Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 103

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 103

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

also holds the office of Postmaster, to which he was appointed in 1874, and which he has since oecu- pied. He became a resident of Padua Township in 1854, settling first on a farm of 160 aeres, finely located on section 29, and which is now operated by his youngest son, John W. Besides this prop- erty our subject owns several town lots. Upon one of these he has a fine frame residence, with his business house and warehouse near by. He has pursned a straightforward and upright course in his dealings with his fellow-citizens and is emi- nently deserving of the success which has attended his labors.

Mr. Weidner was born in Butler County, Ohio, April 30, 1827, and is the son of David and Re- becca (MeNeal) Weidner, natives of Ohio, where they were reared and received a fair education in ·the commnon schools. The grandfather of our sub- jeet, Jacob Weidner, of Pennsylvania, also followed agricultural pursuits, removing from liis native State to Ohio and thenee to Indiana, where he spent the last years of his life. David Weidner and his young wife soon after their marriage lo- cated upon a farin where their only child, our sub- jeet, was born. When nine years of age he removed with his parents from Butler County, Ohio, to Carroll County, Ind., where the mother died five years later. His father married the second time and lived in Indiana the balance of his days.

After the death of his mother Peter Weidner left home, first working out for his board and afterward at a salary of twenty-five cents per day. Ile remained a resident of Carroll Connty, Ind., until his marriage in 1848 with Miss Mary E. Cregg. Mrs. W. was born and reared in Ohio, whenee she removed with her parents to Indiana when a child. They located upon a farm in Car- roll County, and after a few years came to Me- Lean County, and settled in Padua Township, where the father died, the mother departing this life in Old Town Township. Their daughter, the wife of our subject, was the fifth of a family of six sons and three daughters. Mr. and Mrs. W. became the parents of seven children, one of whom is deceased. James is a farmer of De Witt County, Ill .; David is farming in Lancaster County, Neb., and Charles in Rice County, Kan. ;

Jolin W. operates his father's homestead; Frances Ann became the wife of E. Reibe, of Padua Town- ship; Mary married James K. Stephens, who is en- gaged as elerk for his father-in-law; he was for- merly a resident of Nebraska. Mr. Weidner is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and has held most of the important offices, includ- ing that of Sunday-school Superintendent. Polit- ically he is a stanch Republican and has served as Township Treasurer and Collector for many years. Mrs. Weidner departed this life in June, 1875, and since that time our subject's daughter has kept house for him.

ONATHAN ALLISON, an honored pioneer of MeLean County, and one of the most successful farmers in Dale Township, is pleasantly located on section 16, where he is engaged in general farming besides giving much attention to the raising of fine stock.

Mr. Allison comes from excellent Irishi and Ger- man ancestry, and is a native of the Keystone State, having been born in Bedford County. The date of his birth was Nov. 22, 1836, and his father, Jonathan Allison, was a native of the same county. His grandfather was born in Ireland, whence he emigrated when a young man to the Island of Ja- maica, where he spent two or three years and then came to America. It is said that he landed with twelve and one-half cents in his pocket and that he threw this small sum into the sea, so as to start anew in his adopted country. He went into Ches- ter County, Pa., and employed himself at whatever his hands could find to do, working by the day or month as opportunity occurred. Although he re- ceived but very small wages he saved of this every penny that he possibly could, and in due time found himself possessed of sufficient means to pur- chase a traet of timber land. This first venture, however, proved unfortunate, as the title to his land was defective, and he was obliged to pay for it the second time. This, however, did not dis- courage him in the least, and he set about making good his loss with more determination than when he commeneed, and finally received the reward of

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perseverance and industry. He became the owner of a valuable farm in Bedford County, upon which he passed the remainder of his life.

The son of the foregoing and the father of our subject, was reared in Bedford County, Pa., and lived there until 1839, when he removed to Ohio and for nine years was a resident of Miami Coun- ty. He then crossed over the State of Indiana into Illinois, settling in MeLean County. He was ae- companied by his family, which consisted of his wife and five children, and the journey was made overland. Their outfit consisted of seven horses, two wagons and two grey-hounds, and they carried their household goods and provisions with them, camping and cooking by the wayside. After six- teen and a half days of travel, they lauded at Twin Grove, in this county, where Mr. Allison rented a house into whieli he moved his family, and then commeneed the cultivation of rented land in Dry Grove Township. They occupied this house for a period of eleven months. In the meantime the father entered 240 acres of land on seetion 15, Dale Township, and erected a house into which he re- moved with his family, and remained there until his death, which occurred in October, 1853.

