Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 100

Author: Chapman brothers, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 1222

USA > Illinois > McLean County > Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 100

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After retiring from the army, Mr. K. returned to Ohio and wishing to still further perfeet him- self in his studies, entered the Commercial College

at Cleveland, from which he graduated in 1865. He then came to Fulton County, this State, and em- ployed himself for several years following, teaching school winters and working on a farm in the sum- mer.

In February, 1867, Almon Kempton was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Mapes, of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Mrs. K. is the daughter of John and Henrietta Mapes. After their marriage our subjeet and his young wife remained in Fulton Connty until 1874, whenee they removed to this county and located on the farm now oeeupied by the widow and family. This is finely located on seetion 30, and consists of eighty aeres of ehoiee land under a good state of cultivation, upon which is a comfortable residenee and all necessary build- ings for the storing of grain and shelter of stoek.

After coming to this county Mr. Kempton still followed his profession as a teacher, in which he took a genuine interest and for which he was em- inently fitted by his love of books and his genial and kindly disposition. He departed this life at his homestead on the 15th of April, 1882. He was a member in good standing of the Masonie fra- ternity, being eonneeted with the lodge at Chenoa. He was also connected with the Congregational Church. Mrs. K. still makes her home upon the farm, a part of which is operated by a tenant. She also taught sehool several years in Ohio before her marriage, and was well fitted by education and training to become the companion of her husband.

P ETER C. JACOBY, general farmer and stoek-raiser, located on seetion 19, Padua Township, moved on his present home- stead in the spring of 1884. Here he has 120 aeres of finely improved land, well drained and generally productive. Mr. J. eame to this vi- einity from Belleflower Township, this eounty, where he owned 120 aeres besides eighty aeres in De Witt County, which he sold previous to mov- ing here. He is a native of this eounty, born in Randolph Township, Dee. 27, 1833. His father, Henry Jacoby, died about 1852, in Randolph Township; he was born in Pennsylvania and pur-

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sued the oceupation of a farmer the greater part of his life. Henry Jacoby first bceame acquainted with his wife in Piekaway County, Ohio. She was Miss Julia A. Clarke and descended from English and Irish aneestry. Soon after marriage they lo- cated in White County, this State, whence a few years later they came to MeLean County, settling in Downs Township among the other pioncers who began to establish their homesteads there, in 1830. This was about the first township that was set- tled in McLean County. Later they removed to Randolph Township, where the father died. The mother then went to Kansas and lived with her son Henry in Lyons County, where she died at an ad- vanced age, about 1879.

The subject of our sketeh was one of the younger members of the parental household, and continued under the home roof until his marriage, which occurred in Old Town Township, Feb. 15, 1866, the lady of his ehoiee being Miss Louisa E. Twining, who was born in Bueks County, Pa., March 3, 1835. She was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah A. (Banes) Twining, natives of Penn- sylvania, who located in Bucks County after their marriage, and soon afterward removing to this county, settled in Old Town Township, and im- proved a large farm, and there spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. J. remained under the home roof until her marriage. Of her union with our subjeet there are four children: Thomas H., born Nov. 12, 1866 ; Daniel A., Nov. 1, 1868; Dellcena R., born Aug. 12, 1871, and Franklin E., June 7, 1874. They are all at home. Our subject, politi- cally, is a solid Republican, and Mrs. J. is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

C LIFFORD H. WIRT, of the firm of R. Wirt & Co., tile manufacturers of Saybrook, is a native of this county, and was born April 16, 1859. He is the son of John and Emily A. (Linton) Wirt, both natives of Ohio. Jolm Wirt was born in 1837, and followed farming pursuits the greater part of his life in his native State. The inother was born in 1838 and is still living. Their ciglit children were, Clifford, Hattie, Annie, Mary

who married Logan Fry, James L., Giles J., Edward and Homer.

The subject of this history learned tile-making in 1883, at Saybrook. He is still a young inan, but his industry and energy indicate that he will become prominently identified with the business. interests of this section in the near future. IIc was married, Feb. 1, 1887, to Miss Bessie E. John- son, a native of this State, who was born April 6, 1866. She is the daughter of Joseph C. and Mary * (Alexander) Johnson, of English parentage and ancestry, and traces her ancestry back to Alexan- der the Great.

