Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 120

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 120

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).

976

MCLEAN COUNTY.

the first of its kind ereeted in Martin Township, and surrounding it are the necessary barns and out-buildings, conveniently arranged for the shelter of stock and the storing of grain. It must not be imagined, however, that he has not eneonntered reverses as well as others, but he has ever met mis- fortune with a philosophie spirit and never allowed it to dismay or discourage him. He has always taken an active interest in the welfare and progress of his adopted State, and has been prominent in the counsels of 'liis fellow. townsmen. Politieally, he is an earnest Republican and fully believes in the reetitude of the principles of that party. He has not tasted liquor for thirty-five years and does not smoke or chew tobaeeo.,

Mr. and Mrs. Batterton became the parents of four sons and one daughter, namely: John, Will- iam, Frauklin, Albert and Telitha. The latter is the wife of Miles Waybright, of Lexington; John died of measles in the army. Our subjeet is now in the seventy-eighth year of his age and is in pos- session of a sound mind in a healthy body. He still loves to recall the ineidents of the old pioneer days and ean relate many an interesting story of early life in Martin Township.

In the galaxy of portraits of the leading men and pioneers of MeLean County given in this AL- BUM, none will receive a warmer welcome than that of Curtis Batterton.

OHN FLESHER, one of the numerous sue- eessful agrieulturists of MeLean County, is living on his fine farm on seetion 3, Money Creek Township. The father of our subjeet, John Flesher, and his wife, Mary (Seybery) Flesher, were natives of Pendleton County, W. Va. The par- ents were married and settled in their native county, whenee they removed to Fayette County, Ohio, in 1835. They made the latter county their home for about six years, and then, in 1841, eame to this county and took up their residence in Money Creek Township, where they lived and la- bored until their death. His demise took place in the latter part of the spring of 1863, and she died about 1873. Of their union were born the follow-

ing-named children: Jesse, Elizabeth, Peter, Polly, Catharine, John, George, Aleinda, Andrew and William.

John Flesher was the sixth ehild born to his par- ents. He first saw light in Pendleton County, W. Va., July 4, 1816, and at the time of his parents' re- moval to Ohio, was about nineteen years old. He lived with then in that State until their emigra- tion to this county, when he accompanied them. Mr. Flesher was reared on a farm, and in faet all his years until the present time, have been devoted almost exclusively to agricultural pursuits, al- though he has followed shoemaking in connection with his ealling. He has resided in Money Creek Township sinee 1841, and is now the owner of 100 aeres, the major portion of which is under an ad- vaneed state of enitivation.

May 19, 1849, in McLean County, our subjeet was united in marriage with Franees J. Eekels, a native of Indiana. She bore him five ehildren- William P., Alex S., Andrew W., Osear E. and Lewis D. A. William P. was united in marriage with Miss Clara Stretch, and is a farmer of Money Creek Township; they have one child, Ethel A. The remaining four children are deceased. Mrs. Flesher departed this life June 14, 1862, and our subject was a second time married in Money Creek Township, Nov. 26, 1865, Miss Catherine E. Bar- nard being the other contraeting party. Of this union one ehild, Viola A., was born, and is now the wife of Edward Murphey, who resides in Money Creek Township. Mrs. Catherine Flesher died Oet. 31, 1866, and April 1, 1867, in the latter-named township, Mr. Flesher formed another matrimonial alliance. The lady of his choice was Vesta A. (Potter) Fultz, daughter of Samuel and Naney (Berger) Potter, and widow of Henry Fultz. Mr. Fultz was a soldier in the late Civil War, belong- ing to the 124th Illinois Infantry. and lost his life at the battle of Champion Hills. By his marriage with Miss Potter he had three children-Mary C., Luey A. and Sarah E. Mary is the wife of Thomas Richards, and they are living in Money Creek Township; Luey married A. M Flesher, and they live in Gridley Township; Sarah is the wife of George W. Curry, and their home is in Morton County, Kan. Mrs. Flesher was born in Floyd

977

McLEAN COUNTY.

County, Ind., April 17, 1836, and with her hus- band is a member of the United Brethren Church.'

In politics Mr. Flesher is Republican. He has held the office of Highway Commissioner, and is one of the foremost citizens of his township.

ORREL F. BIDDLE, proprietor of 380 acres of valuable land on section 1, To- wanda Township, and an energetic and thorough-going farmer of this county, as. well as a progressive and successful one, is the son of Noble and Margaret (Wright) Biddle, natives of Ohio. Noble Biddle and wife settled in Fayette County, Ohio, after their marriage, whence in 1850, they came to this county and settled in Lexington Township. There the good wife died, Sept. 7, 1858. Mr. Biddle yet survives. Seven children were born to them, three sons and four daughters, and Dorrel was the second in order of birth.

