Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 134

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 134

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John E. Bradbury, the father of our subjeet, was

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rearcd in his native State and came West with his parents to Ohio. He was there inarricd and re- maincd in that State until 1836, then joined his father in Pike County, Ill. Soon afterward he was taken fatally ill and died in August of that same year. The mother of our subject, formerly Miss Maria Thomas. is supposed to have been born in Clermont County, Ohio, where she was married to John E. Bradbury. After the death of her first husband she became the wife of William McMahon, in 1840, and spent the last years of her life in Pike County, Ill. There were three children by the first marriage: William T., our subject; James W., de- ceased, and Ruth A., second in order of birth, who married C. B. Mock and lives at Lebanon, Ind.

William 'T. Bradbury was bnt six years of age when his father died. After that sad event he went to live with an uncle until his mother removed to Indiana. He then lived with her three years and afterward with different parties in Marion County, Ind. He received a fair cducation in the early schools of that day, which were carried on in a log cabin. He commenced teaching when seventeen years old and after two and one-half years thus oc- cupied engaged in mercantile business in Putnam County, Ind. This venture proved to be unsuc- cessful and he rented a tract of land in Boonc County, that State, upon which he remained until 1860, then came to McLean County, and operated upon rented land for nine years following. He afterward purchased eighty acres, partially im- . proved, which he sold one year later and purchased the same amount in Bellcflower Township, on sec- tion 17. To this he has added from time to time until he has now a half section, all improved, with a finc stretch of of pasture land, and here he raises grain and gives much attention to graded stock. Of late years he has been very successful in his farming and business transactions and is now one of the representative and popular citizens of his township.

Mr. Bradbury was married in Jamestown, Ind., April 4, 1852, to Miss T. E. Gibson, who was born in Boone County, Ind., and was the daughter of Jolın and Elizabeth (Hopper) Gibson. Of this union there were born ninc children, six now liv- ing : John E .; Edgar S. and Edward S., the latter

twins, arc at home with their parents; Myrtle M. married W. D. Barnhart and lives in North Loup, Neb .; Thomas W. and James are at home; Louisa, the second child, died when eighteen months old; Hattie E., the third, became the wife of N. B. Car- son, and died in Belleflower Township in May, 1886, aged twenty-nine ycars.

The homestead of our subject forms one of tlic most attractive spots in the landscape of Belle- flower Township. The parents and children arc surrounded by all the comforts and many of the ' luxuries of life and are held in high esteem by all who know them on account of their high principles and excellent character. Mr. B. is Republican in politics and has held the offices of School Treasurer and Collector for a period of seventeen years. He is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been Steward for seven years. He has been Supervisor of Belle- flower Township for four years.

RANK H. BLOSE, the " Village Black- smith " of Delana, is a native of the Buck- eye State, born near the village of Ridge- ville, in Warren County, May 16, 1860. It will thus be seen that he is a young man, and is pos- sesscd of that energy which indicates that he will make his mark in a world increasing in enterprise and ambition. The father of our subject, John W. Blose, of Virginia, was the son of Adam Blose, a native of Germany, who emigrated to the United States with his parents when but an infant. They settled in Virginia, whencc Adam Blosc removed after he had attained his majority to Ohio, in 1836. The removal from the Old Dominion was made with wagons, after the fashion of the emigrants of those days. There the grandfather of our subject purchased a farm near Springboro, Warren County, and remained a resident until his death, which occurred in about 1884.

John W. Blose, the father of our subject, was but four years old when his parents made the re- moval from Virginia to Ohio. Hc remained on liis father's farm and made his home with his parents until his marriage. He then purchased a farm near

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Ridgeville, and was there engaged in farming. until 1878. Selling out he removed to Springboro, where he now lives in ease and comfort, retired from aetive labor. He was married in early man- hood to Miss Jacqueline M. Hayner, who was born in Virginia, and was the daughter of John Hayner, who was of German aneestry and parentage. The father of Mrs. B. spent the last years of his life in Ohio. The family of John W. Blose ineluded two children. of whom onr subjeet was the elder. The only daughter, Jennie, became the wife of Charles W. Smith, and lives near Springboro, Ohio.

