Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 129

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 129

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).

B. FUNK, a member of the family whiel is so widely and favorably known in the Prairie State, and a resident of Blooming- ton, was born in Funk's Grove, this eoun- ty, on the 4th of March, 1841. He is the son of Hon. Isaae and Cassandra (Sharpe) Funk, natives respectively of Kentucky and Maryland, and was one of a family of ten children born to his exeel- lent and worthy parents.

The subject of this sketeh was the eighth ehild, and while at home, in company with his brothers, herded his father's eattle on the broad prairies. He would start out in the morning, taking his luneh in a basket, and returned home at night with the eat- tle, who frequently roamed a distance of from five to ten miles in their grazing. Our subjeet being among the younger members of the family, only onee enjoyed the privilege of an overland trip to Chieago, assisting to drive his father's hogs to market, as a few years later the building of the railroads did away with the necessity of going on foot and horsebaek. A. B. remained on the farm until 1868, having received a praetieal education in the common sehools and two years' instruction at Wesleyan College. After the outbreak of the

war he enlisted in 1864, in Co. K, 145th Ill. Vol. Inf., and with his regiment was detailed for duty in Southwestern Missouri, guarding the railroad for five months, and then at the elose of the war, received his honorable diseharge.

After he had attained his majority, Mr. Funk re- eeived as his portion of his father's estate 2,280 aeres of land, to which he has sinee added 300 aeres. He has also a eattle raneh in Montana, which is stoeked with an average of from 500 to 2,000 head of eattle. Upon his home farm are · four tenement houses, occupied by men who look after his stoek, which here consists of 400 head of eattle and forty horses, the latter being Clydes- dale and Norman, which he sells when four years old.

Mr. Funk removed to Bloomington in 1868, and has proved a valued addition to its business inter- ests. He is a stoekholder and Direetor of the First National Bank and a stoekholder in the Gas Company. He contributes cheerfully and liberally to every worthy enterprise, and in all respeets is the worthy son of his honored sire, whose name will be handed down to future generations as a man whose example was worthy of their imitation.

The beautiful family residence of our subjeet, which was erected at a cost of $25,000, is located on East Grove street, and commands a fine view of the surrounding country. It is in every respect, with its appurtenanees, an ornament to the eity and a eredit to its builder and projector. The grounds are beautifully laid out with winding walks and shrubbery, and in all respeets give ,evi- denee of cultivated tastes and ample means.

The marriage of our subjeet and Miss Sophronia Vandevender was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents in Bloomington, in 1870. Mrs. Funk is a native of Bloomington, and the only daughter of James and Emeline (Smith) Vande- vender, who were natives of Ohio, whenee they came to MeLean County, in 1846. They first set- tled in Le Roy, where Mr. V. engaged extensively in the buying and selling of stoek. Our subjeet and his wife have two children, a son and daugh- ter, Lyle and Emeline.

Mr. and Mrs. Funk, after their marriage, made a trip to Europe, visiting Franee, Switzerland,

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Italy, Austria, Germany, Belgium, England, Seot- land and Ireland, spending about one year abroad.

Mr. Funk uniformly easts his vote with the Re- publiean party, and is a member in good standing of the G. A. R. and of the Royal Areanun. His business office is at No. 210 North Center street, where he overlooks the details of his transactions. He is in all respeets one of the solid men of the eounty, and an important factor in its business and agricultural interests.

2 ATIIANIEL BECKIIAM, who owns a eon- fortable farın homestead on seetion 21, West Township, is a native of Kentucky, born in Warren County, May 11, 1836. His father, Nathaniel Beekliam, Sr., was a native of the same State, and his grandfather, John Beekhamn, of Vir- ginia, was one of the early pioneers of the Blue Grass regions. He removed from Virginia to Ken- tueky before even the day of wagon roads, the journey through the traekless wilderness being made with paek horses. John Beckham was a skillful surveyor and civil engineer and followed his pro- fession sueeessfully for a number of years. After becoming a resident of Kentucky, he obtained pos- session of a large traet of land in Warren County, where he eleared a farmi and remained until his death.

Nathaniel Beekham, the father of our subjeet, was reared on the farm in Warren County, Ky., and was there married to Miss Elizabeth Low, a native of that eounty, and daughter of William Low, one of its earliest pioneers. After marriage Mr. Beekham purchased a quarter seetion of land twelve miles east of Bowling Green, where he es- tablished a permanent home and passed the remain- der of his days, his death oceurring while he was still in the prime of life, Aug. 31, 1844. His aged wife still survives and lives with her daughter in Warren County, Ky., being now eighty-four years old. The record of her eight ehildren is as fol- lows: Anderson lives in Warren County, Ky .; Isaae W. is also a resident of that eounty; Eliza- beth and Sarah A. are deceased; Susan J., Mrs. Gardener; Nathaniel is our subjeet; Julia E., Mrs. Dodd, and John W., live in Warren County, Ky.

