Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 116

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 116

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resolution, and oeeupies a prominent position in the agricultural interests of this section.

The subject of this biography was born in Fay- ette County, Pa., Feb. 10, 1828, and is the son of John and Jane (Carroll) Hastings, also natives of the Keystone State. They spent their entire lives in their native country, and there their remains are buried. John Hastings died of Asiatic eliolera Dee. 14, 1832, when but thirty-seven years of age. Mrs. Jane C. Hastings survived her husband twenty-six years, her death oceurring Dee. 19, 1858, when she was sixty-two years of age. They were married Sept. 23, 1819, and became the parents of five eliil- dren-William, Mary A., James .J., Thomas C. and Jane.

The subject of our sketch remained with his par- ents until eighteen years of age, and then was ap- prentieed to learn the plasterer's trade, which he followed in his native eounty until 1855. In March of that year he emigrated to Illinois, worked one month at his trade in Bloomington, then went to Atlanta, Logan County, remaining there one summer, and for three years afterward followed his trade in Champaign County. In the fall of 1855 he purchased 160 acres of land in Chenoa Town- ship, this eounty, which he sold in 1858; he then beeame a resident of Dry Grove Township, where he remained from 1859 until 1870, when he dis- posed of his interests there and eame into this township, loeating upon his present' homestead, which by his industry and good judgment he has transformed into one of the most attractive spots in the township.

The marriage of Thomas C. Hastings and Miss Rachel Hays took place on the 5th of July, 1860, in Champaign County. Mrs. Hastings is the daughter of James and Mary (Miller) Hays, the foriner a native of Washington County, Pa., and the latter of Muskingum County, Ohio. They set- tled in the latter State and county soon after their marriage, and after a residenee there of eight years removed to Vinton County, where they lived un- til 1857. They then came to Illinois, loeating in Champaign County, where the father spent his last days in Homer, dying in September, 1860. The mother afterward removed with her family to Piatt, where she lias sinec resided. Their six children

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were-William, Abrahanı, Rachel, Sarah, Henry and Langartha. Rachel, Mrs. Hastings, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, April 4, 1844. Of her union with our subject there have been born seven children, of whom one, a little daughter, Ada, died in Blue Mound Township in the fall of 1872, when about five years old. The others were Henry M., Frank C., William M .. Charles, Odus and Elmer.

Mr. Hastings has held some of the minor oflices in his township; with his wife he is a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church, and has been an Elder since 1872. Politically he casts his vote with the Democratic party. In all respects he is fulfilling the obligations of a good citizen, and doing his full share toward building up the agricultural and business interests of Blue Mound Township. A lithographic view of Mr. Hastings' residence appcars elsewhere in this book.

S IMON A. McCARTNEY, Postmaster at Weston, has been a resident of this State since 1875, during which year he located at Gridley, in this county, and has been a resident of this vicinity, with the exception of about eighteen months, since that time. He is held in high respect as an intelligent and thorough- going farmer, a good citizen and valuable member of the community. Mr. McCartney comes from excellent Pennsylvania stock, having been born in Fayette County, Pa., July 19, 1833. His father, William McCartney, was born in Westmoreland County, that State, and became one of the promi- ment boat builders of that section. The mother of our subject, who before her marriage was Miss Sarah Sadler, was a native of Fayette County, Pa., of which she remained a resident during her entire life. The parental family consisted of eight chil- dren, only three of whom are living; one son, J. T., served as a soldier in Co. E, 14th Pa. Vol. Cav., during the late Civil War, and received a gunshot wound at the battle of Winchester which disabled his right arm. After the war, not being able to perform manual labor, he educated himself for the ministry and subsequently became a noted clergy-

man in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died April 21, 1885, and his remains are buried in the cemetery at Nashville, Ohio.

The subject of this history was the eldest child . of his parents. He was reared to habits of indus- try, and his school days were limited to a few short terms in the district schools. When nineteen years of age, with the permission of his father, he commenced the battle of life for himself as a farm laborer, receiving the munificent salary of $6 per inonth. Not being satisfied with the results of hard labor, he took up the early trade of his father, boat building, and located in Monongalia County, W. Va. During the late war he enlisted in the United States service, becoming a member of Co. D. 14th Pa. Vol. Cav., with which he remained un- til Aug. 28, 1865. Although his term of service was not as lengthy as that of some others, yet he participated in no less than fifteen battles and skir- mishes, among which may be mentioned, Solomon's Gap, Harper's Ferry, Martinsburg, Winchester and Bunker Hill. After receiving his honorable dis- charge and being mustered out, he joined his family in West Virginia, and they continued to reside there until 1875. They then removed to Illinois, locating first in Gridley as before men- tioned, and from there, after cighteen months, moved to Tazewell County. Thence, in the spring of 1878, he returned to McLean County and en- gaged in farming in Yates Township. In 1880 he removed to Weston and subsequently entered the employ of Haynes, Rakestraw & Co., grain mer- chants, with whom he continued until Aug. 3, 1885, when he entered upon his duties as Postmaster.