Our subjeet has been a member of the Method- ist. Episcopal Church for the past ten years. Mrs. Wirt united with the Christian Church in 1884, in which she is a prominent member and Superintend- ant of the Sabbath-school. She is a lady of rare culture and refinement, of great energy, and is en- gaged in the millinery business for herself at Say- brook.

SBORN BARNARD, a retired farmer and stoek-dealer of Bloomington Township, oe- eupies a beautiful residence on section 6, and is one of the best known men of this vicinity, having been remarkably successful as a business man and a most worthy and estimable citizen. He eame to McLean County in the spring of 1840, first locating at Twin Grove, on section 4, in Dalc Township. His parents were early settlers here, coming in the fall of 1840, his father having made a purchase of land in 1837 and 1839, which became the permanent homestead of the family. The son, however, had located on it nearly a year before the parents and other members of the family arrived.

The subject of this history was born near Dayton, Ohio, Nov. 12, 1822. There he was educated and remained until nineteen years of age, when he came to this vicinity and gathercd the first erops and necessary feed for stoek, ete., which the remainder of the family brought with them in the fall follow- ing.

Samuel Barnard, the father of our subjeet, was a native of North Carolina and the son of Francis

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C. Barnard, who was one of a family of three brothers that first settled on Nantueket Island. They were of the Quaker faith and had been per- secuted in England on account of their religious belief. These three brothers, as is seen from the history of this island, were among the foremost to organize a colony there, and on that spot they spent the remainder of their lives. The grandfather of our subject followed the sea from boyhood, and in early years took the place of a man before the mast. He afterward became Captain of a large whaling vessel to which business he devoted the most of his life in the Northern Seas. He retired from this business late in life and proceeding to North Caro- lino settled in Iredell County, where the father of our subjeet was born June 13, 1789. The parents of the latter became prominent in that State owing to the condition of the colored people, which the father of Samuel Barnard sought to relieve by every means in his power. He exerted all his in- fluence and spent a large fortune in carrying on liti- gation and effecting the freedom of slaves who were made free by their deceased masters, but held in bondage by their heirs. This work had been in- trusted to Mr. B. as exeeutor by various old slave- holders who, at their death, wished to reward some of their faithful servants with liberty.

The wife of Franeis Barnard, before her marriage, was Miss Catharine Osborn, a native of Connecticut and of New England deseent and parentage. She became an orphan at an early age and resided with her foster-parents, with whom she lived until her marriage. She survived until after the death of her husband and came with her children to Ohio, where she spent the remainder of her days. The father of our subjeet grew to manhood in North Carolina but was married in Montgomery County, Ohio, to Miss Rebecca Compton. The latter was a native of South Carolina, of Southern parentage, and in about 1804 eame with her father and three brothers and located near Dayton, Ohio, being among the earliest settlers of Montgomery County. She was married in 1812, and her parents both died afterward in Montgomery County. Her father, William, and her mother, Martha (Davis) Compton, spent the greater part of their lives upon a farm and died well advanced in years, having been

greatly respected and the possessors of a fine prop- erty.

The parents of our subjeet after marriage settled on Government land in Ohio and began life poor, at the foot of the ladder. They " pulled together," however, were industrious and economical, and in due time had improved three farms from the wilder- ness. They became the parents of eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. After a few years, wishing to give his children better advantages than their present location afforded, Samuel Barnard sold his property which he had made in Ohio, and started West. He came into McLean County where he pursued the same methods by which he had before become so successful in life, and before his death was the owner of 400 acres of valuable land in this county. This remained his permanent home until his death, which occurred in 1847, when he was fifty-seven years of age. He was reared in the Quaker faith and to this he loyally adhered until the end of his life, as did the mother also. The latter died a few years later, in 1852, and with her husband was beloved and respected by the entire community.

Osborn Barnard remained with his mother after his father's death, and carried on the farm until he was about thirty-four years of age before he de- eided to venture upon one of the most important changes in life. In 1855 he was united in marriage at San Antonio, Tex., with Miss Sarah Clemons, December 29. Mrs. B. is a native of Indiana, and was born Nov. 15, 1832. She remained in her na- tive State until twenty-one years of age and lived in Texas some time before her marriage. Of this union there were two children: Cora E., born Dee. 23, 1871, who has received a fine education and is well advanced in musie, and Owen E., who died in infaney.

