Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 114

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 114

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).

G EORGE W. BINGHAM, of Blue Mound Township, has been a residenee of the Prai- rie State sinee a child of three years old. He was born in New York State, March 22, 1838, being the son of George J. and Amanda (Warner) Bingham, of New England, who after marriage settled in the Empire State, where the father of our subjeet engaged extensively in the lumber business. In about 1841 he came to Lake County,Ill., where he engaged in farming until the spring of 1855, then removed to this county, set- tling in Padua Township, where he departed this life Feb. 22, 1879. The mother died in July, 1882. They had a family of ten children, who lived to maturity, while several others died in infaney.

Our subjeet eame to this eounty with his parents, and with the exeeption of three years' serviee in the armny, lived at home until his marriage. Ile en- listed as a Union soldier in August, 1862, in Co. D), 94th Ill. Vol. Inf., serving until the close of the war and receiving his honorable discharge at Spring- field, Ill. Upon his return from the army, he re-

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sumed farming on the old homestead until January, 1876, when he settled with his wife on seetion 32, Blue Mound Township, where he has sinee lived. He has brought about great improvements sinee taking possession of his farm, the land being under fine cultivation, and upon it a good set of farm buildings. He is also the owner of forty acres in Blue Mound Township and sixty in Padua, all im- proved.

Mr. Bingham was married in Padua Township, May 5, 1875, to Miss Hannah J., daughter of Henry and Deborah (Searles) Bedell, who were na- tives of Greene County, N. Y. They removed from the Empire State in the spring of 1861, and settled in Padua Township, this county, where the father died March 21, 1884. "The mother is still living. Mrs. Bingham was the eldest of their seven ehildren and was born in Greene County, N. Y., Mareh 4, 1841. Our subjeet has held vari- ous offiees in his township, and in polities was formerly a Republican, but now is greatly inter- ested in the sueeess of the temperanee movement, and latterly has arrayed himself on the side of the Prohibitionists. Both he and his wife are members of the Society of Friends.

A lithographie view of Mr. Bingham's residence is shown on another page of this work.

AVID L. MEYERS, Supervisor of Gridley Township, is also engaged there as a hard- ware merehant, which business he has ear- ried on sueeessfully and profitably sinee 1876, and has beeome one of the important factors in the business interests of the town.

Mr. Meyers is a native of Stettin, Germany, and was born May 5, 1832. His parents were David L. and Barbara (Swartz) Meyers, natives of Ger- many, where the father carried on a vineyard and dealt largely in the fruit of the vine. The mother died in Germany in 1840, and the father in 1876. Of their four children, John and Barbara are de- ceased, Christopher carries on a vineyard in Ger- many, and David L. is the sole representative of the family in this country.

Mr. Meyers received a good common-school

education in his native land, and when twenty years old set sail for the United States, landing in New York City, whenee he soon afterward pro- eeeded to Wayne County, Ohio, where he was em- ployed as a farm laborer for four years. In 1856 he started farther westward, and coming into this State located in Will County, where he worked on a farm one year and then, renting a traet of land, farmed for himself. After two years he rented a farm in Tazewell County, Ill., near Washington, which he cultivated three years. He then pur- chased a farın in Henry County, this State, upon which he lived one year, then sold out and moved into the village of Annawan, Henry Co., Ill., and engaged in the lumber trade, first as an employe and subsequently as proprietor of the yard. This he operated three years and then, purchasing a stoek of hardware, engaged in trade at El Paso, Ill., in company with George and Samuel Zinser. They operated together for six years following, and after continuing in business at that place for three years longer he, in 1874, removed his stoek of goods to Gridley, and in company with Henry Sneerer carried on the business at that place. Mr. Meyers became sole proprietor of this in 1877, sinee which time he has continued alone. He eon- trols a good trade and is elassed among the mnodel business men of the town.

The marriage of David L. Meyers and Miss Catherine Zinser was celebrated in Washington, Ill., on the 6th of January, 1860. Mrs. M. was born in Piekaway County, Ohio, and died one year after her marriage, on the anniversary of her wed- ding day. On the 13th of January, 1862, Mr. Meyers was a second time married, his present wife having been Miss Mary Zinser, a sister of his first wife. Of this latter union there were born three children, of whom George and Edwin died in infaney. Edward L. lives at home. Our sub- jeet and his family oeeupy a good residence in the village, and are greatly esteemed by the people of their community. He was elected Supervisor in April, 1886, and has been a member of the Village Board for several years and also served as School Director. Both Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the Evangelieal Church, and politically our subjeet is a staneh Republican.

