Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 132

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 132

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REDERICK C. BOHRER, a prosperous German farmer of Normal Township, owns and occupies 294 aeres of valuable land on seetions 18 and 19, which is finely improved and in a good state of cultivation. IIe is in all respeets a representative eitizen and a fine type of that in- dustrious and enterprising element which has so materially assisted in developing the resources of the Great West.

The subject of this history is a native of the -German Empire and was born in Bavaria on the 29th of September, 1822. He is the son of George and Catharine Bohrer, of exeellent German anees- try and parentage, who emigrated from their native land in 1826, and after reaching the shores of the New World proceeded directly to Brown County, Ohio, where they settled upon a tract of land and engaged in farming pursuits until 1856. They then eame to Illinois and located in Bloomington, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the mother dying in Mareh, 1876, at the age of eighty- five years, and the father on the 29th of December, 1879, aged eighty-eight. The parental family in- eluded nine ehildren, six of whom were born in Germany, and five are now living: Henry is a resident of Danvers Township; George V. resides

in Montgomery County, Mo .; Frederiek C., of our sketch; Mary became the wife of Phillip Sehwaek- art, and lives in Brown County, Ohio; Lewis II. lives in Normal Township, this eounty.

Mr. Bohrer was but four years of age when his parents eame with their family to the United States. He grew to manhood in Ohio and assisted his father in tilling the soil. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage, which oeeurred on the 14th of February, 1853, his bride being Miss Anna M. Zeigler, a native of his own country, and who was born Nov. 21, 1832. Mrs. B. eame to the United States with her parents, Jacob and Louisa Zeigler, in 1851.

After their marriage our subjeet and his wife re- mained in Ohio until 1856, and then came to Illi- nois, aecompanied by the father of our subjeet and his family. They settled in MeLean County, where Frederick C. Bohrer purchased 209 aeres of land in Normal Township, on seetion 18. He improved and eultivated this until 1884, and then removed to his present homestead which embraees eighty- five aeres, located on seetion 19, in the meantime keeping possession of the other farm. His present possessions are the result of his own industry, and a wise investment of profits. He has never been a speeulator but has been willing to make his money. by downright hard and honest labor. His real estate is now valued at $100 per acre. His two farins are furnished with good dwellings and out- buildings and possess all the applianees for earry- ing on agriculture in a first-elass manner.

Of the union of our subjeet and his wife there were born five children: George; Louisa B., the wife of J. N. Hilton; Mary, the wife of J. E. Otto; Lewis F. and Jacob A., all residing in MeLean County. Mrs. Bohrer has been an excellent house- wife and mother, the sincere helper of her husband, and is a member in good standing of the Presby- terian Church.

Mr. Bohrer early in life was a staneh supporter of the Whig party, but upon the abandonment of the old by the formation of the new Republican party he cheerfully indorsed the principles of the latter, which he has labored to uphold sinee that time. Ile was always opposed to the idea of hu- man bondage, and during the old slavery day's,

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whenever opportunity occurred. assisted the fugi- tives along the underground railway and was the means of opening the way to freedom for many of the oppressed. He has thus made for himself a good record as a man and a eitizen and in his later days is enjoying the rewards of a well-spent life.

ENRY WEST CRUMBAUGH, general mer- ehant and grain dealer at Sabina. is a na- tive of this eounty, having been born in Empire Township, Feb. 6, 1851. His fa- ther, Montgomery Crumbaugh, a native of Bour- bon County, Ky., was born June 3, 1813, and his grandfather, Solomon Crumbaugh, was born in Frederiek County, Md. His great-grandfather was a native of Germany, and on emigrating to Ameriea, settled in Maryland, where he spent the last years of his life. Solomon Crumbaugh was an early settler in Bourbon County, Ky., where he reared his family and spent the last years of his life

The father of our subjeet was married, in his na- tive State, to Miss Mary A., daughter of Henry West, one of the pioneers of West Township, this county, and in whose honor the township was named. They resided in Kentucky until 1841, then came to Illinois, and Mr. Crumbangh entered a traet of land in what is now Empire Township, on seetions 31 and 32. There was a log house on the prairie, which he purchased, and into which he removed his family, where they lived for several years. Here the father spent the remainder of his days, tilling the soil and adding improvements from year to year. He lived to see the county finely developed and improved, and departed this life July 15, 1880. The mother had preceded him to the better land nearly nineteen years before. Of their nine ehildren the record is as follows: Mary J. became the wife of Michael Curtis, and lives in Tazewell County ; Martha died when three years of age; Margaret E. married A. J. Deffen- baugh, and is now deceased; Sarah L., Mrs. J. B. Savage, lives in Le Roy ; Henry W. is the next ehild; Louisa E. became the wife of Joseph Kraffs, and lives in Forest City, Dak .; Milton M. is a resi-

dent of Empire Township; Mattie E. married Enoch Broek, and lives in Bloomington ; Clarenee S. is farming in Empire Township.

