Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 131

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 131

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The subject of our sketch was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary A. Cheney, of Bloomington, in 1858. Mrs. M. is a native of Illinois, born in 1837, and the daughter of Owen 'and Maria Che- ney. Of this union there has been born one child, a son, William L. The family residence is pleas- antly located on Washington street, where its in- mates are surrounded by all the comforts of life. Mr. Marmon is conected with the Masonie frater- nity as a meinber of Wade Barney Lodge.

W ESLEY M. DICKERSON, of Downs Towil- ship, is the son of Michael Dickerson, who was of Southern parentage and it is sup- posed a native of Kentucky. The latter married Miss Jane Rutledge and they located in Tennessee, in which State Michael Dickerson enlisted as a soldier in the War of 1812, and served faithfully 'and courageously through that struggle. After the war he removed his family to Kentucky, wlience

they came to White County, Ill., and settled near Maysville upon a farm. Owing to the unhealthy condition of the climate which induced fever and aguc, they moved to what is now DeWitt County, but then included in McLean. The father of our subject was thus one of the carly pioneers of this locality and afterward located at Randolph Grove, where he built a flour-mill on Kickapoo Creek, which was the first structure of the kind put up in McLean County, being erected previous to 1830. ' This he afterward sold, but continued his residence near Le Roy, where he died Feb. 10, 1836. Michael Dickerson was classed among the "snow-birds" of 1831, and liis hardship and suffering during that period was the immediate cause of his death. While the snow was still falling he was obliged to go to mill. The road became impassable and after toil- ing many hours through the drifts, he was com- pelled to leave his wagon and tying himself to the tails of his two oxen, turned them loose in hopes they would find a human habitation, or perliaps their home. He was drawn by them to a house where the dogs barking at the approaching cattle attracted the attention of the inmate, who came out to find Mr. D. in a perishing condition. He was at once taken in and cared for in the most kindly manner but never recovered from the terrible ex- posure.

The mother of our subject died at the home of her son, Wesley M., in April, 1873, being seventy- two years of age. Both parents were members of the Presbyterian Church, and reared their children in those principles which constituted thiem good citizens and worthy members of society.

Wesley M. Dickerson was the youngest of a fam- ily of eight children and was born in Empire Township, this county, Feb. 6, 1834. He was only two years of age when his father died and he remained with his mother until he went to farming on his own account, when he made a home for her and she remained with him until her death. He purchased the farin which he now. owns and occu- pies several years before his marriage. This inter- esting event occurred on the 27th of April, 1872, at Le Roy, when he was joined in wedlock with Miss Miranda Chapman, who was born in Madison County, Ohio, Oct. 14, 1846. Her father died

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before she was born, and the maiden name of her mother was also Chapman. This lady, after the death of her husband, married William. Curry of Ohio, who served as a soldier in the late war. The mother of Mrs. Diekerson subsequently eame West and died at Dauvers in this county, Feb. 12, 1887, being sixty-nine years of age. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Dieker- son eame to Illinois with her mother when five years of age and was reared in Empire Township, where she lived until her marriage. Of her union with our subjeet there were born five children, one of whom, Omer, died in infancy. Those living are, Vinnie J., Alice, Lulu and Earl M. Mr. Diekerson is Democratie in polities and uniformly easts his vote in support of the principles of his party.

P HILIP FAWCETT, a retired farmer living in the village of Saybrook, has been a resi- dent of the Prairie State for over thirty years. He located in De Witt County, in 1854, where he remained two years, then removed to Logan County, and from there, in 1866, took up his abode in MeLean County, on a farm in Mt. Hope Township. After eight years he sold that property and purchased the Rankin Grove Farm, a valuable traet of land consisting of 228} aeres, which he now owns. Hle retired from active labor in 1879, and is passing his declining years in ease and contentment, which is his just due after having performed the duties of a long and worthy life.

Mr. Fawcett was born in Knox County, Ohio, Sept. 13, 1818, and is the son of Arthur and Susan (Smith) Faweett, the former a native of County Donegal, Ireland, and the latter born in Ohio. Ar- thur Faweett remained in his native country during his childhood, and was orphaned at an early age. He then went to the home of his aunt, and when seventeen years old ran away, and taking pass- age on board a sailing-vessel, started for the New World. After landing upon American shores he proceeded directly to Ohio, loeating near Steuben- ville. He employed himself at whatever he could find to do, was industrious and economical, and in due time became the owner of about 900 aeres of

land. He married when thirty years of age, and in company with his wife became a worthy member of the Lutheran Church. Their ten children, five sons and five daughters, ineluded Samuel, Philip, Elizabeth, Lueinda, Anna, Crawford, John M., Izates, Catherine and Mary. Of these six are still living.