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In 1872 Mr. Meyers visited his native land and spent three months among his old friends and acquaintances. During the war he took two horses to Peoria, intending to dispose of them and enlist in the army, but not being able to sell them, re- turned to his liome.

W ILLIAM B. HENLINE. The Henline property is the pride of Lawndale Town- ship, and its proprietors are its most valued and estimable citizens. The subject of this sketch is a son of one of its earliest pioneers, John Hen- line, who pushed his way dauntlessly into an uneul- tivated country, and has left behind him a record of which his descendants may well be proud.

William B., youngest sou and child of Jolin and Mary Henline, first opened his eyes to the light in Boone County, Ky., Dec. 20, 1823. Five years later his parents removed to McLean County, Ill., where our subjeet has spent the greater part of his life. He was reared to farming pursuits, received a limited education in the pioneer schools and re- mained under the home roof until he was twenty- seven years of age. He was fond of books, read extensively, and became the possessor of a fund of useful knowledge concerning matters of general interest, and of business especially. In the mean- time he became acquainted with the minutest de- tails of pioneer life. When first coming to this section the Indians were still in the vicinity, and the young braves were often the playmates of the little Henlines. The family occupied the primitive log-cabin, were sustained by simple fare, and clothed with " homespun;" but there is no doubt they were as happy and more contented than the people of to-day with their more luxurious surroundings. In the fall of 1830 the family made a brief visit to Kentucky after farming implements and other nee- essaries, and the mother of our subject put a lot of apple sprouts in a stocking with some earth, and thus transported the embryo orchard, which was afterward of inestimable service to the family, and is still standing on the old Henline place in Lawn- dale Township.

'The winter following was inade memorable by

the deep snow. During that fearful season the Henlines saw no living person outside their own family for six weeks. The youth and boyhood of our subject and his brother David were filled with interesting incidents, enough to make a good- sized volume. They remember the vehicles of the men who came over the country to speculate and buy land-which vehicles corresponded admirably with the men themselves; and the latter computed distances by tying a rag to a wagon wheel and counting the revolutions.

The youths of those days usually set about the establishment of a home and domestic ties early in life, but William Henline was behind them in this respect-this probably being the only instance in which he was ever delinquent, He was nearly thirty years of age when, in the spring of 1853, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane, the daughter of Hosea Wright, Esq. They settled upon a tract of land on seetion 29, in Lawndale Township, which our subject had entered from the Government. This consisted of 320 acres, whichi he improved and cultivated industriously for many years, and which has now become a valuable farm. Of this he is still the possessor, in company with his brother David, the two being joint proprietors of 2,500 acres, which they utilize in their business as extensive stock dealers. Our subjeet has been engaged thus for thirty-five years past, shipping annually from 1,200 to 1,500 head of cattle. Ile has been a successful man in his business transac- tions, but in 1870 lost heavily by becoming secur- ity for his friends, himself and his brother having to pay on this account $27,000 and interest. Be- sides dealing in cattle and hogs, they have given -considerable attention to Norman horses. Of late they have rented their farm, and the magnitude of their operations may be the better comprehended when we state the fact that their share of the erops frequently amounts to 20,000 bushels of corn an- nually. They have seven tenants on their land, and both brothers also live on the farm.

Of the first marriage of Mr. Henline there were boru two children-John D., now in business for himself, and Almira A., the wife of Jolın L. Bo- zarth, a resident of Seward County, Kan. The mother of these children departed this life in 1861,

W. B Hemline

Jane Henline

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and five years later Mr. H. married his present wife, who was formerly Miss Jane, the daugliter of Aaron Moon, and born in Madison County, Ohio, in 1827.

Some interesting incidents in the parental his- tory of our subject may be found in the sketch of David Henline, on another page in this work. When John Henline came with his family from Kentucky the country was thinly populated, and wild game was abundant. The parents were mar- ried in the Blue Grass regions. John Henline was born Nov. 7, 1787, and died at the homestcad . in Lawndale Township on the 26th of July, 1869. His wife, who in her girlhood was Miss Mary Dar- nell, was born Jan. 12, 1791, and preceded her husband to the better land, her death occurring Nov. 28, 1865.

