Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 99

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 99

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ndrew Vance is one of Knox County's farm- ers, who, by his energy and economy, has succeeded in obtaining good title to 280 acres of tillable land, located on section 36, Elba Township, and 200 in Iowa, and he is actively engaged in the labors of a farmer. He came to Knox County in the fall of 1868 from Highland County, Ohio, and located in Elba Town- ship, where he purchased his present fine farm. He was born in Fayette County, Pa., Dec. 9, 1826, and is the son of Davis and Hannah (Fredrick) Vance. His father was born in Maryland, as was also his mother. To his parents were born 13 children. All lived to be men and women and married. His par- ents died in Ohio. When eight years of age, he re- moved with his parents to Highland County, Ohio, where he remained until his final removal to Knox County. Our subject received a good common- school education, and has always followed that most independent of all callings, agriculture.

Andrew Vance was married in Highland County, Ohio, Aug. 21, 1851, to Miss Harriet Gibler. Miss

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Gibler was born in the county and State in which she was married, Sept. 18, 1832, and is the daughter of William and Rachel (Strain) Gibler. Their union has been blest by the birth of six children, five now living, as follows: John W. A., Lovisa A., Strauder L., Henry D. (deceased), Oley E. and An- drew C. Henry died when about 12 years of age. John W. A. married Catherine Yeager, and is a farmer by occupation ; they have one son-Earl Wendel Y. Vance. Lovisa A. is the wife of Fillmore Rogers, and lives in Salem Township; they have four children, one son and three daughters-Allie Bell, Mary Ellen, Harrison L. and Mattie Blanche. Mr. Vance was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, but did not qualify. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and in politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.

harles W. Leffingwell. Dr. Leffingwell, Rector of St. Mary's School, Knoxville, was born Dec. 5, 1840, and is the son of Rev. Lyman and Sarah Chapman (Brown) Leffingwell, natives of Connecticut. The pa- ternal grandfather, Joseph Leffingwell, was born in Norwich, Conn., and was a lineal descendant of Lieut. Thomas Leffingwell, leader of the colony that founded that place.

Rev. Lyman Leffingwell, father of our subject, was a farmer boy, and obtained his higher education after he had attained the age of maturity. After a long and useful ministry in the Methodist Church, he died in Knoxville, in 1880, at the age of 71.

When a youth, Charles Wesley Leffingwell pre- pared for Yale College, by attending Temple School, New Haven, but entered the Sophomore Class of Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. His health being somewhat impaired by close application to study, he came to this State, whither his parents had preceded him. Soon after his arrival here, and when but 17 years of age, he engaged in teaching, having 60 pupils under his charge near Dundee, Kane County. He afterward taught one season in the Military Insti- tute, at Kirkwood, Mo., and then went to Galveston, Texas, in company with Rev. Benjamin Eaton, with whom he lived for several years. While there he held the position of Deputy Surveyor of the city

and county, and taught a select school. At the com- mencement of the War, in 1861, he returned to this State, and matriculated at Knox College, Galesburg, where he graduated with honors in June, 1862. From his Alma Mater he received in 1875 the hon- orary degree of Doctor of Divinity.

On the 23d of July, 1862, Dr. Leffingwell was united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of John Francis, formerly of Kent, England, and at that time a resident of Chautauqua County, N. Y., a real estate dealer and Notary Public. Mr. Leffing- well soon after became Vice-Principal of the Mili- tary Institute at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., being under Mr. C. B. Warring. At the expiration of three years he began to prepare for the Episcopal ministry, un- der Rev. Dr. Traver, of Poughkeepsie, and com- pleted his theological course in the seminary at Nashotah, Waukesha Co., Wis., where he graduated in 1867, receiving the degree of B. D. After his or- dination by Bishop Whitehouse, having served four months as assistant to Rev. Dr. Rylance, of St. James' Church, Chicago, he was elected tutor at the Nasho- tah Theological Seminary. While a student there he had supported himself and family by organizing and conducting a select school, which he continued to carry on successfully while a tutor in the seminary. Before a year had expired he was called from his tutorship to establish and take charge of a diocesan school for girls in Knoxville, this State, and accord- ingly St. Mary's School was opened on Monday in Easter Week, A. D. 1868.

