Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 127

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 127

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After our subject's marriage he located in Indi- ana, whenee hc removed in the spring of 1857, to Ford County, this State. Living there until the spring of 1864 he eamc to this county, and in 1865 moved on his present farm on seetion 22, Lexington Township. The place contains 151 acres of choice land, and has upon it a good residence and barn, together with numerous out-buildings. Sinee his residenee there he has been engaged quite extensively in the, raising of stoek, in which department of his voeation he has met with sue- eess.

Nine children have been born to our subjeet and wife, of whom four arc deecased. The living are Henry C., Ralph C., Charles C., Edwin M. and Jen- nie F. Mr. Wilson has held the office of Road Commissioner for some twelve years. He has also becn Sehool Trustee, and is the present ineumbent of that offiee. Religiously he holds fellowship with the United Brethren Church, of which he is one of the Trustecs, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a strong Republiean.

W ILLIAM I. BARNARD, junior member of the firm of Stevenson & Barnard, groeers of Lexington, is, with his partner, earrying on a profitable and steadily inereasing trade. Mr. B. is a native of McLean County, and was born in Money Creek Township, on the 1st of January,

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1839. His father, Melman N. Barnard, 'removed from Tennessee to MeLean County in the winter of 1828, being elassed among the "snow birds." Ile was born in North Carolina in 1806, and died in Money Creek Township, on the 23d of September, 1873. He married in early manhood Miss Sinia, the daughter of Samuel Philpot, Esq., of Virginia, who subsequently removed from the Old Dominion to West Tennessee, and thenee emigrated to Ma- coupin County, Ill., where he died. The mother of our subjeet was born in Virginia in 1804, and died in September, 1868, at the home of her husband in Money Creek Township. The parental family in- eluded eleven children, six sons and five daughters, nine of whom still survive.

. William I. Baruard was the third son and eighth child of his parents, and passed his boyhood and youth under the parental roof and in attendance at the distriet schools. He remained on the farm un- til his marriage, on the 14th of January, 1864, to Miss Lydia E., daughter of Samuel MeMullen, of Money Creek Township. He then settled on a part of the old homestead of his father, and engaged in general farming and stoek-raising until the winter of 1886. Renting his farm that year he removed to Lexington, and became interested in the grocery . business, with his present partuer, Richard Steven- son. Both gentlemen are well known in this local- ity, and long years ago, by their upright manner of living, established themselves in the confidence of

this community. Besides the property already mentioned Mr. Barnard owns a good farm of 120 aeres in Money Creek Township, on seetion 21.

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Barnard there were born four children, one of whom died in infancy. Those surviving are Walter E., Hattie E. and Daisy D.

The grandfather of our subjeet, Franeis Barnard, was born on the Island of Nantucket, and became a Quartermaster in the War of 1812. IIe afterward went to North Carolina, whenee he removed to West Tennessee, and from there came North into McLean County, in 1828, and died in about 1856. The Barnards were of Scotch-Irish descent, and an active and energetic race of people, who made good citizens and useful members of society. The Phil- pots were among the earliest settlers of Virginia,

but the origin of the family is not known. The polities of William I. Barnard is that of a staneh Republican ; he and his wife are both members of the Christian Church.

Le EONARD A. CRUMBAUGH, who is at the head of the Citizens' Bank, of Le Roy, is one of the early pioneers of MeLean County, and located here in the fall of 1830, sinee which time he has been intimately identified with the industrial and agricultural interests of this see- tion. Within its limits he received his early train- ing and pursued his studies in the humble log cabin, which served as a temple of learning for the eliil- dren of the early settlers. He was born at Elkhart, Sangamon County, Ill .. Nov. 13, 1829, being the son of Daniel Crumbaugh, who was a native of Frederick County, Md. The grandfather of our subjeet, Solomon Crumbaugh, was also a native of Frederick County, Md., and his great-grandfather, Conrad Crumbaugh, was a native of Germany, who emigrated to America with his family, and loeating in Maryland spent the remainder of his days in Frederick County.