Mr. Crumbaugh of this history attended the distriet schools, and assisted his father on the farmn, remaining with his parents until he was twenty-one years old. He then erossed the Mississippi, and spent two years in Iowa and Nebraska. After his return he loeated upon the farm, on seetion 21, West Township, which he now owns. He devoted his time exclusively to farming until 1885, and then engaged in the grain and eoal trade at Sabina, while at the same time he has superintended the operations of his farm. This consists of 140 aeres, all enelosed and improved, and with a fine streteh of pasture.

. Mr. Crumbaugh was united in marriage with Miss Permelia F. Ross, Oet. 22, 1874. Mrs. Crum- baugh was born in Empire Township, Oet. 22, 1858, being the daughter of Talmadge and Mar- garet Ross [see sketeh]. By her union with our subjeet she became the mother of six children, as follows: Talmadge Oleff, who was born Nov. 25, 1875, died Jan. 11, 1882; Chloe was born May 24, 1878; Montgomery, June 1, 1880; Pearl, May 27, 1884; two infants, twins, not named, were born July 6, 1886.

Mr. Crumbaugh politically, is an uneompromis- ing Demoerat, and has been a man of influence in his loeality. He was appointed Postmaster at Sa- bina, in Marelı, 1886.

ILLIAM D. JOHNSTON, a pioneer resi- dent of the Prairie State, is now a citizen of Lexington, where he is enjoying his later days retired from aetive labor. He was born near Mansfield, Riehland Co., Ohio, Jan. 5, 1816, on the farm of his father, Daniel Johnston, who was a prominent man in that vieinity and Justice of the Peace for many years.

The earlier record of the Johnston family, who were of English and Irish deseent, is as follows; James Johnston, the great-grandfather of our sub- jeet, was born in Ireland, Sept. 28, 1724, and mar- ried Jeannet Gaston, who was born June 11, 1731,

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their union taking place April 24, 1755. Their cldest son. William, was born in Elizabeth Town- ship, Monmouth Co., N. J., Feb. 16, 1756, and served as an officer in the Revolutionary War under the immediate command of Gen. George Washing- ton. At the close of the war he married Miss Sarah, daughter of Insley and Providence (Davidson) Douglas, of English ancestry, the latter born while her parents were on the voyage to this country. She was named Providence at the earnest request of the captain and crew, because the Divine hand was so manifest in saving the ship during a severe storm. She was married to Insey Douglas Dec. 17, 1761. The third son of the marriage of Will- iam and Sarah Johnston was Daniel. the father of our subject, born in New Jersey, and who when quite young removed with his parents to Allegheny County, Pa., and from there, in 1809, to Knox County, Ohio,. When the War of 1812 broke out, a block-house was built on his father's farm, to which the neighbors often repaired for safety. After serving in this war, and soon after its close, Daniel Johnston was married to Miss Rachel Scott, by whom he had six sons and three daughters, our subject being the eldest child.

Daniel Johnston spent his declining years in Richland County, Ohio, and died there in 1831. His children all grew to mature ycars, and estab- lished homes, with families of their own. William D., our subject, was the eldest son and passed his childhood and youth in his native county, receiv- ing a common-school education. After attaining his majority he turned his face to the farther West and coming into Ogle County, Ill., took up a squatter's claim. In the fall of 1838 he returned to Ohio, and was married in Richland County, to Miss Mary A. Griffith, who was horn there and lived with her parents until her marriage. Shortly after the wedding the young couple started for their new home which was located near Byron. When the land came into market our subject secured his claim of 160 acres and immediately began its improve- ment and cultivation, mecting with success. In due time he added to his cstate until he became the owner of 240 acres and employed himself in general farm- ing and stock-raising, continuing in Ogle County until 1856, when he removed with his family to

McLean County, settling near Selma, where he remained several years and thence removed to a farm of 240 acres two miles north. There his wife died in 1871, leaving three children, all daughters; Lucretia A .; Alice E., Mrs. George Clayton of Ogle County, and Mary E., who was married to David B. Ralston and is living on his father's farm near Lexington,

Mr. Johnston was the second time married, in September, 1873, to Mrs. S. R. Sloan of Pennsyl- vania. They located upon a farm near Lexington, remaining there until March, 1880, when they re- moved to a homestead of ten acres just outside the corporate limits. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are mem- bers in good standing of the Baptist Church, of which our subject has been Deacon for many years.

