Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 130

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 130

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).

Elder Baker was married, Dec. 14, 1871, to Miss Martha F. Henry. She was born in Lisbon, Kendall Co., Ill., and is the daughter of John and Zilpha A. (Wright) Henry. Their union has been blest by the birth of six children. The eldest, John E., died aged thirteen years. The living are, Mary J., Webb E., James C., Lois E. and Zilpha E.

OHN WEEDMAN, deceased, son of one of the honored pioneers of this county, was. with his father's family, among the first who set their faces toward the great West, with the purpose of establishing for themselves a home upon the uneultivated prairie. He was a deseend- ant of substantial Pennsylvania stoek, of German aneestry, but was born in Perry County, Ohio, Feb. 3, 1828. His grandfather, George Weedman, of Pennsylvania, was among the earliest settlers of Perry County. He was a man of great resolution

and energy, and established one of the first hotels on the State road leading from Columbus to Zanesville. His wife was an excellent manager, besides being skilled in cookery, and their house be- eamne one of the favorite stopping-places along the route. They lived in Ohio until 1820. Coming into Illinois they located in Randolph Grove, this county, where they established a comfortable home, and where the grandfather died at an advanced age, in 1840.

The wife of George Weedinan, before her mar- riage, was Miss Charlotte Hume, a native of the same State as her husband. She also died at the homestead in Randolph Grove, in about 1835. Their son John, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1790, and was but a lad when his parents removed to Ohio. He grew to man- hood in the Buckeye State, and was there married and lived until 1830, when with his wife and six children, his parents and a brother-in-law, he started for Illinois. The journey was made over- land by wagons. They arrived at what is now the site of the city of Bloomington early in the fall of that year. Not far away was a vacant, double log cabin, into which the emigrants moved, and which they occupied while the male members of the party looked around for a permanent location. -

John Weedman, Sr., purchased a traet of land at Randolph Grove, upon which was a small log eabin. In this his family spent the winter, which is ever to be remembered by the deep snow. That winter was probably the most severe ever known by the settlers of Illinois. The cabin of our pioneers, how- ever, was in good repair, and Mr. Weedman spread blankets upon the roof to keep the snow from drift- ing through the chinks. The snow was so deep it was impossible to go to mill, and Mr. W. chopped down a large tree and built a fire in the stump. In the hole thus burned they placed their eorn, and by the aid of an iron wedge pounded it in this im- provised mortar, so that they procured a very good substitute for meal. Deer were plenty and venison constituted the principal meat. They passed the winter in comparative comfort, doing little but keep warm and get enough to eat. Mr. Weed- nan with his family occupied this place until 1837, then sold out and removed to Hurley's Grove, De

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Witt County, where he established a comfortable homestead, and with the exception of two years spent in Iowa, passed the remainder of his days there. Ile departed this life in 1866, having eon- tributed mueh toward the development of this county. His wife, who was formerly Miss Rachel, daughter of Asa Wilson, one of the pioneers of Perry County, Ohio, was born in Maryland, and became the mother of ten children, of whom the record is as follows: Asa died in De Witt County, in '1866; Harriett became the wife of William Y. McCord, who died near Farmer City, Jan. 18, 1880; she then married Rev. J. C. Rucker, and now lives in Fariner City ; George and Amos are resi- dents of De Witt County ; John, our subjeet, was the fifth child; Isaiah served as a Union soldier in the 2d Illinois Cavalry, and was killed at the battle of Holly Springs, Dee. 20, 1862; Lucinda is de- eeased; Eliza C., the widow of John Williams, is a resident of Farmer City; Zadok C. is a resident of Santa Anna Township, and Thomas S., of Farmer City.

The subject of this history was but two years of age when he came to this eounty with his parents. He remained under the home roof until 1850, and then, in company with three brothers, started to California, making the journey by the old Oregon route, erossing the Rocky Mountains at South Pass and arriving at Placerville upon the 26th of July of that year. For nine months following young Weedman engaged in mining and trading, and then began to long for a sight of the old home. Upon the 1st of April, 1851, he left San Franeiseo for home upon a sailiug-vessel, via Panama and New York.

After this experience Mr. Weedinan settled down to farming, and March 31, 1853, was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary A. MeDonald. Mrs. W. was born in Madison County, Ohio, Sept. 22, 1834, and was the daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Erwin) McDonald. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Weed- man settled 'on a new farm on seetion 11, West Township, where our subjeet, in addition to gen- eral agriculture, gave much attention to stoek-rais- ing, and was thus industriously engaged during the remainder of his life. He embarked in the banking business at Farmer City, in 1870, which he also

continued until his death, and which is now the John Weedman National Bank. John Weedman rested from his earthly labors on July 31, 1885.

