Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 133

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 133

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The subject of this history was the younger of the only two children of his parents. His brother Garrett was born Oct. 11, 1838, was rearcd and ed- ucated in Harding County, and during the late war enlisted in the 4th Ohio Infantry, from which he was later transferred to the 33d. After having served eighteen months he died at Columbus, Ohio, from disease contracted in the army. During this time he was captured by the rebels in Virginia, and lay in Libby Prison for several months. Later he was paroled and taken to the hospital at Columbus, which he never left alive. His remains were taken to his old home and buried in the cem- etery there.

The early life of Joseph Dorland was spent on the farin and in attendance at the public schools. He was married in Hardin County, Ohio, Feb. 25, 1864, to Miss Phœbe Sophia Chamberlain, who was born in Logan County, that State, Feb. 20, 1840. Her parents were Reuben and Elizabeth (Hooper) Chamberlain, natives respectively of New Jersey and Ohio, the former being of New England an- cestry. He possessed a fine education, being a graduate at Marion, Ohio, where he afterward taught school the remainder of his life, his death occurring when he was only thirty years of age. The mother was subsequently married to Henry Wilcox, and they live on a farm in Hardin Coun- ty, Ohio.

There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. D. seven children, one of whom is deceased. The record is as follows: Jennie M. became the wife of Albert Brown, who is engineer in the mnill of his father-in- law, and they live with the parents; their two chil- dren are John Homer and Florence M .; Mary E. died at the age of seventeen years; Anna F., Will -. iam S., Charles W., Hugh H. and Maggie M. are at home.

During the late war Mr. Dorland enlisted in Co.

K, 180th Ohio Vol. Inf., and with his comrades participated in the battle of Kingston, N. C., and various other engagements, escaping unharmed and receiving his honorable discharge on the 23d of July, 1865. His first purchase of land in this county consisted of 160 acres. He now has 115 in the township, aside from the homestead, which em- braces forty acres. The family residence is a hand- some structure, convenient and commodious, and of modern style of architecture, and is shown by a view in this volume. The premises are neatly kept and in good order, and indicate the thrift and prosperity of the proprietor. Most of the members of the family are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject has served as Trustee and Road Commissioner, and in politics affiliates with the Democratic party.

ARRY P. HAZLE, a prosperous farmer of Mt. Hope Township, owns and occupies a comfortable homestead on section 1, and in the pursuit of his dairy business and farm- ing operations, is meeting with deserved success. Mr. Hazle is a worthy representative of his excel- lent German ancestry, and was born in Mechanics- burg, Ohio, Nov. 19, 1841. His father, James Heazle, also a native of Ohio, was born in Cham- paign County, March 4, 1828. His grandfather, Jacob Heazle, was a native of Pennsylvania, and his great-grandfather, William Heaźle, of German ancestry and parentage, was also born in the Key- stone State.

The grandfather of our subject, Jacob Heazle, emigrated from his native State, and became one of the early settlers of Champaign County, Ohio. He cleared a farm from the wilderness, and erected a brick house, which, when the township was laid off, was found to be in Goshen. There he remained until his death, having provided a comfortable home for his family, and building up for himself a good record as an honest man and a useful citizen.

James Heazle, the father of our subject, was reared on his father's farm in Ohio, and also was engaged in a flour and saw mill .. "The estate of his father consisted of 1,160 acres of land, and

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when James was married, his father removed to Mechaniesburg, and left the son in charge of the farm and mills, which he operated until 1851. He then emigrated West to Illinois, and purchased a farm near Bloomington, upon which he lived a few years, and then removed into the eity. In 1864 he purchased the St. Nicholas Hotel, which, after eighteen months, he traded for a farm in Mt. Hope Township. Ile removed upon the latter and fol- lowed farming for a few years, then rented it and returned to the eity, where he afterward lived a re- tired life until his death in 1880.

