable tracts of land once owned by him have been to a great extent distrib- uted among his children. He retains, however, such property as identifies him with the most exten- sive farmers in the country. In 1864, he became largely interested in the First National Bank of

Galesburg. Mr. Moshier was married in Michigan, Nov. 7, 1837, to Sarah Garwood, who was the daugh- ter of William and Mary (Thatcher) Garwood, who moved from Ohio to Michigan at an early day. She died in Warren County, Ill., Feb. 22, 1851, leaving four children. They are as follows: David, who married Miss Kate Meek, of this county ; they are the parents of one daughter ; they are now living in Denver, Colo .; George Moshier (see sketch); Henry Clay Moshier took to wife Miss Lou Ferris, of Gales- burg; they are the parents of two children-Winnie and Forrie; they reside in Galesburg ; Ada Moshier married A. D. Pankey; they have one boy named Fred; they reside in Galesburg. Mr. Moshier was a second time married, his wife's maiden name be- ing Adelia Gardner, to whom he was joined in Knox- ville, Dec. 27, 1854, her death taking place in Gales- burg, June 20, 1883. She was the daughter of Rich- ard and Mary (Bronson) Gardner. Her parents were natives of New York. She was previously mar- ried to a Mr. Gardner. By her first marriage she ? had one daughter-Helen, now the wife of Asa .A. Matteson. The result of this latter union was one child, a daughter, who married Fred Seacord, and they are parents of two children-Louise and an in- fant not named.

Mr. Moshier is a stanch Republican. He is not a member of any church, but always contributes liberally to the cause of Christ.

ichael Riner is one of the old settlers and most prominent citizens of this town- ship. Early in 1857 he located on sec- tion 4, where he took up farming and stock- raising. He was born in Berkeley Co., W. Va.,

- Aug. 22, 1822. His father, Henry Riner, was a blacksmith by calling and a native of Virginia, of German descent, and his ancestry were among the oldest and most respected in that country. The great-grandfather of our subject, on his first arrival from Germany, settled in Virginia and took a promi- nent part in the Revolutionary War He was a pri- vate and received a gunshot in the leg, which partly crippled him for life. Having successfully farmed in Virginia, he died at the advanced age of 96 years.

Mr. Riner's grandfather, Jacob by name, lived and

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died in Berkeley County, where he was born and fol- lowed the profession of farming. He married Han- nalı Snyder, from the same county. This lady of estimable character lived with her husband to an ad- vanced age and also lies buried in Virginia. The father of our subject was the oldest of a family of four sons and six daughters, and, learning his trade while yet young, he commenced life for himself and married early in his native county. The lady was Miss Mary Roney and of Irish descent, whose father died in Berkeley Co., Va. The mother's seven chil- dren (five sons and two daughters) came with her after the death of the father in Champaign Co., Ill. (where she remained ten years), when she removed to Knox County, Ill. Here she made her first home in Altona. Subsequently she lived in this township up to about the date of her death, which occurred while visiting one of her sons in Mason County, Ill. She died in February, 1875, in her 76th year. She was a truly good and heroic woman, who through life had faced great hardships and with a large family strug- gled with the world and conquered its difficulties. Her success in bringing up her children as she did won for her the esteem of a large circle of admiring friends. She was a motherly woman and one of strong character, and was a fervent Abolitionist at a time when few dared to profess an opinion on this subject. She willingly sent her youngest son, Benja- min, to the war, in which he participated with valor and escaped unhurt.

While the family was yet living in Cham- paign County, Ill., the subject of this history was married to Miss Elizabeth Livingston, who was born in Warren County, Jan. 26, 1823. This good and benevolent lady died at her home in Walnut Grove Township, on the 15th of September, 1875. She was the mother of 12 children, of whom seven are surviving. Of these there are now married Henry, James, Amelia, Daniel, Bithia, Sarah C. and Ella. There are deceased Mary, Martha, Albert, Louisa and Maria. Soon after his arrival in this township, in 1857, Mr. Riner rented his land up to 1860, when he purchased 160 acres, which form his present home. This latter contains all modern im- provements. After the death of his first wife he was again married at Altona on Nov. 18, 1876, to Mrs. Luticia Allen (formerly Van Fleet). She was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., July 23, 1834. Her parents were New York people and very successful farmers.

