Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 118

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 118

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- was born in Shippensburg, Cumberland Co., Pa., on the 26th of March, 1842. His father, William Pow- ley, was a native of Lancaster, Pa., born near the town of Elizabeth, July 22, 1811. The grandfather of our subject, John C. Powley, was of German birth and ancestry, and emigrated to America in about 1798. He married Miss Catharine Seitz, who accompanied him to this country. The voyage oc- cupied eight weeks, during which they lost their only child, who died on the Atlantie but was buried in Philadelphia. They afterward located in Elizabeth, where John Powley carried on white- smithing, and whence he afterward removed with lis family, first to Carlisle and then to Shippens- burg, in Cumberland County, where he died in 1840, in the seventy-first year of his age. At the time of his death his family consisted of his wife and four children, two sons and two daughters : John C., now deceased ; William ; Margaret, who became the wife of Rev. Joseph Straubridge, of the United

Brethren Church, and Wilmena, who married Mi. eliael Miller. Of this family only two now survive, one sister, and the father of our subject, William.

William Powley, Sr., spent his early years in Cumberland County, and received his primary ed- ucation in the common schools. Upon becoming of suitable years, he learned the loeksmith's trade, then the tinner's, and at the two combined has worked over fifty years. He was married in 1834, to Miss Susanna, the daughter of Phillip Rhodes, Esq. They located first in Cumberland Connty, where they remained until 1855, and then Mr. Pow- ley, with his family, emigrated to Illinois, and eom- ing into this county settled in the town of Lexing- ton, where he has followed the tinner's trade and carried on the hardware business until the present. Although now in his seventy-sixth year, he seems as active and industrious as ever and is happiest when the most busily employed. He has not lost a day by sickness in fifty-two years, and there is no doubt that his remarkable health and strength are due to the correct and temperate habits to which he was trained in early youth.

Mr. and Mrs. William Powley, Sr., became the pa- rents of seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters, all living, and of whom the record is as follows : Joseph A. is engaged in the hardware trade at For- est, Ill .; John W. is in the same business at Lex- ington; Annic E. became the wife of Robert An- brose, and they live in Arrowsmith Township; Will- iam D., our subject, was next in order of birth; Al- mira, the youngest, married Thomas Ilenderson, and lives in Fairbury, Ill. ; Henry A. is also in that town, engaged in the hard ware trade; Susan married John W. Elliott, who is telegraph operator for the Wabash Railroad at Simerton, Ill. ; she was born July 4, 1816, and died at the home of her husband in Lexington May 22, 1880. Mr. Powley east his first presidential vote for Gen. Jackson, but is now a stanch adherent of the Republican party.

William D. Powley of this sketch, was about twelve years of age when he came to McLean County with his parents. He passed the greater part of his time in the town of Lexington during his boyhood and youth, and received a fair educa- tion in the public schools. When sixteen years old he began his apprenticeship at the tinner's trade, at

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which he worked for a number of years, and then visited the States of Missouri and Kansas, and worked at his trade in those States for about three years. He then returned to Lexington, and in April, 1886, became a partner of his father, with whom he has continued until the present. They give employment to four men, accepting only those who are skilled in their business and able to turn out first-elass work.

Our subject, was married in December, 1864, to Miss Carrie Funk, who was born in Urbana, Ohio, Of this union there has been born one son, Charles E., and a daughter who died in infaney. Mrs. Carrie E. Powley departed this life in 1876.

Mr. Powley served as a Union soldier in the late war four months, on garrison duty in and around Washington City, D. C. He was City Marshal of Lexington three years, and socially is a member of the G. A. R. and the Masonie fraternity, being eon- nected with Lodge No. 482.

G EORGE SCHLOSSER, a well-known eiti- zen of Towanda Township, and a prosper- ous farmer of the same, is pleasantly located on his fine farm on section 24. George and Eliza- beth (Smith) Schlosser, parents of our subjeet, were born in Germany. They emigrated to this country in 1853, and located in Hamilton County, Ohio, where they died. Three children were born of their nnion, and George was the second in order of birth.