One of the most important events in the history of Mr. McCartney occurred Oct. 14, 1852, when he was united. in marriage with Miss Mary E. Wood, iu Fayette County, Pa. Mrs. McC. was reared in the latter county although born in Mo- nongalia County, W. Va. Of this marriage there were born six children, one of whom died in in- fancy : Clara E. is the wife of Joel R. Maxwell; Sarah J. married J. T. Vance; Willliam I., George A. and Enoch W. are in charge of two stock farns about eight miles from Peoria, Ill., owned by O. J. Bailey. William I. married Miss Syrenia Smith, of Gridley. George A. is single. Enoch W. mar-

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ried Miss Gayman, of Chenoa. Mrs. MeCartney has been an active member of the Baptist Church for many years.

Our subject, politieally, is a staneh supporter of the Demoeratie party. He has been prominent in the affairs of his township, served as Constable about four years and was elected Justice of the Peace in 1885, a position which he has hield eon- tinuously since that time. He is also a member of the G. A. R., Post No. 192.

W ILLIAM N. McNAUGHT, senior member of the firm of MeNaught & Mereer. is, with his partner, earrying on a profitable trade in hardware and agricultural implements at Lexington. Mr. MeNaught is a native of this county, having been born on a farm in Money Creek Township, Jan. 7, 1848. He was the fourth son and child of George and Naney MeNaught, and resided during his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, receiving his primary education in the district sehool. Later he entered Wesleyan University at Bloomington, where he remained two years. His father then died and our subjeet was ealled home to assist his mother in her farming business, and here he continued until 1866, when he removed to Lexington and purchased the inter- est of his step-father, Dr. J. L. Brooks, and became the partner of his brother, N. F. MeNaught, in the drug-store business. This they carried on under the firm style of McNaught Bros. until 1882, with the exception of two years, during which his brother retired, and his mother became a partner in the business. In 1880 she disposed of her in- terest to John B. Dawson, and in 1882 MeNaught & Dawson sold to J. D. Paekard & Co.

Mr. MeNaught after disposing of his drug busi- ness engaged in buying and selling horses until 1884, and then became the partner of John W. Powley in the hardware business. After one year Mr. Powley sold his interest to Robert F. Mercer of the present firm. They are doing a profitable and growing business, both being well known and highly respected for their straightforward methods and excellent personal eharaeter.

Mr. MeNaught was married, in his twentieth year, to Miss Theresa L. Dishon, whose mother was named Elizabeth, and whose father, William Dishon, died when Mrs. MeN. was a young girl fourteen years of age. Our subjeet and his wife have beeome the parents of two daughters-Ger- tie and Edna. Their home on East Main street is a mnodel of convenience and eomfort, and the family are held in the highest respeet in this community. Mr. MeNaught is a member of MeLean Lodge No. 206, I. O. O. F., and Damon Lodge No. 10, K. of P. He has served as President of the Board of Couneilmen and has in other respeets been identi- fied with the publie affairs of the town, and at the present time is engaged in the importation of Nor- man horses.

AMES MCHUGH, deecased, was a farmer on seetion 2, Lexington Township, and suceess- ful in the prosecution of his calling. He was born in Harrison County, Ohio, Jan. 13, 1822, and his parents were William and Anna (Lewis) MeHugh, of Irish parentage.

James MeHugh was the eldest of seven ehildren born to his parents, who died in Monroe County, Ohio. The father was a shoemaker by trade and our subjeet was reared partly in the village where his parents resided and partly on a farm. When twenty-one years of age he settled on a farm in Monroe County, Ohio, which his father had given him, and there industriously labored for about nine years. He then sold his place and removed to De- eatur County, Ind., where he purchased another farm and lived on it for about the same length of time. Disposing of this latter place lie, in 1864, eame to this eounty with his family, consisting of his wife and six ehildren, and settled on seetion 2, Lexing- ton Township, where he purchased 160 aeres of land. He continued to live and labor on this place until summoned to another world, his death taking place from consumption, Aug. 6, 1886. He had aeeumulated a fine property, including 240 aeres of valuable and productive land, with all the ap- plianees of a modern country homestead.

