Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 97

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 97

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ram Biggs, one of the proprietors and pub- lishers of the Galesburg Plaindealer, was born at Biggsville, Henderson County, Ill , March 7, 1850. His father, John Biggs, was born in England, and his mother, nee Charlotte Ordway, was a native of Maine. There were born to them five sons and four daughters, one daughter dying in infancy.

The senior Mr. Biggs was a millwright by trade, and was the founder of the town of Biggsville. He there, at an early day, erected a grist-mill, which be- came known as "Biggs' Mill ; " and eventually, as the scanty settlement grew into a village, and later on into a town of several hundred souls, it by com- mon consent received its present name.

Iram was brought up in a printing-office, where he has been since he was 12 years of age. He came to Galesburg in 1872, as a journeyman printer, and in 1879 bought out the Galesburg Plaindealer, in partnership with Mr. Henry Emerich, now the editor-

in-chief of the paper. The mechanical department of the paper is entirely under the management and supervision of Mr. Biggs, and the appearance of the sheet, as it comes fresh from the press, attests the highest skill in its make-up.

Mr. Biggs, of this sketch, was married to Miss Maggie Moore, a native of Pennsylvania, and the children born to them are three in number, viz. : Harry, Robert and Roy.

illiam J. Mosher, son of Emerson Mosher, Esq., was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Aug. 4, 1807. His ancesters were of English origin and emigrated to the United States a short time after the landing of the Pilgrims. Their first location was in Massachusetts, where the original progenitors, two brothers, settled. After living within the precincts of the Bay State for some time, one branch went to New York, where they made Oneida County their home. Josiah, the grand- father of Mr. Mosher, was one of the family living in Oneida County. He was a brave man and a soldier of the Revolutionary War. His brother, John, was Captain of a company in the same war. He died in Oneida County in 1847, having lived to the advanced age of 92 years. Mr. Mosher's grand- mother, Rebecca (Doolittle) Mosher, who was of New England stock, was born and reared in Con- necticut, and was married in New York. She died in 1832, having lived to a hale old age. The father of our subject married Mary Crane in Oneida County. She was born in that county, Feb. 26, 1814. The father followed his calling, which was that of teacher, occasionally working at the carpenter's trade, which he had learned early in life. It was at this juncture that his marriage occurred, and afterward, while living in the State of New York, he worked at milling. In 1851 he came to this county, and lo- cated on a farm, in the working of which he met with success. His death took place Feb. 23, 1867. He was a local officer in many of the minor positions of the township. Politically, he was an Abolitionist, an old-line Whig, and later a stanch supporter of the Republican party.

Mr. Mosher of this writing was born in Oneida County, N. Y., Aug. 8, 1841. At the time of the

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removal of his parents to this county, he was nine years of age. He received his early education in the public schools of this township, and passed the years of his boyhood and younger manhood at home till after his marriage, Nov. 26, 1868. This event took place at the home of the bride, Miss Sarah E. Wet- more. She was born in Ontario Township, Feb. 12, IS50, and educated in the public schools and lived at home until married. (For a biography of her father, see sketch of Theodore P. Wetmore.) Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mosher have passed their lives on the old Mosher homestead, which con- sists at this time of So acres of finely improved land, Mr. Mosher is a breeder of blooded Holstein cattle, in Ontario Township. He holds the office of School Trustee in his township, and adopts the belief of his father in politics. The Congregational Church is their regular place of worship.

eorge Davis, Treasurer of Knox College, was born in the northwestern part of Ire- land, November, 1814. His parents were by name Robert and Mary Ann (Earls) Davis, and they reared eight sons and three daughters. The Davis family were originally from Wales, and followed William the Conqueror to Ireland and settled there.

Our subject left home at an early age for the United States, and after traveling for a short period came to Illinois in 1840, and soon after came to Knox County. In September, 1844, he was married to Sarah Rooks, born in Genesee County, N. Y., who was of Connecticut parentage. Our subject and his wife had one child, a daughter, who is married to J. T. McKnight, President of the Second National Bank. Mr. Davis followed the independent calling of farmer for [4 or 15 years; then moved into the city of Galesburg, and held the position of Treasurer of that place in 1858-59 He was County Treasurer in the year 1862; was a member of the Board of Supervisors in 1863; Township Treasurer for some years, and United States Assistant Assessor for six years. He was chosen to fill this position on the resignation of David Sanborn, Esq., when he was elected President of the Second National Bank of Galesburg. Mr. Davis crossed the briny waters of

the Atlantic three times, the last visit being made in the year 1883. His father died on the old home- stead in 1862, at the venerable age of 75 years, the mother surviving him seven years, dying at the age of 77.