The subject of this history was the sixth child and third son of the parental family. He was reared by his parents on the farin and pursued his early studies in the old log school-house. When twenty- one years of age he started out for himself, first turning his face toward the great West. He spent one season in Illinois, then returned to the vicinity of his old home and worked out by the month for three years following. Then wishing to see some- thing more of the world, he started South, trav- ersing the States of Tennessee, 'Alabama, Misssis- sippi, Louisiana, Texas, the Indian Territory, Ar- kansas and Missouri, whenee he reerossed the Father of Waters and landed in this eounty on the 23d of April, 1861. He worked as a farm laborer for two years, then rented a traet of land upon which he operated until 1870. Subsequently he set- tled on the farm which he now oeeupies and which his wife inherited from her father. It is a fine traet of land, comprising 320 aeres, all enelosed and with good improvements.

Mr. Beekham was married on the 5th of Jan- uary, 1868, to Miss Rachel, daughter of James and Margaret Bishop, of whom mention is made in the sketeh of J. Q. Bishop, published elsewhere in this volume. The ten children born of this union are as follows: Charles H., Margaret E., Susan A., Anna M., Eliza J., James B., Edward W., Sarah A. and Mary A. (twins) and Franeis Keys. Mr. Beekham is Democratic in polities and is in all respects en- titled to be elassed as an honest man and a good eitizen.

S AMUEL PERRY is a representative of a elass of men who are to-day active in carry- ing on the business of the county, who were brought here by sturdy pioneer parents, and who were reared, educated and entered upon life's labors here. He is now a prominent and highly respected farmer of Danvers Township, oe- eupying a comfortable homestead on seetion 25.

Mr. Perry was born in Jessamine County, Ky., April 24, 1834, and is the son of John and Charity (Pew) Perry, natives also of the Blue Grass State, who were reared there, and married July 25, 1815.

Samuel Berry

John Frink

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John Perry, was of Welsh descent; was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 22, 1790, and remained in his native State until 1836. Ilis wife, Charity Pew, was born March 10, 1800, in North Carolina. The foriner came to Illinois in 1836, and locating in Dry Grove Township, this county, soon afterward purchased 107 aeres in Danvers Township, where he improved a farm and established a comfortable home, which he occupied the remainder of his life. Iu early manhood he had learned the shoemaker's trade, in Philadelphia, which he followed for a time in Kentucky, and also after coming to this State in connection with his farming. He received but a limited education, and was of a quiet and re- tiring disposition. Ile departed this life Aug. 18, 1865, and the mother, March 24, 1873; the latter was a member of the Christian Church at Twin Grove. In politics the father of our subjcet was a conscientious Democrat. The parental family con- sisted of nine children, as follows: Nathaniel; Mary A .; William W., who died in Kentucky while young; John; Zerelda, who married Mr. E. Munsell; Jane, who was born July 11, 1816, and died that same year; Susan, who was born April 18, 1830, married Joseph Myers, and lives in Mackinaw, Tazewell County; Louisa, who first be- came Mrs. Stephen MeQuartz, is now Mrs. Wilson, and Samuel, our subject.

Mr. Perry, of this sketch, remained under the parental roof until he attained to years of manhood, and was married to Miss Rebecca Hiatt Nov. 26, 1863. Mrs. Perry was born Sept. 15, 1837, in Stout's Grove, this county, and was the daughter of Jesse and Sarah Hiatt. Her parents were natives of Ohio, and married there on the 25th of March, 1829; they were of Quaker parentage. A few years after their marriage they came to Illinois, be- ing among the pioneer settlers of the State. They became the parents of four children, as follows: Rachel married Mr. William Veatch; Susanna mar- ried John Perry; Matilda married William Stewart, and Rebecca married our subject, Samuel Perry.

Mr. and Mrs. Perry became the parents, of two children-Roscoe, born Nov. 21, 1864, died Sept, 21, 1865, and Ella, born Jan. 6, 1866, dicd September 12 of the same year. The wife of our subject de- parted this life Sept. 23, 1886, at the age of forty-

nine years, and after an illness of about five months. Although not a member of any church Mrs. Perry was a lady endowed with the highest Christian graces, being kind-hearted, charitable, and possessed of all womanly virtues. She was fairly educated, and proved the true helpmeet and sympa- thizer of her husband. A portrait of Mr. Perry is shown in this work.