Her father died in Warren County, Ill., on the 15th of August, 1852, his death taking place from various wounds received in the battle of Shiloh, among them his ribs being broken by a spent cannon-ball. Suffer- ing from heart complaint, he was unable to lie down for three years previous to his death. He was one among the most honest of honest soldiers and a splendid citizen. He had one son and four sons-in- law.

The mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Firkins, is still living and resides in Mitchell County, Kan., with her oldest daughter. Mrs. R. by her former marriage became the mother of Ida M., mar- ried ; Daniel E., also married ; Lucien, who is a teach- er in Guthrie County, Iowa. Mr. Allen, the father, was a native of New York, and coming Westward was married in Galesburg. He enlisted in the cause of the Republic in 1861, joining the 89th Ill. Vol. Inf., Co. G, under Capt. Whiting. He was, however, in- stantly killed by a minie-ball from the enemy, at Dallas, Ga., May 17, 1863, while with Sherman on his march to Atlanta. He was an active and patri- otic soldier and a warm advocate of the Republican party up to the time of his death.

Mr. Riner is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Riner of the Universalist. The former is a Trustee in his church and one who has always shown an active interest in all matters pertaining thereto. As a stanch Repub- lican he has always shown himself on the side of any measure likely to promote the good of that party.

eorge A Merrill, a passenger conductor on the line of the C., B. & Q. R. R., was born at Lowell, Mass., Aug. 7, 1845, and was the only son of J. A. and Jennie A. (Powers) Merrill, both natives of the Bay State. The senior Mr. M. was a railroad man, but removed West in 1854, worked some time for the C., B. & Q. and Rock Island & Peoria roads. . He lived awhile in Galesburg, then returned East, and in 1880 emigrated to Lincoln, Neb., where he died three years later, at the age of 63 years.

George A. Merrill, at the age of 13, commenced his railroad life as a train-boy on the C., B. & Q. R. R. At the age of 16 he began braking. His next step upward was the position of baggageman

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and his next that of freight conductor. This posi- tion he occupied for 13 consecutive years, and in i SSo he was promoted to the position of passenger conductor, which, it is needless to say, he fills to the entire satisfaction of the company, and is both popu- lar and pleasant. Mr. Merrill's service to his coun- try should not be forgotten, as he adorned the position in which he was placed. In 1864 he left railroading long enough to serve 100 days as private in Co. D, 132d Ill. Vol. Inf. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned to his old business, where he will probably be found, Providence grant- ing him a long life of usefulness, for many years hence. Our subject is a member of Galesburg Lodge, No. 142, I. O. O. F ; Vesper Lodge, No. 584, A. F. & A. M., also of Galesburg Chapter, No. 46, Galesburg Commandery, No. 8, all of Gales- burg, and of the Peoria Consistory, and also a mem- ber of College City Lodge, A. O. U. W., No. 214; Oak Leaf Camp of Modern Woodmen of America, also Order of Railway Conductors.

He was married in Galesburg Feb. 6, 1867, to Miss Julia A. Colwell, a native of Dutchess Co., N. Y., and the children born to them are Nellie A. and Jennie C. Long may his " all aboard " summon the patrons of the old " Q."

oseph H. Bloomfield. Prominent among the leading citizens, and the wealthy and influential farmers of Knox County, is Jo- eph H. Bloomfield, whose personal history is narrated in the ensuing paragraphs. He has been actively engaged in farming pursuits ever since 1845, and may be reckoned among the most enterprising and industrious men in that section of the county.

Mr. Bloomfield started in to establish his new home when the country was yet in a wild and un- settled condition. He was but 11 years of age when he came to Knox County, and in his earlier life attended school and spent the years intervening be- tween that age and manhood under his father's roof. He has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, living in Rio Township until the year 1858, when he re- moved to Mercer County and there spent 14 years. Deciding that Rio Township was worthy of his creat- ing a home in its midst, he bought land, until he is

now the owner of 159 acres on section 33. Much of this land in his possession is capable of a higli state of cultivation, and few can boast of a more desirable homestead.

