Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 110

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 110

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n ATIIAN STINE. The subject of the follow - ing sketeh owns and occupies a valuable farm on seetion 11, Cheney's Grove Town- ship, where he is successfully engaged in farming and stoek-raising. He was born in the wealthy and populous State of Ohio, in Carroll County, Feb. 13, 1826, and is the son of Solomon and Catherine (Allbaugh) Stine, who were natives respectively of

Londoun County, Va., and Maryland. Solomon Stine was born on the 17th of July, 1796, and de- parted this life in Carroll County, Ohio, in Septem- ber, 1861. He was a blacksmith by trade, in which he possessed more than ordinary skill. He was a man of much foree of character, greatly respeeted by all who knew him, and a staneh adherent of the old Whig party until it was abandoned, when he east his lot with the Republicans. Religiously lie be- longed to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died fully established in the faith. The wife and mother passed to the better land when our subject was but a lad. She also was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, like her husband, was of German ancestry. The parental household" included four sons and two daughters, of whom the reeord is as follows: The brothers of our subjeet were John, Cyrus and Samuel; his sisters were Ma- hala and Margaret; the latter died when seven years of age. The half-brothers were David, Will- iam and Solomon, and there was a half-sister, Mary Ann.

Nathan Stine remained an inmate of his father's house until he reached his majority, and was soon afterward united in marriage, Jan. 4, 1848, to Miss Sarah Shannon. She was born in' Annapolis, Jeffer- son Co., Olio, in about 1826, and was left an or- phan at an early age. The marriage of .Mr. and Mrs. S. took place in West Virginia, where they loeat- ed, and lived for a period of over seventeen years. They removed from there in October, 1865. Elder Alexander Campbell officiated at their wedding, and our subjeet was employed by him for about three years at farming. He then removed to Illi- nois and this eonnty, where he purchased 120 acres of land, which comprises his present homestead.

Of the union of our subjeet and wife have been born five ehildren: Lewis H., born Sept. 29, 1849, married Miss Cora Gish, of Hopkinsville, Ky. ; Melvin was born Sept. 29, 1851, married Miss Aliee Stewart, of Normal, Ill., and lives in this township; William A., born Oet. 2, 1855, died Oet. 24, 1859; Albert, born Aug. 30, 1860; Joseph, May 31, 1863. Mrs. Stine has been a member of the Christian Church for over forty years, and Mr. S. for eleven years ; he is an aeting Elder. He is Republican in politics, a good business man and citizen, ånd en-

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joys the confidenee of his neighbors and aequaint- anees.

Mr. Stine and his family oeeupy a fine farm resi- denee. He has a good barn and outhouses, costly and convenient machinery and implements, and all the accessories of the progressive fariner. Their children possess more than ordinary talents and na- tive intelligence, and altogether form a most inter- esting family. The eldest son, Lewis H., graduated in 1873, at Bethany College, Va., and is now oceu- pying the pulpit of Central Church, in New Al- bany, Ind.

The parents of Mrs. Stine had a family of eight children, two of whom are living; Mrs. Stine and her widowed sister, Mrs. Mariah Gibson; Mrs. G. makes her home with Mrs. Stine.

AVID COX. The subject of the follow- ing history owns and occupies one of the finest homesteads in Bloomington Town- ship, and has been a resident of the Prairie State sinee'1826. The elianges which he has wit- nessed sinee a few years from the time when Illi- nois was a Territory would form an interesting vol- mme. The first settler on the place which Mr. Cox now owns was a. Mr. Dawson, who had emigrated from Champaign County, Ohio, and located here in 1822. There were' then no white people within forty miles, and the wild, uneultivated land, although covered with waving grass and flowers during the summer season, in the winter presented a wild and desolate speetaele, sufficient to bring dismay into the heart of even the sturdy pioneer of fifty years ago. This condition, however, in due time gave way to the advance of civilization, and the people of to- day seareely realize what they owe to the brave spirits who first tilled the soil and marked out a traek for the advance of a later civilization.