James MeHugh was married in Belmont County, Ohio, Aug. 20, 1844, to Miss Anna Farra, daughter

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of Rees and Rachael (Broomhall) Farrar, natives of Pennsylvania. Her father was a tailor by trade and also carried on farming in Behuont County, where both parents died. They had five ehildren- Lavinia, Milton, Anna, Rees C. and Wilson. Mrs. McHugh was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, Marel 14, 1823. She lived with her parents until her marriage and by her union with Mr. McHugh became the mother of six children-William R., Thirsa, Uriah C., James N., Clinton and Charles W. The only surviving child is James N., who lives with his mother. William R. was married to Anna E. Guy, and at the date of his death was a resident of Blue Mound Township. Mrs. MeHugh is a member of the Presbyterian Church, as was . also her husband and three of the children. In polities, our subjeet was a Republican. .

Mrs. Mc- Hugh controls the estate left by her husband and is meeting with sueeess in the cultivation of the farm.

h ENRY C. LANGSTAFF, an old and hon- ored eitizen of MeLean County, is a native of the Buekeye State, being born near Zanes- ville, the county seat of Muskingum County, Ohio, March 18, 1816. His father, Asa Langstaff, of New Jersey, was a farmer by oeeupation and re- mained in his native State four years after his mar- riage to Miss Lany Boylan of his own State. He then removed with his family to a traet of wild land in Muskingum County, Ohio, where he opened up a farm and established a comfortable home where he passed the remainder of his days, dying in 1868, when eighty-five years old. His father, the grandfather of our subjeet, was among the earli- est settlers of New Jersey and a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

The children of Asa and Lany Langstaff were eleven in number, seven sons and four daughters, all of whom were living at the time of the father's death, ten reaching maturity and being married and having families of their own. Of these, seven still survive. The mother died in Union County, Ohio, at the home of one of her sons in 1876, when eighty-seven years of age.

Henry C. Laugstaff, of this sketch, was the fourth

son and fifth child of the parental household. He passed his boyhood on the farm in his native county, and received a limited edueation in the pioneer sehools. As soon as old enough to work he piled brush with his brothers, earried the ehunks together for burning, and assisted in other ways to elear the land and fit it for cultivation. All the boys were taught to work, and our subjeet remained with his parents until he was fifteen years old, when he was bound out to learn the cabinet trade, at which he served four years and six months. He afterward took up the earpenter's trade.

In 1839 our subjeet was married to Miss Elsie Wintermide, of Muskingum County, Ohio, and they remained in that State for ten years following. They then decided to remove farther West for the establishment of a permanent home. Proceeding to Illinois they located in Bloomington, where our subject was employed. first in the machine-shop of Flagg & Ewing for a period of six years. During this time he saved his money and was enabled to buy a small farm in Martin Township, where he followed general agriculture for many years, and occasionally took a contraet for putting up a build- ing, either a sehool-house, barn or dwelling. In due time he sold the first farm and purchased a larger one in Yates Township, which he oeeupied until May, 1872. He then praetieally retired from aetive labor and removed into Lexington, where he is enjoying the fruits of his early toil, but is by no means idle, always finding something useful to busy himself about. Mrs. Elsie W. Langstaff, after becoming the mother of five ehildren, one daughter and four sons, departed this life in April, 1865: Their children are recorded as follows: John is assistant eashier in the Ifarness Bank; Leonidas lives in Cameron, Mo., and Brown, at Nevada, that State; Rachel beeame the wife of William Beddows, and they reside in Ft. Seott, Kan., being the parents of two daughters; Henry W. is a praetieing physician of Colfax, this eounty.

The second wife of our subjeet was formerly Miss Cynthia A. Smith, to whom he was married Dee. 10, 1868. Mrs. L. is the daughter' of Joseph and Rebeeea Smith, formerly of Ohio, and by her union with our subjeet has beeome the mother of two sons-Frank G. and Osear P., who are now in

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school. Mr. L. served as Supervisor six years in Martin Township, and one in Yates. He has also been Sehool Treasurer, and for many years a mem- ber in good standing of the Christian Church, holding the offlee of Elder. He has in all respeets been a good eitizen and a worthy member of so- eiety and enjoys in a marked degree the respeet and esteem of a large eirele of friends and asso- ciates.