The subject of this sketch was the second child of his father's family, and remained under the home roof until twenty-six years of age. At that age he was united in marriage with Miss Martha E. Vanee, on the 6th of August, 1844. Mrs. F. was born April 27, 1826, in Guernsey County, Ohio; came with her mother to Illinois, and died in Logan County, Feb. 24, 1865, after having become the mother of seven children. Of these Angelo V. first married Miss Hattie Thomas; his second wife was Corrie Dodson, and she dying, he formed a third matrimonial alliance; Susanna E .; Margary died Sept. 1, 1856; Philip D. and John A.

Philip Faweett was married to his second wife, formerly Miss Sarah Elliott, Dee. 31, 1865. Mrs. F. was born in Morgan County, Ohio, April 20, 1836, and was the daughter of James and Jane Elliott. Her father was born in Ohio, in 1812, and the mother in Pennsylvania, in 1806. The latter lived to be eighty years old, her death occurring in 1886, and the aged father is still living in Ohio. Their five children ineluded three sons and two daughters: Sarah, the eldest, is the wife of our subject; Julia A. married Mr. Worthington Coffee, who during the late war served as a Union soldier in an Ohio regiment, and now lives in Nebraska; Josiah married Miss Jane Imes, and is a resident of Ohio; Nancy J. became the wife of Elvin Gouch- enour, and they live in Ohio; James M. is deceased. Mrs. Jane Elliott, by a previous marriage, became the mother of three children. Her son Alfred lost his life in the Mexican War, and. the others were Alexander and Elizabeth.

The present wife of our subjeet became the mother of one child, Lillie J., who was born April " 12, 1870, and died in 1873, aged three years, eight months and twelve days.

The eldest son of our subjeet, Angelo V., during the late war enlisted in Co. E, 7th Ill. Vol. Inf., serving as a soldier two years, and in the meantime

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receiving an honorable wound, which, however, he soon recovered from. The residenec of Mr. and Mrs. Fawcett is a handsome and commodious dwelling, finely located in the midst of fifteen acres, which includes a beautiful grove. He has a fine fruit orchard, a good barn, and all other accessories of a suburban homestead. Mr. Fawcett has been incapacitated for labor for the last eight years, on account of rheumatisin, but his general health is good, and he presents the picture of a hale and happy old gentleman, who is entitled to, and is fully enjoying the good things of life.

W ILLIAM BLUE. One of the large land- owners of Old Town Township, and a gen- tleman prominent as an agriculturist and respected as a citizen, is the subject of this notice, located on his fine farm on section 34. The par- ents of Mr. Blue were Zachariah and Janc (John- son) Blue. He was a native of Ohio, and she was born in Kentucky. After their marriage the old folk made their home in Champaign County, Ohio, whence they came to this county in 1836, and set- tled in Bloomington Township, where they lived for several years. They then removed to Downs Township; subsequently selling his farin the father took up his residence at Bloomington. 'Therc he purchased property, which he afterward traded for a farm in Downs Township, and on this placc the lives of the two heads of the family ter- minated. Eight children were born of their union, and the gentleman whose name heads this notice was the youngest in order of birth.

William Blue was born in Champaign County, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1836, the same year that his parents removed to this county, and consequently he has lived within the boundary lines of the county all his life, and during these years has followed no other occupation than that of a farmer. He is the owner of 400 acres of valuable and productive land, on which he has good improvements, and has met with far more than ordinary success.

William Blue was married in Old Town Town- ship, Jan. 10, 1860, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Joshua and Ann (Hedrick) Wood, natives of

Virginia. Her parents came to this county in 1848, and both of them departed this life in Old Town Township. They had seven children, and Mrs. Bluc was the youngest. She first saw light in Pendleton County, Va., June 17, 1840. Of her un- ion with our subject ninc children have been born : Albert married Miss Ottic L. Biggerstaff, and they are living in Old Town Township; Harrictt is the wife of Robert Carlisle, a farmer of Danvers Township. Our subject and wife have buried onc child, Agnes, who died in infancy.