Frank H. Blose remained on his father's farm until he was seventeen years old, and was variously employed for the following two years. He then eommeneed to learn the blacksmith's trade at Spring- ' boro, at which he remained two years and six months; when he started for Illinois, arriving in this county on the 27th of October, 1881. 'He worked at his trade as a journeyman three months, then purchased the shop and tools of his employer, Mr. Snook, and has sinee carried on business for himself. IIis courteous demeanor toward his pat- rons and his upright business methods have seeured for him the confidenee and respect of his eom- munity.

Mr. Blose was united in marriage with Miss Ora B. Batson, on the 5th of April, 1883. Mrs. B. was born near Kokomo, Howard Co., Ind., and is the daughter of Alexander and May C. (Babbit) Bat- son, of Kokomo. Of this union there have been born two children, Gertrude and Anna M.

AMES B. WILLIAMS, engaged in general farming and stoek-raising in Lexington Township, on seetion 26, owns and oeenpies a comfortable homestead, where he is lead- ing the life of a law-abiding and 'worthy eitizen, and contributing his share toward the development and prosperity of this seetion.

Mr. Williams was born in Coshoeton County, Ohio, near its eounty seat of the same name, on the headwaters of the Muskingum River, Mareh 13, 1831. Ifis father, also James B. Williams, was born in Pennsylvania, whenee he removed to Ohio,

and at the age of seventeen enlisted as a soldier in the War of 1812. When this conflict was ended he returned to Ohio and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was also an expert bee hunter, and gathered seores of pounds of sweets where another man would not suspeet their existence. He was also engaged in boating on the Muskingum, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and transported flour, bacon and potatoes from one point to another, and invest- ed the money thus made in lands, of which he be- eame the proprietor to a large extent. After at- taining to years of inanhood he was married to Miss Naney Ballentine, who was born in Muskin- gum County, Ohio, and who was the daughter of Hugh Ballentine, of Irish parentage and aneestry. After marriage he loeated in Coshoeton County, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his life. The mother, later, removed to MeLean County with her children, and died in 1878. The parental family included five sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to maturity, with only one now de- eeased. Rebeeea married John Cumbeeker; Mary beeame Mrs. John Bechtel, and both are deeeased; Richard B. is a resident of Washington Territory, and the subject of our sketeh was the fourth ehild; Perry is in Dakota, and Alexander in . this eouuty, near Potosi; Catharine married John Hamilton, of this eounty, and Naney became the wife of C. Kilsey; John is in Muskingum County, Ohio.

James B. Williams passed his boyhood and youth in the State of his birth, and when twenty-two years of age took a trip to California in search of gold. He went into the mines and worked four years, beiug fairly successful in his labors. He then returned to Ohio, and in April, 1855, was married to Miss Julia Powelson, of Coshoeton County, where she was born June 18, 1838. Mrs. W. was the daughter of Conrad and Lueinda (IIoney) Powelson, of Virginia, and both parents are still living in Ohio. After marriage our sub- ject and his wife eame West to MeLean County, and settled in Lawndale Township. after which he removed to his present farm in Lexington. The homestead comprises eighty aeres of ehoiee land under a good state of eultivation, well stocked with grades of the domestie animals. He has a com- fortable and convenient residence, and other nee-

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essary out-buildings, and realizes a handsome in- come from the rearing and feeding of hogs, num- ber's of which he ships to market every winter.

Mr. Williams was a musician during the progress of the Mexican War, and while yet a resident of Ohio, he assisted in raising volunteers for that war. During the late Civil War he served in the same eapaeity, as musieian, in assisting to raise volun- tecrs. IIis serviees consisted in playing the drum at the musters which took place preparatory to se- curing volunteers.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Williams ineluded one daughter, Olive, now the wife of Dr. H. W. Lang- staff, of Colfax. Living with our subject and his wife are two grandehildren, James Hartsel and Henry Wellington. Mr. and Mrs. W. are promi- nently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which our subject has served as local preacher for many years. In politics he is a Re- publican.

E LIJAH ELLSWORTH. The subject of the following sketeh, who is now one of the most successful farmers of Cheney's Grove Township, was born in Clarke County, Ohio, Dec. 15, 1815. He continued a resident of his native State until the spring of 1856, when he sought the great West with the view of establishing a perma- nent home. No State pleased hiin hetter than Illi- nois and no county better than MeLean. He ¿aceordingly located here and has been an honored and valued resident since that time.