Mr. Barnard, sinee his marriage, has been sue- cessfully engaged as a money broker and in buying and selling of stock. He is not at present engaged in any active business, having been enabled to re- tire upon the proceeds of his earlier enterprise and industry. In his transactions as a capitalist, he operated in connection with his brother Amos, and has beeome widely and favorably known as a gen- tleman of fair and honorable dealings who could

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be trusted with impunity. His elegant home is the resort of the cultured people of that city, who have learned to esteem him for his personal worth, and his value to the city as a business man and oue of the important factors of the community.

L UTHER C. HAYS, a native of Brown County, Ohio, is now prosperously engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in Chenoa Township, and is one of the important factors in the business and farming interests of this seetion. He comes of an excellent family, well known in the Middle States, his grandfather, Warren Hays, having been a native of Pennsylvania, where he carried on farm- ing successfully, became prominent as a business man and a citizen, and spent his entire life in his native State. The grandfather was married in early manhood to Miss Clara Stark, and they be- eame the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters. One of these, Abial, the father of our subject, was born in New York City, and after reaching manhood was married to Miss Mary Ken- nedy, a Virginia lady, and the daughter of James and Margaret Kennedy, also of the Old Dominion. After his marriage Abial Hays located in Brown County, Ohio, near Sardinia, where our subject was boru on the 27th of July, 1836. The family remained in Ohio until 1855, then removed to Woodford County, Ill., and from there to MeLean County, settling in Lexington Township, one year after which they made their home in Chenoa Township. Herc the mother died on the 26th of December, 1884, her husband having preceded her to the home beyond. The parental family included seven children, two sons and five daughters. Two of the latter are now deceased.

The early life of Luther C./Hays was passed in his native county in Ohio, where he pursued his primary studies in the district schools and com- pleted ,them at a select school. In 1860 he was married to Miss Matilda Frazier, who became the mother of four children and departed this life in 1871. Of these children Samuel L. married Miss Anna Vereler, and lives in Livingston County, this State; Fannie M. became the wife of G. Howard, of

Livingston County : Jessie C. married Andrew Vereler, and they reside in Livingston County, and Charles H. is at home.

Mr. Hays became a resident of Chenoa Town- ship in 1857, loeating first on section 10. Eight years later he removed to his present homestead on section 4. This contains forty aeres of finely eulti- vated land, with a handsome and substantial set of frame buildings. He also lias a valuable farm of 240 acres in Pike Township, Livingston County, Ill. He has given most of his attention to the raising of grain, in which he lias been remarkably successful, and has also dealt largely in hogs, feed- ing and shipping, and thereby realizing a hand- some ineome,

. The second wife of our subjcet, to whom he was married Jan. 28, 1874, was Mrs. Frances A. (Rhodes) Clarke, daughter of Almon W. Rhodes, and widow of Wilson M. Clarke, who died in 1871. Mrs. Hays is a native of New York City. Of her first marriage there were born two daughters-Alda R. and Lora B. Of her marriage with our subjeet there have been born five children-George M., Nel- lie, Pearl M., Eva E. and John Sherman. Mr. Hays has served his township as Road Commissioner and has been School Director for the last eighteen years. Politieally he is a staneh Republican and uniformly casts his vote in support of the prin- ciples of that party.

ICHAEL SULLIVAN, who is widely and favorably known in Arrowsmith Township as an industrious farmer and citizen, is pleasantly located on seetion 5, where he is pursuing the peaceful oceupation of a farmer upon 121 aeres of land which he has brought to a fine state of cultivation.

Our subjeet is a native of the city of Cork, Ire- land, and was born in April, 1827. When a young man twenty-one years of age, he emigrated to America in a merchant ship, landing at Boston, Mass. He remained in that city for two years, and thence proceeded to Bourbon County, Ky., where he became a contractor on the Paris and North Middleton pike road, employing men and

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McLEAN COUNTY.

teans, and where he sueeeeded in accumulating quite a sum of money and some real estate. After a residence of about eighteen years in the Blue Grass regions, he eame West to the Prairie State, and first located upon a traet of rented land in Me- Lean County. In 1870 he purchased his present homestead, the land at that time being in its origi- nal condition. He immediately set to work to im- prove and eultivate it, and in due time ereeted a fine house and barn, and of late years has been considerably engaged in the breeding of Norman horses.