Mr. Blue enlisted in the Union army, joining the 94th Illinois Infantry, in the year 1861, and served for about one year. He enlisted as a pri- vate, and participated in the battle of Prairic Grove, Ark., in which he received a wound in the thigh by a musket ball, and in consequence - of which he was discharged, and returned home, and after convalescing again entered upon the peaceful pursuits of life. In politics he votes for the suc- cess of the Republican party.

S AMUEL BECHTEL, of Downs Township, is pleasantly located on section 34, where he is carrying on general farming. He is the owner of 160 acres of choice land with a handsome and substantial set of farm buildings. He located upon his present homestead in 1853, and has occupied it continuously since that timc. Mr. Bechtel was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, Aug. 13, 1823, being the son of John and Esther A. (Myers) Bechtel, who were married in Picka- way County, and where the father for some years afterward followed his trade of cooper. They afterward removed to Knox County, same State, settling upon a farm, where they lived until depart- ing from the scenes of earth.

The subject of this history remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, being the second of five children who completed the household circle. He was married in Knox County, Ohio, in about 1849, to Miss Catherine Koutz, who was born in about 1821, and was the daughter of George and Christina (Frund) Koutz, natives of Virginia, where they were reared and married, being

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of German deseent and parentage. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Koutz settled in Greene County, Pa., whenee they removed when their daughter, Cather- ine, was ten years of age. They located on a farm in Knox County, Ohio, where they remained until after the elose of the war and then came to MeLean County, loeating in Bloomington, and there passed the remainder of their days. Mrs. B. remained with her parents until her marriage, and by her union with our subjeet has become the inother of the following eliildren : George, Samuel, now mar- ried, Joseph, Luey A. and Harvey.

Mr. and Mrs. Bechtel lived in Knox County, Ohio, a few years after their marriage, when they removed to the Prairie State, and have made their home in Downs Township sinee that time. Mrs. B. is a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church and our subjeet in politics affiliates with the Republican party.

h ON. JESSE W. FELL. Until long after the present generation has passed away the name of this lamented eitizen will be held in tender and grateful remembranee by the residents of McLean County. He was not only one of its earliest pioneers, but was elosely identi- fied with its prosperity, to which he perhaps eon- tributed more than any one man. In the building of its railroads, the establishment of schools and other educational institutions, he not only eontribu- ted largely of his own means but was one of the first to seeure the assistance of other moneyed men.

Jesse W. Fell was born in New Garden Town- ship, Chester County, Pa., on the 10th of Novem- ber, 1808, and departed this life at his home in Normal, Feb. 25, 1887. He was the son of Jesse and Rebeeea (Roman) Fell, also natives of the Keystone State. The great-great-grandfather of our subjeet emigrated to America in 1705. The Fell aneestry had been members of the Society of Friends from its origin. The family of Jesse Fell, Sr., was a large one, including seven sons and two daughters.

Mr. Fell was reared to manhood amid the in-

fluenees of a country life and a Quaker neighbor- hood and received a good edneation. After leav- ing school he engaged in teaching. In 1828 he started on foot for the Mississippi Valley. After reaching Steubenville, Ohio, he made the aequaint- anee of the law firm of Stokely & Marsh, who offered to take him as a student upon sueh terms that he was glad to accept. At the end of two years he was admitted to the bar and proffered a partnership with his preceptors. He, however, de- elined, still determined to locate in the West. Ile started out on foot as before, and in the fall of 1831 arrived at William Brown's near Delavan, whose aequaintanee he had made when a teacher in Pennsylvania. He stopped there for the winter, during which time business ealled him to the bud- ding village of Bloomington. He was there in- duecd to open a law office, the first one in town. Although there was not mueh praetiee then, Mr. Fell found abundant employment in the adjustment of land elaims. It was then not uncommon for the party who desired to locate a particular piece of land to be compelled to make a raee for it to Dan- ville with other elaimants. Mr. Fell became the owner of a horse named McLean, and on this gal- lant steed he would frequently make the ninety- mile ride to Danville within daylight hours in be- half of some friend or elient. In 1836 he first met David Davis, who was then at Pekin, but at the solieitation of Mr. Fell, became a resident of Bloomington, the latter turning over to him his office, books and law praetiee. Even at this early day Mr. F. was regarded as a man of large wealth, with the certain prospeet of a vast fortune in the near future. In the financial panie of 1837, however, his wealth vanished like that of many others. But he was of too brave a spirit to be discouraged, and a few years later found him again upon his feet ready to push forward with new labors and pro- jeets. The first newspaper of Bloomington was the result of his enterprise and he subsequently became its editor.