The subject of this sketch was born in Butler County, Ohio, Nov. 30, 1834. At the age of 25 years, April 24, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda Jackson, and this event occurred in Warren County, Ill. Mrs. Bloomfield was a native of Indiana, and to her and her husband have been born eight children, by name as follows: Alice E., Henrietta, Mary J., Abigail, Sophronia, Daisy, Har- rison I. and Lelia. Of this family of children Mary J. and Abigail are deceased.

Mr. Bloomfield has held many of the local offices of his neighborhood, and discharged the duties inci- dent to them well and ably. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat. Both himself and wife are members, in good and regular standing, of the Baptist Church.

The parents of Mr. Bloomfield are Isaac and Mary (Hohn) Bloomfield, and those of his wife are Har- rison and Roxana J. (Holcomb) Harrison.

eremiah E. Derham, a general farmer, lo- cated on section 23, of Walnut Grove Township, is the owner of 160 acres and a very desirable residence. He also possesses 40 acres of highly improved land in Lynn Township. This gentleman was born in Del- aware County, N. Y., May 19, 1843. His father, Almond Derham, was a native of the same county and married Jane A. Beagle, who was a native of New York, near Hillsdale. His father was descended of English parentage and his mother was of German ancestry. The grandfather, Moses Beagle, was Mayor of Schenectady. On both sides the grand- fathers were in the War of 1812. The elder Beagle was among those who volunteered to capture certain strongholds where it required the stoutest hearts to meet.

The family on both the father's and mother's side were held in the highest esteem in their State. The elder members of this family all lived to a ripe old age and died in their native State, New York, in Delaware County. The parents of our subject still reside at South Hill, East Davenport, N. Y., the

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father now (1886) in his 74th year and the mother in her 69th. They are still active members of the Christian Church.

Mr. Jeremiah E. Derham was educated in the public schools and at Ferguson Hill Academy. Sub- sequently, and while quite young, he began to teach. Coming Westward, however, he took up his location in Knox County and commenced teaching at Lynn, where he followed his profession until the date of his marriage, at Oneida, April 18, 1867, to Miss Mary E. Collinson. This lady was born in Walnut Grove Township, Feb. 12, 1848, and resided at home with her parents up to the date of her mar- riage. She commenced and completed her educa- tion in Altona. By her union with Mr. Derham one child, Milo G., was born May 31, 1868.

In the biography of S. L. Collinson Mrs. Derham's family history is given more in detail. Mr. Derham and his wife are regular attendants at the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which body they have warm sympathies; they enjoy and merit the approbation of the community, and in their home is an air of quiet refinement and morality of a high order. The head of the household is in politics a solid Repub- lican, with the principles of which party he has been identified since 1864, when George B. McClellan was candidate for President. The only son of the household, Milo, is attending the Altona High School, and ranks high as a scholar.

ajor Josiah Tilden, Justice of the Peace and residing at Galesburg, Ill., was born at Rochester, Vt., Feb. 14, 1830. His parents were Joseph F. and Clementine (Ly- man) Tilden, who reared one son and three daughters. The Major was educated in the common schools of Vermont, and under his father's instruction gained a practical knowledge of the mer- cantile business, which he afterward found of good use.

Maj. Josiah Tilden came to Galesburg in the year 1851 and resided there, carrying on the business of a merchant, until the outbreak of the war in 1862, at which time he entered the United States Army as

Paymaster, with the title of Major, and retained this position, in a manner reflecting credit upon himself, until the conclusion of the war. The first year of the service he spent in St. Louis, the following eighteen months in New Orleans, and the last six at Spring- field, Ill. Maj. Tilden held the above position on the steamer Ruth, in July, 1863, when that vessel was destroyed by fire, 12 miles below Cairo. His clerk, Simeon Martin, formerly cashier of Reed's Bank, at Galesburg, had the misfortune to lose his life in at- tempting to swim from the wreck to the shore. The Paymasters under Maj. Brinton, with the amount of $2,600,000 in greenbacks, were en route to Mem- phis and Vicksburg to pay volunteer soldiers at those cities. The Major bore the reputation of being one of the most rapid and reliable Paymasters in the army, and his final settlement with the Government, after handling millions of dollars and paying hundreds of thousands of men, often paying a full regiment in less than ten hours, showed a balance against him, on account of errors, of only a few dollars, which were promptly remitted by the proper authorities, who accompanied his final receipts with letters of dis- tinguished consideration for his standing in the de- partment.