The maiden name of the mother of our subjeet was HIannah Stiger. She also was born in Bedford County, Pa., and was of German parentage and deseent. She came to Illinois with her husband and children, and survived the former, dying on the old homestead in Dale Township, in 1865. The parental household of our subjeet included seven sons, five of whom are now living, as follows: James is a resident of Dale Township: John was the second son [see sketch]; Jonathan, the subject of this sketeh, was the third in order of birth; Abraham and Benjamin live near Lexington, this county.

Jonathan Allison was but two and a half years old when his parents removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and eleven years old when they came to MeLean County. Here he practically grew up with the country. During his childhood and youth he attended the pioneer schools in winter, and in the summer season was employed in the ordinary duties of a farmer's boy. Ile remained with his mother after the death of his father, until his mar-

riage, and then located upon rented land, which he cultivated four years, after which he settled upon the place which he now owns and occupies. Upon this latter he has made great improvements since it came into his possession. It consists of eighty aeres, finely located and in a good state of cultiva- tion, and he has erceted a good set of frame build- ings. The residence, a view of which is shown in this work, is pleasant and commodious, and sur- rounded by fruit, shade and ornamental trees. IIe has a fine barn and all necessary out-buildings, with valuable farm machinery and all the appli- ances of a first-class agriculturist. His domestie animals are sleek and fat, and testify to the good care and treatment which they uniformly receive. They are of the best breeds and compare well with some of the finest stock of the Sueker State.

The subject of our sketeh was united in marriage with Miss Mary M. Ritchie, in December, 1861, their union taking place in Springfield, Ill. Mrs. Allison was a native of Virginia, and born Feb. 20, 1844. Her father, George Ritchie, was a native of the same State, and moved to Ft. Scott, Kan., where he departed this life in June, 1854. In the fall of the same year the mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Shumaker, moved with her family to MeLean County, III. She makes her home with her children.

Mr. and Mrs. Allison have become the parents of three children-Emma D., Mary M. and Ollie E. Emma was edneated in the university at Nor- mal, and is now teaching; the younger daughters are pursuing their studies in the schools of Dale Township. Mr. Allison is Democratie in polities, and in every respeet is worthy to be classed as an honest man and a good citizen.

IIOMAS J. NOBLE, a well-to-do fariner of Funk's Grove Township, was born in Madi- son County, Ky., on the 4th of July, 1834. His father, David Noble, was a native of the same county, and his grandfather, who was also named David, was born in Pennsylvania, whenee he re- moved, in early life, to Madison County, Ky., and occupied the fort in company with Daniel Boone.

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Before he became a resident of the Blue Grass country he served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War and assisted in securing the independence of the colonies. He was engaged with Boone in fight- ing the Indians, and learned much from his com- panionship with the courageous old fighter and pio- neer.

David Noble, Jr., the father of our subject, was quite young when his father died in Kentucky, and he was reared by his mother and stepfather until 1800, when he was nineteen years of age. He then began flatboating on the Ohio and Mississippi Riv- ers, following this for some years, and afterward turned lis attention to farming. He raised tobacco, manufactured the same, and earned a comfortable living for himself and family. The wife and mother departed this life in July, 1862. David Noble then came to Illinois, and lived with his ehil- dren until he, too, was summoned to the unknown country, in February, 1874.

The mother of our subject, formerly Miss Re- beeea Portwood, was born in Madison County, Ky., . being the daughter of Samuel Portwood, of Vir- ginia, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and afterward removed to Kentucky, being among the pioneer settlers of Madison County. The pa- rental household included eight children, all of whom grew to years of maturity and of whom the record is as follows: Samuel and George P'. are deceased; Paul lives in Macon County, Ill. ; Susan, Mrs. . Webb, is deceased; Thomas J., our subjeet, was the fifth; David lives in Madison County, Ky .; Sidney in Funk's Grove Township, and Silas, in Sauk Center, Minn.

Thomas J. Noble was reared to farming pursuits and educated in the subscription schools of his na- tive State. He lived with his parents until he was twenty years old and then farmed on the old home- stead for himself two years, and then on his sister's farm. In 1857 he purchased a farm in Madison County, Ky .. which he sold after two years. Ile purchased a second farm, which he lost on account of the war. In November, 1861, he started for Illinois, and first purchased a farm in Chester Township, Sangamon County, upon which he re- mained thirteen years, then sold out and seeured the homestead which he now owns and oeenpics.