On the 26th of January, 1838, the marriage of Jesse W. Fell and Miss Ilester Brown took place. Mrs. Fell survives her husband and lives` on the homestead at Normal. After his marriage, the finaneial erash having depressed real estate opera-

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tions, Mr. Fell again took up the praetiee of law, and among other eminent men enjoyed the friend- ship of Lineoln, Stuart, Col. Baker and others who afterward became famous. He soon tired of law, however, and turned his attention to farming, spend- ing one season with his family on what is now the Gregory farm, long known as Ft. Jesse. This was the only house then on the prairie. At the end of that summer they left the farm and moved to Ad- ams County, near Quiney, and were engaged in nursery fruit growing six years, at the expiration of which time they returned to Bloomington. Mr. Fell again beeame proprietor of a newspaper and embarked in the land business, taking an aetive part in railroad projeets and working as the agent especially of the Alton & Springfield road, to seeure the right of way through this and adjoining eoun- ties. He also led the sueeessful movement for the location of its principal shops, in the young and growing eity.

One of the great efforts of Mr. Fell's life was made in 1857, when he sueeeeded in loeating the State Normal University. To this he became the largest individual donor and was instrumental in seeuring $141,000 of the money needed for its es- tablishment and equipment, also to obtain the Sol- dier's and Orphan's Home, Mr. Fell contributing one-fifth of the $50,000 donated. In all his op- erations his strong temperance principles were brought to bear and he proeured the amendment of the eity eharter so as to perpetually restrain the anthorities from lieensing the sale of liquor.

In politics, as in other publie matters, Mr. Fell usually took a warm interest. In his younger days he was a Whig. After the formation of the Re- publiean party, he joined it. In the midst of a eomplieated business, and political and private affairs, Mr. Fell still found time to gratify his love of nature, which was illustrated in his passion for trees and flowers. In Normal alone stand 30,000 trees-maple, willow, walnut, elm and seores of others-which were planted under his supervision around the bloeks and along the highways. The Normal School's campus grounds were beautified from a design made by him and carried out by a noted landseape gardener. He named the streets of Normal after trees, and Bloomington, Clinton, Pon-

tiae and other Illinois towns give evidence of the enthusiastie passion of his life. Upon taking up a traet of land in Iowa he planted sixty miles of willow hedge, transporting the scions from Normal.

W ILLIAM W. ELDER, of Heyworth, eame with his father to MeLean County in 1842. The greater part of the time he has been engaged in merchandising, and in partnership with Isaae Vanordstrand, operated in the purehase and sale of grain. They carried on this business for a period of fourteen years, adding to it also exten- sive dealings in live stock.

The subject of this history was born in Cleves, Hamilton Co., Ohio, Sept. 19, 1828. His father, David Elder, was born and reared in Franklin County, Pa., and descended from a family widely known for its strong moral principles and foree of eharaeter. Mingled with this was a deeply relig- ious vein which had its influence on all their trans- aetions both in business and social life. In early manhood David Elder was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Wakefield, the sister of Campbell Wakefield, whose biography appears in another part of this work. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. E. located in Hamilton County, but in about 1834, with their family of four children, eonsist- ing of Mary J., William W., our subject, Margaret and John, removed to Fayette County, Ind., where they settled upon a farm. In 1842 they onee more gathered together their personal effects and eame into Illinois, locating in Randolph Town- ship. Here the father died on the 30th of April, 1849; the mother survived nntil Sept. 2, 1886. After leaving Ohio two more children were born to the parents, all living and now numbering three sons and three daughters. Of these, four are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, of which our subjeet has been an Elder at Heyworth for several years.

William W. Elder was married in Randolph Township, at the home of the bride's parents, Feb. 14, 1850, to Miss Amanda J. Rutledge, a sketeh of whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. O. Rutledge, ap- pears elsewhere in this ALBUM. The marriage cere-

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mony was performed by Rev. W. R. Bishop. Mrs. Elder was born on her father's old homestead in Randolph Township, Dee. 28, 1833, and was reared by pious parents, remaining at home until her mar- riage with our subjeet. She fully sympathizes with her husband in his charitable and religious efforts and has been in all respeets his faithful helpmeet and companion.