Our subject returned to Galesburg in 1865, and was soon afterward appointed United States Deputy Col- lector for Knox, Henry and Bureau Counties. This position he filled for about one year, when he be- came interested in the Galesburg Gas Works, which he helped to construct. In 1870 he removed to Jas- per County, Mo., where he took up farming, which he continued for 12 years. Nine years of this time he was a member of the State Board of Agriculture of Missouri. In August, 1882, he returned to Gales- burg, where he has since resided. He was elected to fill a vacancy of an unexpired term of Justice of the Peace at that time, and in the spring of 1885. re- elected to that office for the regular term of four years.

Maj. Josiah Tilden was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Jeannette L. Abbott, in Octo- ber, 1858, Rev. Edward Beecher, brother of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, performing the ceremony. Their household was blest by the advent of seven children, four of whom are living and nanied as fol- lows : Alice J., Josiah B., Amelia C. and Earnest L. Edward, his eldest son, died in 1883, in the full bloom of manhood, being only 22 years of age at

RESIDENCE OF JOHN C. HEARN, SEC. 29. PERSIFER TOWNSHIP.

LIBRARY OF THE L.NIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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the date of his demise; and two children who died in infancy.

The Major is still interested in Missouri real estate and owns in Knox County a herd of as fine-bred Jersey cattle as can be found in the country.

S ala Blakslee, deceased. The subject of this biographical notice, whose portrait, with that of his excellent wife, who sur- vives him, we present on the preceding page, was one of the most widely respected and best known citizens of Knox County. He was a resident of Salem Township, and up to the date of his demise was one of its most useful members of society. He was a pioneer in this section of the country, coming to Illinois in June, 1834, thus ex- periencing the hardships incident to that day and all of the triumphs to which those early settlers look back, at the present day, with deep satisfaction.

Mr. Blakslee was born in Plymouth, Conn., Jan. 14, 1805. His father, also by name Sala Blakslee, was a native of the same State, and his grandfather, Asher Blakslee, was of Welsh ancestry and American birth, who likewise claimed Connecticut as his na- tive State. Our subject was a model in his chosen field of labor, agriculture, and was systematic and accurate as a business man. He shirked no duty, was a kind friend and good neighbor, and left the world with the comfortable assurance that his life had been a fair success.

Sala Blakslee, Sr., was by occupation a blacksmith, at which branch of business he continued until 1817. In September of that year he emigrated to the Far West. His family consisted of his wife and six chil- · dren, three sons and three daughters. Two of these had preceded them several years. He loaded the household goods and traveled by wagon, drawn by oxen, while the family occupied a one-horse vehicle. In this primitive way they continued their journey, which occupied from Sept. 2 to Oct. 9. At this time they entered the State of Ohio, settling in Ashtabula County, where they purchased timber land. Their location is now included in the city limits of Ashta- bula. Continuing at his trade, he instructed his sons in the clearing of the farm, and by unflagging indus- try a home was erected, in which he continued to reside until his death.