Daniel Crumbaugh, the father of our subject, left the parental roof when fourteen years of age and joined an elder brother in Kentucky. In 1812 he enlisted in the army, serving under Gen. Harri- son, and at the close of the campaign returned to Kentucky where he remained a short time, then went north into Greene County, Ohio, where he operated a distillery for a number of years. Going back to the Blue Grass regions, he was married, and opened a hotel which he condueted until 1829. In the spring of that year he proceeded northwest to Illinois and rented a farm near Elkhart, Sanga- mon County, whenee he removed after a few months to that part of Tazewell now included in MeLean County, and made a claim on section 14 of what is now Empire Township, but was then designated as township 22. In the fall of 1830 he built a cabin of round logs, into which he removed with his family. In the winter following occurred the deep snow which is remembered by all the old settlers, and which resulted in so much privation and distress to

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them. They were confined in their eabins for sev- eral months and could do little but chop wood and keep warm. Many of the domestie animals per- ished from the cold, and hunger made the wild ones tame, espceially the wolves, who became altogether too neighborly to suit the pioneers.

Daniel Crumbaugh and his family pulled through safely, however, and when spring finally opened he hired a team to turn a portion of the sod, and upon this planted his corn. Before the new crop was ripened, however, a frost eame on and destroyed it. Ile had plently of corn in Sangamon County but the deep snow had prevented him from hauling it home. This state of weather had also prevented the distant journey to a mill, and the meal for the family was manufactured from corn pounded in a mortar, the latter being made by digging out a log. This constituted the principal article of food dur- ing that long and tedious winter. The nearest markets for some years were at Ft. Clark, the pres- ent site of Peoria. Each fall, for a number of years, Mr. Crumbaugh, Sr., made nine trips to Chieago, taking away a load of wheat and bringing back supplies of provisions and dry-goods. He was a man of great ingenuity and made all the shoes for his family, shaping his own lasts and manu- facturing his own pegs. Through difficulties that would appall the people of the present day in this region, he lived to improve a farm of 450 acres and to see the wilderness developed into smiling fields and growing grain. , Upon the homestead which he thus established he passed his declining years in peace and quiet, enjoying the reward of his early toils and patient, resolute spirit. He folded his hands for his final rest and left behind him a record of a useful and worthy lifc.

Daniel Crumbaugh was twice married, and by his first wife became the father of three children, of whom only one is now living, William H., a resi- dent of Johnson County, Mo. The second wife, formerly Miss Martha Robinson, was the mother of our subject. She was born in North Carolina, and died on the old homestead in Empire Township, this county, in 1856. Of this second marriage there were born ten children, seven now living, as follows: Lconard A. was the eldest born; James T. and Daniel T. were twins; the former lives in

Le Roy, this eounty, and the latter is living in Em- pire Township on a farm; Emily, Mrs. Reese, lives in Missouri; Martha, Mrs. Bartlett, in Brooks County, Kan .; Naney, Mrs. Hamilton, in Le Roy, and Francis M., on the old homestead.

The subject of our sketch improved his carly opportunity for study in the subscription sehools, walking a distance of four miles and return. As soon as old enough his services werc required upon the farın and he lived with his parents until twenty- one years of age. He then purchased 240 aeres of land and commenced business for himself. This. was located on section 24 of Empire Township. He labored for a few years ineessantly, improved his land, and added to it until he became the pos- sessor of 700 acres, upon which he farmed eontinu- ously until 1882. He then eame to Le Roy and engaged as a banker until February following when, in company with his brother, J. T. Crumbaugh, he opened the Citizens' Bank, and since that time has been the active manager of the business.

Mr. Crumbaugh was married, Sept. 27, 1856, to Miss Sarah M. Wiley, a native of Le Roy and born Dec. 18, 1837. Her father, James Wiley, was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, where he lived until sixteen years old, attending sehool and re- eeiving a good cducation. He then went to the Island of Jamaca and became book-keeper for a large sugar and rum plantation, which position he occupied for several years following. The slaves being then limited and business practically at a standstill, he returned to Ireland, whenee he soon afterward emigrated to America, and located in Vermilion County. Ill., at an early period in the history of that seetion. ` In 1834 he removed into McLean County, stopping at Lytleville for over a year. He then came to Le Roy and opened up a stock of merchandise, engaging in trade until 1848. Subsequently he purchased a farm in Empire Town- ship which remained his home until he departed this life in 1860. His wife who, before her marriage, was Miss Permelia. Waters, was a native of Ken- tucky.