George Schlosser was born in Germany, Jan. 5, 1835. Ile came to this country in the spring of 1852, and joined his brother, Henry, who had pre- eeded him and was residing near Cincinnati, Ohio. George lived with his brother for three and a half years, and during that time was almost exclusively engaged in farming. He then took a trip to New Orleans, and after an absence of six months re- turned to Ohio and settled in Butler County, re- maining there variously oeeupied until 1859. Then, renting a farm, he cultivated it until 1864, when he eame to McLean County and purchased a traet of land in Money Creek Township. This he sold the following year, and removing to Bloom-

ington made that his home for about three years. In the fall of 1867 he settled in Towanda Town- ship, on seetion 24, and has made that his home until the present time. He has fair improvements on his place, which consists of 244 aeres, and is doing well in the conducting of his farmn.

Mr. Schlosser was married in Butler County, Ohio, Mareh 9. 1859, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Henry and Caroline (Dasch) Hoffman, natives of Germany. Her parents came to the United States in 1854, and settled in Butler County, Ohio, where the mother died in the fall of 1854. His de- mise took place at Columbus, Neb., Feb. 13, 1885. They had three daughters, and Mrs. Sehlosser was the youngest. She was born in Germany in the fall of 1838, and by her marriage with our subject has beeome the mother of twelve ehildren, ten of whom survive. The living are William H., Kate, Charlie J., Andrew C., John, Caroline, Louisa, Freddie, Henrietta and George. George and Al- bert died in infancy. The names of the children born to the parents of Mrs. Sehlosser are Katie, Margaret and Elizabeth, and the children of Mr. Schlosser's parents were Henry, George and Jacob. George Sehlosser, Sr., died at Hamilton, Ohio, in February, 1860, and his good wife departed this life in the same eity in August, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the Lutheran Church, and in politics he is a staneh Republican.

ORINUS WILLETT STRAYER, deeeased. The subject of this history was formerly an attorney at law of Lexington. IIe was born in Logan County, Ohio, near West Liberty, on the 22d of June, 1835. Ilis father, Nieholas Strayer, removed from Virginia to Ohio when a young man, and his mother, formerly Miss Esther Kinnan, was born and reared in the State of New York, whenee she removed to Ohio and was there married. The parental family consisted of ten ehildren, seven sons and three daughters, eight of whom still survive. Morinus W. was the eldest of the family and spent his childhood and youth in his native county, where he received his primary edueation.

At the age of seventeen years young Strayer was

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thrown upon his own resources, by the death of his father. The mother with her family, in about 1853, removed to Illinois and located in De Witt County, upon a small farm, which they improved and eul- tivated, our subjeet remaining with his mother until he had attained his majority. He then left the farm, and coming to Lexington entered the law office of Judge Tipton, where he applied himself closely to study and was admitted to the bar in Chieago in about 1860. Ile commenced the prac- tiec of his profession in Lexington and was an act- ive and clear-headed exponent of law. After a successful and praiseworthy career of ten years he was eut down in the prime of life, dying on the 1st of October, 1870. His talents and genial dis- position had sceured for him a wide eircle of friends and acquaintances who mourned him as a nseful and valued member of the community.

The marriage of Morinus W. Strayer and Miss Sarah F. Smith was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents on the 4th of September, 1862. Mrs. Strayer was the second daughter of Milton and Lydia Smith, of Lexington, who were among the first settlers of McLean County. She was born in this eounty in 1842, and received her early cdu- cation upon its virgin soil. Of this union there were born three children, two sons and one daughter, the latter dying in infaney. One of the sons, Frank W., is in the employ of the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad as telegraph operator and clerk. The other. Louis B., is assist- ant cashier of the First National Bank of Lexington.

Mr. Strayer was a strong temperance man and one of the originators of the charter which led to tlie incorporation of the town of Lexington, which had for its purpose the abolition of saloons. To this work he gave mueh of his time and his talents, being a fluent and convincing speaker, whose heart was thoroughly in his work. Socially he was a member of the I. O. O. F., and in all respeets ful- filled the obligations of a law-abiding eitizen.

R ICHARD BREESE, a prominent and wealthy citizen of Gridley, whose portrait is given in this volume, with that of his old and highly esteemed partner, eame to this see- tion in 1857, and by his energy and enterprise es-

tablished himself in a short time as one of its most progressive and valuable pioncers. He is descend- ed from substantial English ancestry, his parents having been John and Ann (Gunton) Breesc, who were born in Huntingdonshire, England, where they married and settled, and where their children were born, and there the old folk passed their lives. Of the household circle, which included four sons and three daughters, the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth.