The school building as it then stood was offered to the diocese on condition that a boarding and day- school be established and successfully maintained for a period of five years. Under Mr. Leffingwell's con- trol the school within four years outgrew its accom- modations, and received from Hon. James Knox, LL. D., a gift of $10,000 for the enlargement of the building. In addition to this sum about $4,000 was contributed by the Church, and $12,500 was ad- vanced by the Rector for the improvement of the property. The building was completed and liberally furnished with everything requisite to make the school successful and attractive.

Early on the morning of Jan. 4, 1883, St. Mary's School building and all its contents were consumed by fire, but all the pupils were successfully removed without the loss of life. During the same month, be it said to the credit of him who was at the head of

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KNOX COUNTY.

the institution, the school reopened in Ansgari Col- lege building, to which an annex 25x100 feet had been constructed and furnished in 20 days. The new St. Mary's building was begun in May, 1883, and in October of that year the school reopened, thoroughly equipped.

St. Mary's School is known throughout the entire country, and has continued to receive the commend- ation of the bishops and clergy, with assurance of approval from many patrons in various parts of the country. The school now numbers 125 pupils, about 100 of whom board in the institution. There are at this writing 16 officers and teachers, and about 20 domestics employed. The business of the school involves the expenditure of $40,000 annually.

In 1879 Dr. Leffingwell became editor and pro- prietor of the Living Church, a weekly religious news- paper printed at Chicago, and the organ of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church, and has since conducted that paper with signal success, residing the while at Knoxville. The paper has now the largest circula- tion of any paper in the Episcopal Church.

Dr. and Mrs. Leffingwell have become the parents of seven children-Anna and Bertha, who died in infancy, and Alice, Warring, Ernest, Hortense and Gertrude, living.

eorge Loy, foreman of the car blacksmith shops of the C., B. & Q. R. R. Co., of Galesburg, was born near Emmittsburg, Frederick Co., Me., Sept. 17, 1823. His par- ents were George and Louisa (Shattuck) Loy, of Maryland, who came of a long line of an- cestry in that State. Mr. Loy is descended from a family of artisans, many of whom are well known in that capacity in the East. He completed his trade in his native State, and upon attaining the age of manhood, he went West and located at Mount Gil- ead, Ohio, where for seven years we find him suc- cessfully occupied. Again he was attacked with the Western fever, and removed to Iowa, where he spent about seven years at Mount Pleasant. In 1862 he came to Galesburg, and after working for the Frost Manufacturing Company for two years, accepted a position with the C., B. & Q. R. R. Co., and has been worthily connected with that corpora- tion since that time.

George Loy formed a matrimonial alliance in

Pennsylvania, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Plank. Mr. and Mrs. Loy have had born to them a son and two daughters, namely, Levy Plank, S. Alice R. and Amanda A. E., and have buried S. Alice R. Mr. Loy and family attend the Presbyterian Church, and he is a worthy Mason and Odd Fellow.

dward J. Tyler, too young a man in years to have made much personal history, is yet by reason of his enterprise and marked in- dustry entitled to representation in these pages. At the head of one of Galesburg's most meri-

~ torious manufacturing enterprises, and one in- deed that should be of the highest interest to the people of Knox County, the business card presented by Mr. Tyler reads briefly as follows : "The Gales- burg Plating Works manufactures the finest quality of quadruple-plated flatware, and restores old and worn plated goods to the semblance and worth of new. Factory, 29 North Kellogg street, Galesburg, Ill.“

In speaking of the factory, the Galesburg Plain- dealer says: "These works were originally estab- lished about a year ago, but during that short time have rapidly come to the front for finely executed and satisfactory work, and to-day control all of the trade in this line that formerly went to foreign cities. These works are thoroughly equipped for all branches of work in this line, and have established a reputa- tion that reflects the highest credit upon the pro- prietor. It has been the aim of Mr. Tyler, the owner, to turn out nothing but the best of work, such as he is willing to have his name follow in the way of a guarantee. He has never catered for inferior or cheap work, and has succeeded in establishing a trade that is bound to still further magnify itself in the future. He makes a specialty of new work, the latest pat- terns of flatware, such as knives, forks, spoons, but- ter-knives and sugar-shells, which he sells at whole- sale prices. And all work is fully warranted. Ornaments for old stoves are plated to look like new, while the same may be said of old tableware. The nickel plating is not excelled in the country, and is guaranteed against any imperfections. A special feature is replating old band. instruments, in which line he does a large business. He does all kinds of

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jobwork, and in everything makes the charges rea- sonable and guarantees entire satisfaction. He en- joys large patronage in all departments, and it is but a merited compliment to say that his work is first- class in every respect. The works are located at No. 29 North Kellogg street, are run by steam and are supplied with all the modern improvements for conducting the business."