Mr. Cox is now the owner of 128 aeres of land which he laboriously brought from its original eon- dition to its present fine state of cultivation. This, however, was accomplished partially by the aid of his father, who really was the first owner, our sub- jeet being then a young man residing under the pa- rental roof. The former, Benjamin Cox by name, was a native of Pennsylvania, whenee he subse-

quently removed to Virginia and was there married to Miss Philena Dye. They removed to Piekaway County, Ohio, soon after their marriage, where the elder Cox engaged in farming pursuits. From there he came to MeLean County, Ill., and after selecting his location, returned to Ohio, and while preparing for his final journey to the West, where lie expected to establish a permanent home, he was taken ill and died. The mother, however, subsequently carried out the plans of her husband, and in 1826' eame to Illinois with her eight children and settled upon the land which the father had purchased. Mrs. Philena Cox remained with her children only until the following year, when she was ealled to join her husband in the other world. After the mother's death, the children being yet quite young, were left principally under the eare of our subjeet, who sub- sequently purchased their interest in the homestead, of which he has been the owner since.that time.

Mr. Cox was married to Miss Sophronia Walker, in Bloomington Township, at the home of the bride's parents, May 29, 1833. Mrs. Cox was the daughter of William Walker, one of the first set- tlers of this county. He had emigrated from North Carolina to Tennessee, thenee north to Kentucky, and later to Illinois, beeomiug a settler of the Prairie State in 1823. His neighbors then were Indians, there being no settlers for miles around. The mother of Mrs. C., before her marriage, was Miss Naney Driscoll, who like her husband was a native of North Carolina. William Walker was a soldier of the War of 1812. He participated with his regiment in all its engagements and skir- mishes, among which was the battle of New Orleans, serving bravely and faithfully until the elose of that struggle. He was a gentleman highly esteemed by his friends and associates and occupied a promi- nent position in the affairs of his eommuuity. He engaged in farming operations at the termination of his military services, and departed this life in Me- Lean County in 1861. Both Mr. and Mrs. Walker were devoted members of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. The mother passed away previous to the death of her husband,

Mrs. Cox was the youngest of five children, four daughters and one son. She was born in Ten- nessee Oct. 7, 1813, and died at her home in

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Laved box

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Bloomington Township, April 13, 1884. Of her union with our subjeet there were born five ehil- dren: William M. married Miss Jennie Orendorff, and is engaged in farming pursuits in Bloomington Township; Mary E. became the wife of Dennis Sweney, of Bloomington; Leander married Miss Anna Holcomb, and is engaged in the real-estate business in Courtland, Ore .; Ulda M. is the wife of George Deems, and they are earrying on agri- culture on the old homestead; Martha, who is de- ceased, was the wife of Aaron Rhodes; Aliee died in infancy.

The Cox family are widely and favorably known throughont this section of the State as pioneer set- tlers. The members have a reputation for being- industrious and enterprising, honorable and upright in their transactions, and rank among the most highly respected citizens of MeLean County. They have been remarkably sueeessful in their agrieult- ural and business pursuits and have materially as- sisted in the development of the resources of the Prairie State. They have been the encouragers and supporters of education, temperance and mor- ality, and have contributed their full quota in pro- moting the interest and welfare of the localities wherever they have made their home.

For over sixty years Mr. Cox has lived in this community, indeed the eominunity has grown up around him. As a venerable patriarch, and one who has done much hard work and given much valuable aid to the county and the molding of the character of the people, his memory should be cherished and preserved. It will live in the minds of those who know him personally as long as they live, but the generations to eomc will know nothing of his labors, his trials and good works, unless some means are taken to hand down to them a record of his life. This brief sketeh and the accompanying portrait will therefore serve as a means to perpet- uate his memory.

C APT. ALFRED M. STRINGFIELD. No man in MeLean County to-day is so notably a man of "first things " as Capt. Stringfield. Ile is now spending the sunset of life in quiet and retirement at his home, which is pleasantly located

on seetion 14 of Randolph Township. This plaec comprises 160 acres of valuable land, with a com- fortable farm residence, a good barn, and all nec- essary out-buildings. Capt. Stringfield has been one of the most worthy citizens of this locality, and in his dcelining years enjoys the full confidence and respect of hosts of friends.

Capt. Stringfield became a resident of Randolph Township, in May, 1823, only five years after Illi- nois was admitted into the Union as a State. The broad and fertile prairie had never been turned by the plow save around some little cabin. Capt. Stringfield was a member of the three first familics who settled here at that time. The place took the name of his brother-in-law, Gardner Randolph, who eame at the same time, and since that time the grove there has been known as Randolph Grove. Later, after the organization of the township, and after the railroad was built, the station was named in his honor. Mr. Randolph, however, subse- quently went to California, and died there some years ago.