Richard Brcese was born in Cambridgeshire, En- gland, Aug. 20, 1824. His father died when he was but seven years old, and he was then obliged to look out for himself. This, however, was a good school, teaching him self-reliance, and doubtless contributed greatly to bring about his later sue-

eess. He commenced by working on a farm, and continued in his native England until he was twen- ty-eight years of age. In the meantime he had been married, and at the age mentioned started with his wife and ehild for the United States. They landed in New York City, and thence soon pro- eeeded to Butler County, Ohio. There our subject worked out by the month, farming, for two years, and until the fall of 1854. He then rented land until the spring of 1857, and at this time deeided to try his fortunes in the further West. After completing his preparations he came into Illinois and settled first in Waldo Township, Livingston County, where he purchased 160 acres of land, and entering upon its cultivation continued to live there until the spring of 1869.

In the spring of 1869 Mr. Breese eame to this county and settled in Gridley, having the fall pre- viously formed a partnership with W. H. Boies, for the purpose of dealing in grain and live stoek. They operated together until the spring of 1884, under the style of Boics & Breese. Our subjeet then disposed of his interest in the business, and having accumulated a fine property has sinee that time retired from aetive labor. He is the owner of 360 acres of land in Livingston County, which is finely improved, and 240 acres in Gridley Town- ship, this eounty. He also has a pleasant family residenee in the town of Gridley.

Mr. Breese was married in England in 1846, to Miss Mary Miller, who was also a native of Cam-

R Breeze

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bridgeshire. Of this union there were born two eliildren-Eliza and Riehard. The latter died' in infaney. Eliza beeame the wife of Christian Neu- hauser, a resident of Gridley, and the mother of eleven children, and departed this life April 14, 1879. Iler surviving children were Saralı, Katie, Lucy L., Minerva, Williametta and Mary A .; five are deceased. The first wife of our subject died in England in the fall of 1849, and he was again mar- ried in his native county, Jan. 16, 1862, to Mrs. Sarah (Flanders) Harvey, daughter of James and Catharine (Gunton) Flanders, who were natives of Huntingdonshire, England, where they spent their lives. Her first husband was Richard Harvey, who died in 1851. Of the parents' marriage there were born thirteen children, seven daughters and six sons, of whom Mrs. B. was the eldest but one. Her birth oeeurred in Huntingdonshire, Oet. 30, 1829. Of the present marriage of our subjeet there have been no children. Mrs. Brcese is a member in good standing of the Congregational Chureli, and politieally Mr. B. is a staneh Repub- lican.

W H. BOIES. The late W. H. Boies was one of the most prominent and influential citizens who was ever a resident of Gridley .. He was largely engaged as a grain and stoek dealer, and by his enterprise and activity, for many years assisted greatly in the prosperity of the business interests of this seetion. Mr. Boies was a native of Livingston County, N. Y., born in the town of Moscow, Jan. 22, 1833. He was the son of James C. and Caroline (Severence) Boies, natives respeet- ively of Canada and Vermont. After marriage the parents of our subjeet settled in Livingston County, N. Y., and there the mother died, about 1835. James Boies then came to Illinois and made his home in Gridley, this county, until his death, which occurred in January, 1886. There were only two children-Wilber H. and George W. The latter was formerly a conductor on the T., P. & W. R. R. for twenty-one years, but is now engaged in the real-estate business in Kansas City.

W. H. received a good common-seliool eduea- tion and remained a resident of his native county

until 1856, five years of that time being employed as elerk in a store. In the year named he eame to Illinois, and made his home in El Paso for about five years, where he was engaged in the purchase and sale of grain. From there he went to Wat- seka, where he was connected with the. freight of- fiee for a short time, and in the spring of 1862 came to Gridley and took charge of the station of the T., P. & W. R. R. as their agent, a position which he oceupied fourteen years; in the meantime he was also engaged in the buying and shipping of grain. After retiring from the employ of his road he devoted his entire attention to his grain and stock operations, to which he added that of farm- ing. He purchased a traet of land which he suc- cessfully operated, and at the time of his death was the owner of 400 aeres in Gridley Township. The elevator there, which has a eapaeity of about 30,000 bushels, was projected and built by him, in addition to a warehouse with a capacity of 80,000.