Mr. Henlinc, besides being among the first set- tlers of this region, is one of the most valued citi- zens of Lawndale Township, contributing his full quota toward the advancement of its agricultural interests. To such men as himself is due the pres- ent status of one of the most wealthy and prosper- ous counties of the Prairie State. Mr. H. is now in the sixty-fourth year of his age, still hale and hearty, with abundant capacity for enjoying .the good things of life. Politically he is a Jacksonian Democrat, and clings tenaciously to the doctrines of the old leader.

The history of McLean County would be con- sidered incomplete without the portrait of William Henline, which we here present, and also that of his wife, Mrs. Jane (Moon) Henline, who has been the kind and sensible companion of her husband for over a quarter of a century.

RTHUR S. CATRON, one of the well- known citizens of Towanda Township, and a grain and stock dcaler at Merna, also a farmer and stock-raiser by vocation, is pleasantly located on his fine place on section 25, a view of which appears on another page of this work. He is the son of Israel M. and Savina (Smith) Catron, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Tennessee. Arthur Smith, father

of our subject's mother, was one of the early set- tlers of Fulton County, Ill., and was a soldier in the Black Hawk War. Israel Catron and his wife both came to that county prior to their marriage and while yet young in years. They were married there, and lived on a farm in that county until her death, which took place in 1844. He is yet living, and resides near Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa. Three children were born to them-Arthur S., Nancy E. and George E.

Arthur S. Catron was born in Fulton County, Aug. 24, 1839, He received his education in the common schools of that county, and lived on his father's farm until he was nineteen years old, after which he followed different occupations until 1861. October 11 of that year he enlisted in the 2d Iowa Cavalry, and served his country faithfully and well for nearly four years. He enlisted as a private and was promoted First Sergeant. On the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned to Des Moines, Iowa, and shortly afterward engaged in mercantile pursuits at Ipava, Ill. There he con- tinued for about a year, when, disposing of his in- terests in the store, he rented a farm, and for about a year followed that vocation. In the spring of 1868 he came to this county, and purchased 160 acres of land in Blue Mound Township. He has remained a resident of this county since that time, and has owned various tracts of land in different parts of the county, until he is now the proprietor of 233 acres in Towanda and Blue Mound Town- ships.

Mr. Catron was married in Fulton County, Ill., July 12, 1866, to Mary S. Lacey, daughter of John and Chloe (Hurd) Lacey, natives of Tompkins County, N. Y. Her parents settled in that State after their marriage, whence they removed to Michigan, and then came to this State, and took up their residence in Fulton County. She died there in January, 1879, and he is yet living in that county, having attained the venerable age of eighty-three years. They had nine children-Ly- man, Harriett, Elizabeth, Phebe A., John W., Adelia A., Susanna, Richard and Mary S. Mrs. Catron was born in Fulton County, Ill., April 25, 1849. Her union with our subject has been pro- ductive of eight children-Manning C., Roscoe M.,

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Arthur B., Lyman C., Baird D., Mary D., Bruce H. and John Norvil. Manning and Lyman are de- ceased. Mr. Catron was elected Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1886. He has held several of the minor offices in his township, and in politics is a stanch Republican. Socially he is a member of the G. A. R., holding fellowship with Post No. 146, of Bloomington. Lyman Lacey, eldest brother of Mrs. Lacey, of this notice, has held the office of Circuit Judge of Tazewell, Mason, De Witt and Logan Counties for many years, and is now on the Appellate benchi.

W ILLIAM SCOTT ARNOLD, of Blue Mound Township, and the second child of William M. and Ellen C. (Bull) Arnold, is a native of the Prairie State, born in Woodford County, Nov. 17, 1843. His parents were botlı natives of Indiana, and after their marriage settled in Owen County, where they lived until about 1845. They then moved westward and 'settled in Tazewell County, this State, whence they came to McLean County, in 1852, settling in Lexington Township. There the father died the following year; the mother still survives. Their four chil- dren were, Esther M., William Scott, Missouri A. and Minter P.

The subject of this history was a lad nine years old when his parents came into this county. He received a common-school education and lived at home until he was eightceu years old. Then, the late war being in progress, he enlisted in Co. C, 94th Ill. Vol. Inf., in which he served three years and received an honorable discharge at tle close. He was mustered out at Springfield, Ill., and at once returned to his home in this county.