Mrs. Johnston by her forincr marriage, became the mother of five children, four now living, as fol- lows : Samuel Curtis, and Anna, Mrs. Magee, are in Pennsylvania; William T., a physician, is practicing in Elmwood, Ill .; Mary S. is the wife of E. Gabries, a druggist of Elmwood.

L EANDER BAKER, a prominent factor among the agricultural interests of West Township, owns and occupies a fine home- stead on section 7, where he is carrying on farming after the most approved methods and meeting with more than ordinary success. He is a native of this county, his birthplace being in Bloomington Town- ship, and the date thereof, March 19, 1842.

The grandfather of our subject, Dr. Isaac Baker, was one of the pioneers of McLean County, to which he emigrated at an carly day. He was born in Fair- field County, Conn., Sept. 13, 1873, and traced his ancestry back to the settlement of Plymouth colony, the first representative of his family in this country having come over in the Mayflower. Dr. Isaac Baker, when a young man, removed to Marietta, Ohio, and during the War of 1812, lived in the block-house at that place, where it was his duty a part of the time to watch from the tree-top for In- dians, while the inen werc at work in the field. He learned surveying in Ohio, at which he became quite skillful. In 1850 he went to New York and

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from there to Bath, Me., where he assisted in build- ing the first steam mill ereeted in that State. Seven years later, he set his face toward the great West and after arriving in Illinois, located in MeLean County, in 1827. He settled first at Harley's Grove, where he built a house, but shortly after- ward removed to Funk's Grove. In 1831 he as- sisted in surveying and laying out the city of Bloom- ington and was afterward chosen Clerk of the first County Commissioners' Court, which position he held for a period of fifteen years. He was one of the first Postmasters at Bloomington, having the office at his residence on South Center street. Dr. Baker remained a resident of that eity until about 1854, when he removed to Le Roy and died there, April 28, 1872. His wife was formerly Miss Su- sanna M. Dodge.

The father of our subjeet, Seth Baker, was born in Ohio, where he was reared and received a com- mon-school education, and when a young man emi- grated to Illinois with his parents, locating in Me- Lean County. Here he was married in 1840 to Miss Saralı Orendorf, who was born in Kentucky, and was the daughter of William Orendorf, a native of Georgia, familiarly known as one of the pioneers of this county. His father, Christopher Orendorf, removed from Georgia to Spartanburg, S. C., and from there to Tennessee, thenee to Kentucky, and in 1823 the whole family eame North and were among the very first to settle in this county. The Indians still lingered here and in faet claimed that they had never sold their original possessions, at the same time requesting the Orendorfs to leave. They staid however, and were not molested. He was visited by Indians and ordered to leave, but Mr. O. was firm and threatened to call Gen. White- sides to his aid. The Indians seemed to fear him, and by his strategy he put a hundred of them to flight. Christopher Orendorf was a man of sound judg- ment and very popular. In 1825 he was appointed Justice of the Peace by Gov. Coles, being first nominated by the House of Representatives and confirmed by the Senate. When the new Constitu- tion of Illinois, making his office elective, went into effect, Mr. O. was continued in his office, the cleetion being held at the house of his son William. The latter inherited genial qualities of his father,

was hospitable and generous and always ready to assist a friend or neighbor. Ile departed this life May 12, 1869, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, universally lamented.

After marriage the father of our subject located in the city of Bloomington. He had learned the trade of carpenter, was a good mechanie, and estab- lished a fanning-mill manufactory from whiel he turned the first machine of the kind in this county. After a time he laid down his carpenter tools and entering into partnership with his father, engaged as a dry-goods merchant in Bloomington. A few years later he disposed of his interest in the busi- ness and erossing the Mississippi, located in Wa- pello County, Iowa,-and onee more engaged in the manufacture of fanning-mills, remaining there until his death. He was three times married, his second wife being the mother of our subject and the latter the only child of this marriage. Mr. Baker has two half-sisters by a former marriage of his father, Mrs. Frank Packard and Mrs. Alonzo Sargent, both of Bloomington.