OIIN B. FRINK. The Frinks are of New England extraction and are descended from that element of our Republie who exerted in so signal a manner their wisdom and en- ergy in planting the seeds of freedom, piety and learning, the fruits of which are so richly enjoyed from the Atlautie to the Pacific. John B. Frink, of whom we now write, is one of the large land- owners of Old Town Township, and also one of its successful and prosperous farmers, and resides on section 3. His father, John Frink, was a native of Connecticut, and his mother, Rebecca (Sisson) Frink, was born in Rhode Island. Subsequent to their marriage they settled in Massachusetts, whence they removed to Luzerne County, Pa,, and in 1807 moved to Western New York, locating in what was known as the Holland Purchase, and there lived until their death. The demise of the latter occurred Nov. 5, 1837, and of the former Dee. 28, 1839. Of their family of ten children, five sons and five daughters, all lived to attain the age of man and womanhood.

The subject of this notice was the eldest son and fourth child in order of birth of the family. He was born in Luzerne County, Pa., April 24, 1802, and was five years of age when his parents removed to the Holland Purchase. There he passed his boy- hood days, received his education, worked on a farm, and continued to live until 1869. In March of that year he came to this county and purehascd a half section of land in Old Town Township, the same being one-half of section 3. On this he set- tled and has since lived, engaged exclusively in farming. He is now the owner of 700 acres of valuable and productive land and devotes his time to its cultivation and to the raising of stock.

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Mr. Frink was married in China, Delaware Co., N. Y., May 1, 1828, to Harriett Frank, daughter of Simeon and Rhoda Frank, natives of New En- gland. Her parents settled in Delaware County, N. Y., after marriage, whenee like Mr. Frink's par- ents they removed to the Ilolland Purchase in 1809. They died in Areade, Wyoming Co., N. Y. They had seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters, of whom Mrs. Frink was the eldest daughter and fifth child in order of birth. She was born in Sidney, Delaware Co., N. Y., March 14, 1804, and her union with our subjeet has been blest by the birth of seven children-Emirett S., Corydon J., Sheridan, Harriette L,, Harrison, Isadore and Wells C. Emirett S. is the wife of Sherman G. Lewis, and they reside in Nevada County, Cal. They have become the parents of five ehildren- Harriett M., Minnie, Clara, William F. and Albert F. Corydon J. Frink married Miss Sarah' J. Par- ker, lives in Old Town Township, and has become the father of seven children-Susan, Allen, George P., Arthur, May, Albert H. and Clarence. Sheri- dan Frink departed this life in Bloomington when in his twenty-first year. Harriette I. married I. W. Harris, and died in California. Harrison was unit- ed in marriage with Miss Sarah M. Corey, is a res- ident of Old Town Township, and they have five children-Cora M., Sheridan J., Charles II., Irene L. and Kittie S. Isadore Frink and E. H. Bur- bank became man and wife, live in Blue Mound Township,, and have one child-Hattie. Wells Frink married Miss Elizabeth Calkins; they live in Dakota, and are the parents of five children-Lewis, Emma, Corydon, Richard and Katie.

Mrs. Frink, wife of our subjeet, departed this life in Old Town Township, April 24, 1886, having attained to the venerable age of eighty-two years. She was a most estimable and highly esteemed old lady.

While living in York State, Mr. Frink held some of the minor offiees of his eounty. He is liberal in his religious views, and in politics is a staneh Republiean. All his family are earnest workers for the promotion of the enuse of temperanee, and the past record of the life of our subjeet sparkles with deeds of kindness, and has been such as to make him many friends and gain for him the re-

speet of all those with whom his aetive, busy life brought him in contaet.

Among the large number of portraits of the leading men of MeLean County given in this vol- ume, none will be more welcomed than that of Mr. Frink.

ANSON T. FORREST is one of the goodly land-owners, sueeessful and progressive farm- ers of West Township, and one of the well- known and respected citizens of this eounty. He was born in Frederick County, Md., Dee. 24, 1834. His father, Solomon Forrest, was also a na- tive of Maryland, a farmer by oceupation, and spent his entire life in the State of his nativity, dy- ing abont 1867. The maiden name of our subjeet's mother was Elizabeth Wolf. She was born in Mary- land, and was the daughter of David Wolf, likewise a native of that State, and departed this life in Frederick County, Md., about 1857. They had ten children, and our subjeet was the ninth ehild and sixth son in order of birth.