For five years after having been converted from a soldier to a civilian, Mr. Arnold carried on farm- ing pursuits in this county, and in the fall of 1871 removed to Bloomington and engaged in, mercan- tile business. In the latter part of 1872 he en- gaged in the sale of agricultural machinery in Bloomington, in which business he continued until the fall of 1883. He theu disposed of his business

and returned to Blue Mound Township, to his old farm, where he has since remained.

The present homestead of our subject comprises one half section of improved land, upon which he has erected a beautiful residence, second to none in McLean County. His barns and other improve- ments are in keeping with the dwelling. The farm operations are carried on systematically, and the fences, buildings and machinery kept in good repair.

The marriage of William Scott Arnold and Miss Mattie E. Story was celebrated in Bloomington, Ill., Oct. 25, 1866. Mrs. Arnold was born in 1846, and is the daughter of Palmer and Mary A. (Morris) Story, natives respectively of Eugland and Pennsylvania. They first settled in Ohio, on the Muskingum River, whence they emigrated to De Witt County, Ill., in 1836; and from there, in 1853, came to Bloomington, where they still reside. Mrs. A. was the eighth child of a family of nine and was born in De Witt County, Ill., Nov. 29, 1846.

Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have become the parents of six children, namely, William L., Hettie M., Oliver S., Alfred S., Katie L. and Mattie E. Mrs. A. is a member in good standing of the Methodist Church, and our subject politically belongs to the Republican party. Ile enjoys the confidence and estcem of his fellow townsmen, as exhibited in their election of him to numerous offices and places of trust.

E LIAS B. JOHNSON, one of the respected and prosperous farmers of Blue Mound Township, is a native of Saratoga County, N. Y., born Oct. 21, 1833. He is the son of Lem- uel and Lydia (Rowley) Johnson, the former a na- tive of New England, and the latter of New York State, in which latter they settled after their mar- riage, In 1851 they removed to Fulton County, Ill., when their son, our subject, was about eight- ecn years of age. Lemuel Johnson was a shoe- maker by trade, but after locating in the Prairie State, turned his attention to farming. He estab- lished a comfortable home iu Fulton County, where

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his death oeeurred April 16, 1860; the mother also died there in abont 1873.

Of the ten children in the parental family Elias B. Johnson was the seventh. He was rearcd to farm- ing pursuits, and lived with his parents in Fulton County until 1869, when he came into Blue Mound Township, this eounty, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 21, which comprises a part of his present homestead. He has brought about great changes in the original condition of his purchase, and has added to its extent until he is uow the owner of 240 aeres, all improved and under a good state of eultivation. He has also erected a fine set of farm buildings, which he keeps in good repair.' Everything about the premises, ineluding the stock and machinery, is earefully looked after, and the homestead in all respeets indieates the supervision of an intelligent and progressive mind. A view of the place is shown'on another page.

Mr. Johnson was first married in Fulton County, Ill., Nov. 27, 1856, to Miss Phobe Laeey, who was a native of Michigan. One of their children, Juliett E., died in infancy ; the other, Lynan HI., is a resi- dent of Blue Mound. Mrs. Phæbe Johnson, who was the companion of her husband but three years, died in November, 1859. Our subject was again married, in Fulton County, Ill., Dec. 31, 1863, to Miss Emina, daughter of William B. and Sabina (Rowland) White, who was born in Virginia, Oct. 24, 1843. Of this marriage there were four ehil- dren, one of whom died in infaney ; those surviving are Elmer, H., Eva S. and Roy W. Mr. Johnson lias held various offiees in his township, aud uni- formly casts his vote with the Democratic party.

OHN DAWSON, a prominent and successful farmer of Lexington Township, was born in Madison County, near the village of Mt. Sterling, Ohio, ou the 4th of December, 1820. His father, James R. Dawson, was a native of Bourbon County, Ky., born in 1794, and fol- lowed agricultural pursuits. The Dawson family were of Welsh extraetion and emigrated to Ainer- ica during the first settlement of Virginia. The mother of our subject was Miss Mary, the daugh-

ter of Albert and Margaret Ogden, an old and ' wealthy family of mueh influence in New York.