Mr. Baker of this history was but six years old at the time of his mother's death. He then went to live with his maternal grandfather. by whom he was reared and received a good cominon-school educa- tion. He remained with his grandfather until his marriage and then located on his unele's farm for one year. In December, 1864, he settled on a farm in West Township, which he now owns and oeeupies, and which he has greatly improved since it came into his possession. There was, originally, a small plank house and twelve aeres were broken when he settled here. He has now the whole under a good state of cultivation with a fine and con- venient farın residence and other good frame build- ings.

The marriage of Leander Baker and, Miss Mary Canouse took place at Blooming Grove, Nov. 26, 1863. Mrs. B. was born in Fayette County, Ohio, March 10, 1842. Her parents, Joseph and Katie (Turnipseed) Canouse, were natives of Pennsyl. vania and Ohio respectively. Mrs. B. was quite young when her mother died in Ohio, and in 1844, soon after this sad event, she came to McLean County with her father, who located in Lexington, and died there the following year. She then became

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an inmate of the home of Samuel Noggle, with whom she lived until her marriage. Of this union there have been two children, only one of whom is living, Effie Alice, who was born Jan. 23, 1865. Their only son, Eddie Alvin, was born April 18, 1867, and died Fcb. 1, 1880. The parents and daughter are members of the Christian Church and Mŕ. Baker is a reliable Democrat.

G EORGE H. STRINGFIELD, dealer in all kinds of groceries, shelf hardware, etc., is lo- cated on West Main street, Heyworth, where he has been successfully operating since January, 1884, being the successor of Ross, Miller & Co. He has dealt in farm implements for about two years in company with a partner, but since July, 1885, has been sole proprietor and very successful in his business transactions. In former years he engaged in general farming and dairying, and at the same time was connected with the public schools of McLean County for about eleven years. He has been one of the most intelligent and useful citizens of this locality, taking an active interest in its welfare and advancement.

Mr. Stringfield was born in Randolph Township, 'April 7, 1840, on his father's homestead, which was among the first laid out in this section. See sketch of Capt. A. M. Stringfield. George made his home with his parents until 1863, and in the meantime taught school two years and read law three ycars in the city of Bloomington. In 1864 he started across the plains in company with his wife and others, driving teams of oxen to Salt Lake City and thence by horse-teams-having sold their ox- team and bought horses-on to Sacramento County, Cal., where they halted and our subject began to teach school. A year later he purchased a tract of land, on which he began to farm and operate a dairy, at the same time having, by his straightfor- ward and courteous manners, established himself in the confidence and esteem of the people of that vicinity. He was appointed Constable and Deputy Sheriff, which offices were at that time quite valu- able. These he held for eight years and was absent from his native county nearly ten years in all. Re-

turning to this county on Thanksgiving Day, 1873, he purchased a farm of cighty acres lying on sec- tions 11 and 14 of Randolph Township, and at once began to farm, teaching during the winter. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits for three summers, but found he had undertaken too much, so he rested from his labors in the winter and attended to his farming in the summer seasons.

Mr. Stringfield was married in his native town- ship near his old home, March 15, 1863, to Miss Zipporah Wright, who was born in Kentucky, Sept. 1, 1846. She was the daughter of William T. and Amanda (Hooton) Wright, bothı natives of Kentucky, and her father engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mrs. S. was only three years of age when her parents came to the Prairie State. A few years later they settled in McLean County, and in about 1868 removed to Lec's Summit, Jackson Co., Mo., where they are now liviug .. 'Their daughter was carefully trained by lier excellent parents and is a lady greatly esteeincd in the community where she resides. She has been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church since-seventeen years of age and her husband since he was cight years old. They occupy a handsome residence on New- ton street, and our subject is the owner of con- siderable property in the town. In politics he is a reliable Democrat.

ERNANDO A. EYESTONE, Supervisor of Funk's Grove Township, has been a resi- dent of the Prairie State since 1865. He was then a young man, and came to this vicinity with his father's family. He was born in Wyan- dotte County, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1842, and is the son of Ezekiel and Lucretia (Babcock) Eyestone, both natives of Ohio. The grandfather of our subject, John Eyestone, was a native of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry.