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Crumbaugh of this notice there were born five children : Permelia J. who died when two years of age; William Frank- lin, who lives in Empire Township; one son who

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

died in infancy ; Charles and Gertrude, who are at home with their parents. Mr. Crumbaugh, relig- iously, is connected with the Universalist society. He is Democratie in polities, and soeially belongs to Le Roy Lodge No. 221, A. F. & A. M. He is es- sentially a self-made man and has accomplished a vast amount of work and business during the changes of an active and busy life. He has eon- tributed his full quota toward the development of the industrial interests of this seetion and has ful- filled all his obligations as a good eitizen.

M ILTON TOLBERT, oeeupied in general farming in Downs Township, owns eighty- five aeres of improved land on seetion 4, where lie is living in a manner becoming a worthy and useful eitizen, and following the peaee- ful pursuit of agriculture with uniform sueeess. Mr. Tolbert has been a resident of this county sinee the time when a child three years of age he was brought here with his parents. They first located in Randolph Township, where our subjeet remained until he took possession of his present homestead in January, 1873.

The subject of this history was born near Thorn- town, Boone County, Ind., June 23, 1849. His father, William Tolbert, was also a native of that county, where he was reared and educated, and after arriving at years of manhood, was married to Miss Caroline MeDaniel, of Virginia, of Scottish aneestry. She eame to Indiana with her parents when nine years of age, and is yet living near Hey- worth, Randolph Township. The father died in Randolph Township in 1859, of consumption, and three children were also taken from earth at about the same time.

Milton Tolbert was one of the elder members of the family. He was reared and educated in Ran- dolph Township, and after attaining to manhood was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Cook, Dee. 29, 1870. Mrs. Tolbert is the daughter of T. N. and Elizabeth M. (Ingersoll) Cook, natives of Ohio, who came to this eounty with their parents and located in Randolph Township, where they were married in December, 1846. The father fol-

lowed farming pursuits, and both parents are now living in Downs Township. Mr. Cook was for- merly a merchant in Lytleville, Ill.

Mrs. Tolbert was born in Randolph Township, April 20, 1851. She was edueated in the public schools of Downs Township, and by her union with our subject has beeome the mother of six ehildren, one of whom is deceased. Those living are Lulu Belle, Elizabeth C., Eva E., Ada and Ernest M.

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Tolbert located upon rented land in Randolph Township. Onr subjeet purchased his present homestead in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. T. are aetive and useful members of society, prominent in religious and social matters, and politically Mr. T. uniformly easts his vote in support of the principles of the Demoeratie party.

ON. JOHN EDDY. The hardy growths of nature are those that battle the stormns. The fiereer the eonfliet the more robust be- comes the trunk, and the deeper down the roots deseend. Man is but a part of nature. The sueeessful man is not he who dreams, but he who does, and when we see a man who has hewn his way through difficulties and enduring the storms of life in childhood and youth, he is the strong growth; the man of mark. Such has been the ex- perienee of Hon. John Eddy, Representative from MeLean County to the Illinois Legislature. Ile has been a resident of Bloomington sinee 1871, and has built up for himself a reputation as one of its most valuable eitizens.

The subject of this history was born in New York City, on the 28th of August, 1852, and is the son of David and Ellen (Ten Eyck) Eddy, natives respectively of Massachusetts and Greene County, N. Y. His father was the owner of a barge on the North River, but resided with his family in New York City, and died there in 1855. The mother survived until 1861. Their family consisted of three children, two now living-Edgar, a resident of Oregon, and who served in the Union army, and our subjeet.

John Eddy remained in the home of his parents until the death of his mother, which occurred when

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he was a lad of only nine years old. Then, an or- phan without means or friends who could materi- ally assist him, he was thrown upon the eold world to battle for himself. He was industriously in- elined, however, and was willing to be employed at whatever his hands could find to do. For three years he was employed , as office and errand boy and was then engaged to collect freight bills. At the age of thirteen he became check baggage elerk on the side-wheel passenger steamer " Wyoming," which position he occupied for three years. In the meantime he had obtained a fair education by at- tending night schools, and improving other oppor- tunities for reading and study.