Our subject has always been a stanch Republican, and was a conductor on the Underground Railroad. He has been Treasurer of Knox College since June I, 1875, and is always proud to be known as a citi- zen of Galesburg. He is a member of the First Con- gregational Church.

ohn Doak is a farmer, residing on section 16, of Copley Township, and was born in Scotland, May 22, 1822. His parents were William and Helen (McKie) Doak. They were natives of Scotland, and were the parents of

- nine children, eight of whom are still living- Mary, Jane, John, Jennette, William, Helen, Meron and Agnes. The parents died in their native land in 1878-79.

Our subject remained at home until he attained the age of 25, and received a common-school educa- tion. In 1848 he came to America and, proceeding to Illinois, settled in Knox County. Here he engaged to work on a farm, and besides this occupied himself in the joint pursuit of running a saw-mill, engaging by the month for three years. Subsequent to this he rented in Copley Township, for a year, and afterward purchased 80 acres of land on section 17. He sub- sequently added to his original purchase, and is now the owner of 290 acres. He lived ten years on the land originally bought, in a log cabin ; he has now a pleasant and desirable home, into which he moved after leaving the former lowly dwelling.

Mr. Doak was married on the roth day of October, 1855, to Miss Jane, the daughter of James and Jane (Hamilton) Morrison, who came from Scotland. They reared a family of ten children-nine attaining man and womanhood, and being still alive: Jane, Margaret, Christ., James, William, Isabelle, Elizabeth, Jessie and John. The parents are deceased and buried in their native land, the father in 1881, and the mother in 1885.

Mr. and Mrs. Doak are the parents of eight chil- dren, as follows : Helen K., Agnes C., Mary J., Will- iam S., Nettie E., John T., Annie H. and James A.

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Mr. Doak is a Republican in belief and supports his political party with much zeal and energy. With his wife he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a very useful and helpful factor. He is one of the solid and substantial men of this vicinity, and by every means in his power helps every good work brought forward for the benefit of the people.

W. Washburn. The subject of this sketch is President of the Galesburg National Bank, with which he has been connected since its organization in 1881. He was born in Akron, Ohio, Sept. 18, 1836, and his edu- cation, though liberal, was limited to the com- mon schools of Ohio. He learned the jeweler's trade at Akron, and in September, 1859, came to Galesburg and went into business. He landed here with about ten dollars, the sum total of his worldly wealth, rented a show window in a crockery store, now No. 8 Main street, hung out a sign and went to work. In 1875 he sold out this establishment, al- ready grown to highly respectable proportions, to Trask & Gentry.

The parents of Mr. Washburn were Leander and Eliza (Upson) Washburn ; the former was a native of Kingston, Mass., as also his grandfather, Abiel Washburn. The Washburns originally came from England. Mrs. Washburn, the mother of our sub- ject, was a native of the State of Ohio. Her parents were originally from Massachusetts. The parents of Mr. Washburn were married at Tallmadge, Ohio, Oct. 13, 1835. They went to Akron, Ohio, where they remained until 1869, when they came West to Galesburg. The father died in November, 1881. The mother is now living with her son, W. W. To the above union four children were born, viz .: W. W., our subject, was the eldest ; Abiel A. married Miss Helen Robertson, and they are the parents of two children-Frank and Katie, who were born in Oak- land, Cal .; Stephen U. is married and has one child ; they reside in Eau Claire, Wis .; Eliza O. married S. L. Everett ; two children have blest this union, viz., Wallace and Margie ; they are also residents of Oak- land, Cal.

In 1877 Mr. Washburn was elected Cashier of the Second National Bank of Galesburg, and held that

position until January, 1884. About that time the Galesburg National Bank was organized, with Mr. Washburn as President. Although a new bank, un- der the administration of Mr. Washburn it has flourished and to-day stands as the leading bank of the city. Mr. W. is also Treasurer of the Mechanics' Homestead and Loan Association, and Trustee of Lombard University. As early as 1868, he erected what was known as Washburn's Block, then one of the finest buildings in the city. Thus it will appear, as Mr. W. has never inherited a dollar, that the ten dollars capital and cheap show window, united to his native force and ability, formed the foundation of a fortune.