The maiden name of the mother of our subjeet was Martha J. Bay. She was a native of Cham- paign County, Ohio, and born Feb. 16, 1824. Her father, William Bay, was born in Pennsylvania, and her grandfather, David Bay, removed from Pennsylvania to Champaign County, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his days. William Bay afterward removed to Indianapolis, Ind., being among the early settlers of that loeality, and for many years engaged in the manufacture of brick. In 1843 he started with his family overland on a journey to Illinois. He located at Bloomington, and engaged in the manufacture of briek there, making that city his home until his decease. He was a man of deep piety, one of the earliest meni- bers of the Methodist denomination in that place, and earnestly devoted to Christian work. Ile often supplied the pulpit in the absence of a minister, and as an exhorter was widely and favorably known, being especially efficient in eondueting re- vivals. He was married, in his native State, to Miss Susanna Corbin, who was born in Maryland, accompanied her husband to Illinois and died in Bloomington. Of the three children born to James Ileazle and wife, only two are living: Elizabeth, the wife of B. V. Sharpe, of Mt. Hope Township, and our subjeet. 'The first born, William, died in infaney.

The subject of this history was but two years old when he came to Illinois with his parents. After becoming of suitable age, he attended the publie schools in Bloomington, and advaneed his education by an attendanee of one year at Wes- leyan University, and two years at Normal. He afterward entered the commercial college of Bry-

ant & Stratton, at Chicago, from which he grad- uated in 1871. He then formed a partnership with Charles R. Curtis, to engage in the elothing trade and merchant. tailoring, at Farmer City. With the design of going to Cineinnati to purchase goods, they boarded a railroad train, and while go- ing through Champaign County the ears were thrown from the traek, and our subjeet, in some unaeeountable manner, thrown from the ear. He was pieked up unconseious and remained so the greater part of the time for three weeks. This de- lay in perfeeting his business arrangements, in- duced him to abandon eommereial pursuits for the time, and he engaged in teaching sehool, pursuing this for twenty-seven terms. In 1876 he pur- chased a traet of land four miles south of Bloom- ington, upon which he lived until 1881, and then purchased 160 aeres of the homestead which he now owns and oeeupies.

Mr. Hazle was married, in September, 1875, to Miss Aliee L. Houghton, who was born in Bloom- ington Township, and is the daughter of Stephen and Aurilla Houghton [see sketeh in another part of this volume]. Of this union there have been born three children, two of whom are deceased; the living is a son-Stephen II. Our subjeet is Republican in polities, and socially is a member of Remembranee Lodge, I. O. O. F., Bloomington.

OSEPH P. SHELTON, one of the leading druggists of Heyworth, is located on East Main street, where he established business in December. 1883, and has sinee steadily in- ereased his stoek and his trade. He is a gentleman of great energy and superior business talent, and the prospeets are that he will continue as he has begun. Previous to his settlement in this place he was engaged for two years with the druggist, J. E. Espey, of Bloomington, where he gained a rich and valuable experience. He studied pharmaey when quite a youth, and his first experience in the busi- ness was as a elerk in Normal, where he was oeeu- pied for about three years. His business now ag- gregates a trade of about $7,000 annually. Mr. Shelton exercises the greatest eare in filling pre-

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scriptions, and has thus far eseaped blame and cen- sure on account of those accidents which now too frequently happen with druggists, and have often. been the cause of great suffering and frequently destruction of life.

Our subject is a native of the Prairie State, hav- ing been born in Washington County, Dee. 13, 1858. He was reared in Normal, to which his par- ents came when lie was a lad of eight years. Here he completed his primary education, but later at- tended the Commercial College at Quincy, and also tlie Gem City schools for a business education, pur- suing his studies in that direction for a period of four years. After perfecting himself as a business inan he took up the study of pharmacy and applied himself to this until he had mastered the most im- portant branchies. To this he scemed naturally adapted and finally resolved to choose it as his fu- ture calling.

Joseph P. Shelton and Miss Sarah Jamison werc united in marriage on the 8th of May, 1883, in Shelby County, Ill. Mrs. S. was born and reared in New York City, and came with her parents to Shelby County, 'in girlhood. Here she was ed- ucated in the publie schools and remained under the parental roof until hier marriage. Mr. and Mrs. S. are favorites in the society of Heyworth, and possessed of those social qualities which are so at- traetive and engaging among the sterner duties of life. Our subject is connected as Treasurer with Blue Lodge No. 251, of Hey worth, and is a mem- ber in good standing of the I. O. O. F. In polities lie is a reliable Democrat.

S HOWARD STEELE, an enterprising, suc- cessful and prominent yonng farmer of Bloomington Township, is fincly located on section 2, his birthplace, and his father's old homestead, and of whichi he is now the owner of eiglity-eight aeres. He is engaged in general farming and stoek-raising, and bids fair to become prominent among the business and industrial inter- ests of MeLean County.

