Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 119

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 119

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).

Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon are members in good

968

McLEAN COUNTY.

standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and socially Mr. Kenyon is a Knight Templar,, belong- ing to MeLean Lodge No. 469. A. F. & A. M., De- Molay Commandery No. 24, K. T., and Oriental Consistory, S. P. R. S., Chieago. being a 32d de- gree Mason. In polities he is a stanch Republican.

P ETER HEFNER, retired farmer, residing at Lexington, and familiarly known as " Unele Peter," was born near Franklin, Pendleton Co., W. Va., April 20, 1813. His father, Michael Hefner, was a farmer by occupa- tion, a native of Virginia, and of German aneestry. Our subjeet's mother, whose maiden name was Barbara Flesher, was also a native of Virginia, and likewise of German ancestry. Michael Hefner and family moved from Virginia to Fayette Coun- ty, Ohio, in 1816, and made that their home until 1830. During that year they moved to the Mack- inaw timber, Illinois, and settled in Money Creek Township. There Michael Hefner entered a tract of 240 aeres of Government land, with no im- provements upon it. His first house was a log -. eabin, and it was in this rudely constructed dwell- ing that the family passed the winter of the deep snow in 1830-31. Michael Hefner was in every sense a pioneer, and lived on the land which he located in Money Creek Township, engaged in the cultivation of the same until his death, which oe- eurred some ten years after his location there. His family consisted of eleven children, six sons and five daughters; two died in infaney. Seven of the number are still living.

Peter Hefner was the oldest of his parents' chil- dren. He passed his boyhood days in Fayette County, Olio, receiving but a limited education in the common schools, and coming to this eounty with his parents when seventeen years of age. There were no schools here at that time, and our subjeet, to his knowledge obtained in the common schools in the East, added a fund of practical in- formation, and is well posted to-day on affairs of State and Nation.

One of the important events in the life of our subject occurred on March 27, 1833, when he was

married to Miss Betsey Flesher. The parents of Mrs. H. moved into this county about the saine time that the Hefner family became residents here. After his marriage our subjeet settled on a new tract of land and began farming for himself. He was the proprietor then of a capital of $14, but he went to work with a will and improved his land, and during the late Civil War bought and shipped cattle and logs to the Chicago market and made money quite rapidly. At one time he was the owner of 1,700 aeres of land in Money Creek Township, and also 640 aeres in Martin Township, making a total of 2,340 aeres, and all paid for. IIe continued to reside on the home farm in Money Creek Township until 1870, when he sold it to his son Harmon, and moved to Lexington, where he has sinee lived retired from aetive labor.

Mr. and Mrs. Hefner reared a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, four only now living. These are, Harmon, who occupies the old place in Money Creek Township; Mary, the wife of J. D. Curry, and Adeline, wife of John Campbell, residents of Lexington, and Jolin A., living on a farin in Money Creek Township. George M. died in July, 1879.

Mr. Hefner has a commodious residence in Lex- ington, and is passing the sunset of life in the en- joyment of a well-earned competeney. He is a man of great strength and nerve, and the exposure of a country life has not injured his constitution in the least. He is a straightforward man in his deal- ings, and prompt to meet all his engagements. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church, in which he has served many years as Class-Leader. Politieally he is a staneh Repub- lican.

ILTON SMITH, a pioneer of this eounty of 1835, was born in Franklin County. Ky., Feb. 19, 1808. His father's name was William Smith, and his mother's maid- en name, Obedience Brown. The former died when our subject was but eight years of age. He was born in Pennsylvania, and had emigrated to Kentucky when a young man. Obedience Brown was the daughter of George Brown, who moved to

969

MCLEAN COUNTY.

Kentucky when Obedience was a little girl, and lived in that State until 1818, when he came to Illinois and made this State his home until his death. William Smith became the father of six children: John W., who died at Lexington; James H., deceased; Milton, the subject of this biography ; Joseph G., deccased; Matilda P. mar- ricd Patrick Hopkins, and dicd at Lexington some years ago; Sarah married Henry Hayes, and is also deceased.