ILLIAM D. JOHNSTON, a pioneer resi- dent of the Prairie State, is now a citizen of Lexington, where he is enjoying his later days retired from aetive labor. He was born near Mansfield, Riehland Co., Ohio, Jan. 5, 1816, on the farm of his father, Daniel Johnston, who was a prominent man in that vieinity and Justice of the Peace for many years. His birthplace was in Penn- sylvania, whenee he came to Ohio when a young man, and there married Miss Rachel Seott, who was a native also of Pennsylvania and removed to Ohio with her parents when a young child, they being among the early pioneers of the Buckeye State Daniel Johnston served in the War of 1812, and his father, William D. Johnston, Sr., was a soldier of the Revolution and held office under Gen. Washington. He was an Englishman by birth and aneestry, but sympathized with the colonists in their struggle for freedom.

Daniel Johnston spent his deelining years in Richland County, Ohio, and died there in 1831. His children, six sons and three daughters, all grew to mature years, and beeame established in eom- fortable homes with families of their own. William D., our subject, was the eldest son and passed his childhood and youth in his native county, reeeiv- ing a common-school education. After attaining his majority he turned his face to the farther West and coming into Ogle County, Ill., took up a squatter's claim. In the fall of 1838 he returned to Ohio, and was married in Riehland County, to Miss Mary A. Griffith, who was born there and lived with her parents until her marriage. Shortly after the wedding the young couple started for their new home which was located near Byron. When the land came into market our subjeet secured his claim

of 160 aeres and immediately began its improve- ment and eultivation, meeting with sueeess. In due time he added to his estate until he became the owner of 240 aeres and employed himself in general farm- ing and stoek-raising, continuing in Ogle County until 1856, when he removed with his family to Me- Lean County, settling near Selma, where he re- mained several years and then removed to a farm two miles northi, whieli embraced 240 acres. There his wife died in 1871, leaving three children, all daughters; Lueretia A .; Alice E., Mrs. George Clayton of Ogle County, and Mary E., who was married to David B. Ralston and is living on his father's farm near Lexington,

Mr. Johnston was the second time married, in September, 1873, to Mrs. S. R. Sloan of Pennsyl- vania. They located upon a farm near Lexington, remaining there until Mareli, 1880, when they re- moved to a homestead of ten aeres just outside the corporate limits. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are mem- bers in good standing of the Baptist Church, of which our subjeet has been Deaeon for many years.

Mrs. Johnston by her former marriage, became the mother of five ehildren, four now living, as fol- lows: Samuel Curtis and Anna, Mrs. Magee, are in Pennsylvania; William T., a physician, is praetieing in Elmwood, Ill .; Mary S. is the wife of E. Gabries, a druggist of Elmwood.

RANCIS F. GODDARD, a native of Me- Lean County, was born on the 23d of Sep- tember, 1847. He was the eldest ehild of the second marriage of his father, Dr. Abbott God- dard, who was a native of Kentucky. His mother was formerly Mrs. Elizabeth Scott, of Virginia. They removed to this county in 1842, from Indiana, to which State they had emigrated from Ohio at an early day. The father of our subjeet was reared and educated in the Blue Grass State and practiced medieine in Indiana before coming to this eounty. After his removal here his professional duties ex- tended from twenty to twenty-five miles in the sur- rounding country, which was new and thinly set- tled, with almost impassable roads and unbridged streams. Often he was obliged to swim the creeks

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and always had with him a suit of clothes so that he could exchange his wet garments for dry ones after reaching the other side.

In addition to his duties as a physician, Dr. God- dard often filled the pulpit of the absent circuit ri- der of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was · possessed of rare talent for either calling. Before his removal to Indiana he had had some experience in merchandising at Cincinnati, Ohio, and after com- ing to McLean County resumed this business at Lexington, carrying a general stock of the things most needed in a new country. By his second mar- riage, to the mother of our subject, there were born four children, all living, and residents of Lexington, namely, Francis F., Wesley W., Hattie E., and Ella J., the wife of W. H. Smith. Of the first marriage there were five children : Fletcher, Addison, Frank ; . Lydia became the wife of Milton Smith, and Frances M. married Milton Bartholomew. The boys are de- ceased. The father died in the seventy-fourth year of his age.