Wilber H. Boies was united in marriage with Miss Mary. A. Taylor, in Perry, Wyoming Co., N. Y., Nov. 18, 1857. Mrs. B. was born in Wyoming County, Sept. 12, 1837, and by her union with our subjeet became the mother of four children- George V., Nettie W., Charles C. and Wilber H., Jr.

In 1884, Mr. Boies, who had been in partnership with R. Breese, purchased the interest of his part- ner and afterward carried on his business alone. He was a member of the Republican party, greatly interested in the sueeess of the temperance move- ment, and served as a member of the Village Board for several years. Socially he was connected with El Paso Lodge No. 246, A. F. & A. M., also be- longed to Cœur de Leon Commandery at El Paso, and the Royal Arch Chapter.

The following eloquent estimate of Mr. Boies was penned by an old friend; and one who knew the man of whom he so feelingly writes. Cer- tainly no higher tribute eould be paid to the inem- ory of any man than that by this writer to the memory of W. H. Boies.

"Personally Mr. Boies was a man of pleasant manners and genial presenee. None knew him but to love him, and to all in this seetion of the county he stood in the light of a personal friend and ad- visor. He was the most unselfish of men; his

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generosity was almost proverbial; his kindness of heart was extended to everything and everybody; and it was impossible to be in his presence without feeling that he was, in every sense of the word, a good man. There was about him no pretension or hypocrisy ; his way of life was open and could be read by all men. There was in him an overflowing charity, a large-heartedness, a philosophy and an unpretending common sense that was peculiarly his owil, that lifted him above the ordinary vexations of life, and gave him a serenity and a ehcerfulness that influenecd all with whom lie came in contact. We knew him intimately for many years, and we never knew of his doing a selfish, or small, or an ungenerous thing, or to make uncharitable remarks of anyone.

"In his death, which occurred March 9, 1887, the citizens of Gridley and vicinity lost their best friend. Words cannot express his worth-kind, genial, pleasant, loving and sympathetic, a noble mind and a kindly heart-he was the friend of ali, giving advice when desired, never offlcious, always obliging. He was to the people here a legal ad- visor, counselor, banker, helper and friend in time of trouble and adversity. Had it not been for his kindness and help nine-tenthis of the fariners in this vicinity conld not have extricated themselves from the financial embarrassment brought on them by the hard times of 1873 to 1879. IIe aided them to tide the stream by advaneing money on pros- peetive crops, and hy giving with a free hand aid to those who could only give their word as surety. It mattered not whether the applicant came in rags or clothed in fine linen ; his noble heart, ever open to the ery of distress, turned none away who were in need. His was the hand to raise a broken spirit, to cheer a disponding heart, and bid them be of good cheer, for he would help them, and his prom- ises were made to be kept, not broken, as so many are.

"He had executive ability of the highest order. He could execute any legal business that was brought to liis notiee, or give sueh advice as would lead to an easy settlement of the difficulty in ques- tion. The people flocked to him to execute deeds, mortgages, contracts, leases; to write their wills and business letters, and to straighten up the tan-

gles in their own business ventures ; and never was lie so busy but he would stop his own work, which was most voluminous, and help them, and do it with so much kindness that all were drawn instinct- ively toward him. Thus was a bond woven that the hand of death can never sever. With so mueh power given him over the people, never did he take advantage of those whose business affairs were in his keeping, but gave to all the helping hand of the kindest parent.

"Since his death men whose heads are stooped by age and whose hair the hand of time is whitening, have eome to the writer of this sketch, and with tears streaming down their faces, told of how he had helped them in some hour of greatest ireed, and bewailed his loss as to them the greatest of all calamities. Of such a man volumes could not tell hiis worth, nor words portray his kindness."

The portrait of Mr. Boies which we give in con- nection with this sketch will be welcomed by the inany who love his memory so dearly,

ENNIS KENYON, an extensive land-hold- er and stock-breeder, is a pioneer settler of McLean County, who became a resi- dent of the Prairie State July 18, 1840. He is a New Englander by birth, having been born in Coventry, Kent Co., R. I., on the 24th of October, 1833. His father, Ezra T. Kenyon, was the son of John Kenyon, who was a native of Sterling, Conn., and a farmer by ocenpation. He remained a resident of the Nutmeg State until 1852, then sold out and came to Mt. Hope Town- ship, this county, and made his home with his daughter, Mrs. O. Arnold, the remainder of his life. The maiden name of his wife, the grand- mother of our subject, was Susan Thurston, also a native of Connectieut, and who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Arnold before mentioned.