The parents of our suhjeet were Jaeob and Rachel (Bibbe) Ellsworth, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Delaware. Jacob Ells- worth was born in 1775, followed the oeeupation of a fariner all his life and lived to an advanced age. His last years were spent in Clarke County, Ohio, where he departed this life in 1873. He was pos- sessed of an active and energetie disposition, was a great hunter, and in religious belief adhered to the doctrines of the Methodist Church. The mother of our subjeet was born in 1771, and departed this life at her home in Clarke County, Ohio, in 1855, having lived worthily and adorned her profession as a Christian and a member of the Methodist

Episcopal Church. Of their eleven children the record is as follows: Naney married Rev. William Kurl, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Churchi, and hoth are now deeeascd; John married Miss Susan Runyan and is deeeased; Susanna, who be- came the wife of Jesse Evans, dicd in Clarke County, Ohio, in 1886; Abraham died at his home in Ohio when twenty-one years of age; Hannah be- came the wife of Joseph Wilkinson, and also dicd in Clarke County; Jaeoh married Miss Sarah Run- yan ; William married Miss Lydia Whiteomb ; Betsey married Martin Spines and lives in Iowa.

The subject of this history remained under the home roof until his marriage, which occurred June 18, 1836, the maiden of his choiee being Miss Ellen Powell. She was horn in Harrison County, W. Va., June 18, 1818, and died at the home of her husband in this township, Nov. 15, 1884. She was a most worthy and excellent Christian lady, a con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and greatly respected hy all who knew her. Their four children are recorded as follows: Walter was born Sept. 6, 1838, and is living at home with his father; Charlotte became the wife of George Corn- well and hoth she and her husband died of consump- tion; they had no children; Hamilton P. married Miss Martha A. Cunningham in August, 1865. This lady was the daughter of Samuel B. and Lu- einda (Hamilton) Cunningham. They heeame the parents of five children-Mary E., Laura A., Char- lotte I., Levi H., now deceased, and Charles W.

Hamilton Ellsworth is an extensive grain huyer, operating at switch D on the line of the L. E. & W. R. R. in Ford County, Ill. The first year hc sent off 165 ears loaded with grain and the next year 200 cars. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, belongs to the I. O. O. F. and is Republican in politics. During the late war he enlisted in Co. B, the 107th Ill. Vol. Inf., with which he served three years and was in several general engagements. He suffered much from ill- ness in the army, hut hy a great effort kept at his post and received his honorahle discharge at the close of the war, heing mustercd out in Virginia. May 22, 1865. The next youngest son of our sub- jeet was Duncan, also in the army three years, and who married Miss Elizabeth Pefly. They have

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seven children-Rose L., Mary Lney, one de- eeased, Elmer E., Timothy, Rolla and Maude S. Walker Ellsworth is a member of the A. F. & A. M. at Saybrook. Mr. Ellsworth politieally affiliates with the Demoeratie party. He is a straightfor- ward, eonseientious business man and eitizen, and enjoys the confidenee and esteem of a large eirele of friends and acquaintances.

R OBERT HARRIS BAKER, of Funk's Grove Township, was born near MeConnelsville, Morgan Co., Ohio, Sept. 7, 1829. His father, James Baker, was also born in that State, and his paternal grandfather, Samuel Baker, was a native of New England, and of English an- eestry. The grandfather was an early settler in Ohio, and lived there, until about 1832, when he eame to Illinois and located in De Witt County on a farm, and was a pioneer there. He improved his farm in that county, and there lived until his deatlı, which took place June 21, 1852.

The father of our subjeet grew to manhood in Ohio. He was married there, and remained a resi- dent of that State until 1834. In the fall of that year, accompanied hy his wife and seven ehildren, he started for Illinois overland with a team of horses and a wagon. They camped and cooked their frugal meal by the wayside and terminated their journey at Bloomington after ahout sixteen days' travel. That eity was then hut a hamlet, and Mr. Baker being a cooper hy trade and handy with tools, worked at lathing and shingling. In 1837 he entered forty aeres of land on section 11, Funk's Grove Township, and ereeted a log cabin thereon. Moving his family on the place he began its im- provement, and as he could obtain means to do so he entered other land adjoining his until he was the owner of 160 aeres. His nearest market for grain and provisions for many years was Pekin, Ill., about fifty miles distant, and which required three days to make the trip. Salt was one of the dearest commodities and at that time eost $8 per barrel at Pekin. Mr. Baker continued a resident

of this eounty for many years, thoroughly identi- fied with its growth and development, and then returning to Ohio spent the latter years of his life in Morgan County. He was three times inarried. His first wife, Sarah Alden, died in Ohio, leaving two children. The second wife, Christiana Roh- erts, was the mother of the subject of this notice. She was horn near Philadelphia, Pa., and was first married to Robert H. Stanherry. She died in Funk's Grove Township, after having horne her husband three children. The third wife of James Baker was the widow of Joseph Roherts.