This includes 206 aeres of valuable land, all enclosed and in a good state of cultivation. Upon it is a good set of frame buildings; the house was built in 1879, and the barn in 1882. Every- thing is kept in good order and denotes the super- vision of a methodical and intelligent mind. Ile also owns eighty aeres of land in Riee County, Kan.

Mr. Noble was married on the 30th of July, 1854, to Miss Matilda Keen, who was born in Madi- son County, Ky., Jan. 28, 1833. Her father, James Keen, was a native of North Carolina, and her mother, formerly Miss Frances Cobb, of Virginia, was the daughter of Samuel Cobb, a native of the Old Dominion and one of the pioncers of -Madison County, Ky. He made the journey from his native State overland and was familiar with all the difficul- ties which encountered the early settlers.

Mr. and Mrs. Noble have eight children, as fol- lows: Elvere became the wife of William P. Sut- ton, and resides in Audubon County, Iowa; Frances married Marcellus Bright, and lives in Riee County, Kan .; David lives at home; Ida May became the wife of Winfield Shearer, of Funk's Grove Town- ship; Sallie A. married Elmer Bright, and is a resi- dent of Riee County, Kan .; Nannie was born July 7, 1858, married James Carson, and departed this life July 26, 1884; two others died when young.

Mr. and Mrs. Noble and two of their children are members of the Christian Church, and our sub- jeet, politically, belongs to the Democratie party. He is the friend of temperance, good order and education, fulfilling his datics as an honest man and a good citizen, and in his business as well as his personal career has set an example worthy to be followed by the rising generation.

L UCIUS A. VASEY. This gentleman, who resides at Le Roy, and who has retired from the active labors of farm life, has been for some years one of the prominent and prosperous agriculturists of McLean County. He is a native of the Prairie State and was born in McHenry County, Aug. 14, 1849. His father, Richard Va- sey, was born near Rome, Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1825, and his grandfather, William Vasey, was a

Sam EJ. Chapin

Richard Hay

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

native of England, and emigrated to Ameriea ae- companied by his family abont the year 1824. Ile settled at Rome, N. Y., where he lived for a num- ber of years. In 1844 he eame westward to Illi- nois and, loeating in MeHenry County, passed the remainder of his days in the town of MeHenry.

Richard Vasey was reared in his native eounty and lived there until eighteen years of age. He then visited Wiseonsin and afterward Illinois, and purchased a traet of wild land near Ringwood, Me- Henry County. Upon this he ereeted a frame house 16x24 feet in area, into which he removed with his family and proceeded with the eultivation and improvement of his possessions. His nearest markets were Chieago, Milwaukee, Raeine and Waukegan, and with true pioneer courage and resolution he overeamne the difficulties which he en- eountered, and in dne time had a good farm and a comfortable dwelling: He also added to his landed possessions and bonght two farmns adjoining his original purehase. He oeenpied this farm home- stead until 1865, when he sold out and removed to Bloomington for the purpose of edueating his ehildren. There the family lived for nine years, and then Mr. Vasey, longing again for country life, exchanged his town property for a farm near Le Roy, in Empire Township, upon which he removed and remained until his death, whiel oeeurred Sept. 22, 1882.

Mr. Vasey was married, in MeHenry, on the 27th of October, 1847, to Miss Rumanda Pieree, who was a native of Bradford County, Pa., and the daughter of Abel Pieree, a native of New York State. Mr. Pieree was a farmer by oeeupation and about 1844 removed to MeHenry County, Ill., where his life terminated. His wife, the ' mother of Mrs. V., was formerly Miss Lanah Cipley. She was born near Troy, N. Y., and died in Bradford County, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Vasey were the parents of three children: Emory O. died in Pennsylvania while attending the Centennial in 1876, at the age of twenty-two years; Charles H. died in Le Roy in 1879, aged twenty-three years.

Long known as one of the best and most highly respected men of McLean County, the portrait of Mr. Vasey is most worthy to be presented among those of the leading men of the county.

Lueius A. Vasey is the only son of his parents now living. lle pursued his primary studies in the publie schools of MeHenry County, and in the fall of 1865 entered Wesleyan University, at Bloom- ington, where he attended six years, graduating in the elass of 1871. He then returned to his father's farm, and in 1874 removed to Belleflower, in this county, where he purchased a farm just outside the limits of the town but lived. within the corporation. He remained there nntil 1886, when he removed to Le Roy where, retired from the more active duties of life, he is living in the enjoyment of am- ple means and the association of friends and ac- quaintances. He still owns the old homestead three miles out of Le Roy, which is operated by a tenant. It is supplied with good farm buildings, and stoeked with the best grades of domestic animals.