The subject of our sketch was born May 2, 1857, upon the farm whiel his father established more

than forty years ago. The latter, James Steele by name, was a native of Pennsylvania, born, rearcd and married in Washington County. The maiden of his choice was Miss Harriet Jackman, a native of his own State and county, where they located and lived until after the birth of two children. They then emigrated to Illinois, and became resi- dents of MeLean County in 1855. Here James Steele purchased 264 acres of land, the present homestead, and industriously improved and culti- vated it until 1864, when he was called from his earthly labors, dying in the prime of life at the age of thirty-seven years. He was a man of great en- ergy, a hard worker, and very successful in his bus- incss and farming pursuits.

The parental household consisted of the follow- ing: William J. is married and is a elerk in the United States Express Office in Bloomington; Se- lena A. died in infancy; James W. died in this township in 1856; S. Howard, our subject, was the next in order of birth; an infant son following, died April 18, 1859; John R. died in 1868; Theo- dore J., born Dee. 21, 1862, was reared and edu- eated in this township, and now lives with his brother, our subjeet, on the farm, of which he also owns eighty-eight acres and likewise the family residence.

After the death of James Steele, Mrs. S. was married to Mr. George Hill, a farmer of Galva, Henry County, and the owner at that time of 320 acres of choice land. Of this union there were born three children-Marshall P., Hattie M. and Charles E. The mother died at her home in this township, from a stroke of paralysis, on the 8th of March, 1884. She and Mr. Hill with all the children except Hattie alid Charles, were members of the Second Presbyterian Church.

S. Howard Steele was united in marriage with Miss Cathrena L. Roth, at the residence of the bride's uncle in the city of Bloomington, May 2, 1882. Mrs. Steele was born in Victor, Ontario Co., N. Y., Oct. 8, 1855. Her parents are still living in the Empire State, on a small farm in Ba- tavia, her father being a cooper by trade. Mrs. Steele was reared at the home of her parents, and educated in the public schools of Vietor. In 1877 she came to Illinois and made her home with her

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unele in Bloomington, until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. S. have beeome the parents of one ehild, Harvey, who was born May 21, 1884. They have lived upon the homestead sinee their marriage. It is pleasantly located, and the inmates are in the enjoyment of all the eomforts of life, and many of its luxuries. The brothers work harmoniously to- gether, and in the breeding of stoek their aim is to exeel. They deal in eattle, Poland-China hogs and thoroughbred horses. The Steele boys are all Republiean in polities, and have inherited from their forefathers those principles of honor and hon- esty for which the family has been noted for gen- erations.

W ILLIAM COLAW, a large land-owner and sueeessful farmer of Downs Township, is finely located on seetion 1, where he is en- gaged in the breeding of Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs. His landed property consists of 840 aeres, 320 of which are on seetion 1, and 160 on seetion 2 in Downs Township, and the re- mainder is in Old Town Township. He has a fine residenee, a good barn and all necessary out-build- ings for the shelter of stoek and the storing of grain. The farm machinery, fenees and everything about the premises are kept in first-elass order, and the entire estate indieates the supervision of an intel- ligent business man, possessed of eultivated tastes and ample means.

The subject of this history was born near Mon- terey, Highland Co., Va., Jan. 30, 1813. His fa- ther, George Colaw, was a native of Pennsylvania, of substantial German aneestry, and removed from his native eounty to Virginia with his family when our subjeet was a lad of twelve years of age. There he followed his former oeeupation as a farmer, and spent the remainder of his days. George Colaw was reared to manhood in Highland County, Va., and was there married to Miss Elizabeth Wymer. This lady, it is supposed, was a native of the Old Dominion, but deseended from an old Pennsylva- nia family of German deseent. Her father served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and at the termination of this confliet located in the Old Do- minion and there passed the remainder of his life.

George Colaw and his wife settled upon a farm in Virginia and remained residents of Highland County until their deeease, which oceurred when they were well advaneed in years, the father reach- ing the age of eighty-nine. Of their family, which ineluded ten children, our subjeet was the second son and child, and three are deeeased.

