Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 111

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 111

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There were seven sons and two daughters born to the parents of our subject, and all were obliged to labor for the maintenance of the family. Our subject attended the common sehools for two months during cach year until he was seventeen years of age, when he had the misfortune to dislo- eate his shoulder, which unfitted him for farm labor, and he determined to attain an education. Jona -- than Gause, a noble-hearted Friend, kept the West

Bradford Boarding-School in Pennsylvania, and to him our subject made application for admission. He was poor and could not pay his tuition, but the kind-hearted Mr. Gause took him as a student and gave him the privileges of the school for six months without pay. Mr. Fell, however, promised to pay at some future time, and Mr. Gause answered, " I will trust thee." Our subjeet afterward taught school and earned sufficient to pay for his tuition and also enough with which to come West.

In the spring of 1836, about six months prior to the settlement of Judge David Davis in Bloom- ington, Ill., our subject arrived there and located. It was his purpose to visit his brothers, Jesse and Thomas, who had arrived some time previous and then go to a manual labor eollege, near Hannibal, Mo. This institution was started by Dr. Stiles Ely, a Presbyterian minister and a great theorist, and his pamphlet, which he freely distributed, created a great sensation. But his theory was bet- ter than his practice. He selected the location for his eollege during the dry season and without re- gard to the chances of overflow from the river. During the following season " the rains deseended and the floods eame " and washed his college away, and those who had gathered there were obliged to flee to save themselves from a watery grave. Mr. Fell learned, while yet in Bloomington, of the dis- aster which had overtaken Dr. Ely and his friends, and his plans thereby being broken he accepted a elerkship with Covel & Gridley, merchants.

But it was our subject's intention to study law and he had by no means given up this idea. He had occasion to go to Springfield in the interest of his employers, and while there ealled at. the office of Hon. J. T. Stewart, a practicing attorney, and there met Abraham Lincoln, at that time a young law student. After some conversation with young Abraham, Mr. Fell eame to the conclusion that if Mr. Lincoln could study law with the little educa- tion he possessed, he could also do the same, and he hesitated no longer. He read law during his leisure' hours and the following year was appointed Clerk with power to organize DeWitt County. The county was formed from parts of Maeon and Me- Lean, and Mr. Fell continued to hold the position of Clerk from 1838 to 1840. The Democratie party was then in power, and Mr. Fell being a Whig, lost his position by an enactment of Legislature. Going to Bloomington, he became Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court, and while in this position con- tinued his law study. During the winter of 1840- 41 he passed his examination before the nine judges of the Supreme Court, and was admitted to the bar. Previous to being admitted to the prae- tiee he had formed a partnership with Albert Dodd, a promising young lawyer from Copneetieut, which relationship continued until 1844. During that ycar Mr. Dodd was drowned in Mackinaw River while returning from the convention which nomi- nated John Wentworth (Long John) for Congress for the first time. While Mr. Dodd was absent he was nominated for the Legislature. - Our subjeet was at this time attending court at Springfield and, detained by the floods, did not learn of his part- ner's death until ten days after its occurrence. The floods during that year were fearful, and the Mis- sissippi River rose to such a height that a great portion of Cairo was swept away.

After the death of Mr. Dodd our subject con- tinued in practice alone until 1856, when he gave up the profession and made room for the genera- tion of young lawyers then located in his city. IIc was successful as an attorney and always tried to settle a case before taking it into court. ' In the fall of 1844 our subject took the papers, books and correspondenee of his deceased partner, Mr. Dodd, to his father in Connecticut, and on his arrival at

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Hartford he found the people greatly exeited over the prophecy of Miller, that the end of the world was elose at, hand. Many of his followers had given away all of their property, firmly believing they would need it no longer, and were standing around the streets, expeeting the eall which would translate them to the other world. At a late hour that evening Mr. Fell, not having heard the eall, and the angel not having put in his appearanee, re- tired to sleep. The next morning he was awakened by a most fearful sound. He sprang up, thinking indeed that the millennium had eome, but on further examination discovered that the noise pro- eeeded from an hotel gong, he never having heard one before.

From Hartford, our subjeet went to New York, where the Whig convention which nominated Henry Clay for President was in session. At this eonven- tion were some of the great lights of the Whig party. That evening a large meeting was held, and after many had spoken Horaee Greeley was ealled out. His speech was short but to the point, and went to the hearts of the people. From New York Mr. Fell went to Philadelphia, thienee to Chester County, where he found the lady who was to be- eome liis wife, and they were married at Philadel- phia on the 1st of January, 1845. Her maiden name was Jane Priee, and of their union eight children have been born, five sons and three daughters.