Our subject was born in Fayette County, Ohio, Nov. 3, 1836. He attended the common schools of his native county, and received such education as was to be obtained therein, and also assisted his father in the labors on the farm. In 1850 he ac- companied his parents to this county, and lived with them until 1856, when he worked one scason by the month. He then rented land in Lexington Township, which he farmed for two years, when he was enabled to buy eighty acres on section 1, To- wanda Township. On this place he erected a resi- dence, which was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1866. He has since rebuilt his house, and sur- rounded it with good and substantial out-buildings, and to-day has one of the finest farms in Towanda Township, and is meeting with signal success in conducting it. A view of the place is shown on another page of this volume.

Mr. Biddle was married, in Lexington, Ill., Dec. 22, 1859, to Miss Rebecca A., daughter of John and Rachel (McDorman) Lambert, natives of Clarke County, Ohio. Mrs. Biddle was born in Fayette County, Ohio, Oct. 24, 1836, and has borne our subject seven children -- Melissa E., William O., Noble M., Edna M., Elmer 'F., John P. and Wil- mer O. Melissa is the wife of William Merna, and

they are living at Bloomington; William died in infancy; Noble was united in marriage with Miss Mary R. Fletcher, and they are living in Money Creck Township; Edna is the wife of David C. Fletcher, and they are residents of Normal Town- ship. For eight years Mr. Biddle has held the of- fice of Justice of the Peace, and for six years has acted in the capacity of Road Commissioner. He has also served as Township Trustee, and in politics is Republican. He and his wife arc members of the United Brethren Church.

AMES H. LINCOLN, deceased, was one of the earliest pioneers of McLean County and a resident of the Prairie State from 1836 to his demise. He was a gentleman of fine education and in early life took up the study of law, being admitted to the bar at Bloomington in 1849, and commenced practice at Le Roy. Three years later he opened a drug-store, which he oper- ated in connection with his practice, carrying these on together for about sixteen years, and remained a resident of Le Roy until his death, which occurred on the 6th of March, 1877.

Mr. Lincoln was born in Greene County, Pa., Feb. 15, 1815, and was the son of Thomas and Mary (Jones) Lincoln, natives of that State. The grandfather of our subject, Mordecai Lincoln, was born in Lincolnshire, England, and upon emigrat- ing to America settled in Pennsylvania. There the father of our subject was reared upon a farm, worked for a time in a woolen-mill, and spent his entire life in his native county. The parents of James H. desired him to become a minister but he preferred the law, and at an early age commenced studying with this end in view. When nineteen years of age he taught school in Pennsylvania two years and pursued this occupation after coming to Illinois, at Ottawa.

In 1837 Mr. Lincoln came to Le Roy which was then but a hamlet with one hotel and store. Young Lincoln conducted the first school in Le Roy and soon afterward entered upon the practice of his profession as stated. He was married, Sept. 12, 1841, to Miss Ellen Merrifield, who was born in

McLEAN COUNTY.

978

Greene County, Ohio, Nov. 5, 1820, and was the daughter of James and Hannah (Haines) Merri- field. IIer father was of Pennsylvania and hier mother of English parentage, the latter born in Virginia. The seven children of Mr. and Mrs. L. are: Thomas Abraham, of Ridgeway, Mo .; Ben- jamin F., of Farmer City, Ill .; Mary E., Mrs. Alexander Dixon, of Le Roy; Mordecai, of Kan- sas; Edgar C., of Farmer City; James T. of Le Roy, and Eliza E., who married G. B. Dougherty, of Leon, Iowa.

The parents of Mrs. Lincoln came to McLean County in 1832, spending the following winter in Downs Township. In the spring of 1833, they re- moved to the grove near Le Roy, being the third family that settled there. The father improved a farm and lived there with his family until 1857. He then spent five years in Missouri, after which he returned to Le Roy and remained until his death in 1862. The mother died in 1838 in Buckles Grove.

Mr. Lincoln in early life was a member of the Whig party but later a Republican. He was up- right in his business transactions, a valued member of the community, and his name is held in kindly remembrance by a large circle of friends and ac- quaintances.