Our subject was the youngest son of the family and grew to manhood in Ohio. He assisted his father in agricultural pursuits, continuing with him until of age. Arriving at the state of manhood, he rented a brother's farm and engaged in labor for himself. His marriage took place Jan. 10, 1830, to Lydia B. Pearce, who was born in Grafton, N. H., July 23, 1803. She was the daughter of Earl and Betsey (Maranville) Pearce, both natives of New Hampshire. Mr. and Mrs. Blakslee continued to live in Ohio for the space of four years, and June 2, 1834, started for Illinois, filled with the enterprise that commands new effort in a new country. Com- ing by stage as far as Wellsville, Ohio, they com- pleted their journey by the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, landing at Oquawka, Ill., June 17 of the same year. The following day they employed a man to take them with an ox team as far as Mon- mouth. At that point Mrs. B., with two small chil- dren, remained, while her husband went on foot across the trackless prairie in search of a brother-in- law living in Fulton County. Night came upon him before he completed his journey, but, passing the night in a cabin at the invitation of the owner, he the next morning resumed his march and succeeded in reaching his destination. His next move was to return for his family, when he located in Fulton County. There they spent the summer and in Sep- tember of that year returned to Knox County, and moved into a building owned and occupied by James Milan, which stood on ground previously bought, on section 25, Maquon Township. The building was a double log structure and had been partly a smokehouse. Mr. Milan retained posses- sion of the main building, and Mr. Blakslee used the smokehouse department for a dwelling until spring, and with much ingenuity succeeded in mak- ing it comfortable, among other things putting in a three light window. carving the sash with his pocket- knife. During the year be purchased land from Mr. Milan, and also a claim on section 30, of township 9, now known as Salem. Later he entered the land at the Government Office, at Quincy, Ill., and as early as 1837 erected a frame barn, which was the first frame building in the township. In the following year this barn was struck by lightning and burned, together with the entire crop of small grain, and a mow of "tip-top " hay, raised from seed brought with him when he came West-the first tame-grass

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seed in the county. In 1840 he built the struct- ure which is now standing. The lumber used was sawed at Little's Creek, and the shingles made by hand.

At this place Mr. Blakslee resided until 1842, having made his home in Maquon Township during the intervening year. He then erected a frame house on section 30 in Salem Township, which was his home up to the date of his death, Jan. 24, 1886. He left, to mourn his loss, a widow and five grown children, as follows : Eli A., Chauncey, Salmon, Sarah Il. and Mary, who still resides at home.

Not only was Mr. Blakslee a pioneer in the full sense of the word, but he set on foot and forwarded many movements for the good of the community at large. He took a deep and abiding interest in edu- cational matters, and organized the first school in Maquon Township, the building being on the old Milan farm. He furnished the logs to build the first schoolhouse at Uniontown, doing fully one-half the work with his own hands. His interest in this school never lessened and he was for 50 years con- nected with it in the capacity of Director, an office held longer by him than any man known in this part of the country. His life had proved the truth that " the actions of the just smell sweet and blossom in the dust."

Mrs. Blakslee came to Ohio at an early day, in 1811, when but a child. As already stated, she was the daughter of Earl Pearce and was born at Graf- ton, N. H., July 23, 1803. Her father came to Ohio with his wife and three children, all daughters, in company with his father-in-law, Charles Maranville, and settled at Conneaut. Charles Maranville, the grandfather of Lydia Pearce, was a descendant of John de Manville, or Maranville, the son of a French nobleman who came to America at an early day and settled in Massachusetts. He was a man well edu- cated and left a large family. Miss Pearce lost her mother while still young, and from this time forward made her own living and was enabled to secure only a limited education, but became a methodical and experienced housekeeper. She was living in the family of Capt. Wood when he came to Michigan, and she accompanied them and continued to reside with them for two years. Capt. Wood, having set- tled on the St. Clair River, about 30 miles above Detroit, followed the occupation of a sailor, and in later years was interested in a prominent line o

Steamers. Mrs. Wood, thus left alone a good share of the time during the summer, with but few neigh- bors save French and Indians, at the end of two years returned on a visit to friends in the East, Miss Pearce accompanying her back to Conneaut, from which place she went to Ashtabula and made her home with a well-to-do farmer there. Miss Pearce had become a skillful housekeeper and was very well versed in all the arts of cooking, spinning and weaving both wool and linen. This education had prepared her for an early pioneer and adapted her for the duties of her future home in Illinois, enabling her to keep her family supplied with homespun clothing for their everyday wear, both of wool and linen, woolen blankets for her beds and linen for table-spreads and towels. She was in all a careful, economical, industrious wife, a good mother and a kind neighbor.

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Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 95

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