Mr. Washburn was married at Salem, Ind., Feb. 9, 1876, to Miss Margaret Lockwood ; she died June 12, 1882. She left one child, a son, by name Fred. Lockwood Washburn, who was born May 9, 1878, Mrs. W. was a native of New Albany, Ind., and was the daughter of Benjamin Lockwood; she was a lady of many graces of mind and person, was intel- ligent and refined, and her womanly and winning gentleness endeared her to all with whom she came in contact. Her loss was deeply felt in the commu- nity.

Mr W. is a stanch Republican.

B. Ives, one of Knox County's prominent farmers, resides on section 7, Victoria Township, and was born in Otsego County, N. Y., Nov. 9, 1833. His parents were Joshua and Catharine (Wilber) Ives, natives of Otsego County, N. Y., where they resided until their death, which occurred in 1885 and 1836 re- spectively. The family of the senior Mr. Ives num- bered four members, of whom our subject was the third in order of birth. They were as follows: Eu- nice, Rachel, Nathaniel B. and John.

N. B. Ives remained under the parental roof until 17 years of age. At that time he engaged to work out on a farm, during the summer, for several months, residing at home during the winter and at- tending school. The money paid him as wages was given to his father until he was 21. At Milford, Otsego Co., N. Y., he worked on a farm for one year, also part of the year 1856, and in July of that year

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he emigrated to Illinois, settling in Victoria Town- ship, where for eighteen months he was engaged as a farm hand. He then purchased the farm on which he is at present residing, and which then contained 80 acres. To this he subsequently added 160 acres, and all of this is excellently improved and fenced. Mr. Ives is extensively engaged in stock and grain raising, and values his land at $60 per acre.

Our subject was married, in 1861, to Miss Susan M. Clark. She was the daughter of William P. and Diana (Soles) Clark, natives of Massachusetts and New York. Her parents came to Illinois in 1869, and located in Victoria village, where the mother died in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Clark were the parents of six children, two of whom are living-Susan and Francis.

Mr. and Mrs. Ives have five children, who bear the names of William J., Ola C., Nathaniel B., Ulysses S. and Sherman. Mr. Ives enlisted Aug. 1, 1862, in Co. K, 83d Ill. Vol. Inf., for three years, and served 2 years 11 months and 6 days, receiving an hon- orable discharge at the close of the war. He partic- ipated in the battle of Fort Donelson and in several skirmishes. On his return from the war he engaged in farming. Politically he is a firm adherent to the principles of the Republican party. He has held the offices of Town Collector, School Director and Trustee. He is connected with the Congregational Church, being a Deacon of that body.

illiam Lalor, foreman of the boiler shops of the C., B. & Q. R. R. Co., Galesburg, is a worthy representative of the craftsmen of this extensive corporation. He was born in the Parish of Maryborough, Queens County, Ireland, and is the son of Martin and Catherine (Dunne) Lalor, worthy people who came to our shores in 1866, and settled at Aurora, Ill. The subject of our sketch here learned the boiler-making trade in the shops of the C., B. & Q. R. R. Co. Being of an active and progressive nature, he soon made his craftsmanship felt, and obtained a good position in the shops of the company at that place. This posi- tion he ably filled until the year 1885, when he was appointed to his present responsible place, whose

duties he very creditably fulfills. Although possess- ing all the attributes of a good family man, he is still treading the mazy paths of single blessedness. Mr. Lalor is a genial gentleman and kind friend, and we predict for him a successful future.

on. Orin P. Cooley. Prominent among

the deep-thinking and wide-awake poli- ticians of Knox County, and leading and influential citizens and attorneys may be named the gentleman of whose personal history the

- ensuing items are given. He is the present Representative from this district, to which office he was elected by a large majority.

Mr. Cooley was born in Portage County, Ohio, Sept. 30, 1843. His father, Samuel Cooley, a native of Medina County, Ohio, came of an old Connecti- cut family of English ancestral blood, and whose forefathers figured early in New England history.