OHN LAWRENCE. a prosperous farmer of . Hudson Township, who owns and oeeupies a fine homestead on seetion 24, where for many years he has been engaged in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, has established for himself the reputation of an honest man and a good citizen. He comes from that Empire upon which the sun never sets, having been born in Gloucester- shire, England, on the 8th of June, 1828. His par- ents were William and Ann (Lewis) Lawrenee, who liad a family of seven ehildren, two of whom died while young and one was lost by shipwreck on the voyage from Jamaica. to Quebee. Two, Edward and Clara, reside in England; Ann, the wife of John Langley, lives in Nanee County, Neb., the remain- ing one being the subjeet of our sketeh.

John Lawrenee received a good business eduea- tion, his earlier studies being pursued in a board- ing-school for boys. At the age of sixteen years le boarded the ship Water Lily with the purpose of learning to be a sailor, the brother who was lost being then Captain. The ship was wreeked upon Europee Point, Gibraltar. After this sad oecur- rence our subjeet completed his four years' appren- ticeship as a sailor upon other vessels. The first year of his sea life he received the meager com- pensation of $1.25 per month; the second, $2.50 per month; the third, $3.75, and the fourth, $5. He followed the sea for ten years, during which time he visited different ports on the American coast from Quebee to LaPlatte, S. A., and the West Indian Islands, also the ports of Western Europe, sailing the Mediterranean, the Black and the Baltic Seas. During this time he served in every eapaeity up to chief mate. Sept. 20, 1853, the ship was eapsized by a tornado and became water-logged, in which position they left her, after five days and nights, during which time the crew was without food. They were pieked up by another vessel and carried to Newry, Ireland.

In 1854, while at home, he met some friends from Ameriea who had come to England after blooded cattle, and through their persuasions, as well as be- ing tired of sea life, he sailed with them for the United States, accompanied by his brother who is now in England. After reaching American shores he went to Clinton County, Ohio, with his friends, and there assisted in taking eare of cattle. His knowledge of farm life , was very limited at that time, he never having harnessed a horse. He worked for various parties until early in Deeember, 1857, and then came to Hudson and worked for different parties until the spring of 1859.

On the 16th of February, 1859, Mr. Lawrence was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Drew, the wedding occurring in Bloomington. Mrs. L. is a native of the same country as her husband, having been born in Gloucestershire on the 21st of Mareh, 1824. She was one of a family of ten daughters and one son, the children of William and Mary (Cowley) Drew, and came to the United States in 1854. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Law- renee located upon a tract of rented land, where

Midnight. .

SCALES

RESIDENCE OF ENOS A . TRIMMER, BREEDER OF THOROUGHBRED AND SADDLE HORSES., SEC. 17, MONEY CREEK TP.

---

RESIDENCE OF JOHN LAWRENCE , SEC. 24 HUDSON TOWNSHIP.

981

MCLEAN COUNTY.

our subject engaged in farming and his wife in all necessary household duties. They had but $300 in cash, but were riel in hope and courage, and pulled together with the resolution of making for themselves an honorable name and a comfortable home.

In the spring of 1865 Mr. Lawrence purchased 160 aeres of his present farm, whieli was unim- proved and for which he paid $17.50 per aere. He at once entered upon its cultivation, was prospercd in his farming and business transactions and added to his landed estate as time passed on. He is now the owner of 240 aeres which constitutes the home farm and has given to liis son eighty acres of valua- ble property. Of late he has given much attention to stock-raising and exhibits some of the finest ani- mals in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence be- eame the parents of five children, two of whom died in childhood. One son, Mathew, at the age of fifteen years, was killed by the kiek of a horse, this sad accident occurring in the summer of 1882. The two surviving are William and John D.

The subject of our sketch is a liberal Republican in politics and in religion a Baptist. He has never been the incumbent of any office although re- peatedly solicited to do so. He is essentially a self-made man, one who commeneed life at the foot of the ladder and lias elimbed up to his pres- ent position solely through his own honest and per- severing efforts.

MeLean County is noted for her elegant farm residences, and among those illustrated in this ALBUM a's worthy of prominence in this respeet, is that belonging to John Lawrence.

E NOS A. TRIMMER. Among the well-to- do farmers of MeLean County, those who have succeeded through individual effort and economy in acquiring a handsome property, both real and personal, Enos A. Trimmer deserves prominent mention. Ile is living upon his large and productive farin on section 17, Money Creek Township, and in addition to the cultivation of the eereals, is extensively engaged in stoek-raising.

Snecess in both branches of his vocation is erown- ing his efforts.