Mr. Vasey was married, April 15, 1874, to Miss Amelia J. Tobey, a native of West Stoekbridge, Berkshire Co., Mass., and the danghter of Frank- lin and Elizabeth (Platt) Tobey. Of this union there was born one ehild, a son-Albert. Mrs. Amelia J. Vasey departed this life June 12, 1879, and our subjeet for his second wife married Miss Sarah M. Tobey, a sister of the first wife, their wedding oeeurring Sept. 14, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. V. are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as also were the father and mother of our subject. Mr. Vasey, formerly a Republiean, is now a strong Prohibitionist. He was Justiee of the Peace in Belleflower, which offiee he resigned upon his re- moval to Le Roy.

AMUEL J. CHAPIN. Mr. Chapin belongs to that large elass of eultured, intelligen and enterprising people who came into Illi- nois from New York and the New England States during the pioneer period, and who have been sueh important factors in developing to so high a degree the resources which nature has so gener- ously lavished upon it. This element of Illinois population has not only contributed vastly in the development of the material resourees of the State, until to-day it takes a front rank as a produeing seetion of our country, but it has stood as a cham-

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pion of enlarged and inereased educational facili- ties.

Samnel J. Chapin, who resides in Mt. Hope Town- ship, eomes of excellent New England parentage, and is a native of Uxbridge, Mass., where he was born Aug. 25, 1812. His father, Phineas Chapin was a native of the same town and of English de-' scent. The greater part of his life was spent in farming pursuits and he remained a resident of Woreester County until his death. The maiden name of the mother of our subject . was Enniee Taft, also a native of Uxbridge, and the parenta family consisted of eleven children, of whom our subject was the ninth in order of birth.

Our subject was reared on the farm, received a fair education in the public schools, and when a youth of eighteen years commenced teaching. He still pursued his own studies however, and attended Andover Seminary for six terms. His winters, nn- til 1839, were spent in teaching and the summers in farming pursuits. In the spring of the year named he turned his footsteps toward the West and, accompanied by his wife and one ehild, came to MeLean County, Ill. He established his family in a rented house in Mt. Hope Township, and having previously secured a traet of land com- menecd its improvement and cultivation. His pos- sessions occupied a part of section 6, and in 1840 he put up a comfortable house with other necessary farm buildings. The nearest market then was Pekin, thirty miles distant, and thither the stock and other produce of the farm was transported for many years. The nearest post-office was at Waynes- ville, cight miles distant.

The homestead of onr subject at first consisted of 160 acres. He was prospered in his farming and business transactions and added to his landed es- tate from time to time until he now is the possessor of 320 aeres, all in one body and supplied with tasteful and substantial farm buildings. He is known and recognized as one of the representative business men and agricultnrists of this seetion.

Mr. Chapin was married in October, 1837, to Miss Comfort Ann Tucker, who was a native of Connecticut. After remaining the companion of her husband for three short years this lady, in the fall of 1840 died, leaving one child, Frederick W.,

who was born in Uxbridge, Mass., Aug. 25, 1838. This son, after arriving at years of manhood, mar- ried Miss Naney A. Anderson, a native of Clay County, Ind. He now lives at Ft. Bidwell, Modoc Co., Cal. He followed mining for several years, but is a teacher of civil engineering, and also engaged in farming and stock-raising. For his sec- ond wife our subjeet married Miss Harriet N. Morse, March 29, 1841. Mrs. Chapin was born in Sutton, Mass., Mareh 29, 1817, and was the daughter of John and Polly (Hathaway) Morse, both of Massa- chusetts. Of this marriage, Caleb F. was born March 1, 1843; he enlisted in the Union army iu October, 1861, becoming a member of Co. G, 39th Ill. Vol. Inf .; he was wounded in battle before Richmond, June 4, 1864, and died eight days later; Harriet A., born April 25, 1847, died May '16, 1868; two other children died young; John, who was born June 1, 1853, married Miss Ophelia Wil- lis, a native of Iowa, and lives in Custer County, Neb.

Mr. and Mrs. Chapin are members of the Congre- gational Chureh at Atlanta, our subject being Dea- eon in his congregation and Superintendent of the Sunday-school many years. In politics he is a Pro- hibitionist. During the existence of slavery he was a strong Abolitionist and later a Republican.