In the spring of 1868, John Eddy went to De- troit, Mich., where he engaged as brakeman on a freight train of the Detroit and Milwaukec Railroad for two years, and afterward going to Chicago, served in the same capacity on the C. & A., until 1876. At this time he was accidentally shot through the left arm, necessitating amputation above the elbow. After recovering from this terrible afflie- tion, he was given a position at the Union depot of the same road as flagman, which he retained four years.

Mr. Eddy engaged in the cigar trade at the Ash- ley House in 1880, and has continued to hold his interest in that business until the present time, His manly and straightforward course obtained him the confidenee of his fellow-citizens, and he was elected Alderman of the Second Ward for two years. In 1885 he was appointed Post Trader of the Indian Territory for the Sac and Fox Ageney, and in the same year was a candidate for Mayor of Bloom- ington on the Democratic ticket. In 1886 he was eleeted Representative to the General Assembly of the State, and in the duties of this position has given general satisfaction to his constituents.

Aside from the duties of his office, Mr. Eddy is engaged as a general speculator. He takes an act- ive interest in everything relating to the public welfare, being the supporter and encourager of every measure tending to its intellectual and moral advancement. Socially he is a member in good standing of the I. O. O. F., with which he has been eonneeted since 1877.

The marriage of John Eddy and Miss Nellie

Long was celebrated at Bloomington in 1879. Mrs. E. is the daughter of John and Nora Long, natives of Ireland, and was born in 1860. They occupy a handsome residence at No. 501 West Washington street, and number among their friends and associates the cultivated people of the city.

OHN ALLISON, one of the honored pioneers of MeLean County, arrived here in 1-848, and soon afterward took possession of the land in Dale Township, on section 15, which he has smee transformed into a comfortable home- stead. He traces his deseent from a long line of excellent Scottish ancestry, both his grandfathers being of pure Scotch blood, and noted for their sterling qualities of head and heart. The first rep- resentatives of the family in this country probably settled in Pennsylvania, of which State our subjeet is a native, born in the town and county of Bed- ford, on the 5th of October, 1829. He is the sec- ond son of Jonathan and Hannah Allison, and re- moved with his parents from his native State to Ohio when a boy ten years of age. His father's family then consisted of the parents and five chil -. dren, and the journey was made overland with three horses and one wagon. They took their house- hold goods and provisions with them, camping out at night and cooking by the wayside. They loeat- ed in Miami County, where the father rented a tract of land and engaged in farming, and there our subject attended the common schools and assisted his parents in the lighter labors around the home- stead.

The parents of Mr. Allison remained in Ohio un- til 1848, and then again started overland for the farther West. John, of our sketchi, was then in his nineteenth ycar. He came with his parents to this county, and remained with them until he was twenty-three years of age, when he settled ou the place which he now owns and occupies.

The father of our subjcet, Jonathan Allison, was born in Bedford County, Pa., in November, 1800, and was the son of James and Sarah (Bowen) Alli- son, who became residents of Bedford County dur- ing the pioneer days. Jonathan Allison spent his

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boyhood and youth in his native county, and was there married to Miss Hannah Stiger, who was of German deseent, and the daughter of William Sti- ger. After leaving Ohio and coming into this county, in 1848, they loeated first on the north side of Twin Grove, whenee the following year they re- moved into Dale Township, settling on the east half of the northwest quarter of section 15. There in due time they erected a frame honse and estab- lished a comfortable home, which they oceupied until ealled to mansions in another world. The father passed away on the 4th of November, 1853; the mother survived him twelve years, her death oceurring Sept. 6, 1865. They are remembered by those who knew them as people of most exemplary character, both being members of the Friends' Church, and carrying out in their daily lives the simple and worthy practices peculiar to the Quaker seet.

John Allison plowed the first furrow of his pres- ent farm of 132 aeres in April, 1851, and after the lapse of years in which he has labored industriously he is rewarded with the possession of a good home- stead, with fertile fields and pasture lands, and, standing upon the most desirable loeation, a set of farın buildings which are a eredit to their owner.

The wife of our subjeet, to whom he was mar- ried in January, 1865, was formerly Miss Christina Kent, a history of whose parents will be found in the sketeh of William B. Kent, published elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Allison is the daughter of Nathaniel and Annie (Hawk) Kent, and was born in Haneoek County, Ind., Feb. 1, 1842. Our sub- jeet and his wife have bnt one ehild, a daughter, Eva Caroline, born Oet. 5, 1865. It is seareely necessary to state that this daughter, now an inter- esting young lady of over twenty years of age, is the light of the household, and is receiving all the benefits which good society and a superior educa- tion ean bestow. The father, mother and daughter are members and regular attendants of the Chris- tian Church of Dale Township. Mr. A., formerly a Whig, of late years has given his vote and influ- enee in support of the Demoeratie party.