Hanson T. Forrest was reared on his father's farm, and took advantage of sueh opportunities as were afforded to acquire an education. Living at home until he was twenty-four years old, he then went to Ohio and locating in Miami County, worked out by the month on a farm, receiving for his services $16 per month and board. His em- ployer, however, soon increased his wages to $20 per month, and furnished him a log cabin to live in and he boarded himself. He continued to labor on the farm by the month for three years after his marriage, when with his savings he bought a team of horses, rented some land and worked it, and for eight years was engaged in farming in this manner. By this time our subjeet had saved about $2,000, and he bought eighty acres of the land he had been working, for $5,000, paying 82,000 down and giv- ing a mortgage for the remaining $3,000. He went to work with a will and a determination to pay off the mortgage, and by the elosest ceonomy and hard labor succeeded in doing so.

In 1879 our subject rented his farm and eame to this county, and settled on the southwest quarter of section 12, West Township. This land at that time

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belonged to his father-in-law, but a year later he purchased eighty aeres of it, and his father-in-law gave our subjeet and his wife another eighty. Ile now owns 420 aeres in West Township, all enclosed and improved. Mr. Forrest was married to Naney Snook, Dee. `15, 1859. She was born in Miami County, Ohio, and is the daughter of George W. and Mary (Fuller) Snook. Her father was born in Frederick County, Md., and being orphaned by the death of his father when quite young, he, when thirteen years old, removed to Ohio with his unele, where he was reared to manhood, married, and wlienee he came to this State, and after a residence of one year in Logan County, eame to this eounty and purchased 640 aeres of land in West Town- ship. He is at present living in Minnesota, and is the owner of upward of 4,000 aeres of land in that State. He started out in life a poor boy, and his good judgment and energy have brought lıim a handsome competeney.

Our subjeet and wife have nine children-George W., John B., Celestia A., Irving G., Emra F., Mary L., 'Alvah G., Pearlie A. and Elsa B. In polities Mr. Forrest is a Republican. He is quite exten- sively engaged in the raising of stoek on his farm, and turns his attention to the Short-horn breed of eattle and the Norman breed of horses, and he has somne as fine speeimens of these two breeds as are to be found anywhere within the boundary lines of the county.

SAAC S. MAHAN, deceased, was an attorney at law, living at Lexington, and a resident of MeLean County sinee 1846, and during a period of over forty years was prominently identified with the interests of this seetion. He was well read in his profession and in his law transactions uniformly met with sueeess. Mr. Mahan was born in Ohio, near the line between Brown and Highland Coun- ties, on the 2d of January, 1832. His father, John B. Mahan, was a minister of the Presbyterian Church and at the time of his death a member of the Chillicothe Presbytery. He was a man of great foree of eharaeter, bitterly opposed to slavery during the days of its existenee, and was President of the first State Abolition Society, and also State

Leeturer upon this subjeet for many years. Ile departed this life in Brown County, Ohio, Dee. 16, 1844, having all his life cast the weight of his in- fluenee upon the side of justice and equality. The mother of our subjeet was formerly Miss Mary Curtis, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Curtis.

The Mahan family were of Irish extraction but the mother of our subjeet deseended from German aneestry. The parental household ineluded ten children, five sons and five daughters, six of whom yet survive.

Isaae S. Mahan eame with his parents to MeLean County and they first settled in Lexington where the mother died in August, 1879. Our subjeet completed his edueation in the sehools of Lexington and then learned the earpenter's trade, at which he worked for three years and then began the study of law with Judge Tipton. On account of defeetive eyesight he was obliged to abandon his ehosen pro- fession and then engaged in business for three years. He was then elected Justice of the Peace, which offiee he held continuously, with the exeep- tion of three years, sinee 1857, being eleeted each term successively. He thus held the office twenty- nine years, a longer period than any eitizen of Me -. Lean County now living. He was admitted to the practice of law in July, 1867, and devoted his time and attention to his praetiee, in connection with insurance and eonveyaneing, until his death.

Mr. Mahan was married on the 25th of January, 1857, to Miss Franees S. Luee, the sister of Dr. Luee of Bloomington. - This lady died on the 9th of October, 1869. Of this marriage there were no children.

On the 7th of August, 1870, Mr. Mahan was married the second time, to Mrs. Maggie J. Shep- hard. She was the mother of William H. Shephard of the Lexington Review, and sister of William H. Kennedy, manager of the Lexington Band. She died Sept. 20, 1883, leaving a son and daughter- Isaae S. and Neba L.