Milton Smith was the third in order of hirth of his parents' children. Ile grew to manhood in his native county on a farm, and attended a subscrip- tion school in which he received his education. At the age of eight years he was orphaned by the death of his father, who left to the carc of the mother, six children. The family had sixty acres of land, but it required a goodly portion of their personal property to pay their debts, and young Smith, realizing how hard a time it was for his mother to get along with the children, went to . work with a will to aid in the support of the fam- ily. He continued a resident of Kentucky until the fall of 1835, when he came to this county. Here he bought a claim of eighty acres of land which had been pre-empted and on which he erect- ed a log-cabin. It was located in Lexington Township, and is the same tract on which he has lived until the present time. Soon, however, after coming here he entered ahout 500 acres of land from the proceeds realized from the sale of the little farm in Kentucky, which they had disposed of at $40 per acre. The mother of our subject and two sisters accompanied Milton to this county and located with him on the land purchased. The mother died on the farm some thirty years ago.

Nov. 23, 1837, our subject was united in mar- riage with Lydia A. Goddard; eldest daughter of Dr. Abbott Goddard. After their marriage they .settled on Mr. Smith's land, and he began its im- provement and cultivation, and they have made that their home until the present time. He has been a successful agriculturist, and has added to that department of his vocation the raising of cat- tle and hogs. He has experienced all the trials in- cident to the settlement of a new country, and hauled his pork to Chicago when the present me-

tropolis was hut a hamlet. He was economical and energetic, and kept adding to his landed inter- ests until at one time he was the proprictor of 1,500 acres. A portion of this he has given to his children, and yet retains 400 acres in his own name.

Mr. Smith and wife arc the parents of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, and nine of the number lived to attain the age of man and womanhood. Ann M. married George Okeson; Sarah is the wife of M. W. Strayer; William A., Fletcher M .; Carrie, wife of V. D. Pierson; Kate L. married D. Poole; Lewis H., George J. and Es- stelle are single and living at home.

Mr. Smith is now in his seventy-ninth year, hale and hearty, and superintends the cultivation of his farm. Mrs. Smith is a lady of culture and refine- ment, with a kind and loving heart, and is ahlc even in her old age to attend to her houschold duties. Mr. Smith, under the old law, was one of the County Justices who constituted the County Court. He held this office for some eight years, to tlie cntire satisfaction of all concerned. He also served as Supervisor of Lexington Township for two years. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian~Church, and he has been one of its Elders for about twenty-five years. Politically, our subject was an old-line Whig, but on the birth of the Republican party joined its ranks, and has since voted for its success. He is nevertheless a strong temperance man and hopes to see the day when the sale of intoxicating liquors shall be pro- hibited by law. His temperance ideas are also against the use of tobacco and he neither chews nor smokes the filthy weed.

ON. JOHN M. SCOTT, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois, and a resident of the city of Bloomington, is a native of the Prairie State, and was born on a farm near Belleville, in St. Clair County, Aug. 1, 1823. He is the son of Samuel and Nancy (Biggs) Scott, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Illinois. The mother of our subject was born Jan. 1,

970

MCLEAN COUNTY.

1779, near Kaskaskia, and was the daughter of Hon. William Biggs, one of the earliest pioneers of Illi- nois, coming with George Rogers Clarke, in 1778. He selected a location near Kaskaskia, and soon afterward sent for his family. The family is de- seended from Seoteh-Irish ancestry, and possesses in a marked degree the characteristics of their fore- fathers.

The subject of this biography spent his childhood and youth under the parental roof, receiving a common-school education, which included private instruction in the English branches, and later, Latin and the higher mathematies. He remained a resi- dent of his native town until 1848, then commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. W. C. Kenney, and immediately after being admitted to practice opened an office in Bloomington, where he has since remained. In connection with his law business he has been honored with various responsible positions. He served first as School Commissioner of MeLean County, the duties of which he has discharged with much credit, and in 1852 was elected Judge of the County Court. He steadily grew in public favor until in 1862 he was elected Jndge of the Eighth Ju- dicial Circuit, and served with such ability that he was unanimously re-elected, in 1867. In all re- spects, both as jurist and as a citizen, he has been an honor to the community, and has received an ample reward in the universal respect and esteem with which he is regarded.

In 1870 Judge Scott was elevated to the Supreme Bench of the State over Hon. E. S. Terry; of Dan- ville. In 1879 he was re-elected against Hon. B. S. Edwards. By allotment he became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, first in 1875, and again in 1882, also receiving a like distinction in 1886. At the expiration of his present term he will have been eighteen years on the Supreme Bench, thirteen of which he has served as Chief Justice, and eight years as Judge of the Circuit Court.