The parents of our subject came West, bringing all their children in 1837. The mother died in October, 1846, and the father, who became totally blind during the last seven years of his life, died in the fall of 1854. All the children took pride in making the last years of the old gentleman's life pleasant, and did all in their power to recompense him for the loss of that greatest of all, the senses. Mr. Fell has never been a eandidate for any publie offiee but was a member of the School Board . for twelve years without pay. He has, however, held some offiees which involved mneh work and no pay. In 1856, at the State Convention at Bloomington, Mr. Fell nominated Abraham Lincoln as a delegate to the National Convention at Philadelphia. Lineoln arose and deelined the nomination on aeeount of poverty, and our subjeet promised that his ex-

penses should be paid. It was subsequently ar- ranged in ease Mr. Lineoln eould not go, Mr. Fell should go in his place. About two hours before the time for starting, Mr. Fell received word from Lineoln that he eould not go, and went himself. Mr. Lineoln was nominated for Vice President at the convention, and on the first ballot received 115 votes, but on the second ballot his name was with- drawn by the Illinois delegation with the intention of putting him forward at some future day for President.

Kersey H. Fell was probably the first man who thought of nominating Abraham Lincoln for Presi- dent of the United States. Ile mentioned the mat- ter to his brother, Jesse Fell, and also Judge David Davis, and both of them at first did not think Lin- eoln eonld be nominated. Subsequently and very soon after a consultation with his brother, Jesse Fell favored the movement strongly, and farther on in the canvass David Davis took hold also. Our subjeet also mentioned the matter to Judge Joseph J. Lewis, of Westchester, Pa., and the latter wrote a biography of Mr. Lineoln, which was widely eir- eulated, the faets embraced therein being received from Jesse W. Fell. Our, subjeet did everything in his power to forward Lineoln's ehanees, and ealled out his name as a candidate for President at West- ehester, P'a., at a publie political meeting where they were considering the most available man. In 1860 our subjeet's hopes were realized, for Mr. Lineoln was nominated and triumphantly eleeted. Kersey Fell was long and intimately acquainted with Mr. Lineoln, and states " that if, Lineoln thought he was right in a lawsuit, he was invineible, but if lie thought his eanse unjnst, he was weak and his ar- guments without foree." He says Lincoln was one of the most tender-hearted men he ever knew.

During the year 1860 Mr. Fell went to Europe, visited Switzerland, Vienna, and many other places of interest, returning in the fall of that year in time to cast his vote for his old friend, Abraham Lineoln. He is a member of the Board of Educa- tion at Bloomington. IIe is slenderly built, well proportioned and active. His hair is gray and his beard almost white; his nose is aeqniline and bridged with spectacles when he reads or writes. He is a deep thinker and forms his opinions with

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great care. Good nature is apparent in his counte- nance, and there are few men in the community more respected and honorcd.

Mrs. Fell, formerly Miss Jane Price, was born in Chester County, Pa., Feb. 5, 1823. Her mother is yet living, being now ninety-seven years old, and resides with our subject. Eight children, five sons and threc daughters, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fell. Price is in the plow factory at Bloom- ington; Medora E. married Freeman P. Kirkendall, and departed this life in 1880; Anna M. is the wife of George F. Durant, of St. Louis; William P. is Deputy Sheriff of Huron County, Dak .; Jessie is the wife of Charles A. Cole, of Omaha, Neb .; Charles Carroll is in the theatrical profession; Ker- sey, Jr., resides in Omaha, of which city Benjamin F. is also a resident.

OHN ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, a pio- neer of the Prairie State, came to this conn- ty in 1849, and amid the vicissitudes of a .busy and varied career, has contributed his quota to the prosperity and development of Mc- Lcan County. He is now proprictor of the Lex- ington' Elevator, which was built by him in 1872, and has become one of the indispensable assistants of the grain dealers of this section.