In addition to the plating works, Mr. Tyler owns and manages one of the largest and best equipped barber shops in Galesburg. It is located at No. 36 South Prairie street ; lighted by electricity and manned by a force of artists in their line.

The subject of this sketch is a native of Knox County, and has been educated at the public schools at Galesburg. He was born April 11, 1857; left home at the age of 20, learned the barber's trade in this city, and in 1877 opened a shop of his own. In all his business undertakings Mr. Tyler has been successful. He began life without a penny, not a cent has ever been given him, and at this writing, though only a few years have elapsed, he finds him- self fairly on the road to a competency. He owns some fine property in the city, carries a handsome bank account, and is rapidly growing into financial independence. Such is the result of a small bus- iness properly managed, and by comparison, if Gåles- burg be not an exception to the rule, probably shows some young men who have started in life as the heads of great enterprises and backed by thousands of capital to a disadvantage. Moral, man makes the business, not business the man.

One of the commendable features of the life of Mr. Tyler, and one that any young man might proudly boast of, is that he has never swallowed a drop of intoxicating liquor or used tobacco in any form.

Ifred H. Blick, Recorder of College City Lodge, No. 214, A. O. U. W., and salesman in the noted dry goods house of G. A. Mur- doch, Galesburg, Ill., is a native of Stroud, in the county of Gloucestershire, England. He was born July 27, 1846, and came to America in 1869. He was educated in England, and there served an apprenticeship at the dry goods trade, something unheard of in this country. His first po- sition in this country was as a clerk in a large dry

goods house on Broadway, New York, where he re- mained about eight months, coming thence direct to Galesburg, he having made arrangements with Mr. G. A. Murdoch, as salesman, and with whom he has since remained.

In 1882, at the organization of College City Lodge, No. 214, A. O. U. W., of which he was a charter member, he was chosen their Recorder, which posi- tion he has since held.

Mr. A. H. Blick was married on Thanksgiving Day, 1872, at the Episcopal Church in this city, to Miss Marion Dick, also a native of England, and their children are named respectively Alfred James, Ber- tha Elizabeth and Dick Ernest Blick.

F. Starr was born at Vestervik, Sweden, April 10, 1838, and came to America in 1860, landing at Galesburg Angust 10 of that year. His parents died in the old country when he was but a child, and as they left no fortune he was dependent thereafter upon his own efforts for a livelihood. The common schools of Sweden afforded him a pretty thorough education in his native language, and since coming to America he has not been derelict in the study of English.

While a youth, Mr. Starr learned the trade of a shoemaker, and it may truthfully be said that he has since " stuck to his last." While at St. Paul, Minn., in the fall of 1864, he enlisted as a private soldier in Co. C, Ist Minn. Vol. Inf., and served till the close of the war. From first to last he was with his regiment and took part in their every service. The regiment was connected with the Army of the Potomac and saw much of the terrible struggles of that department. At the close of the war the members returned to St. Paul, were mus- tered out, and Mr. Starr soon afterward came to Galesburg and resumed work under an old employer. Close attention to business, strict sobriety and rea- sonable economy have with Mr. Starr, as with all others who have practiced these virtues, brought their reward.

On Oct. 24, 1860, at the city of Galesburg, Mr. Starr was married to Miss Wilhelmina Cedarholm, who with her parents came to America in the same ship that brought Mr. Starr first to our shores,

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The two children born to them are named respect- ively Minnie and John Frederick. The family are consistent members of the Swedish Methodist Epis- copal Church, and Mr. S. is a Select Knight in the A. O. U. W.

apt. Benjamin F. Holcomb, Justice of the Peace. The subject of this sketch was born at Westport, N. Y., July 24, 1821. His parents, Dr. Diodorous and Sylvia (Loveland) Holcomb, were natives of the States of Vermont and New York respectively, and of English and Welsh extraction. They reared to man and womanhood ten sons and five daughters, and buried two infants. Dr. Holcomb was a sur- geon in the War of 1812-14, and practiced his pro- fession as long as he lived. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Church. He buried his wife in 1839, at the age of about 50 years; he lived to be upward of 80 years of age, dying in Essex County, N. Y., in 1860.