Mr. and Mrs. Weedman became the parents of seven children, four now living: Harriet J. beeame the wife of C. R. Brodix, and is a resident of Washington, D. C .; Cassius M., Rachel Rosella and John Sherinan are at home. Mr. Weedman became one of the representative farmers of this seetion, and was universally respected for his upright busi- ness methods and his genial qualities as a eitizen, neighbor and friend. As years rolled on he be- eame widely and favorably known as a man whose judgment could be relied upon in matters of im- portanee, and whose integrity and moral worth were without question. He was a natural gentle- man in his demeanor toward all, and a self-made man, who had obtained, through his reading and observation of human nature and current events, a wide and useful fund of information.

Mrs. Weedman, with her three younger children, during the milder months of the year, oceupy the old farm homestead in West Township, but in the winter season take up their residence at Farmer City. Through the industry and forethought of her husband Mrs. W. is in the enjoyment of-a com- peteney, and able to assist those less fortunate. She is a lady highly respected in this locality for her genuine goodness of heart and womanly virtues. We append the following history of her father's family :

Thomas MeDonald was born in Washington County. Tenn., Oet. 15, 1801. He was the son of John MeDonald, a native of Virginia. His grand- father was born in the eity of Glasgow, Scotland, and emigrating to this country when a young man, settled first in Virginia, whenee he removed to Ohio, and spent the last years of his life in Madi- son County. His son John, the grandfather of Mrs. W., was married in Washington County, Tenn., where he lived until 1808, then moved to Ohio, and was among the earliest pioneers of Madisou Coun- ty. There he purchased a traet of timber land and eleared a farm, erected a good set of buildings, and lived there the balance of his life. His son Thomas, the father of Mrs. W., remained under the parental roof until his marriage, then settled in the same

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neighborhood until the death of his wife, when he again became an inmate of the home eircle until his second marriage. In 1852 he left Ohio and eame to Illinois, locating in De Witt County. He pur- chased fifty-three aeres of land near Farmer City, and 640 acres a mile distant. Upon the latter he carried on farming and stoek-raising until the elose of the war, then retired to Farmer City. His wife, formerly Miss Rebecca J. Erwin, was born in Madi- son County, Ohio. Her parents were Joseph and Margaret (Montgomery) Erwin:

Mr. MeDonald, althoughi now in the eighty-sixth year of his age, enjoys good health and maintains his mental faculties to a remarkable degree.

W IYETT ADAMS, deceased, late a resident of Downs Township, was born in Warren County, Ky., Feb. 1, 1828, and died at his home in Downs Township, on the 11th of Novem- ber, 1885. He was the son of Jesse Adams, also a native of Kentucky, and who spent his childhood and youth in his native State, where he was also married, the maiden of his choiee being Miss Eliza- beth Goodman. She, like her husband, was of American parentage, with a little sprinkling of the warm Irish blood which constituted of them the generous and kind-hearted citizens, beloved and respected wherever known. Jesse Adans and his family all came north in 1830, to Illinois, loeating in Old Town Township. There the father estab- lished a comfortable farm homestead, which he oc- cupied the remainder of his days, his death taking place in 1840. The journey to this county was made with ox-teams, after the manner of the early pioneers, and was only accomplished after several weary weeks of travel. They came into a new and uneultivated country, where neighbors were few and far between, and endured cheerfully the priva- tions and difficulties of life in a new country. Their first purchase of land was from the Govern- ment, and thus from the original soil, they opened up a farm in the wilderness, and contributed their 'full share toward the growth and development of the great West. They were also prospered in their

labors, and were enabled to spent their latter years in the enjoyment of a competeney.

The subject of this history was the youngest but two of a large family born to his parents, and was a mere boy when they removed from the place of his birth to Illinois. He developed into manhood on the farm, and was trained by his excellent parents to those habits of industry and economy which be- eame later in life, the secret of his sueeess, and which gained for him the universal respeet'and es- teem of all who knew him. He was prospered in his farming and business operations, and from a very small beginning aceumulated a property whieli included 430 acres of valuable land, all improved and under a good state of cultivation, and supplied with one of the finest farm residenees in this part of MeLean County. The barns and other out- buildings correspond with the dwelling in every re- speet, and the entire premises invariably attract the eye of the traveler passing through this locality. Of late years Mr. Adams made a specialty of fine stoek which included Short-horn eattle and thoroughbred horses. He was one of the most in- telligent and progressive farmers of this section, but in the midst of his prosperity ever had a thought for the good of his community, morally and intellectually, and was always willing to eon- tribute of his time and means toward the support of any enterprise calculated to this end. He was honored with many offices of trust by his fellow- citizens, and politically was a stanch adherent of the Republican party.