Mr. Trimmer is a son of Jesse and Amanda (Gil- more) Trimmer, the former a native of New Jer- sey and the latter of Ohio. Coming to this coull- ty, the parents located in Money Creek Township, on the same seetion on which our subjeet now re- sides, and made that their home until they passed to the better land beyond. The demise of the former took place in 1876, and his wife joined him two years later. 'The father was very successful in life, and at the time of his death was the owner of about 2,400 aeres of valuable land. He ereeted a large brick house on his farm, together with other good and substantial improvements, and at the date of his death his land was under a high state of cultivation. IIe became the head of a family of seven children who lived to attain the age of man and womanhood, namely: William, Eliza A., John F., David F., Sarah A., Mary and Enos A. Three died in infancy. William was a soldier in the 33d Illinois Infantry. He enlisted in 1861, and died at his father's home in Money Creek Township of disease contraeted while in the armny; Eliza A. is the widow of John McNaught, and is living at Normal; John F. also lives at Normal; David F. is a resident of Lexington; Saralı A. is tlie wife of Joseph Scott, and they are living in Howard Lake, Minn .; Mary and Frank B. IIobart beeame man and wife and are living in this township.

Enos A. Trimmer was born in Money Creek Township, this county, Oct. 13, 1856. He was reared to manhood on his father's farm, and has known no other home since his birth than the town- ship of his nativity. All his years thus far in life have been passed in agricultural pursuits and stock- raising, and he is at present making a specialty of fast stock. He is the owner of 642} acres of valu- able land, and keeps about 100 head of eattle and 200 head of sheep, and fattens for the market an- nually from 100 to 200 head of hogs.

Mr. Trimmer was married in Money Creek Township, Sept. 4, 1879, to Aura O. Ogden, daugli- ter of Albert and Sarah (Pirtle) Ogden, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Trim- mer was born in Money Creek Township, Dec. 9, 1860. and by her union with our subject three eliil-

982

MCLEAN COUNTY.

dren have been born-Elden, Leslie and Fleeta E. Mr. Trimmer has held the office of School Director for several years, and in polities is a staneh Repub- liean. One of the finest views presented in this volume is that of the farm-house of Mr. Trimmer.

C HRISTIAN WAHLS, a prosperous German farmer of Yates Township, owns and oeeu- pies a good homestead on seetion 19, where he carries on general agriculture, and by his indus- try and straightforward business methods, has se- eured for himself the respeet of all who know him. Mr. Wahls was born in Meeklenburg, Germany, May 8, 1830. His parents were Jokin and Doro- thea Wahls, who spent their entire lives in their native country, where their remains were laid to . rest. Five of their children emigrated to the United States: John, who settled in MeLean County. is now deceased; Dorothea, the wife of John Seeman, resides in Chenoa; Sophia, Mrs. Chris Jacobs, lives in Yates Township; Frederick lives in Le Roy, and Christian, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest.

Mr. Wahls resided in his native country until twenty-five years old. He then eame alone to the United States, being the first of the family to seek the New World. He sailed from Hamburg, and after a voyage of seven weeks, landed in New York City, and at onee proceeded westward to the Prai- rie State. His first stopping-place was at Bloom- ington, where he engaged as a common laborer. He continued working at whatever his hands eould find to do, lived plainly and economically, and in time found himself possessed of a sufficient amount of means to invest in a small tract of land. This he did not occupy until 1872. It was located in Yates Township, and comprises a part of his pres- ent homestead, but he has made great additions to the first purchase, and brought about a great change in its condition. He is now the owner of 400 aeres in a fine state of cultivation, and supplied with all modern improvements. Of late years he has given considerable attention to the breeding of fine stoek, and exhibits some of the finest ani- inals to be found in this part of the county.

Mr. Wahls was married after coming to this country, in 1856, to Miss Sophia Vieti Boldt, who was a native of the same Provinee as himself, and born Dee. 25, 1831. They have four children: Sophia, born Jan. 4, 1856, is now the wife of Fred Brum, of Chenoa; Minnie, born March 5. 1858, married William Schultz, of Chenoa Township; William, born Sept. 18, 1860, is a resident of Yates Township; John, born March 18, 1865, is living with his parents at home. Onr subjeet politieally is Democratie, and religiously is a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church.