Early in life, while in Summit County, Ohio, he was married to Mary M. Richardson, the accom- plished daughter of a New England farmer. That was the home of her childhood and its scenes and associations were dear to her, but leaving it all bravely she took upon herself new duties, and went with her husband to their Western home. Her par- ents were originally from New Haven and Middle- bury, Conn., and were of Scotch and English lineage respectively. The great-grandfather of Miss Rich- ardson, Lemuel Porter, came from Edinburgh, Scot- land, during the 17th century, but the early record of the Porter family dates back more than 200 years. Many notable members of the old stock have, in the last century and a half, been found in the Middle Atlantic States, and among the divines and erudite scholars there have shone some of its brightest lights. Examples of individual members of the family on the paternal side who distinguished them- selves as brilliantly intellectual and spiritually en- lightened are Dr. N. S. Richardson, D. D., deceased, rector of St. Paul's Church, at Bridgeport, Conn., who was a graduate of Yale, and the founder of the Church Guardian, New York City ; J. B. Richardson, D. D., deceased, who was pastor of the Congrega- tional Church, at Geneva, N. Y., and likewise a graduate of Yale. These men gained a wide re-

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nown in their respective fields of labor and accom- plished a grand life-work. Others of this illustrious family gained notoriety and distinction in public af- fairs. One was State Representative and one United States Senator from Alabama, and it would be impossible to give more than a cursory history of them all. In Ohio the family stand high, especially in Summit County, where they are prominent in offi- cial and political circles.

Immediately after marriage the parents of Hon. O. P. Cooley removed from Summit County to Port- age County, Ohio, at which place Mr. C. was born, as before noted. A few years later the family again moved, this time to Middlebury, now the sixth ward of Akron, Ohio, where the second and last child, another son, was born and christened Charles L. He grew to boyhood in the State of his birth, and eventually developed into a promising and intelligent young man, with native business ability and shrewd intelligence. While yet a young man he entered the employ of the C., B. & Q. R. R. Co., at Burlington, lowa, which he served with manly integrity and in- dustry, but was overtaken by that dread disease, consumption, and, becoming convinced that his stay on earth was short, returned to Summit County, where he lingered a short time, and died March 1 2, 1869, in the bloom of his young manhood. He was bound by no matrimonial ties.

In the year 1854, the parents came to Knox County with their two sons, and settled at what is usually known as Ontario Center. This was just before the C., B. & Q. R. R. Co. had completed its line through this county, and not long from the time that the present town of Oneida was begun. While the village was yet in its infancy, they, being one of the first families, began to make improvements on their original property, and have watched the growth of this village into a fairly large and prosperous town. The father during those years followed his trade as a blacksmith and carriage-maker, and, being a skillful workman, was successful. Attaining to years of manhood, Mr. Cooley had grown into a well- developed, muscular man, with a mind approximat- ing in strength his healthy, vigorous body. Natu- rally intelligent in mind, he keenly appreciated his educational advantages and steadily improved them. Entering Lombard University, at Galesburg, he pur- sued his studies until the war began, when he en- listed. He was at first refused admission to the

Union Army, on account of his youth, but after sev- eral attempts was accepted as a volunteer, Aug. Io, 1861, and joined Co. C, 42d Ill. Vol. Inf., Capt. N. H. Walworth, then of Oneida, in connection with Gen. Sheridan's Division, 4th Army Corps of the Army of the Cumberland. Following the army through the South, this regiment fought in the battles of Farmington and in the long siege of Corinth, and were at Murfreesboro and in the Atlanta campaign. He was taken prisoner at Decatur, Ala., and de- tained at Tuscaloosa, and Cahaba, Ala., and Merid- ian, Miss., remaining in the hands of the Confed- erates until the close of the hostilities, when as pris- oner of war he was released, receiving an honorable discharge at Springfield, Ill., July 20, 1865.

Not long after his return from the war Mr. Cooley commenced the study of the law, reading under G. W. Ford and Gen. F. C. Smith, respectively, and was admitted to the bar Dec. 27, 1867, but has never made a business of the practice of law. He is now engaged in the insurance business. He has filled many of the local offices, among them those of Town- ship and City Clerk, and Supervisor, in which he has continued for 15 years. In 1876 he was nominated for Circuit Clerk on the Democratic ticket, but in consequence of that party being largely in the mi- nority in his county he was defeated. In the year 1877 he was appointed by Gov. Cullom as Judge-Advo- cate of the 2d Brigade, with the rank of Lieu- tenant-Colonel, and was succeeded in this office by A. R. Mock, of Cambridge, Ill .. The present incum- bent is Col. Fort, of Lacon, Marshall Co., Ill.