Capt. Stringfield is the oldest aetnal settler of MeLean County now living. He was born near Murfreesboro, Tenn., Oct. 14, 1809. His parents, John and Sarah (Boydston) Stringfield, were na- tives respectively of North Carolina and Maryland, and were married in Buncombe County, the former State. Later the family removed to Kentucky, from there to Tennessee, thence to Alabama, and in the winter of 1819, came to Illinois, settling in Sangamon County. The father lived only nine days afterward, his death oeeurring on the 1st of January, 1820. Capt. Stringfield has the mann- script books left by his father, who was a surveyor; these are more than 100 years old. Three years later the mother and her family came to McLean County and pre-empted a farm in Randolph Town- ship. In less than a year before the land had come into market, they removed to Galena, Ill., where the mother died in September, 1829.

The grandfather of our subjeet, James String- field, was born in Virginia, lived several years in North Carolina, and died in Kentucky. He mar- ried a widow lady, Mrs. Mary Ray, who died at the home of her husband in Kentucky. The great- grandfather, Richard Stringfield, was of Englishı

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birth and parentage, and emigrated from his na- tive evuntry at an early day, settling upon a farm in Virginia, and rearing a family, and it is sup- posed his death also took place there.

The father of our subjeet was a soldier in the . Revolutionary War, and participated in the battles of King's Mountain, and at various other places, serving until the close of that eventful struggle. Again, when his eountry was in danger from the same enemy, he, enlisted in her defense. In the War of 1812 he was under command of Gen. Jack- son and fought in some of the most hotly contested battles of that conflict. Two brothers besides him- self, James and William, were also engaged in the same struggle. A brother of our subject, Thomas Stringfield, was a soldier in this war, and was wounded in the forehead by 'an Indian. Ile was for many years afterward a minister in Tennessee, and later became editor of the Southwestern Chris- tian Advocate, his work being connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

After the family, of which our subjeet was the youngest ehild, came to Illinois, and after the death of his father, he remained with his widowed mother until her death. Ile was then compelled to look out for himself, and employed his hands at what- ever he could find to do. He was intensely anx- ious for an education, and after the labors of the day, would apply himself, by the light of burning wood and candles, to the few books he was enabled to procure. This experience, in which he was forced to rely upon himself, became of good serv- ice to him in after life, and bred within him a strong and independent spirit, with a courage to meet and overeome the difficulties which might be- set him. He obtained a valuable fund of general information, and kept himself well posted upon the eurrent events of the day. He relied solely upon his own efforts and his own eonduet to win for him suceess. Nor has his been a suecess solely in the accumulation of wealth, but in doing good to others, in serving others well, and in winning their respect and esteem.

As soon as able our subjeet entered eighty aeres of land, and on the 25th of March, 1832, seeured to himself a partner and helpmeet in the person of Miss Amelia T. Hand, to whom he was married in

Randolph Township. Mrs. Springfield was born in Ohio, Oct. 2, 1814, and when a child came with her parents to Hamilton County, Ill., where they resided for several years. They settled upon the farm of our subjeet, and she remained his faithful and affectionate companion for a period of fifty- three years, departing this life in Randolph Town- ship on the 7th of September, 1885. Of their union there were born eight ehildren, all of whom grew to mature years: Rev. Thomas C., deecased Dec. 22, 1886, was married to Miss Jane E. IIirons, who died, and for his second wife he married Miss Martha E. Pendley, who survives; he officiated as a local minister soon after becoming of age. Jesse married Miss Mary F. Land, who died after the birth of one child, a son, George, who is now a young man and lives with his grandfather and fa- ther on the old homestead; Sadie L., deceased, was the wife of A. F. Crose, who lives in Carroll County, Mo .; George H., a grocer of Ileyworth, married Miss Ziporah Wright; John HI. lives on a part of the old homestead in Randolph Township; he married Miss Amanda C. Rust. Barbara E. is unmarried and resides at home; Elizabeth V. be- came the wife of Albert L. Crews and lives on a farm 'in Missouri; Mary E. married Franklin P. Rust and resides with her husband on a farm in Jackson County, Mo.