OSEPH M. WEAKLEY, a resident of Lex- ington, and a practitioner of law at that place, was born in Licking County, Ohio, near Newark, Sept. 23, 1843. His father, Thornton Weakley, was a farmer by vocation, and born in Virginia in 1817. He married Barbara Jenkins of that State, and soon afterward emigrated to Lieking County, Ohio, where he settled on a farm, and followed his ealling there until 1856. During that year he journeyed West and located at Lexington, in Money Creek Township, this county. From there he moved to Gridley Town- ship, and then into the village of Lexington, where he and his good wife both died. His demise oe- eurred June 2, 1882, and hers Jan. 5, 1861. While a resident of Lexington, the father was engaged in the grocery business, and lived to attain the good old age of eighty-six years. He was the father of seven children, four sons and three daughters, and Joseph M. is the youngest living.

Joseph M. Weakley was about fifteen years old . when he accompanied his parents to this county. He received his primary education in the common schools of Ohio, and on coming to this eounty he attended Eureka College, Woodford County, this State for two years, and then entered upon the du- ties of a pedagogue, and followed that profession for upward of thirteen years. During the last three years of his teaching, he read law in the office of M. W. Strayer, attorney at Lexington, and in 1871 was admitted to the bar. After he was ad- mitted to practice, he opened a law office in the

983

MCLEAN COUNTY.

rooms of his preceptor, he dying that year, and at onee entered upon the active practice of his pro- fession, and has eontinned in the same until the present time, in all the eourts, and has built up an execllent praetiee.

Mr. Weakley was married, in 1872, to Miss Louisa Waybright, of Lexington. She is a native of Virginia, and eame to this eounty in 1858. Three children have been born of this union, two daughters and a son. They are, Shelton, Hattie M. and Minnie May. Mr. Weakley is a member of the I. O. O. F., and holds fellowship with Lodge No. 206, of Lexington. He has been City Attor- ney and Clerk of the eity of Lexington for twelve years, and has likewise been elerk of Lexington Township. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church.

B ERNARD J. CLAGGETT, Cashier of the First National Bank of Lexington, is the son of Sanford R. Claggett, who established that institution in December, 1882. The latter was also President, and is widely and favora- bly known thronghout the community as a man of remarkable energy and business foresight, and who was uniformly prosperous in all his business under- takings. A more extended sketeh of this gentle- man will be found in another part of this work.

The subject of this sketeh was the second son of his parents' family, and was born Feb. 12, 1861, in the village of Lexington, where he passed his boy- hood and received his primary education. In 1876 he attended Wesleyan University at Bloomington for one year and then went to Indiana and pursued his studies at Notre Dame University for three years. He then entered Jones Commereial Col- lege at St. Louis, from which he graduated in 1880. Returning to Lexington he entered his father's store in the capacity of elerk, continuing thus em- ployed until Mareh, 1882, when he was admitted as a partner, and the firm beeame Claggett Bros. & Co., and thus eontinned its operations until De- eember, 1882. The bank was then opened for business and Bernard was made its cashier, which position he has sinee held.

Mr. Claggett was united in marriage with Miss Nettie McCurdy, of Bloomington, on the 13th of December, 1882. This lady died Dee. 27, 1886, leaving one son-Ralph B. Our subjeet has largely inherited the business talents of his father and has before him the prospect of a sueeessful future. IIe is a Director and stoekholder of the First National Bank and otherwise identified with the business and industrial interests of Lexington. He is Treasurer of Lodge No. 206, I. O. O. F., having sueeeeded his father in the office, and is Senior Deaeon in Ma- sonie Lodge No. 276.

ONATHAN L. RALSTON, a resident of Lexington, is engaged as a contractor and builder, and is elassed among the enterpris- ing business men of this vieinity. He is a native of Beaver County, Pa., and was born on a farm about forty miles from the city of Pittsburgh, Aug. 21, 1837. His father, Adam Ralston, also a native of the Keystone State, was a blacksmith by trade. He was married in early manhood to Miss Elinore MeNabb of Ohio, and afterward served as a soldier in the War of 1812. After their marriage the young people settled in Beaver County, Pa., where Adam Ralston presided at the forge for many years, and during the latter part of his life lived retired from aetive labor. The parental household ineluded twelve children, six sons and six daughters, of whom five sons and four daugh- ters are yet living.

Jonathan L. Ralston was the eighth in order of birth of his parents' children. His boyhood was passed in his native State and he was deprived of the affectionate eare of his mother when twelve years of age. He was then thrown mostly upon his own resources, and employed himself for a few years at whatever his hands could find to do. When eight- een years old he commeneed to learn the earpen- ter's trade, which he subsequently followed in Penn- sylvania and Ohio. He was married in the latter State, in 1851, to Miss Elizabeth MeNary of Trum- bull County, where he afterward settled and re- mained until the spring of 1857. Ile then, with his family, removed to this State and county, loeating

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 120

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