Judge Scott possesses a mind exceedingly well adapted to judiciary positions, and during his long term of service has distinguished himself for his clear analysis of legal points, and his decisions will be used as authority in the State as long as courts are held. His first decisions appear in Volume 54 of the Illinois Reports, which now comprises 118 vol-

umes, and in sixty-five of which may be found his clear and concise views. His name appears in the April volume of Gillman's, which is the eighth series of Illinois Reports. In most of the volumes since that time his name will be found either as an At- torney, Circuit Judge or Justice of the Supreme Court.

In politics Judge Scott was originally a Whig, but after the abandonment of that party cordially endorsed the principles of the Republican, with whom he has cast his lot since that time. IIe has never held any political office, although, in 1856, he was a candidate on the Republican ticket for State Senator, being defeated by Hon. Joel S. Post, of Decatur.

The marriage of Judge Scott with Miss Charlotte A. Perry was celebrated in Bloomington, in 1853. Mrs. Scott is the daughter of Rev. David I. Perry, a minister of the Presbyterian Church. In personal appearance Judge Scott is prepossessing, iu man- ·ners courteous and dignified. He is five feet, eight and one-half inches in height, with dark complexion and hazel eyes. His hair, which was almost black when 'young, is now nearly white. He has to this day in his writing mostly used the old-fashioned quill pen. In temperament he possesses a happy ·mien, being neither boisterously merry nor mor- bidly melancholy. In short he is a finely balanced specimen of manhood, both physically and men- tally, and with his devoted partner is surrounded by a large circle of congenial and faithful friends, who experience no greater pleasure than meeting at the delightful home of Judge Scott, talking over the early days, and congratulating him upon the success which has followed his earnest and worthy efforts.

E BENEZER B. MITCHEL, a retired farmer now living in the enjoyment of a compe- teney in the village of Danvers, came to' Illinois with his parents before it had been admit- ted into the Union as a State. He was born in Morganfield, Union Co., Ky., on the 17th of Au- gust, 1813, his parents being Peyton and Elizabeth (Briggs) Mitchel. His father was born in Virginia, Aug. 26, 1791, and died April 4, 1853. IIe emi- .

971

MCLEAN COUNTY.

grated to Illinois from Virginia, arriving here in November, one month prior to the .time when the Territory became a State. It is believed that he was the fifth man to settle north of the Sangamon River, and he located in what is now Sangamon County. He was a farmer by oeeupatiou, and also offieiated as a minister of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. Ilis time was about equally divided between the farm and pulpit, and sometimes he would ride on horseback over 100 miles to his charge. He was a natural orator, having great in- fluence over his audienees, and was very suceessful in making accessions to the Church. Upon one occasion, when his appointment lay in Putnam County, being late in his arrival one Mr. Payne es- sayed to oeeupy his pulpit until he should arrive. When the regular ineumbent eame, however, Mr. P. vaeated, and Mr. Mitehel taking up the subject of the latter, treated it with sueh force that one young man became converted, afterward joined the chureh, and in due time was ordained a minister of the same. . At another time, in Logan County, while filling an appointment 'at a private house, eight or ten people were converted. One young man hurried to the minister and warmly embraced him, addressing him in very forcible language and evineing great emotion. Our subject estimates that his honored father followed the ministry as oppor- tunity offered, for a period of thirty-five years. His serviees were given gratuitously.

The parents of our subjeet were married on the 3d of September, 1812. The mother was born Aug. 10, 1795, and departed this life Jan. 12, 1850. The household cirele included eight children, viz. : Ebenezer B. of our sketeh; John E., William M., Samuel R., James M. C., Louisa A., Mary Jane and Phobe E. Of these only three are living: E. B., our subjeet; Dr. Robert Mitchel, and Louisa, now Mrs. Vanee, of Danvers.

Ebenezer Mitehel came to Illinois with his par- ents, and remained with them until he was twenty- three years of age, his childhood and youth being employed in attendance at the eominon sehools and assisting his parents around the farm. On the 26th of May, 1836, he was united iu marriage with Miss Rachel Vance, who was born and reared in Ken- tucky, and came to Illinois the year before her

marriage. The birth of Mrs. M. occurred Nov, 23, 1813. She is the daughter of James and Jane (Hay) Vanee, natives respectively of Kentucky and Virginia. Her mother was born in 1794, and died in 1824. James Vanee died in 1859, when seventy- two years of age. Their family eonsited of four ehildren, two sons, and two daughters, viz., Eliza- beth, Rachel, Peter and Andrew.