William Colaw was reared in his native county, and remained with his parents until his first mar- riage, which oeeurred on the 20th of March, 1834, the lady of his ehoiee being Miss Sabina Gum. She was born and reared in the neighborhood of Monterey, removed West to Illinois with her hus- band, and died at the home of our subjeet, in Downs Township, Jan. 30, 1859. She became the mother of eight ehildren, five of whom are living and married-William, Amos, Benjamin W., Dyer W. and Martha Jane. Those deceased are Laban, Harmon and Ellen. Mr. Colaw was married the second time, in this township, May 16, 1860, to Miss Phebe Wood, who was also a native of Vir- ginia, born in Pendleton County. She eame to Illinois when a young woman, and by her marriage with our subjeet became the mother of three ehil- dren-Harvey, George, and Lueinda, deceased. Mrs. Colaw departed this life at the home of her husband in Downs Township, Sept. 28, 1858. Mr. Colaw was the third time married, in Bloomington, Dee. 22, 1872, to Miss Sarah A., daughter of James H. and Barbara (Slafor) Wilson, natives respeet- ively of Pennsylvania and Kentucky. They were of German aneestry, and the father was engaged in farming pursuits the greater part of his life. He was born and reared iu Pennsylvania but removed to Kentucky when a young man, where he was mar- ried. He afterward eame to Illinois and settled near Pekin, where Mrs. C. was born July 11, 1836.

When she was about two years of age the family removed to Lee County, Iowa, where the mother died in 1852, aged forty-eight years. The father afterward removed to Chambersburg, Clark Co., Mo., where his death occurred July 10, 1879, at. the age of eighty-two years, having been born March 19, 1797.

After the first marriage of Mr. Colaw, in Ken- tueky, he loeated upon a farmn, where he lived sev- eral years and then decided to try his fortunes on

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the prairie lands of Illinois. Coming iuto this county he purchased 240 aeres of land on section 1, Downs Township, to which he subsequently added as before stated. He has been remarkably successful in his farming and stock operations, and by his straightforward business methods and promptness in meeting his obligations has firmly established himself in the eoufidenee and esteem of his fellow-citizens. He is au active member and Trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a staneh supporter of the Demoeratie party.

S YLVESTER PEASLEY, one of the best informed men in McLcan County, has been a resident of Downs Township sinee a boy of thirteen years old, in 1836. His father at that time, who had settled near the grove, re- moved into Downs Township, and being a man of great enterprise and energy, soon made his mark in this vieinity as a business man and a eitizen. He was for some time styled " Lord of the Prairie," and did much toward encouraging its settlement by men of his own ambition and resolution. The history of the Peasley family has been quite an in- teresting one, its various members having been distinguished for the reliable and substantial traits of character handed down to them from their ex- cellent Scottish ancestry. The great-grandfather of our subjeet, who immigrated from Scotland prior to the Revolutionary War, spelled his name Paisley. He settled in North Carolina. and from hin deseended the Peasleys of the United States. It is believed from the meager history which has been preserved, that this sturdy old gentleman was an officer in the Revolutionary War on the side of the Colonists. To him there was born John Peas- ley, of whom our subject is the grandson. He was born and reared to manhood in North Carolina, and also fought in the Revolutionary War by the side of his father. In early manhood he was mar- ried to Miss Holt, whom it is supposed was born in North Carolina and of Scottish aneestry. They spent the greater part of their lives in Wilkes County, N. C., where John Peasley followed farm- ing. They reared a family of ten children, of

whom a son and daughter were twins. The name of the former was Isaac, who became the father of Sylvester Pcasley of this sketch.

Isaae Peasley started out early in life on his own account, and was employed by Gen. Lanor, of Wilkes County, as overscer of his plantation. Af- terward Isaae Peasley engaged in teaming and hauling cotton to the seaport. He operated in his native State and through the southern part of Vir- ginia, and met his wife iu Grayson County, the latter State. She was Miss Rachel Halsey, a native of New Jersey, of New England parentage and English ancestry. Her father, William Halsey, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. After his marriage, Isaac Peasley settled on a farm in Grayson County, Va., where four children were born, of whom Sylvester of our sketch was the cldest.