In presenting the portrait of Mr. Chapin, which is done in connection with this sketch, we give that of one of the most highly esteemed inen of this locality.

John Morse, deccascd, the father of Mrs. Chapin, was one of the pioneers of McLean County, com- ing into this section in 1837. He was a native of Sutton, Mass., and the son of Dr. Nathaniel Morse, a practicing physician of that place. His childhood' and youth were spent upon a farm but after he had grown to manhood he engaged in mereantile pur- suits and milling combined, and for a few years operated a cotton factory. In 1837, having dis- posed of all his interests in the East, he emigrated to Illinois with his wife and seven children. The first part of their journey was performed by steamer to Philadelphia, thence over the mountains by rail to Pittsburgh, afterward by the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to Pekin, where they boarded a " prairie schooner" and came into Mt. Hope Town-

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ship, being one of the first of the colony who lo- eated here. Mr. Morse purchased a traet of wild land on seetion 32, erected a house and eommeneed to open up the farm. Upon the homestead thus es- tablished he remained until his death.

John Morse was a good man in all that the term implies. For many years he was eonneeted with the Congregational Church and one of the first or- ganizers of the society in Mt. Hope Township. He traveled by team to Chieago to procure windows and doors with which to complete the first ehureh edifiee in MeLean County. IIe was well read and intelligent and frequently officiated in the pulpit as a " supply." He was brave and ontspoken in his opinions and during the slavery agitations, dis- tinguished himself by his arguments in favor of human freedom.

W ILLIAM C. HELLER, one of the enter- prising young farmers of Blue Mound Township, owns forty aeres of good land and cultivates eiglity aeres besides. He has started out in life with fair prospeets which, with his good health and temperate habits, bid fair to plaee him among the prominent farmer residents of this see- tion as one of the important factors of its agrieult- ural interests. Mr. HI. was born in Madison County. Ind., April 10, 1853, whenee he removed with his parents to this county while still a child. He was reared on a farm and received a fair edueation in the publie schools, and remained under the home roof until twenty-three years of age, when he was married and started out for himself. On eoming. to this county Mr. Heller made his first loeation in Blue Mound Township, and following the maxim that " A rolling stone gathers no moss," has laid his plans to remain here for an indefinite time.'

The marriage of William C. Heller and Miss Emma J., daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah J. (Gaff) Horney, took place in Lexington Township, this county, on the 26th of September, 1876. A sketelı of the parents of Mrs. H. will be found on another page in this work. The wife of our subjeet was born in Blue Mound Township, Aug. 29, 1855, and remained with her parents until her marriage, re-

eeiving eareful home training and a good education in the distriet sehool. Mr. and Mrs. H. have had one child who died in infaney. Our subjeet is Democratie in polities and possesses all the quali- ties which constitute an honest man and a good eitizen.

C LEON K. REAM, an extensive farmer and stoek-grower of Gridley Township, is pleas- antly located on seetion 24, where he has gained for himself a reputation as a first-elass agrieul- turist and business man. He comes of a good family, being the son of Levi and Highly (King) Ream, na- tives of Pennsylvania. They were married in their native State and located in Somerset County, where the mother departed this life in about 1861. Levi Ream afterward emigrated westward and located in Clarke County, Iowa, where he still resides. He was formerly engaged in farming pursuits, but is now living retired from aetive business. The nine children of the parental household ineluded five boys and four girls.

The subject of this sketeh was born in Somerset · County, Pa., July 18, 1847. His primary studies were condueted in the publie schools, and after- ward carried on in the High School at Hopedale, and completed at Harlem Springs, in Carroll Co., Ohio. In 1868 he removed to Iowa with his father, and the following year started out for himself. He went first to Minnesota, where he worked as a ear- penter for eighteen months, and assisted in laying the first rail on the Northern Paeifie Railroad. After leaving Minnesota he went into Wyoming Territory, residing for a time in Cheyenne, and afterward at Denver, Col. He thien went down into Texas, working as a carpenter and bridge- builder, and after revisiting Colorado, where he was oceupied in buffalo hunting for five months, he pushed on toward the Paeifie Slope, and spent six years in California. During that time he learned the trade of a millwright, and was engaged in different places there and in Washington Ter- ritory at this trade, and in mining and prospeeting on the Paeifie Slope, extending into Old Mexieo. He eoasted from Vietoria, British Columbia, about

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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 103

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