The marriage of Wiyett Adams and Miss Char- ity Bishop was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents in Randolph Township on the 25th of March, 1845. Mrs. Adams was the daughter of Jacob Bishop and was born in Perry County, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1826. She was the fourth child of her parents' family, and was but four years of age when they emigrated to Illinois, settling in Ran- dolph Township, where she grew to womanhood and received her education in the pioneer schools. She remembers distinetly the rude log cabin which then constituted the temple of learning, and through which light was admitted by means of greased paper. The chimney was built of mud and stieks, and the benches and desks, of the most prim-

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McLEAN COUNTY.

itive deseription, knew neither plane nor paint. She made her home with her parents until her mar- riage with our subjeet. Of this happy and con- genial union there were born fifteen children, five of whom are deceased. Of the living the record is as follows; Elizabeth beeame the wife of John Harverty, a farmer of Downs Township; Joseph, unmarried, is connected with a musie store in Bloomington; Emma, Mrs. Miller Wamsley, is a resident of Ileyworth; Luther married Miss Lena Williams, and is a stoek breeder at Downsville; Dora, the wife of Alvin Null, resides on a farm in Downs Township; Lida married Frank Cowden, a farmer of Old Town Township; Celia, Mrs. Thomas Campbell, resides with her husband on a farm in Old Town Township; Miller is farming in Downs Township; he married Miss May Whiteomb; Jen- nie, an accomplished and well edueated young lady, lives at home with her mother, of whom she is the pleasant companion and assistant; Nettie is attend- ing school at Downs Village. Those deceased are, John, Jacob, Martha, Susan and Maggie.

The Adams family are prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church in this eounty. Mr. Adams also was one of the most useful and active members in the church in Downs Township, and officiated as Class-Leader for many years; he was also licensed as an exhorter. Sinee the death of her husband Mrs. Adams has superintended the homestead in an able manner, and under her super- vision it has maintained its old-time reputation as one of the best condueted farms in this part of MeLean County.

M RS. MARY A. NESMITH, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Wolf) MeGinnis, is the owner of a comfortable homestead on seetion 21, Lawndale Township, which was purchased by her husband, Arthur E. Nesmith, in 1883. The father of Mrs. Nesmithi was a native of Kentucky, and her mother of New Jersey. After marriage they located in Butler County, Ohio, whenee they removed to Indiana in 1822, settling in Parke County. They resided there until 1834, then came to Tazewell County, this State, where

their lives terminated, the father dying Jan. 10, 1870, and the mother April 12, 1882. Mr. Me- Ginnis was a farmer by oeeupation. The parental family ineluded nine children, four boys and five girls, of whom Mrs. Nesmith was the seventh; she was born in Parke County, Ind., May 30, 1833, and lived with her parents until her marriage with Arthur E. Nesmith, which took place in Tazewell County, Ill., on the 5th of June, 1859. Mr. Ne- smith was the son of Cyrus A. and Marinda (Hurl- but) Nesmith, natives of ' New England. After their marriage, Cyrus and Marinda Nesmith settled in Medina County, Ohio, whenee they removed in 1847, to this State, locating in Peoria County ; from there they removed to Woodford County, and thence to Washington, Ill., where the father died Jan. 9, 1884. The mother still survives and lives in Washington, Ill.

Arthur E. Nesmith, the eldest child, and hus- band of our subjeet, was born in Medina County, Ohio, Dee. 28, 1833. He was reared on a farm and received a fair education in the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. Nesmith of this notice, in their younger days were both school teachers, Mr. Nesmith having taught two years, and Mrs. Ne- smith four years. He also taught singing school for a number of years, and was very successful in that calling. The daughters are all musicians, and Fannie is at present giving musie lessons. After marriage, the young people located on a farm in Christian County, Ill., where they remained three years. In 1862 they removed to Woodford County, where they lived until February, 1883. Then they eame to Lawnsdale Township, this eounty, where Mr. Nesmith purchased 160 aeres on seetion 21, where he made his home until his deatlı, which oe- eurred Jan. 22, 1884. He had a short time previ- ously been visiting his father in Washington, Ill., where he took a severe eold, which developed into pneumonia, and proved fatal in less than two weeks. Mr. Nesmith had been a stirring and energetic man, and besides the homestead where the family resided at the time of his death, he owned 120 aeres in Lawndale Township, which constitutes 280 aeres in all.