B. F. Holcomb was educated reasonably well at the common schools and academy in his native coun- ty, and when about 16 years of age began clerking in a store at Whitehall, N. Y. He subsequently learned the tailoring trade. In 1844 he set up a merchant tailoring establishment for himself, in Schroon, N. Y .; in 1848 he returned to his native town and remained until 1855, at which time he came to Galesburg, where he was employed as " cutter " for the succeeding three years. In the spring of 1859 he was elected City Treasurer, which office he resigned in July, 186t, to enter the United States Army. September ist, of that year, he was mus- tered in as Captain of Co. K, 45th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served for three years and four months. Early in July, 1862, he was placed by detachment as an Aid-de-Camp upon Gen. Logan's staff, from which he was transferred, in the fall of 1863, to Gen. Leggett's staff, where he remained until he left the service. Before his detachment upon staff duty he participated in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh, receiving at the last named engagement a gunshot wound in his right side, which removed him from duty about three months, and from which he never fully recovered. Subsequently he took part in the battles of Port

Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, Big Black, the siege of Vicksburg, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Sherman's march to the sea. Leaving the service at the close of the war at Savannah, Ga., in 1865, he then returned to Galesburg, and for 16 consecutive years discharged the duties of Constable, three years of the time filling also the office of Deputy Sheriff. In 1882 he entered into a contract with the authorities for furnishing lights and lamps for the outskirts of the city, to which he has since devoted much of his time. In April, 1885, the people by a large majority placed him in the office of Justice of the Peace, where he will be found, proba- bly, in the spring of 1889.

May 14, 1844, Mr. Holcomb was married in Essex County, N. Y .. to Miss Elizabeth A. Towner, a native of St. Johns, Canada East, and of their eight chil- dren we have the following brief memoranda : Wat- son T. is an ornamental and landscape painter, at Dillon, Mon .; Theodore C. is a ranch-owner in Kingman County, Kan .; Edwin P. is a farmer in Rice County, Kan .; Arthur B. is a locomotive fire- man on the C., B. & Q. R. R .; Ella A. is the widow of Mr. C. C. Converse ; Frances I., Mrs. Eugene S. Regnier; Libbie M., Mrs. L A. Greenwood, of Galesburg, Ill., and Hattie P., Mrs. L. G. Mair, of Kingman County, Kan.

Capt. Holcomb is a member of the G. A. R., and politically votes with the Republican party.

avid Spence. Superintendent of the foun- dry department of the G. W. Brown & Co. twoord Corn-Planter Works, at Galesburg, was born at Moncton, New Brunswick, Jan. 8, 1844, and was one of the nine children (six sons and three daughters) of James and Catherine Spence, also natives of New Brunswick.

Our subject learned the trade of a molder in his native place, and from 1862 to 1864 was employed in some of the largest foundries in Boston. Before accepting his present position, which he did April 15, 1882, he was one year Superintendent of the Metro- politan Railway Shops; one year Superintendent of the Sturdevant Blower Works foundry ; one year Superintendent of the New England Glass Burial Case Company, of Thompsonville, Conn. ; ten years Superintendent of the Amherst (Nova Scotia) Stove

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KNOX COUNTY.

and Machine Works; and from 1876 to 1880, in- clusive, was proprietor and manager of the D. Spence & Co. Stove and Machine Works, Annapolis, Nova Scotia.

Mr. Spence was married at Chelsea, Mass., Dec. 24, 1863, to Miss Margaret Jost, a native of Nova Scotia, and daughter of Rev. J. V. Jost, native of Nova Scotia, pastor of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. His eldest son, D. Walter Spence, at this writing (January, 1886) is attending Jefferson Med- ical College, Philadelphia, and has for the past two years been an officer of the McLean Insane Asylum, Somerville, Mass. His daughter, Florence E., is at- tending college at Galesburg. Mr. Spence is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and holds an official position in the Independent Order of Good Templars.

ohn M. Sipes. There are many success- ful and well-to-do farmers in Knox County, and the township of Lynn certainly has its quota. Prominent among those who have ob- tained success in life through their own energy and perseverance is the subject of this notice, residing on section 2, Lynn Township, where he is engaged in his chosen vocation, together with that of the raising of stock, giving special attention to Holstein cattle and a high grade of swine. Mr. Sipes came to this county in 1862, since which time he has been a resident of Lynn Township. He owns a good farm of 130 acres, on which he has good improvements, and his land is under an ad- vanced state of cultivation.