Ezekiel Eyestone was a farmer and an extensive dealer in hogs and cattle, which he shipped to New York City. In 1865 he sold his property in Wyan- dotte County, Ohio, and removing to Illinois, pur- chased a half section of land in Mt. Hope Town- ship, this county. Here he industriously cultivated and improved his purchase and gathered around him

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all the comforts of life and many of its luxuries. He was twiee married. His first wife, the mother of our subject, died in Ohio in about 1848; his second wife, formerly Miss Susan Augustine, is still living on the old homestead. There were four children by the first marriage and six by the see- ond. Ezekiel Eyestone departed this life at his home in Mt. Hope Township in 1870.

Fernando A. Eyestone was the second child of his father's first marriage and spent the days of his childhood and youth under the parental roof after the manner of most farmers' boys. He was still at home upon the breaking out of the late Civil War, and in August, 1862, enlisted in Co. A, 123d Ohio Vol. Inf., serving in the Army of the Potomae and participating in many of the most important battles of that army. He was captured at Winchester and eonfined in the prisons of Belle Isle and Libby for two months. After being exchanged he went with Sheridan's army in the campaign of the Shenandoah Valley and was in the battle before Petersburg, where he was again captured and held a prisoner until the time of the surrender of Gen. Lee. Too great honor eannot be paid to these brave defend- ers of our country. The suffering in eamp, on the mareh, in prison, and on the bloody field endured by thein ean never be too highly appreciated by a grateful people.

At the elose of the war young Eyestone received his honorable discharge and returned to Ohio. He was there married, April 26, 1866, to Miss Minerva J. Ralston, who was born in Seneea County, that State, and was the daughter of Samuel and Eliza- beth Ralston. They remained in Ohio until Janu- ary, 1868, and then came to MeLean County, lo- cating on the farm of Mr. E.'s father, where they lived two years. Then our subject purchased eighty acres of his present homestead, to which he subsequently added, and has now 160 aeres, which is in a fine state of eultivation and supplied 'with a set of handsome and substantial farm buildings. This is located on section 6, and possesses many natural advantages to which Mr. Eyestone has added, and which have contributed to make it one of the most attractive homes in this section. A view of the place is given in this volume.

Mr. and Mrs. E. have no children. Our subject,

in politics, is strongly Republican. IIe has been Collector of the township for five years and is now serving the third term as Supervisor. Both lie and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and greatly respeeted among their neigh- bors and associates.

OSEPH DORLAND owns and occupies a comfortable homestead on seetion 21, where he is successfully carrying on the manufaet- ure of tile and lumber, turning out about 6,000 of the former per day, and of the latter 4,000 feet.

Mr. Doland put his sawmill in operation in 1882, and the same year began the manufacture of tile. He also, in connection with this, has a small black- smith-shop, and a storeroom stocked with commod- ities for the loeal trade. He ships both tile and lumber to different parts of the West, his trans- aetions in the latter especially being quite extensive. Ile came to MeLean County in 1868, and soon aft- erward purchased the property which he now holds. He at one time owned several hundred aeres of land, whiel he disposed of and turned the pro- eceds into his business here.

The subject of our sketch was born near Buey- rus, Crawford Co., Ohio, April 11, 1840. His fa- ther, Samuel Dorland, was a native of Ohio, a farmer by occupation, and served as a soldier in the Mexican War. In early manhood he was mar- ried, in Holmes County, Ohio, to Miss Jane Wilson, who was born in Pennsylvania, and became a resi- dent of the Buckeye State when a child six years of age. The father of our subjeet died in 1849, and the mother was afterward married to William Johnson, and they located in Hardin County, Ohio, where Mr. J. died in about 1866. She afterward came to Illinois, in 1868, and made her home with her son, our subjeet, until her death, which oc- curred Sept. 24, 1883.

The father of Joseph Dorland was a man of in- tegrity and energy, but departed this life before our subject learned much of his history or that of his aneestors. The mother was the daughter of John Wilson, who is believed to have been of Irish birth

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and parentage, but emigrated to America with his parents when quite young. There was also an in- termingling of Scottish blood in the family. John Wilson lived in Pennsylvania for many years, and was married there, removing later to Ohio, where he died at an advanced age in Hardin County. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and after- ward engaged in farming.

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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 132

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