Arthur Nesmith was a worthy member of the Christian Church, and had held various offices

J. C. Mahan

Isaac Vanonstrand

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while living in Woodford County. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Nesmith, one died in infaney ; Jennie E. is the wife of Marion A. Kin- dig, and resides in Woodford County; they have one ehild, a daughter. Vera. May and Fannie are at home with their mother. Mrs. Nesmith is also a member in good standing in the Christian Church. Her home is pleasantly located, and, surrounded by her children and friends, she is enjoying all the eoinforts and many of the luxuries of life. She has managed the estate left her by her husband . with ability and good judgment, and is highly es- teemed by all who know her.

A handsome lithographie view of Mrs. Nesmith's residenee is shown on another page of this work.

SAAC VANORDSTRAND. In Mr. Vanord. strand's life we find an exeellent example for young men just embarking in the field of aet- ive life, of what may be aeeomplished by a man be- ginning poor, but honest, prudent and industrious. ' In early life he enjoyed but few advantages. His sehool days were limited, nor had he wealth or posi- tion to aid him in starting in life. He relied solely upon his own efforts and his own eonduet to win for him sueeess. Nor has his been a suceess solely in the sense of accumulating wealth, but in doing good to others, in serving others well and in win- . ning their respeet and esteem. He has ever strietly observed that most important factor in the sueeess- . ful publie or business life of any one-honesty. He is a careful, conseientious business man, ever adher- ing to the dietates of his eonseienee in matters both of a publie and private nature.

Mr. Vanordstrand is senior member of the firm of Vanordstrand & Co., extensive grain and stock- dealers of Heyworth. Their grain business was es- tablished in 1857, and it is eoneeded by all that the flrmn of Vanordstrand & Co., have been the means of making Heyworth what it is, and bringing it to its present position in the business world. Their elevator has a eapaeity of 15,000 bushels and their transactions are steadily on the inerease.

For ten years our subjeet was engaged in general merchandising, his stoek being located on his farm

near what was then Elin wood, but now Heyworth. In the immediate vieinity of the store was Inde- pendenec and of this our subjeet was also Post- master until his resignation in 1860. He operated the store from 1846 to 1855. In 1860 the name was changed to Heyworth.

Mr. Vanordstrand came to MeLean County in 1845. He says he was then as " poor as a ehureli mouse." He landed here with $5 which he loaned to a man who finally beat him out of it. Mr. V. first engaged in teaching sehool at the munifieent salary of $14 per month, and after six months thus oeeupied, during which time by the elosest economy he managed to save a small sum of money, he eom- meneed elerking in a store at Independenee. In the fall of 1846 he began merchandising at the same place in partnership with J. N. Low and an- other. In 1848 he bought them both out and ear- ried the business on alone until 1855. Feb. 7, 1857, he embarked in the grain business at Elm- wood, now Heyworth, and has been engaged in it sinee with O. C. Rutledge.

Mr. Vanordstrand was born among the Pennsyl- vania hills in the extreme western portion of Wash- ington County, Feb. 11, 1824. His father was a native of the same eounty and was the son of Isaae Vanordstrand, Sr., a native of Trenton, N. J., and of New England birtli and parentage. The great- grandfather of our' subjeet was Warden of the Penitentiary at Trenton during the Revolutionary War and being captured by the soldiers of Gen. Howe, in order to delude them, gave his name as Vanordstrand. He having been instrumental in hanging some of the English spies, a reward was offered for his eapture, and he afterward retained the name which the family bears to-day. The grandfather of our subjeet, Isaae, Sr., eame to ' Western Pennsylvania in 1780, being among thie early settlers of Washington County. He earried on farming there for a period of fifty-four years and became the owner of a vast extent of land. His death oeeurred when he was seventy-four years of age.