John M. Sipes was born in Fulton Co., Pa., Jan. 31, 1840. His father, John Sipes, was a farmer by vocation, and a native of Pennsylvania, of German ancestry. In Bedford County, that State, her native place, the father of our subject married Mary Barton. After the father's marriage, he was, for some years, engaged in farming in Bedford County, and while a resident there was elected three terms to represent the people of that county in the State Legislature. He was a gentleman of considerable ability, and possessed the happy faculty of making and retaining friends wherever he resided. He was a strong Democrat, and was an active worker for the success of that party until his death. He was a

member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He came to this county in 1857, but located over the line, at Galva, in close proximity to which place the father engaged in agricultural pursuits, and died on his fine homestead Jan. 14, 1881, aged 82 years. The mother still survives, and is living with the sub- ject of this notice. She has attained the venerable age of 88 years, and is stouter and more healthy than many of her sex at 40.

Mr. Sipes was 17 years of age when his parents came to this State, and had received his education in the common schools prior to that time. He lived with his parents in this county until his marriage, which took place in Henry County, Dec. 20, 1876, Miss Emma A. Hayward becoming his wife. She was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, Sept. 11, 1852, and was a daughter of O. G. and M. Hayward, natives of Ohio. Her parents were married in that State and came to Illinois about 1855, settling in Victoria Township, this county. Later they moved to Walnut Grove Township, and still later to Henry County. They now reside in Newton, Harvey Co., Kan. Mrs. Sipes received a good education in her early years, and at the age of 22 began the pro- fession of teaching, which she followed until her marriage. She has borne her husband four children, one of whom is deceased. The record is as follows: John H., William F., Mary O., and Charlie, de- ceased. Both heads of the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Sipes is School Trustee of his township, and in politics a Democrat.

eter Erickson, a first-class locomotive en- gineer of the C., B. & Q. R. R., lives in Galesburg. He was born in Sweden, Nov. 13, 1839, and with his parents, Erick and Annie (Peterson) Erickson, came to America in 1854. The father of Mr. Erickson was a hard-working farmer, and after coming to this coun- try made a nice home for his family, consisting of four sons and three daughters.

Peter was on the farm until 17 years of age, when he began to work on the C., B. & Q. R. R. as an engine-wiper. At the end of three months he went to firing, and at the expiration of three years he was placed in charge of an engine. He made his first

LIBRARY OF THE L'TVERSITY OF ILLIN''3

Phiphideney Post

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KNOX COUNTY.

run as engineer in 1861, and since July of that year has pulled nothing but passenger trains. He has had but three accidents and never killed a pas- senger.

Twenty-eight miles west of Ottumwa, Iowa, in the summer of 1869, his engine, with himself and fireman, fell through Coal Creek bridge, a distance of 28 feet, and into a seething flood that completely submerged the locomotive, carrying the brave en- gineer to the bottom, where he remained he never knew how long. When he recognized himself he was clinging to a willow, with nothing upon his person except his boots, one shirt-sleeve and his vest. At this writing (July, 1886) Mr. Erickson is pulling the celebrated fast mail, every alternate day, between Galesburg and Ottumwa, running about 3,000 miles per month.

He is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, a Knight of Pythias, and, with his family, belongs to the Lutheran Church. He was married Nov. 11, 1865, to Miss Ella Swanson, at Galesburg, and their living children are Anna Elnora, Hattie Olivia, Lillie Esther. Fannie E. died at the age of one year and a half, and Arthur T. at the age of eight years.

en. Philip Sidney Post, whose portrait we give on the opposite page, is a native of Orange County, N. Y., and was born March 19, 1833. He is a son of Gen. Peter Schuyler Post, a soldier of 1812. His mother, before marriage, was Mary Coe, and like his father was a native of New York State. The Posts came from Holland originally and the Coes from England. The senior Gen. Post was a farmer by occupation. He married Miss Coe in Rockland County, N. Y., in 1820, and of the two sons born to them Philip Sid- ney was the younger. The family came to Gales- burg in 1854, and here the father died in 1861. His mother is yet living, at the age of 86 years, and re- sides with her son.

The youth of the subject of our sketch was spent at school, and he graduated with honors from Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., in the Class of 1855. He afterward was a student at the Poughkeepsie (N. Y.) Law School. He subsequently began the practice of his profession at Wyandotte, Kan. At the

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Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 99

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