Mr. and Mrs. Elder have no children of their own but have performed the duty of parents to Wilbur and Laura M., the son and daughter of Mr. C. C. Lafferty, of Ohio.

OSEPH T. MARTIN. This gentleman is one of the many active business men of this county who were brought here when quite young, by sturdy pioneer parents. Here they were reared, educated and found a splendid field for a business career. He is now pleasantly located on seetion 1, Township 21, where he is the possessor of 120 aeres of finely eultivated land. Ile secured this home in 1874 of John II. Graber, and has added greatly to its beauty and value. His house is a handsome and substantial structure, built after modern style and furnished with all nee- essary applianees of a first-elass farm estate, a view of which may be seen in this ALBUM. Our subjeet is an intelligent and progressive eitizen and a val- ued member of the community.

Mr. Martin was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Sept. 30, 1831. When four years of age his par- ents, with their family of three children, started for the Prairie State, and coming into MeLean County located at Heyworth, in the fall of 1835. The father of our subjeet, George Martin. was a native of Kentucky, but removed with his parents to Ohio when a young child. They settled on a farm in Hamilton County, where George Martin was reared and educated, and married Miss Susanna Harvey, who was of New England parentage, born and reared in New Hampshire, and of German and En- glish deseent. George Martin was born in Ken- tueky in 1802, his parents being of Irish aneestry. His father, Joseph, and his mother, Naney (Thomp- son) Martin, were both natives of County Down,

Ireland, where they were married and became the parents of one ehild, a sou, John, who was born in 1799. After the birth of this ehild, they started for the United States, and while on the ocean an- other was born whom they christened Jane. After arriving upon Ameriean shores they proceeded to Kentucky, where the father of our subject was born, being the first of the family who was a native' of the United States. The parents afterward went to Ohio, settling in Hamilton. County, and there the family eirele was completed by the birth of three more children-Robert, Letieia and Margaret. These are all deeeased.

After the parents of Joseph T. Martin located in Heyworth, this county, they established a home where they spent the remainder of their days, the father dying in April, 1878, aged seventy-six years, and the mother dying on the 7th of October, 1886. George Martin was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a Demoerat in polities, and the mother was eonmeeted with the Southern Methodist.

Joseph T. Martin, the eldest ehild of his parents, was reared and educated at Heyworth, and re- mained under the parental roof until his inarriage. The maiden of his choiee was Miss Sarah L. Rut- ledge, and their union took place at the home of the bride's parents in Randolph Township. Mrs. Martin was the daughter of Robert H. Rutledge, and was born on the old homestead in Randolph Township, March 13, 1833. Her education was obtained in the log sehool-house of the pioneers, and she grew to womanhood amid the seenes and associations connected with the first settlement of this eounty. Of this union there were born eleven children, two now deceased: Edgar died at the home of his parents, Aug. 25, 1860, and Dixon, Aug. 20, 1869. Those living are, Cora I., the wife of Frank Romine, a farmer of Wapello Township, De Witt County, and they have one ehild, Leona B .; Laura E. is the wife of W. D. Niekerson; Linus E. is a machinist, and lives in Santa Anna, . Los Angeles Co., Cal., he married Miss Sada V. Connor; Seth A. is farming in Polk County, Iowa; Harvey W. is assisting his father on the homestead, also Albert C .; Campbell W., Mary J. and Eliza A. are all living at home. The parents and three eldest children are members of the Presbyterian

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Church of Gibson, Ford County, and the three youngest are connected with the Methodist Episeo- pal Church in Randolph Township.

Upon the breaking out of the late war, Mr. Mar- tin, laying aside his personal plans and interests, proffered his services to aid in the preservation of the Union, by enlisting in Co. B, 94th Ill. Vol. Inf., under Capt. MeFarland, of Heyworth. He partie- ipated with his regiment in its several battles and skirmishes throughout Mississippi and adjoining States. At the expiration of his term of serviee he received an honorable discharge at Galveston, Tex., July 17, 1865. He then returned to Heyworth, where he lived until 1871, and removing thenee to Ford County lived there three years, then returned to McLean County and loeated upon his present farm in Randolph Township, whiel he has oeeupied sinee that time.

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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 131

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