Mr. Campbell was born on his father's farm, in Clark County, Ky., June 15, 1832. He is the son of Benjamin F. and Dolly (Bateman) Campbell, his father being a Virginian by birth. After the birth of our subject, his parents removed to Indi- ana. The mother died when John A. was six years of age, and the father four years later, so that our subject was left an orphan when ten years old, and compelled to look out for himself. He worked at whatever his hands could find to do, and at the age of seventeen, came to McLean County in com- pany with 'Thomas Pirtle, arriving herc in 1849, and engaged in farm work for the following six years.

He was married on the 10th of May, 1855, to Miss Adeline. Hefner, the daughter of Peter Hef- ner, Esq., one of the pioneers of McLean County. After marriage Mr. Campbell settled on a farm

three miles south of Lexington, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he industriously fol- lowed until 1872, in the meantime having become the owner of 160 acres of land south of the town. This he sold in 1864, and purchased another farm one mile north of Lexington. This contained 320 acres and he occupied it until 1873, when he rented it and removed to the village of Lexington. Hc then built the elevator which he now owns and which has a capacity of 30,000 bushels. When this was completed he began buying and shipping all kinds of grain to the Chicago market. In 1877 he began dealing in coal in connection with his grain trade. The first year he handled about tweu- ty-five cars and every year since his business has increased until he now handles 300 cars annually. During the winter months cspecially he has all he can possibly attend to. He has for the past few ycars shipped further East. The elevator is thrce stories in height, and 48x42 fect in area.,

Mr. and Mrs. Campbell became the parents of nine children, of whom three are deceased. Those living are, Arabella, Emery, Orcn, Emma, Edwin and James H. They occupy a handsome residence, and have an attractive home, where they, with their children and friends, are enjoying the good things of life, together with the esteem and friend- ship of the best people of this locality.

ABEZ LEPPO, a successful farmer and stock- raiser of Belleflower Township, is pleasantly located on section 31, where he has a farm of eighty acres, and is contributing his full share toward the business and industrial interests of his county and township. Mr. Leppo is a native of Maryland, and was born in that part of Balti- more County now included in Carroll County, on the 21st of May, 1825. His father, Jacob Leppo, was a native of the same Statc, of German ancestry, and a tanner by trade. This he followed for a number of years, then purchased a farm in Carroll County, Md., where he engaged in agricultural pur- suits until his death, which occurred in March, 1862. He was married to Miss Susan Miller, who was also born in Baltimore County, Md., and dicd

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at her home in Carroll County, in September, 1854.

Of the twelve children born to the parents of our subject, the latter was the fourth child and fourth son. He was reared on the farm and made his home with his parents until he had grown to manhood. He then commeneed working for him- self at farm labor, at $7 per month, which the fol- lowing year was inereased to $9 and the third year to $10. Notwithstanding this, which would now . seem ineager wages, he managed to save a portion of his earnings, and at the end of the third year was able to rent a farm. He was spon afterward married, and purchased fifty aeres of land on the Westminster & Baltimore Turnpike. He did not settle upon this, however, but operated on rented land four years afterward. He then sold his fifty . acres and purchased a traet of sixty-five aeres in Carroll County, Md., which was partially improved and supplied with a set of frame buildings. He re- mained there until the death of his father, then pur- chased the old homestead, upon which he removed, occupying it until 1868. That year he sold out and eame to Illinois, loeating first in Tazewell County, where he rented for three years following.

In 1872 Mr. Leppo moved into this county and located in West Township, where he operated .on rented land two years. He then purchased forty aeres in the same township, which he oeeupied until 1881, when he sold it and purchased the farm upon which he has sinee resided. Since taking pos- session of this, he has ereeted a convenient frame house, and otherwise improved its general condi- tion. Ile is now devoting himself principally to grain and stock raising.

Mr. Leppo was married in his native county on the 4th of February, 1854, to Miss M. C. Burns, a native of his own county and the daughter of John and Mary M. Burns. Of this union there have been born four children, three now living: Aliee R., Franklin T. I. and Mary M. Luther J., who was the second, died in 1884, when twenty-eight years of age. Our subjeet and his wife both united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in their na- tive State. Mr. Leppo in polities is strongly Dem- oeratie, and in all respeets is an industrious and re- liable citizen, who is enjoying the respeet and con- fidenee of his townsmen.