Our subjeet was made a Captain of militia in February, 1832, and held the rank until the repeal of the muster law. He was an able and efficient offieer, and a great favorite with his fellow soldiers and associates. He was the first Justiec of the Peaee before the organization of Randolph Town- ship, and held the offiec eight years. He was also Township Supervisor, and held other local offices within the gift of his fellow-eitizens. Ile was the first white man who ever went from MeLean County to Chieago, and drove the hogs from this county to that place. Ile attended the first Sun- day-sehool ever held in MeLean County. This school was held as early as 1825 at the residenee of William Walker, who lived at Blooming Grove. James Latte was Superintendent. The Captain was also a member of the first temperance organization in McLean County.

C'apt. Stringfield has voted for all the Democratic

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candidates for President since the time of Gen. Jackson. He has taken an active interest in the success of every movement for the advancement of education and morality, and has been a consist- ent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church sinee a youth of seventeen years. The good rec- " ord which he has built up for himself will be more enduring than a marble, monument, and he will be held in kindly remembrance by hosts of . friends long after he shall have been gathered to his fa- thers. One of his neighbors speaks thus of Capt. Stringfield : " His latch string has always been out, and his purse and heart have always been open to the wants of the destitute, the unfortunate and the fricudless." No higher eulogy could be passed on' any one, when coupled with his religious convic- tions. His portrait, which we give, will be gratc- fully received by the patrons of this work.

OIIN MARSH. The subject of this history came to Illinois in the fall of 1852, and is widely and favorably known throughout this section as one of the most enterprising eiti- zens of the county. His homestead is on seetion 17, of Arrowsmith Township, and he owns 700 acres of land besides twenty acres of valuable timber in this county, and 960 acres in Sumner County, Kan. He is one of the few men in this section who have undertaken sheep-growing, and of this he has made a splendid sueeess. He deals principally in Ameri- ean Merinos, of which he has a large flock, and from his wool growing realizes each year a handsome sum. He is also breeding fine horses, cattle and hogs, and will have no animals about him but those of the very best grades. It is hardly necessary to say that he is a wide-awake and thorough business man, and in whatever he undertakes he is bound to succeed. His agricultural and stock-growing opera- tions have added much to the progress and de- velopment of this county, which proudly elaims him as one of its most valued citizens.

Mr. Marsh was born March 14, 1828, in the town of Romulus, Seneea Co., N. Y., and is the son of Darius and Mary A. (Brown) Marsh, natives re- speetively of New Jersey and New York. Darius

Marsh was born Aug. 2, 1800, and died in Madison, Lake Co., Ohio, April 10, 1887, after having ar- rived at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. IIe followed farming the greater part of his life, was a man greatly respected for his honesty and up- rightness, and after the organization of the Repub- liean party. supported its principles and uniformly easts his vote with it. IIis wife, Mary A., was born in 1804, and passed to the better land two years be- · fore her husband, in 1885. Of their nine children seven are now living: Jane married Ira Hodges; John of our sketch was the second child; Margaret married Mr. Neff; Anson married Miss Sarah Wam- pler; William married Miss Mary Parsons; George was the next in order of birth; Susan, who became the wife of William Parsons, died in Missouri about twenty years ago; Louisa died when twenty-two years old; Samuel was the youngest.

John Marsh remained an inmate of his father's house until he reached manhood, and was then uni- ted in marriage with Miss. Eliza Hobart, March 4, 1852. Mrs. Marsh was born in Perry, Ohio, May 19, 1830, and was the daughter of Nathan and Cynthia (Page) Hobart, natives of New Hamp- shire. The mother died nearly fifty years ago, when her daughter, Eliza, was a young girl. Nathan Hobart died in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1883. Their five ehildren were-George, Eliza, Franklin, Jack- son and Harvey.

Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Marsh there have been born eight children: John F. who mar- ried Miss Amanda J. Wampler; Rena B. ; George; Mary A., who became the wife of John Builta; Cynthia E., Mrs. William Ritter ; Harvey H., Ruth, and Euniee who died when fourteen years old. The home residenee is a handsome and substantial struc- ture, and the farm is supplied with good barns and . all other necessary buildings for the carrying on of stock-breeding in a first-class manner. The estate forms one of the most attractive spots in the land- seape of this eounty, and there is apparent on all sides the intelligence and industry of its proprictor. Mr. Marsh has been prominent in county affairs sinee coming here, holding the various local offices. He was Commissioner of Highways for eighteen years, has been Township and School Trustee, and is a man whose opinion is invariably eonsulted

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upon matters of interest connected with the wel- fare and progress of this section. Ile is a straight Republican in politics, and in 1875 was elected County Supervisor, but deelined to serve.

W ILLIAM C. MOOBERRY. The subject of the following sketch, who is a prosperous farmer of Cropsey Township, occupies a fine homestead on section 33, where he has been engaged in general farming sinee 1882. He is a native of the Prairie State, born in Tazewell Coun- ty, July 19, 1850. IIis parents, William and Ma- tilda (Marion) Mooberry, were natives of Colum- bus. Ohio. The father was born May 26, 1826, and removed with his parents when six years of age to this State. They located in Groveland Township, Tazewell County, where William grew to manhood and was there married to Miss Matilda Marion. The latter was born in 1830, and eame with her parents to Illinois when a child of five years of age. They also located in Tazewell County.

William Mooberry, Sr., was the son of David Mooberry who, besides agricultural pursuits in 'Taze- well County, also operated a sawmill, in which he was assisted by his son William. After the -mar- riage of the latter lie settled with his young wife upon a farm in Fond du Lae Township, Tazewell Co., Ill., where he still lives and is the owner of 370 acres of valuable land. The father of the sub- jeet of our sketeli is one of the most energetic busi- ness men and agrieulturists of Fond du Lae Town- ship, always ready and willing to assist in any en- terprise which will further the interests of his eoun- ty. During the late war, as business matters pro- · vented his enlistment in active service, he gave $1,000 for a volunteer who should take his place in what he considered to be the ranks of duty. This was before a draft had been ordered. The parental family included five children, one now deceased.

William C. of our sketch, the eldest son of his parents, received a good education in the common sehools, which was completed in the Illinois State University, after an attendanee there of nearly two years. IIe then engaged in teaching, which he fol- lowed for fifteen years, alternated with farming, in

Tazewell and MeLean Counties. On the 30th of April, 1870, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabethi, daughter of William J. and Susan Mar- tin. M:s. M. was born in Pennsylvania Oct. 1, 1852. After their marriage our subject and his wife located on a farm in Tazewell County, Ill., where they lived until 1882, then removed to Mc- Lean County, and located upon the homestead which they now occupy and which his father had previously purchased. Our subject now owns 160 acres which is under a good state of eultivation and supplied with shapely and substantial farm build- ings. His stock, is well cared for, the maebinery and other farm implements kept in.good repair, and everything about the premises indieates the in- dustry and intelligence of its proprietor.

Mr. and Mrs. M. are the parents of five children- Frances M., Charles, William Chester, Bertha A. and Maggie E. Our subject is Republiean in poli- ties and is at present Road Commissioner of his township. Religiously he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and socially is a mem- ber in good standing of the Masonie fraternity, at Colfax.

K ERSEY H. FELL, a resident of. Normal, was born May 1, 1815, on a farm in Chester County, Pa. Ilis ancestors were of En- glish-Quaker stock, and all the Fells in the United States are descended from Judge Fell, who came to this country from England in 1705. About the year 1835, the Society of Friends was divided into two sects on aeeonnt of the slavery question. A gentleman by the name of Elias Hieks, a Unita- rian-Quaker preacher, agitated the abolition of slavery and favored all legal and moral means to accomplish that end. Those who believed in this doctrine formed themselves into a separate organi- zation, and were ealled "Hickites," and to this branch of the Quaker society the Fell family be- longed. The other division, ealled " Orthodox Friends," also believed in the abolition of slavery but did not think it right to'interfere in the mat- ter. They believed that the Lord would in his own time free every slave, but they did not wislı by their own aet to hasten the deerees of Provi-

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denee. Although slavery is forever dead in this country still the division among the Friends exists. The father of our subjeet was known as honest Jesse Fell, and his wife, whose maiden name was Rebeeea Roman, was looked upon as a ministering angel, not ouly among those of her own faith, but in all eireles in which she moved.

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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 110

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