At the Republican Senatorial Convention of the 22d District, comprising Knox and Fulton Counties, held July 22, 1884, at Galesburg, he was nominated as one of the Representatives to the State Legislature, and in the following autumn was elected by the flat- tering majority of 3,000. In the halls of the State Legislature Mr. Cooley gained large favor and prom- inence, and was noted for punctuality and a praise- worthy interest manifested in all questions pertain- ing to the good of the people. In that long-to-be- remembered session of the Legislature of 1884-85, which resulted in the election of John A. Logan, Mr. Shuman, of the Chicago Journal, speaking of him among the distinguished members, says : " Mr. Cooley was noted for ever being present at roll-call, and was known as the physical heavy-weight of the house and as being as sound in mind as body." Of the

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various committees on which he did service are the following: Committee on Judicial Department and Practice, Committee on License, Public Grounds, Building and Libraries.

In religion he supports the doctrines of the Episco- pal Church, and in politics is a solid, reliable John A. Logan Republican, at whose nomination for United States Senator Mr. Cooley was invited to speak in the joint caucus on behalf of the House of Representatives. His courteous response to this re- quest was cited by many as one of his best efforts and a credit to its author for smooth and fitting elo- quence, and strong, logical, common-sense argument. He has often labored in political struggles, and is known to the people as a ready, fluent speaker.

ohn Clarkson. The deservedly popular firm of Clarkson & Co., grocers, at No. 144 East Main street, Galesburg, Ill., is composed of Messrs. Clarkson and Roadstrum. Mr. Clarkson was born in Skane, Sweden, Aug. 23, 1832. He there grew to manhood as a farmer, was educated in the common schools, and in 1853 came to America. His father, Nelson Clark- son, died in Sweden when 55 years of age.

The mother, Ella Hanson Clarkson, came to America in 1865 and died about five weeks after her arrival. The subject of this sketch spent about five years of his time in the new country as a steward in a large restaurant and confectionery establishment at Peoria ; the succeeding years in the same bus- iness he held a partnership with one of his late em- ployers. From Peoria he came to Galesburg in 1864, and engaged in the grocery business, which he sold out at the end of two years and went into partner- ship with J. F. Anderson, restaurant and confection- ery. This arrangement lasted three years, at which time the grocery house of Clarkson & Johnson was organized.

At Peoria, when about 28 years of age, Mr. Clark- son was married to Eliza Loquist, a native of Sweden. Their eldest son, Charles E., graduate of Galesburg High and Commercial School, entered a banking· house as bookkeeper when 17 years of age. He was elected cashier before he was 21, and is now at Sabetha, Kan. Their second child is a daughter,

Ella C .; the third, Annie J .; the fourth, Jay Edward, and the fifth, Florence May. Their daughter Annie died when eight years of age.

The family belong to the Presbyterian Church and Mr. Clarkson is a member of the I. O. O. F.

ames K. Howland, passenger conductor of the C., B. & Q. R. R., was born in Bur- lington, Vt., Jan. 3, 1844. He was the son of Arnold and Harriet (Wright) Howland. The father traces his ancestry back to 1730, when John Howland landed with Gov. Win- throp, of Massachusetts, in that State, and finally settled in New Bedford, whence came many of that name to this county. They belong to worthy English ancestors, among whom are numbered many noted public men. The very earliest record of the Howland family credits the earliest progenitors with having come to this country in 1620 on the ship Mayflower, and landing with the Puritans on Plym- outh Rock. The grandfather of Harriet (Wright) Howland, mother of our subject, was a native of Germany, and upon coming to this country settled in the Green Mountain State.

The subject of this sketch is the sixth child and third son of a family of five sons and five daughters. He spent his boyhood days in the East, where he obtained a good rudimentary education. At the age of 17 years he came West and located at Chicago, where he obtained employment as brakeman on the line of the C., B. & Q. R. R. After a reputable service with this company he received promotion to baggagemaster, then to conductor of a freight train, and in 1879 to that of passenger conductor. He has continued in this capacity ever since, filling the position with credit to himself and profit to the com- pany.

Mr. Howland was married at Princeton, Ill., to Miss Christina, the accomplished daughter of John N. Robinson, Esq .. of Buda, Ilt., the union being blest by a son and daughter-John and Harriet, who with their parents attend worship at the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Howland is a respected official of the corporation he represents, and an en- terprising and public-spirited citizen, a genial gen- tleman and a kind husband and father. He is a

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Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 97

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