In 1836 the family left the Old Dominion for Illinois, making the journey overland with a four- horse team. After a journey of forty-one days, they arrived near the home of Mr. Dawson, in Old Town Township. Their intended destination was Putnam County, Ill., but after meeting Mr. D., who gave them glowing accounts of the prospects in this seetion, he resolved to remain here, at least until spring. In the meantime he visited Putnam County, but failing to find a satisfactory location, concluded to settle in Downs Township. He pur- chased a tract of wild land, and immediately began its improvement and eultivation. Here he estab- lished a comfortable home, upon which he remained until his death, in 1851. The mother survived only until the following year. Both were earnest members of the Regular Baptist Church. Isaac Peasley, although a native of the South, was en- tirely opposed to human bondage, and left that section of the country on account of his opposition to slavery. Aside from this he was a stanch sup- porter of the principles of the Democratic party.

Sylvester Peasley remained under the home roof until his marriage, which occurred in Randolph Township, this county, in November, 1842. The lady of his choiee was Miss Mary Stillman, who was born and reared in Morris County, N. J., and of New England parentage. She came West with her parents when a young woman. Her father was

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a farmer of Randolph Township, being among its earliest pioneers. The parents there spent the re- inainder of their days, and were greatly respceted by all who knew them for their excellent traits of character, as citizens, friends and neighbors.

Of Mrs. Peasley's union with our subject there was born quite a family of children, and the mother departed this life at her home in Downs Township in 1854. The children, one of whom is deceased, were Granville; Isaae, Susan R., John C., Bissell, deceased. and Esther C. The living are all married.

The second marriage of Mr. Peasley occurred in Downs Township, April 6, 1864, when he was united with Mrs. Susan T. (Barclay) Crosby. This lady was born in Mason County, Ky., June 7, 1822, and is the daughter of Stephen and Naney (Down- ing) Barclay, natives respectively of Kentucky and Ohio. They were of Scottish deseent, and farmers by oceupation. The mother died in Mason Conn- ty, Ky., when her danghter, Susan P., was a young girl twelve years of age. Later the father moved to Lebanon, Ind., where he died in about 1855. He was an honest man and a good citizen, and politically affiliated with the Democratie party. Mrs. Peasley was the eldest of six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom only one son and Mrs. P. are now living. The latter was first married to Andrew J. Crosby, in Mason County, Ky. He was a native of that county and died there in 1849, leaving his wife and four children- William A., Nancy J., Harriett E. and James M. Of the present union there has been born one ehild, a daughter, Sarah E.

The homestead of Mr. Peasley ineludes 265 aeres of land supplied with a fine set of frame buildings erccted after a modern style of architect- ure. When Mr. P. took possession of his land it was scarcely removed from its original condition. He turned the first furrow and set the posts for the first fenee ever built upon it. He has taken pride in its adornment, and besides abundant fruit trees, has planted around the house fine shade and orna- mental trees.

For his first labor on a farm he received $6 per month, but from these small earnings he managed to save enough to set him upon his feet, and fur-

nish him a good start in life. His energy and industry, and straightforward manner of doing business, in a short time secured for him the esteem and confidence of his fellow-eitizens, and he was aecorded an honored place among their councils and deliberations while yet the township was new. He was the first Supervisor, which offiee he has held for many years. He was Postmaster of Downs post-office for a period of twelve years, and in the year 1875 assisted in the organization of the County Fire Insurance Company, of which he was first President and has held the offiec sinee that time. He is also President of the Agrienltural So- ciety of McLcan County. He is a member in good standing of the Baptist Church, and was ordained a Christian minister by the Baptist Church in 1843, at Lytleville, this county, and continued aetively until about 1853, when he was obliged to abandon speaking on account of sore throat, but is called tc officiate at funerals by his numerous friends of this vieinity. At one time he was pastor of five eliurches, and traveled all over the State. Mrs. P. is connected with the Christian Church.

W ILLIAM T. BRADBURY, Supervisor of Belleflower Township, has been a resi- dent of the Prairie State since 1860, and has witnessed with deep interest the remarkable changes which have occurred during a period of over twenty-five years. He was born in Clermont County, Ohio, Jnue 26, 1830. His father, John E. Bradbury, and his grandfather, Benjamin Bradbury, were natives of Maine and descended from excellent English ancestry. Benjamin Bradbury emigrated from his native Staté to Ohio previous to 1830, be- eoming one of the early settlers of Clermont Coun- ty. In 1834, he proceeded still further Westward, to Illinois, and spent two years in that part of Mor- gan which is now included in Scott County. Thenee he went to Pike County, where he pur- chased a tract of wild land, improved a farm and remained there until one year before his death, which occurred at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Hill, about 1859.

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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 133

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