The parents of our subjeet were Jeremiah and Margaret (Ganey) Sullivan, and the mother died when her son Michael was only eight years of age. Their ten children were Margaret, who married Mr. Shaughnessy; Dennis, John, Mary, Daniel, Johanna, Jeremiah, Bridget, Michael and Cather- ine. The same year in which he came to America, 1847, Michael Sullivan was married to Miss Mary Foley, a native of his own country, who was born in 1817, and came to the United States the year of her marriage. Of this umon there have been born seven children, recorded as follows: Jeremiah, born April 23, 1848, is deceased; Margaret was born July 30, 1850; Ellen M., May 19, 1852; John P., March 18, 1854; Jeremiah F., born Mareh 20,. 1856, died in October, 1857; Annie was born May 8, 1858, and Charles M., April 21, 1861.

Mr. Sullivan, after coming to this country and becoming acquainted with the operations of slavery was greatly opposed to the peculiar institution, and left Kentneky on that account, after having served for a time in the Home Guards of that State. He is a staneh Republiean in polities, and voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Mr. Sullivan is a de- vout Catholie and, with his entire family, attends that ehureh at Merna.

OSEPH BEAR, prominent in the agrieult- ural eireles of Chenoa Township, was born on a farm in Franklin County, Pa., Mareh 17, 1825. He is deseended from an exeel- lent family, the first representatives of whom set- tled in the Middle States at an early period in the

history of this country. His grandfather, George Bear, a native of Laneaster County, Pa., married Miss Esther Keller, and they raised a family of eleven children, six daughters and five sons. Se- bastian, the father of our subjeet, also a native of Pennsylvania, was born in Lancaster County, in 1795. He married Miss Mary Sehook, a native of the same county, and they became the parents of five ehildren, four sons and one daughter. Both the grandfathers of our subjeet were of German ancestry, and distinguished for the sturdy honesty and uprightness which from time immemorial have characterized that nationality. Sebastian Bear, after his marriage located on a farm in Franklin County, Pa., where he remained a number of years and where the mother of his children died in 1851. Of these, Joseph of our sketch was the third ehild.

The subject of this history remained under the parental roof until reaching his twenty-second year, in the meantime being reared to farming pursuits and obtaining a fair education in the common schools. The young men of those days were not afraid to marry before obtaining a competeney, and the maidens cheerfully took upon themselves the duties of a helpmeet, working side by side with their husbands. Mr. B., therefore, soon after- ward was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John , Garling, and they first settled on a farm in Franklin County, Pa. Thenee they removed, in 1858, to Fulton County, Ill., and nine years later to MeLean County. After their arrival in this eounty they located on the farm which constitutes the present homestead of the family. This com- prises 240 aeres of ehoiee land, which of late years has been devoted mostly to the raising of grain and eattle. The residence and out-buildings are ereditable to the proprietor, and the stoek, fenees and farm machinery give evidence of his fore- thought and enterprise, all being in fine eondition and well eared for. In 1880, Mr. Bear practically retired from active labor and turned over the man- agement of the farm in a great measure to his sons.

Our subject has been three times married. Ilis first wife, Mrs. Elizabeth (Garling) Bear, passed to the other life on the 9th of January, 1863, her de- eease taking place in Fulton County. Of the five

Bear

A Warlow

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McLEAN COUNTY.

children born of this union the record is as follows : Mary M. became the wife of Franeis Reed; Hettie C. married William Breakey; Sebastian G. was the third child; Joseph S. is a resident of Kansas, and Sarah is deceased. His second wife, who was for- merly Miss Patience Bowley, bore him one son, who was named George. This lady died Nov. 9, 1878. Mr. Bear married his present wife on the 9th of December, 1880. She was formerly Miss Martha V., daughter of William Kemmerer, a na- tive of Union County, Pa. Of this marriage there has been born one ehild, a son, William E. Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the German Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Bear stanchly adheres to the principles of the Republican party.

Although not perhaps the hero of any thrilling tale, he lias fulfilled worthily the duties devolving npon him as citizen, linsband, father and friend, and ean look back upon the pathway over which he has traveled, feeling that there is no eall for keen regrets on account of misspent time or oppor- tunities thrown away. As a respected member of tlie community, and contributing his quota to its general welfare, the original of the portrait which we present in connection with this biography is fully entitled to be elassed among the representa- tive men of McLean County.