The subject of this sketch was rcared to farming pursuits and after a primary course in the common schools, entered the High School in Lexington, where he graduated. During the progress of the late war he enlisted as a Union soldier in March, 1864, in Co. C, 94th Ill. Vol. Inf., serving twenty-seven months and participating in many /important battles. After the battle of Vicksburg he was sent to Texas and thence to the coast. He participated in the battle of Spanish Fort and other engagements and was finally transferred to the 37th Illinois regiment. He crossed the Gulf seven times and received his honorable discharge after the close of the war in May, 1866. He then returned to Lexington and engaged in farming for three years, then moved into town and conducted a transfer line for five years following. He was then clerk in a store and soon afterward embarked in his present business where, as a caterer to the public appitite, he has built up a good reputation and carries on one of the best restaurants in Lexington.

Mr. Goddard was married in March, 1872, to Miss Maggic Hefner, of Blue Mound Township, whose father was Nimrod Hefner, and a resident there for many years. ' Of this union there have been born four children-Wesley Milton, William

F., Asa P. and Ora Lawrence. Mr. G. is connected with the G. A. R., and both he and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

S ANFORD R. CLAGGETT, one of the prominent and successful business men and capitalists of Lexington, is a native of Fauquier County, Va., born near Warren- ton on the 27th of April, 1822. His father, Sam- uel Claggett, also of Virginia, was the son of Dr. Samuel Claggett, a surgeon in the Revolutionary War. The latter was a brother of Bishop Claggett, of Prince George's County, Va., the first person of this distinction who rendered allegiance to the United States. The mother of our subject was formerly Miss Lucy Sanford, a native of Virginia, and his father was engaged in mercantile pursuits in the Old Dominion for many years.

The subject of this history received a fine edu- cation and completed his studies in Granville Col- lege, Ohio. He began'teaching school when nine- tecn years old, which occupation he pursued after coming West, in Iroquois and McLean Counties. He came to Illinois in 1841, journeying through the States of Ohio and Indiana by wagon, and mak- ing his first location in the old town of Bunkum, in Iroquois, where he operated first a store and card- ing-machine for six years, then abandoned the carding business but continued merchandising. He hauled his goods from Chicago on wagons and at the same time bought horses and sold them in the Chicago market. He was married in Iroquois, Ill., to Miss Amanda A. Karr, daughter of Adam Karr, and in 1854 removed his family to McLean County. Herc Mrs. Claggett subsequently, died, leaving one daughter, Ella, who was married to S. J. Van Dyke, the present Postmaster at Lexington.

The second wife of our subject was Miss Nancy Terry. After removing to McLean County he at first carried on merchandising in a small way, but his business soon increased, and after the first two years he transacted an annual business of $35,000, which subsequently increased to $110,000. At this time he purchased all his own goods, kept his own

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books and aeeounts, and made his own collections, continuing in business until 1882, earrying on his operations after his physical strength had failed, and when he was unable to stand and would sit down in making sales. His mental vigor, however, remained unimpaired and he had always the same bright, energetie mind, eapable of directing and at- tending to all the details.

Mr. Claggett was one of the eharter members of the Odd Fellows' Lodge, of Lexington, which is now one of the most prosperous in the State, and in which order he has always retained an undimin- ished interest. When coming into the State of Illinois he had $824 in money and has sinee turned every dollar to good aeeount. When he organized and commenced operating his bank he had a eapi- tal of $50,000 and sinee it eomineneed business in Deeember, 1882, not a dollar of its earnings has been withdrawn, its eapital being kept always equal to the first amount, and surplus equal to the eapi- tal, which makes the actual capital of the bank $100,000.

G EORGE WASHINGTON HISER, a pros- perous and enterprising hardware merehant of Lexington, is a native of Wayne County, Ind., and was born near Centerville, the old county seat, on the 2d of October, 1843. His father, Henry Hiser, was one of the early settlers of In- diana, to which he removed from Dayton, Ohio. He was born in Loudoun County, Va., Nov. 20, 1803. The mother of our subjeet, formerly Miss Deborah Coffman, was a native of Roekingham County, Va., born April 19, 1808, and removed with her parents to Dayton, Ohio, when ten years old. She was married to Henry Hiser in 1824, and they located in Wayne County, Ind., in 1841. They remained there until August, 1856, when they eame over into Illinois, settling in the sınall village of Selma, this eounty. They lived in different parts of Lexington Township until . 1860, and removed from their farm into the village of Lexington, where the father died in 1876. The parental fam- ily included ten children, of whom three-John, Sarah and Amanda-departed this life before the death of the father; James is engaged in farming

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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 116

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