As an important factor, socially and financially, of Dale Township, and one who has contributed materially to its excellent reputation as a farming

seetion, it is but proper that the partial result of Mr. Allison's labors should be illustrated by the artist's peneil, and we herewith present a view of the residenee and its surroundings, which admira- bly assists in embellishing the history of MeLean County, and delineates perhaps in the most effeet- ive manner the character of one of its most worthy eitizens.

E LIADA DICKINSON, of Le Roy, is one of those men we find so thiekly scattered over the county, and who are from the best element of her society, and were reared under the benefieent influences of the schools, religious in- stitutions and the culture and refinement of the so- eiety of the older settled States. Such men were well equipped to go forth and open up a new em- pire. They eould lay its foundations, broad, deep and solid, so that the colossal edifiee of a great com- monwealth might be reared upon it without haz- ard to the highest pinaele to which government or human society reaches. To these people Illinois largely owes her greatness, and to this elass the sub- jeet of this sketch belongs. .

Mr. Diekinson has been for many years promi- nently identified with the agricultural interests of this seetion and is now living in retirement at his comfortable home in the village. He is an extensive reader and possesses a valuable fund of general in- formation. He is publie-spirited and liberal, tak- ing a broad view of life and tolerant in both his re- ligious and political opinions. In religion he has endevored to adhere strictly to the Golden Rule, and in polities has, of late years, affiliated with the Republican party, although he east his first vote for Andrew Jackson and in early years upheld the principles of Democraey.

Mr. Diekinson was born in Marlborough, Hart- ford Co., Conn., Sept. 1, 1810. His father, Jesse Dickinson, was a native of the same town, and it is believed that his grandfather, Nathan Diekinson, was also born there. - The great-grandfather of our subjeet engaged in farming pursuits and spent the last days of his life in Marlborough, and this also comprises in brief the history of his son Nathan.

Eleazer Munsell

Clicca Die kinson

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McLEAN COUNTY.

Jesse, the son of Nathan, and the father of our sub- jeet, was also reared to farming pursuits and in- herited the homestead of his father, spending ' his entire life on the farm where he was born. His wife, formerly Miss Annie Welch, was born in East Hampton, Conn., and became the mother of eleven children, nine of whom grew to mature years.

Eliada Dickinson was the fifth child of the par- ental nion and received careful home training, while at the same time he pursned his early studies in the public schools. He remained under the home roof until he had attained his majority and then going into a foundry, learned to be a molder, , which trade he followed until 1836. He then went via the Connectieut River and Long Island Sonnd to New York; thence by eanal to the mountains of Pennsylvania, proceeding from there by rail, eanal -

and river to Naples, in Scott County, Ill.

After a short stay at the last mentioned place he proceeded to Pike County, and by entry and pur- chase secured possession of 400 acres of land in Flint Township. Upon this hc erccted a log cabin after the primitive style, and in process of time had improved about 300 acres of the land. He lived here until 1857, with his family, then sold out and purchased a foundry at Perry, in the same county, which he sold the following year. In the fall of 1858 he purchased a stoek of goods and engaged extensively in general merchandise, dealing in about cvery artiele then in use in the country. Three years later he sold this also, and having pur- chased 200 aeres of land in Sangamon County, re- moved to it. It was unimproved and lay about one 'and one-half miles northeast of Mechanicsburg. With characteristic industry he set about the im- provement of this also, and in 1865 sold it. at a good price and came into MeLean County. Here he had previously seeured 280 aeres in West Town- ship to which he added 140 acres, and occupied this until the return of his son from the army, when he deeded to him 280 aeres, and devoted his time to the improvement and cultivation of the latter pur- chase. In 1876 he came to Le Roy, and two years' later purchased twenty aeres, ten of which are in the corporate limits. Upon this are a good set of frame buildings, with all the appliances of a comfortable homestead, nicely fitted up and furnished. .

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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 127

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