Ezra T. Kenyon, the father of our subject, was reared on his father's farm until he had grown to manhood, and then engaged to work in a eotton mill in his native State. In due time he became foreman of the spinning-room, and remained in Windham County until 1840. He then determined

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to visit the western country, and on April 6 of that year, started with his wife and two children on a steamer from Norwich to New York City. thence by thic Hudson River to Albany, from there by the Erie Canal to Buffalo, and around the lakes to Chicago. Arriving in the latter city they hired a private conveyance to a point in Indiana fifty miles distant. After visiting there with friends a short time, the father purchased a yoke of oxen and a wagon and started for Illinois, arriving after nine days' travel, in McLean County, and landing in Mt. Hope Township on the 18th of July, ill with the agne. Mr. Kenyon had previously purchased 160 acres of land on the southeast quarter of sec- tion 32, which, before it was named Mt. Hope, was township 32, range 1 west. The land was still in its original condition, and there were no buildings. Mr. Kenyon rented a house in the vicinity of his property, and the following year built a frame dwelling on his own land. He had broken cleven acres the first year, and he proceeded with the im- provement and cultivation of his land with perse- vering industry, living to improve his entire farm, and adding to liis real estate as liis means per- mitted, until he was finally possessed of 400 acres. Upon this he erected a substantial set of frame buildings comprising a handsome farm residence with good barns and outhouses, and all thic con- veniences for the storing of grain and the shelter of stock. He also planted fruit and shade trees and lived to sec the country developed and settled. He contributed in no small degree to the prosper- ity of this section, and was a remarkable illustra- tion of what can be accomplished by resolution and perseverance. He finally closed his eyes to the scenes of his eartlily labors on the 21st of July, 1880, and his name is held in kindly remembrance by all who knew him. His aged partner still sur- vives him, and lives on the old homestead. Be- fore her marriage she was Miss Susan S. Rathburn ; she was born in Exeter, Washington Co., R. I., Oct. 4, 1809. Her parents were John and Annie Rath- burn, natives of Rhode Island and New York re- spectively. The parental household consisted of two sons-Dennis and Ezra W. Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and thic former, in early years a

Whig, latterly became a member of the Repub- lican party, and uniformly cast his vote in sup- port of its principles.

Dennis Kenyon was in his seventh year when he journeyed with his parents from Connecticut to the prairies of Illinois, and has consequently been a resident of McLean County for a period of forty- seven years. In youth he attended the subscrip- tion schools and assisted his parents in the duties around the homestead. In 1852 he went to Cali- fornia, via the Isthmus, and entering the mines, was engaged for the space of eighteen months in searching for the yellow ore. Then, being satisfied with his far western experience, he returned to Mt. Hope, of which he has been a resident continuously since that time.

The marriage of Mr. Kenyon and Miss Adelinc G. Peck, was celebrated on the 15th of August, 1854. Mrs. Kenyon was a native of Dighton, Mass., and was born Jan. 30,'1827. She is the daughter of William and Lemira (Mason) Peck, both natives of the Bay State, and descendants of Joseph Peck, of England, who came to America previous to 1738, and settled in Hingham, Mass. The father of Mrs. Kenyon was a Brigadier-Gen- eral in the State Militia.

During his long residence in this section Mr. Kenyon has fully established himself in the confi- dence and csteem of his fellow-citizens. As a farmer he is skillful and judicious, and as a busi- ness man he is upright and straightforward in his transactions, prompt to meet his obligations, and a man whose word is considered as good as his bond. He is the owner of nearly 2,000 acres, all lying in Mt. Hope Township, and besides this has valuable property in Kansas. He is also extensively en- gaged in the feeding and shipping of stock, and his various interests yield him annually a handsome income. He has filled various offices of trust in his township, having been Supervisor of Mt. Hope Township, and also Trustee.

During the progress of the late war, Mr. Ken- yon enlisted as a soldier of the Union in Co. A, 117th Ill. Vol. Inf., of which he was commissioned Lieutenant, and served until 1864. when he re- signed and returned home to resume 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 118

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