The third wife of our subjeet was Miss Anna C. Poore, of Lexington, to whom he was married on the 28th of December, 1885. Mrs. Anna C. Mahan is the daughter of Prof. D. J. Poore who, for many years, was Principal of the Lexington schools. She was a teacher for sixteen years, and now occupies a

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

pleasant and attractive home in Lexington where she enjoys the association of the cultured people of the community. Mr. Mahan was a member of the School Board for seven years and socially belonged to MeLean Lodge, No. 206, I. O. O. F., of which he became a member in 1863. He was also a mem- ber of Lexington Eneampment. He' and his family were regular attendants of the First Presbyterian Church, of which he was a member.

R EV. BENJAMIN W. BAKER, Presiding El- der in the Streeter district of the,Central Illinois Conference, was born in Coles County, Ill., Nov. 25, 1841. His paternal grandfather was a Baptist elergyman and settled in Coles County with his family in 1837. The ma- ternal grandfather of our subjeet, Rev. John Adams, was a Methodist Episcopal elergyman, and also settled in Coles County with his family in 1837.

The father of our subjeet, John B. Baker, was born in Burlington, Vt., and was a farmer and school teacher, when death ended his career at the early age of twenty-five years. Our subjeet's mother, Sarah E. (Adams) Baker, was born in Licking County, Ohio, and by her marriage with John Baker became the mother of four children, one of whom died in infaney and one at the age of ten years. One enlisted in Co. K, 123d Ill. Vol. Inf., and was killed at the battle of Perryville, Ky.

From the above it will be seen that Elder Baker is the only one of his parents' children now living. Ile was reared to manhood in the family of his grandfather, Rev. John Adams, who resided on a farm in a timbered eountry and our subject conse- quently grew up accustomed to hard labor. In those days there were no publie schools. but our subjeet's mother wove eloth for money to pay his tuition in a seleet subseription school for from thirty to sixty days annually. The teachers were not the best, but young Baker was a faithful student and thus mastered the fundamental principles of the com- mon branches of study.

In 1861, as soon as the report reached him that rebel shot and shell had been thundered against

Ft. Sumter, his heart was filled with patriotism for the maintenance of the country of his forefathers and the flag for which they had fought, and he at onee enlisted in the Union army. Upon the call of President Lincoln for 75,000 men it was so quiekly filled, that the company in which he enlisted was not aeeepted. He, however, did not.have long to wait, for our martyred President soon ealled for more men, and young Baker enlisted and was inustered into the serviee by joining Co. E, 25th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served his country faithfully and well on many a bloody battle-field for three years. He participated in all the engagements and marches of his company and among the principal battles in which he took part were Pea Ridge, Corinth, Cham- pion Hills, Stone River, Chickamauga and the 100 days' battle fromn Mission Ridge to Atlanta. At the battle of Pea Ridge he received a gunshot wound in the left shoulder which disabled him from active service for a time, but at his earnest request the surgeon permitted him to remain in the regiment. At the battle of Chickamauga he received two more bullets in the shoulder, one of which still remains there and in consequence of which he was confined to the hospital one month and permitted to go home on a furlough of one month. In the fall of 1863 our subject was mustered out and returned home. His education was limited but nevertheless he taught sehool the following winter.

In the spring of 1865 our subject engaged in farming, but the season being wet he only realized $10 for his summer's work, after settling all elaiins. He now determined to obtain a thorough education and contrary to the advice of friends he entered the Illinois State Normal University, and to pay his tuition, did janitor's work about the building, and by taking care of horses and doing sueh odd jobs as he could find, he was enabled by keeping bachelor's hall, to live. He also taught school two terms and earned a little money in that manner, always having in mind the completion of his education. He thus overeame all obstacles, and in 1870 graduated with honors and was subse- quently retained in the school as Principal of the grammar department.

The aim and desire of our subjeet was to be a preaeher of the Word, he having been converted to

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the cause of the Master and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1864, and consequently he, in 1874, resigned his position as teacher and accepted the charge of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Lexington. After four months' preaching he joined the Central Illinois Conference, which twiee re-ap- pointed him to the charge at Lexington. He next preached at Watscka two years, then at Shelden two years, then at Fairbury six months and was compelled to resign his charge on aeeount of ill- health. Going to Denver, Col., he took charge of St. James' Methodist Episcopal Church, and while in that city he went out on the street and procured a subscription, sufficient to build a mission ehureh, which is now known as the Beckwith Street Chapel. In 1883 Rev. Baker returned to Illinois, and accepted the charge of the Christian Union Church at Metamora, a church composed of the various religious denominations of that place, and served the congregation with entire satisfaction until 1885, at which time the annual conference appointed him to his present position. He has not taken a vacation for over twenty years and his labors have been crowned with suceess. In 1870, after graduating, he took a post graduate course in the Illinois Wes- leyan University.

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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 129

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