OSIAH BIGGS, a prosperous farmer of Money Creek Township, is pleasantly lo- eated on seetion 24. He was born in this township on the 26th of February, 1834, being the son of Lemuel Biggs, who was a native of Delaware; the mother's inaiden name was Mul- len, and she was a native of Ohio. They removed in early youth with their respective parents to Illi- nois, and were married in MeLean County, first settling in Funk's Grove Township, and in about 1831 removed to Money Creek Township, where the father died in May, 1860. The mother still survives, and lives on the old homestead. Their ten children were named as follows: Andrew E., Josiah, William G., Sarah, Nancy J., E. A., Louisa, Martha. Lemuel A. and Frank.

The subject of this history was the second child of the family. He was reared to farming, received . a common-sehool education, and has been a resident of Money Creek Township all his life. He is now the owner of a fine farm of 180 aeres, under a good state of cultivation, with a shapely and substantial set of farm buildings.

Mr. Biggs remained under the home roof until he had attained to years of manhood, and Aug. 30, 1860, was married to Miss Luey, the daughter of Daniel and Rosanna (Hotmaker) Empire, natives of New York, where they settled after their mar- riage; later they removed to Shelby County, Ohio, and thenee, in 1851, to Iroquois County, this State, where they remained six years, then came to Me- Lean County and located in Money Creek Town- ship, where Mr. Empire died Aug. 30, 1878. Mrs. E. lives with her daughter, the wife of our subjeet. Mr. and Mrs. Empire had a family, of seven ehil- dren-Benjamin, Alex, Sylvester, John, Mary, Lovina and Lucy.

Mrs. Biggs was born in Livingston County, N. Y., Aug. 30, 1842, and by her union with our sub- jeet has beeome the mother of three children: Javan married Miss Emma Claggett, and lives in Blue Mound Township; Minnie is the wife of R. . T. Claggett, and resides in Lexington 'Township; Nellie married S. A. D. Henline, and lives in Kear- ney, Neb.

Mr. Biggs has held the office of Supervisor in Money Creek Township five years, and has served

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as Assessor and Collector. He was elected Town- ship Treasurer in 1865, which offiee he has held continuously sinee that time. Both lie and his wife arc members of the United Brethren Church, and politically our subject is identified with the Re- publican party.

B ENJAMIN WILEY PATTON. Here and there, seattered over the fertile prairies and through the beautiful woodland of this see- tion of the State, may be found the venera- ble pioneer. Those who eame prior to 1830, how- ever, are very few. Their number, never large, has dwindled down to a mere handful. Of one of this honored number we give the following brief sketch. He made settlement here as early as in the spring of . 1828. He was born in Garrard County, Ky., June 18, 1816. His father, John Patton, was boru in North Carolina, and in early years settled in Kentucky. He was married in that State, to Mar- garet Wiley, daughter of William Wilcy. The Pat- ton family were of Irish extraction, and the pater- nal grandfather of our subjeet, Robert Patton, was a native of that country, and emigrated to the United States in early manhood. The Wileys were of English descent, and on emigrating to this country first made settlement in Maryland.

"John Patton was a gunsmith, and also worked at the blacksmith trade, and during the latter years of his life was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He emigrated with his family to Indiana in 1817, and made settlement on the Ohio River. There he eon- tinued to reside until the fall of 1827, when he came to this State, overland, passing the first win- ter in Old Town Timber, McLean County, on the .

North Fork of Salt Creek. The following spring he moved, and settled near where the village of Selma is now located. There he took up a land claim, upon which he loeated with his family and engaged in its improvement, and when the land came into market purchased it, and continued to make this his home until his death, which oceurred in 1854. His good wife died some six years pre- viously. Twelve children were born of their un-

ion, seven sons and five daughters, all of whom lived to attain the age of man and womanhood. Their names are as follows: Saralı, wife of Aaron Foster; Cassandria was united in marriage with William Wiley; Susanna and John Messer became man and wife; John and William were next in order of birth; Margaret married George Heuline; Ben- jamin, our subjeet, was the next; Jemima beeame the wife of Calvin Adams; Aaron and Moses were twins, and Josephine and Constantine complete the number.

Benjamin Patton was the seventh in order of birth of his parents' twelve children, and when he accompanied them to this eounty he was twelve years old. His edneation was somewhat limited, on aceount of the necessity which required his as- sistanee on the farm, and the seareity of the publie schools in his vicinity. He remained with the old folk until he was twenty-three years old, when he was married to Mary Ann Connover, the date of their marriage being Oct. 13, 1838. She was a daughter of William Connover, who was born in New Jersey. He had moved to Kentucky, and there married Rebecca Hopkins, by whom he had twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to attain the age of maturity ex- cept one, and all now living with the exception of two.