Mr. and Mrs. Mitchel became the parents of seven children, three now living: James P. was born April 30, 1837; John O., Sept. 30, 1839; Eliz- abeth M., July 16, 1842; Mary L., July 1, 1845; Emeline M., Aug. 28, 1849; Virginia B., April 30, 1853, and Ebenezer B., Jr., Nov. 23, 1855.

After his marriage Mr. Mitehel followed farming -until 1854, when he removed to Bloomington, Ill., where he was appointed Deputy Sheriff, and occu- pied the position for ten years following. In the meantime, however, he had taken the census of the county, completing the task in fifty-eight days, a feat which was unprecedented in the annals of the eounty. After his term of offiee had expired he became the agent for II. B. Metealf & Co., of Providenee, who were engaged. as grain dealers, in whose employ he remained for about three years. He had removed to Bloomington for the purpose of seeuring good educational advantages for his ehil- dren. This having been aeeomplished he returned to the farm, and from 1870 to 1885 was engaged in the breeding of fine horses. Mr. Mitehel was at one time the owner of 909 acres of land in MeLean County. In 1885 he divided his real estate among his children, and removed to Danvers, where he is now enjoying the fruits of his early labors, and also the profound respect and veneration which is taeitly aceorded the honored pioneers.

Mr. Mitchel is not connected with any secret or- ganization. When twenty-three years of age he professsed religion and united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he was a Ruling Elder for a period of twenty years. He was elected a delegate to represent the church at the Eeclesias- tieal Syndicate, a general assembling of the synods of the United States, several times, and was other- wise very prominently identified with the denom- ation. Since that time, however, his religious views have experienced a change in regard to those

972

McLEAN COUNTY.

requirements which constitute the true church, of which he claims there is but one. IIe believes that by the atonement of Christ all infants 'will be saved, and that many so-called church organizations are unauthorized by the Scriptures. He believes also that water baptism is an institution of man and not essential to salvation.

Politically, Mr. Mitchel, during the existence of the Whig party, warmly indorsed its views, but when the old party was abandoned by the organi- zation of the new Republican party, he cordially indorsed the principles of the latter, and with it uniformly casts his vote.

AVID H. VANDOLAH, importer and dealer in Percheron and Norman horses, owns and occupies a comfortable and haud- some home in Lexington, and is meeting with success in his ealling. He is a native of Money Creek Township, this eounty, and was born Nov. 8, 1841. His father, James Vandolah, was one of the early pioneers of MeLean County, eoming here in 1835, from Ohio, to which he had removed from his native State of Pennsylvania when quite young. He was married in Olio to Miss Naney Nutt, lat- terly of Fayette County, Ohio, but who was born in Virginia. Upon their removal to McLean Coun- ty, Ill., they permanently located in Money Creek Township, where James Vandolah improved a farm and engaged extensively in stock-raising. In due time lic became the proprietor of 800 aeres of land, and continued his stoek business until he retired from active labor, when he was succeeded by his son David H. Ilis family consisted of seven sons and two daughters, of whom four sons and one daugh- ter are living, David HI. being next to the youngest.

Our subjeet remained on the farm until fourteen years of age and then started out with his father and assisted him in the handling of stoek and buy- ing and shipping, and for a mere boy developed un- usual business talent. These early experiences served to make him self-reliant, and were of great advantage to him in all his after years.

Mr. Vandolah was married, March 22, 1864, to Miss Britania, daughter of Sion Bray of Lexington,

and continued liis oceupation as a stoek-dealer, mak- ing his residence in Lexington. In 1879 he be- gan the importation of French draft horses, and in 1885 shipped sixty-seven head of magnificent ani- mals to different parts of the United States. He has displayed rare talent and genius as a judge of horseflesh, and exhibits some of the finest animals to be found along the Mississippi Valley. For the ac- commodation and comfort of these he erccted a fine barn, which is especially arranged for the pur- pose and equipped with all modern appliances. His name has beeome familiar in this seetion of eoun- try as one of the leading horsemen of the Prairie State. His two sons, James W. and Sheridan, are assisting their father in his business and bid fair to develop his own talent and genius in this direction. Mrs. Vandolalı is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Churel. . In politics Mr. Vandolah is a Repub- lican.

ICHIAEL H. MILLER, of Randolph Town- ship, owns and oeeupies a comfortable homestead on section 25, which comprises 160 acres of land, a good farm-house and other buildings, and all the necessary applianees for carrying on agriculture in a progressive manner.