James R. Dawson became a resident of Madison County, Ohio, when a youth of fifteen years, and was married in 1817. He first farmed on rented land and then purchased 150 acres which he culti- vated and oeeupied until 1831. He then removed with his family to Illinois, and coming into Me- Lean County' in the fall of 1832 settled on a farm near the timber, one and one-half miles southwest of what is now the town site of Lexington, where he made a purchase of 240 aeres and began its im- provement and cultivation. The purchase of this exhausted most of his ready means, but he was an exeellent finaneier, turning everything to good account, and became very successful in his farm- ing aud business transactions. Three years after loeating upon this homestead the family met with a severe affliction in the death of the wife and mother in 1837. The children, however, were mostly grown to mature years, and were twelve in number, nine boys and three girls. All are living, the youngest being past forty-five years. James R. Dawson departed this life April 11, 1848.

John Dawson was about twelve years of age when his parents left Ohio for Illinois. Most of his education was carried on in the Buckeye State, as there was no school in this vicinity at the time of his coming here, and he early commenced assisting his father in the labors of the farm. When twenty- two years old he started out in business for him- self upon eighty acres of raw prairie, which his fa- ther had purchased for him, and at the time of his marriage, two years later, was enabled to offer to his bride a comfortable home. This lady was Miss Arramintia Adams. She was born in Boone County, Ky., and was the daughter of Mathew Adams, who removed from the Blue Grass region to McLean County in 1838. Our subject was prospered in his farming operations and fortunate in his investments, and in due time found himself the possessor of 600 acres of valuable land. Of this 400 aeres was prairie, for which he paid $20 per acre, and which furnished a fine range for the eattle which he afterward dealt in extensively, aud realized a handsome ineome from his purchases and sales. During the first ten years he worked almost

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night and day to establish himself upon a firm busi- ness footing and lay up something for a rainy day. In 1875, on account of failing health, he took a trip to California, where he remained four years and returned greatly improved, and since that time has lived comparatively retired. His possessions now consist of 340 aeres of good land, a handsome and substantial farm dwelling, with a fine barn and all necessary out-buildings. Some of his property took wings on account of his going security to the amount of $8,262.50, of which he had to pay 20 per cent, but he liquidated this debt of honor to the last penny, and is now living in the enjoy- ment of a competency.

Our subjeet and his wife became the parents of ' eight children, four sons and four daughters. Only two of the sous survive-Thomas A., who is mar- ried and a resident of Chenoa Township, and Orlando F., at home. Mr. Dawson politically is a Jeffersonian Democrat and uniformly votes to up- hold the principles of his party.

Mr. Dawson is a member of the Christian Church aud his wife belongs to the United Brethren.

The brothers and sisters which constitute the parental family of our subjeet are recorded as fol- lows : Albert is a resident of Del Norte, Col .; John, of this county ; Croghan and Samuel reside in Lex- ington, and George is in Kansas; Cynthia became the wife of Shadrach Kemp; Margaret married Will- iam Wroe, and resides in MeLean County near Lexington; James 'M. lives in Chenoa Township: Lafayette is a Judge of the Territory of Alaska; Philander is in Kansas City, Mo .; Mary became the wife of Daniel Underwood, also of Kansas City.

AMES V. MCCULLOUGH, one of MeLean County's prominent citizens and first-class farmers, resides on seetion 12, Lexington Township. His parents, Robert and Louisa (Moore) MeCullough, were boru in Washington County, Pa., where they lived until 1857. In the spring of that year they came to this county, first tak- ing up their residence at Bloomington, where they

lived one year, then removed to a farm on seetion 1, in Lexington Township. There they lived and labored until the spring of 1868, when they re- moved to Normal Township, and after a residence there of six years returned to Lexington Township, where they made their home until their death. The father died in May, 1877, and the mother'in De- cember, 1882. Their nine children are recorded as follows: Obadiah is a farmer of Blue Mound Township; Robert was a member of the 20th Illinois Infantry, and died of typhoid fever at Mound City. Ill .; Mary J. is living in Blue Mound Town- ship; James V., our subject, was the fourth ehild; Louisa died in Washington County, Pa., in 1856; Ard is a resident of Lexington Township; David died in Lexington Township in 1883; John is a resident of one of the western Territories, and Frances died in Lexington Township, in I lay, 1862.

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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 114

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