After our subjcet's marriage he settled near the old homestead of his father, and improved a farm, upon which he lived until his removal to the plaee on seetion 22, Lexington Township, where he is at present residing. This was fifty-nine years ago, consequently our subjeet has experienced the hard- ships common to old settlers. His farm comprises 140 acres of well-improved land, and he also has twenty-six aeres of timber. He has a good resi- dence, barn and out-buildings, and is meeting with fair suceess in the prosecution of his voeation. For the last six years he has suffered considerably from injuries received by his team running over him and dragging him quite a distanec.

Mr. Patton is now in his seventy-first year. He has never had any ehildren, and has devoted the years thus far in life to agricultural pursuits. His good wife is seventy-two years old, and for forty- nine years they have together toiled and labored

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for each other's good as man and wife. They are both members of the Christian Church. Our sub- ject was converted to the cause of the Master over half a century ago, and his good wife about sixty years ago. By their energy and perseveranee they have seeured a competeney, and are enabled to pass the sunset of life in peace and quiet. In polities he is a Demoerat. In seleeting those to be repre- sented in the portrait department of this work, no worthier couple could be found within the eonfines of the county than Benjamin Patton and wife.

OSEPH MEINER, a successful farmer and stoek-raiser of Arrowsmith Township, is a native of the German Empire, born in Prus- sia, Feb. 13, 1834. He emigrated to this country when a young man twenty years of age, and from the landing at New York City proceeded to Bueks County, Pa., where for the following four years he worked by the month on a farm. With genuine German economy and forethought he saved what he could of his earnings, and soon after coming to Illinois, in 1858, commeneed farming on his own hook. His home then was at the house of a Mr. S. Morgan in Dale Township, this county, where he became acquainted with Miss Mary Ul- mer, to whom he was married Oet. 12, 1862. This lady was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 3, 1839, and eame to the United States when a young woman, in 1860, making her home with her brother in Dale Township. She was the daughter of Henry and Catlierme (Wagner) Uhner. Her father was born Oet. 16, 1806, and died in his native country Marelı 14, 1883. His wife Catherine was born Sept. 14, 1811, and departed this life July 3, 1879. Of their eleven children, six are now living: Eva became the wife of Joseph Ditter, now deceased; Matthew married Miss Enily Damaska, deceased ; George married Miss Minnie Miller; Mary, of our sketeh, was the fourth ehild; John married Miss Sarah Loga, and Katie became Mrs. Van Paign. Mrs. Meiner received a fine German education, and reads and writes English very well.

In 1864, Mr. Meiner purchased eighty aeres of

land to which he afterward added 160, and the whole of which constitutes one of the finest bodies of land in this township, comprising a fine farm of 240 aeres. His stoek consists principally of Nor- man horses, of which he exhibits some very fine specimens, especially a pair of two-year-olds, which he holds at a high price. The children of our sub- jeet and his wife, seven in number, are George II .; Minnie U., who married Alfred Bane and lives two miles west of her father; Arnold B., Katie T., Ma- tilda E., Edward and Aaron G. Mr. Meiner is Republiean in ,polities, and with his wife is eon- neeted with the United Brethren Church at Arrow- smith, of which he has been a member twenty years.

Joseph Meiner is the son of Antone and Mar- garet (Reiehley) Meiner, who were both natives of Germany, and spent their entire lives in their na- tive land, where their remains were laid to rest several years ago. The father was a warm adher- ent of the Catholie faith. The five children of the parental family ineluded Magdalena, Theresa, Caroline, deceased, Joseph, and George, who died in 1854, at New Orleans, of yellow fever.

A LFRED SPRADLING, a resident of the southeast part of MeLean County, is pleas- antly located in Cheney's Grove Township, on seetion 36. The place of his birth was Franklin County, Ind., and the date thereof May 17, 1823. His parents were John and Betsey (Chapman) Spradling, natives respectively of South Carolina and Tennessee. His father was born in 1780, served in the War of 1812, afterward re- moved to La Salle County, Ill., and died there in 1861. The mother was born in 1784, and survived her husband four years. Both were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. Their 'ten children are recorded as follows: Sarah, William, Polley; Naney died when quite small; John died in 1877; Elizabeth, Enoeh and James died in infaney ; Thomas and Re- beeea were next to the youngest.

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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 111

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