The subject of this history was born in Hagers- town, Washington Co., Md., being the son of Joseph Miller, who was of English and Irish parentage. Joseph Miller was a farmer by oeeupation and lo- 'eated in Washington ` County, Md., after his mar- riage with Miss Margaret Hager, whence he re- moved to Pennsylvania where he farmed, first in Fayette and then in Westmoreland County. Mrs. Miller was of German ancestry, and born in Mary- land. Of their five sons and four daughters, Michael H. was the youngest and was born Sept. 1, 1810. When he was five years of age his parents removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio and there set- tled in Montgomery County, where they spent the' remainder of their lives. Joseph Miller was sue- cessful in his farming and business transactions and aceumulated considerable means, providing a com- fortable home for his family, of which all members, with one exception, accompanied their parents upon their removal to Ohio.

burris Batterton

Michael Il

Millor

975

McLEAN COUNTY.

Michael H. Miller was reared to manhood in Montgomery County, Ohio, whenee he afterward went to Indiana and was there married in Dear- born County to Miss Matilda Colwell on the 2d of April, 1832. Mrs. Miller was born in about 1810, in Indiana, and died at the home of her husband in Randolph Township in about 1853. Of her union with our subjeet there were born ten children, six now deceased. The living are, Frank, Samuel, Mary and Minerva, all married and settled in eom- fortable homes of their own.

Mr. Miller after his marriage located in Dearborn County, Ind., whenee he removed after one year to Hamilton County, living there until in October, 1839. He then came into MeLean County, and set- tled on the farm which he now owns and occupies.

For his second wife Mr. Miller married Mrs. Martha (Miller) Daniels, in Funk's Grove Town- ship, in 1855. Mrs. Martha Miller was born near New Albany, Floyd Co., Ind., where she was reared and educated, and there married to Mr. Dan- iels. They became the parents of five children. By her marriage with our subjeet there have been born two children, a son and daughter, Josephus and Ellen, who are both now married. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are greatly respected in their community, and our subjeet is in all respeets fulfilling the obliga- tions of a law-abiding citizen. He is an extensive reader, well informed, liberal in religion and Demo- eratie in polities. He possesses great foree of character and takes an intelligent interest in eurrent events.

C URTIS BATTERTON. This old and hon- ored citizen of Martin Township eame to this vieinity in the pioneer days, and with others who ventured upon the territory of a new country, endured bravely the difficulties eneoun- tered before the advance of civilization had con- tributed so much to make life more pleasurable than toilsome. He was born near Richmond, in Madison County, Ky., Jan. 11, 1810, and is the deseendant of a family well known in the early his- tory of this country. His grandfather, a native of North Carolina, served as a soldier in the Revolu-

tionary War, and at the elose of that confliet be- came a resident of Kentucky. There he reared a family of sons and daughters, among whom was Abraham, the father of our subject. The latter after arriving at years of manhood married Miss Susan, daughter of George Henline, Esq., of North Carolina, who also was a Revolutionary soldier. Of this marriage there were born eight ehildren. The parents spent the greater part of their lives in Kentucky, there died, and there their remains are buried.

Curtis Batterton, who was the third child of his parents, passed his earlier years in his native county and came to this State in about 1837. He had previously purchased eighty aeres of timber land in this eounty and now entered 240 aeres, and later he purchased thirty-five aeres more, and now owns 355 aeres. Upon the former, for which he paid $500, he ereeted a small log cabin and began to open up a farm. The following summer he was married to Miss Melinda, daughter of William Henline, a resident of MeLean County. The young couple went to housekeeping in the humble eabin and bravely encountered the many hardships and privations ineident to the development of a new country. The nearest market at that time was Chieago and the milling for the family was done at Peoria. The hogs and eattle were driven to the market, a week's time being often oeeupied in reaching the place of destination. Many of the streams were unbridged, which rendered erossing difficult and dangerous, and teamsters were fre- quently compelled to go a long distance out of their way to reach the other side in safety. In ad- dition to this, farm produce at best only commanded a low price. As time progressed, however, and tlie population began to inerease, their difficulties and labors grew less and the produets of the farm brought a better price, Mr. Batterton being lo- eated in one of the finest eorn regions in this State raised this eereal in large quantities and fattened large numbers of hogs annually, shipping them by rail to Chicago. By this means he made the larger part of his little fortune and was enabled to effeet the necessary improvements upon liis farm, adding both to its beauty and value. The shapely briek residenee which the family now occupy was one of

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 119

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