R ICHARD A. WARLOW. Emerson says all history is only biography. So we find this is especially exemplified in the community in which Mr. Warlow resides. Its history is only the biography of the lives of a few men, elliefly among whom is our subjeet. He has been a resident of the Prairie State sinee the fall of 1834, and now owns and occupies a comfortable homestead on section 12, Allin /Township. He was born in Oneida County, N. Y., March 20, 1822. His parents were Benjamin and Elizabeth (Bond) Warlow, the fornier a native of New York City, where he was born in 1785, and the latter of Massachusetts, and was born in 1786. They were married in the latter State in 1812, and that same year Benjamin Warlow was drafted into the army, his serviees being required in the War of 1812. He

returned home, however, after three months' serv- iee. He had learned the trade of a shoemaker in his native city, commencing when twelve years of age. For several years as a sailor he followed the ocean, visiting Liverpool and the East Indies sev- eral times. Hc then went to Canada and returned to Massachusetts, remaining there until his marriage. After this event, with his young wife he went to Vernon, N. Y., where he followed his trade, and then moved into the timber in Oneida County, where.he took np fifty aeres, which he enltivated and occupied for ten years. He then left the farm and took up liis trade in a little village in the same State. After a few months he turned his face westward, coming first to Painesville, Ohio, after- ward to Circleville, and in October, 1834, re- moved still further westward, coming to Blooming- ton, Ill. For two years he operated upon rented land in Dry Grove Township, and then purchased 160 acres of prairie, where he established a com- fortable homestead, and remained until his death in 1864. The mother survived some years, dying in 1870. Their six children were Jonathan B., who married Miss Catherine Hay; William C., who married Miss Naney Garr; Sarepta E., the wife of John Baker; Richard A., of our sketch; LaFayette, deceased, and Bond W., who married Miss Sarah Curtis, and is now residing in Kansas. The parents were faithful members of the Christian Church, and trained their offspring to industry and principles of honor.

Richard A. Warlow was reared on his father's farm, received a common-school edneation, and re- mained under the home roof until he had reached his majority. He was then united in marriage with Miss Lovina Bozartlı, the wedding taking place April 29, 1849. After marriage Mr. W. first en- tered eighty acres of land in Allin Township, and a short time afterward 200 acres more, where he put up a neat little frame dwelling. He had also purchased a sawmill, which he utilized in pre- paring the lumber for his own house as well as for those of his neighbors. Their first residence was destroyed by fire in 1857, and he then erected his present handsome and substantial structure, which is two stories in height with an L, and forms a commodions and convenient dwelling. His farm

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property now comprises 625 aeres of fine land un- der a good state of eultivation. Altogether he has owned 1,200 aeres, about half of whieli he gave to his ehildren. Mr. Warlow has now praetieally re- tired from aetive labor, and is enjoying the fruits of his early industry and economy. The household eirele of our subjeet and his wife was completed by the birth of seven children, of whom the record is as follows: Leslie, who was born Mareh 31, 1851, died Oet 18, 1879; John E. was born Sept. 26, 1853, and married Franees Bower; Belle, born March 13. 1856, married W. Q. Diekinson, and lives in Nebraska; Ellen L., born May 3, 1858, married William Perry, and they live in Allin Township; Julia, born July 31, 1860; Charles A., July 2, 1862; Anna, Sept. 13, 1864. The two daughters are still at home, while Charles lives in Nebraska.

Mr. Warlow politieally is an uneompromising Demoerat. He has been prominent in the affairs of his township sinee coming here, having been Sehiool Trustee, Justice of the Peace for the last eight years, Township Assessor for seven years, and is connected with the Grange organization. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. A portrait of R. A. Warlow is fitting to appear in company with those of the leading men of the eonnty.

OSEPH STUCKEY, of Danvers, an ordained minister and Bishop of the Mennonite Chureli, has presided over the society of his people in Danvers Township sinee the spring of 1860. Mr. Stuekey is a native of Alsace-Lor- raine, formerly of France, where he was born in 1825. His parents, Peter and Elizabeth Stuekey, were natives of Switzerland, his father having been born at Berne in August, 1801.

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Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 100

Author: Chapman brothers, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman brothers Number of Pages: 1222

Author: Chapman brothers, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 1222