Our subjeet was the eldest ehild of his father's second marriage, and was five years of age when his parents eame to Illinois. He remembers dis- tinetly the overland journey that was made to this State, the swollen streams that were erossed, and the numerous times they were compelled to unload their goods to extrieate their wagon from the mud. Attaining a suitable age he assisted his father on the farm, and heing the oldest son did most of the marketing at Pekin. He continued to live at home until his marriage, and then hought forty aeres of wild land on seetion 11, Funk's Grove Township. He had worked hard and eeonomized, had saved $50 to pay for his land, and besides this was the possessor of a horse and considered himself exceed- ingly fortunate. With this eapital he hegan life and soon had a little frame dwelling, 16x18, erected on his land, which served him as a home for quite a time. He is now the proprietor of an estate com- prising 420 aeres of improved land, with the ex- * eeption of forty aeres which is in timber.

Mr. Baker was married Nov. 13, 1851, to Mary Taylor. She was born in Perry County, Ohio, Jan. 12, 1832. Her father, Joseph Taylor, was a native of Virginia, and his father, Thomas Taylor, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and fought at the hattle of Bunker Hill and died in Virginia. Joseph Taylor went to Ohio when seventeen years of age. He was married to Eletha Gardener, a na- tive of Maryland, and they lived in Perry County, Ohio, until 1837, and then eame to this State with a team of horses and a wagon, and located in De Witt County. Mr. Taylor hought land there and improved a farm, and there lived until the spring of 1850, when he made an overland trip to Cali-

Lite

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fornia. He died in that State in September of that same year, and his widow passed the latter years of her life on the old homestead in De Witt County.

Mr. and Mrs. Baker are the parents of five ehil- dren. Joseph P. lives on the old homestead; El- mira; Christiana; Letha, wife of James Seott, is a resident of Funk's Grove Township, and Kittie is the wife of Osear Samuels, and they are living in De Witt County. The deceased are Alice, who married Martin Hammill, and died Sept. 28, 1877; Almeda, who beeame the wife of William William- son, and died on the old homestead April 20, 1885. In' religion, Mr. and Mrs. Baker hold fellowship with the Christian Church, and in polities he is a staneh Republiean.

M ARIE EUGENIA VON ELSNER, whose professional cognomen was Mademoiselle Litta, was born June 1, 1856, in Blooming- ton. Her father, Prof. Hugo Von Elsner, was of noble German birth and highly educated. He was a civil engineer. From Freeport, Ill., he eame to Bloomington and engaged in teaching musie. To her father Litta owed her musical genius and also the rigid early training which proved the foundation stone of her lyrie studies and insured her later suecess. Prof. Von Elsner died a short time before his daughter beeame famous.

The mother of Litta was Amanda, daughter of William Dimmitt, one of the first settlers of Bloom- ington, and was married to Prof. Von Elsner in 1855. She was a devoted mother. Litta in return was greatly attached to her home and her parents. Her musieal education began out of a little cireum- stanee which oeeurred when she was but four years. old. In attending a Methodist Church with her parents she joined with the worshipers in singing a familiar old hymn, which probably the ehild had never before heard, taking it up at the second verse and going through with it correctly, attraeting the attention of all who heard her. A few weeks after- ward, after careful training by her father, she sang the "Last Rose of Summer" before a gathering