The father of our subjeet, William Vanordstrand, was born, reared, married and died in Washington County, Pa. His wife was Miss Sarah Smith, a na- tive of the same eounty, of Seottish aneestry and

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parentage. She died in Washington County in 1861, when fifty-seven years of age, from a stroke of paralysis while away from her home. Of their family of seven sons and five daughters, four only are now living and of whom the subject of this history was the eldest. He remained at home and assisted his father on the farm until he became of age. He then determined to seek his fortune in the West and, coming to Illinois, selected a traet of land in this county and engaged in farming pursuits. He was married in Raudolph Township to Miss Eliza A. Low, who was born in this eouuty, April 30, 1832. Mrs. V. was the daughter of Na- than and Sarah (Brooks) Low, natives respectively of Maryland and Pennsylvania. The parents of Mrs. V. were married in Lieking County, Ohio, by the late Judge Green, and came to MeLean County, Ill., in about 1830. Here Mr. Low purchased land and the deed for it was the first recorded in this county. Here the parents passed the remainder of their days, the father dying when fifty years of age, and the mother surviving him many years, being at the time of her death eighty-seven years old.

Our subject and his wife became the parents of three children, of whom one is deceased. Willie married Miss Naney Noble, and they are living on a farm in Randolph Township; Craig is unmarried and makes his home with his parents. He has a good education which was obtained by close appli- eation to his books in the schools of Heyworth. The home of our subject and his family is finely located and gives evidence of the culture and means of its occupants.

Our subjeet is Democratie in polities and has held the minor offices of his township. He has been prominent in political matters in this section, and in 1876-1886 was nominated for Representa- tive on the Independent ticket, but was defeated with the other candidates. This, of course, was not unexpected but Mr. Vanordstrand is of that temperament which perseveres in a principle as well as a business pursuit, and if he cannot do all that he wishes, will do all that he ean toward the success of a principle, as well as the further- anee of a business project. He is rated as first and .best among the inen of this community and there are few worthy enterprises or at-

tempts at reform in which he has not been the leader and chief supporter. Ile owns about 1,200 aeres of land, 700 of which lie in this county and in Randolph Township. He is tacitly acknowl- edged to be the father and founder of Heyworth and has been one of the chief pillars in its indus- ' trial and agricultural interests, and as such we take pleasure in presenting his portrait in this volume.

W ILLIAM W. MARMON, a wholesale dealer in drugs and medicine in Bloomington, where he has fully established himself in the respeet and confidence of his business assoei- ates, is a native of Indiana, and was born in the village of Milton, Dec. 7, 1832. His father, Da- vid Marmon, was a native of North Carolina, whenee he removed at an early day to the Hoozier State, becoming one of the early settlers of Wayne County. He engaged in merchandising there for many years, and there spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1840. His wife, the mother of our subjeet, who before her marriage was Miss Mary Jane Crookshank, was a native of Ohio, born about 1815.

The Marmon family comes of good old Quaker stoek, the maternal grandmother of our subject having been Miss Rachel Diek, sister of Judge Diek, one of the eminent jurists of North Carolina. The Crookshanks were of Seoteh origin, the na- ternal grandfather of William W. having been William Crookshank, who removed to Ohio at an early period in the history of that State. Benja- min Marmon, paternal grandfather of our subject, was among the early settlers of Indiana. The mother of our subjeet came to this county in 1846, and of the four children included in the parental house- hold only two survive. After the death of her first husband, David Marmon, she married the late Dr. Harrison Noble, of this county.

The subject of this history passed his boyhood in Wayne County, Ind., in the meantime attaining a good common-school education in Cambridge City. When fourteen years of age he went to Ohio, where he attended a private school, and thenee removed with his mother, in 1846, to Illi-

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nois. They located in this county, where our sub- jeet worked on a farm for two years and then ell- tered the drug-storc of Messrs. Park & Luce, with whom he remained as clerk until 1851. He then left Bloomington and cutered upon the study of medicine in 1853, and after returning took charge of the same store in which he had before engaged, but which had changed hands, the successors of Park & Luce being Paist & Elder. Young Mar- non continued with the latter firm until 1856, then purchased the interest of William Elder, and con- tinued as a partner of Mr. Paist until 1874, when the latter died, Mr. Marmon then purchased his interest and has conducted the business alone since that time. The business was first carried on as a large retail house, and has been gradually merged into a wholesale trade. The main building is 23x 80 fect in area, and this, in addition to another which he occupies gives liim a floorage of 560 feet, Mr. Harmon is a straightforward business man, obliging and courteous in his manner toward his . patrons, and prompt in meeting his obligations. He has consequently been very successful in his operations and ranks among the leading and pro- gressive citizens of Bloomington.

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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 130

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