of soldiers at Springfield. She soon afterward be- eame known as the "Child Wonder" and her studies were pursued regularly. At the age of ten and after she probably earned more than $2,000 annually. When twelve years old she sang before President Grant, and was afterward engaged in various coneerts under the management of her father, in which the peculiar exeellenee and purity of her voiee attracted universal attention. In due time she entered the family of Prof. John Under- ner, the leading voeal teacher of Cleveland, Ohio, and under his instruetion and that of a private tutor, an Italian, beeame highly aeeomplished in her art. She was ambitious to excel and pursued her studies with unremitting industry, her voiee developing marvelous progress each year. Prof. Un'derner saw that she was to become an operatie leader and that she had reached that stage where the training of the great conservatories of Europe was needed to give her the advantages which she deserved. Aeeordingly, in 1874 she left Ameriea and entered upon her studies in the eities of the Old World. In London she sang before the ven- erable Sir Julius Benedict, who had been the teacher of Jenny Lind, and whose opinion of her voice was highly flattering. Litta, during her studies in Paris, fully justified the hopes of her friends and went through with an immense amount of labor during the following year. Her voealization was declared simply perfeet. She was engaged by Mr. Mapleson for the London season, who would gladly have retained her had his finaneial condition made it possible. His friendship and recommendation, however, secured her advantages perhaps which he eould not have personally given. She studied dramatic training and vocalization under Madame LaGrange, the leading teacher of the age, and in due time reached the zenith of the musical art and was able to ehallenge the most competent eritie, sing to the most eaptious manager, and appear be- fore the exacting though generous Parisian publie.

About this time Litta made the aequaintanee of the Countess De Troubiand, a wealthy and kind- hearted lady who greatly interested herself in the fortunes of the young artiste and opened her 'ele- gant home for musical soirees for Marie's especial benefit, introdueing her to erities and influential

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operatic managers. Following this Mon. Escudier, manager of the Grand Opera House of Paris, was induced to give Maric an engagement, her first ap- pearance being in Lucia di Lammermoor, in which she sang for the first time under the name of Marie Litta. Of this appearance Miss Kate Field wrote with great enthusiasm concerning her success and the ovation which was rendered the young Ameri- can prima donna. In this letter she states that la- dies stood up in their boxes and burst their gloves clapping. Bonquets were showered upon the stage and thundering calls brought the singer before the curtain many times. From this severe test Litta came out fully triumphant and with her reputation established as one of the first artists of the age. Litta was deeply attached to her family name and the circumstances which led to her adopting the stage name of "Litta " are as follows: The feel- ing engendered by the Franco-Prussian War had not died out when Marie made her debut in Paris. in 1878. It was thus a perilous time on account of her German origin. Her manager and friends happily thought of " Litta," a noble Italian family namc, which Marie adopted to oblige them, and it proved a fine stroke of policy. The next morning Count Litta called upon her and thanked her for honoring his family name by adopting it.

The success of Litta in Paris was followed by similar success at Vienna and other important cit- ies. Her first appearance in America was made in her native city and was attended by one of the largest audiences ever gathered there. She was then under engagement with Max Strakosch, and she afterward sang in all the great cities of the United States and Canada, closing at San Francisco, Cal., where she received probably the greatest ova- tion of any singer who had appeared on the Pacific slope. She was with Mr. Strakosch several seasons and then, concluding to abandon the opera for a time, in 1880 accepted an engagement with Mr. Henry L. Slayton, of Chicago, under whose man- agement she had a company of her own, which was known as the Litta Concert Company.

Litta sang her last song at Escanaba, Mich., in May, 1883. She was there taken ill and compelled to return to Bloomington, where after a long sea- son of painful suffering she dicd, July 7, 1883.

The news of her death was quickly telegraphed to points all over the world, and in her native city, which had witnessed her studies and her triumphs, the sorrow was widespread and universal. Long before the hour appointed for the funeral people flocked from all directions by thousands. The serv- iccs were conducted from the First Methodist Church, and the pastor, Rev. F. C. Iglehart, in the course of his eloquent sermon said: " It was the custom of Litta to go to the groves to hear the birds sing. Her soul of mnclody sought melody everywhere. She took lessons and the feathered songsters were her teachers. The beauty of the absolute came through the chorus of the trees to her beautiful soul. You who heard her sing, did not know why it was that she sang so much like a bird. It was because she was with the birds so much and learned of them so well. It may be she heard the singing in the distant palin groves and went to listen to it and mingle in it. According to an Indian custom I take a bird out of the cage and cover it with the kisses of the family, with the kisses of this whole city, with your earesses, and send it out to the spirit that has flown to bear to her our love."

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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 134

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