Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 136

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 136

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Drybrcad was married, in August, 1847, to Miss Mary Lowery, who is a native of the same county as her husband, and the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Lowery, who were among the early pioneers of Bartholomew County, Ind. Of this union there are nine children, the record of whom is as follows: Nancy, Mrs. Watson, lives in Farmer City; Sarah, Mrs. Latimer, lives in Santa Anna Township, De Witt County; Rebecca, Mrs. Welsh, is residing in Rock County, Minn .; Henry lives at home; Ollie, Mrs. Mitchell, is a resident of De Witt County; Lucy is married and lives in West Township; Annis, Jessie and Clarence are at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. D. are members in good standing of the Christian Church, and our subject in all the relations of life has dis-

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tinguished himself as a worthy citizen, neighhor and friend, one who is always willing to contribute his share toward the building up of his eounty and community. He has heen one of the important factors in the agricultural interests of this seetion, and is universally respected wherever known.

C HARLES DE GARMO, Ph. D., Chair of Modern Languages, Illinois State Normal University, is one of the highly estecmed professors in this institution, who has inany warm friends in this vicinity both on account of his in- tellectual attainments and his excellent personal traits of character. Prof. De Garmo was horn in Waukesha County, Wis., on the 7th of Jannary, 1849, and is the son of Rufus and Laura (Wilhur) De Garino, natives of New York State. They came with their family to Illinois in 1851, locating in Sterling, whencc they removed ten years later to St. Clair County. Rufus De Garmo was Quarter- Master Sergeant of the 149th Illinois Regiment, and after the war the family made their home in Shelby Connty, this State. The mother of our suhjeet died in Wiseonsin, and the father, who was married a second time, now resides in Kansas.

The subject of this brief history pursued his primary studies in the distriet school and passed his early life on his father's farm. At the age of sixteen years the Civil War heing then in progress, he enlisted in Co. I, 149th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served as a private, with his father, until the regiment was mustered out. He then joined the family in Shelby Connty and followed farming until 1870, when he began a course of study in the institution with which he is now connected, and from which he graduated in 1873.

In Deeemher, 1875, Mr. De Garmo was married to Miss Ida Witbeck, of Belvidere, Ill., who was born in the State of New York and completed her studies in the Illinois State Normal University. After marriage Prof. De Garmo hecame Assistant Training Teacher of the above named institution, and held that position until 1883, when he re- signed and with his family went to Germany, where he attended the University of Jena one year,

and the University of Halle for two years. From this last institution he received the degree of Pli. D. He returned to the United States in August, 1886, and was afterward appointed to his present position. So great was his desire to perfeet him- self in his intellectual attainments that he staked the whole of his worldly possessions, mortgaged his property and resigned a good position to enter upon his studies in the Old World. He has been a frequent contributor to educational journals and is the author of " De Garmo's Language Work below the High Schools," and has gratuitously given his time to condueting Teachers' Institutes during the summer vacations, in different counties. 1

Onr subject and his amiahle and accomplished lady hecame the parents of three children: Walter C., who was born in 1876; Mahel L., born in 1880, died in Halle, Germany, in 1884; Rohert Max was born in 1885, in Halle, Germany.

OHN NICCOLLS. Few of the old pioneers of this seetion will he held in more grate- ful or pleasant rememhranee than the above- named gentleman. He came here at an early day and experienced with scores of others, the hardships and privations eommon to the open- ing up of a tract of unimproved country, and was largely instrumental in contributing to the early and rapid settlement of McLean Connty, turning the attention of many to this section who, hut for his earnest efforts, would prohahly have located elsewhere. He was the faithful friend and en- courager of those who were limited in means, and hy his own example induced them to overcome many difficulties and to pave the way for a more prosperous future.

John Niceolls is a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., and was born on the 23d of April, 1810. His parents, John and Jane (Hurst) Nie- colls, were natives of the same county and State and of Seotch-Irish parentage. Of their family of six children, all lived to attain their majority and three still survive, viz., Dr. Robert Niecolls, of Bloomington; Rebecca, the wife of Elza Paull, and our subjeet, who is the eldest of those living. He

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is now seventy-six years of age and during his long life has never smoked a cigar or taken a chew of tobacco, and never took any whisky except as medicine.

The childhood and youth of Mr. Niccolls were passed upon his father's farm. His education was somewhat limited, for as soon as his age and size would permit he was required to assist his father in his store and in various other duties. At the age of seventeen, under the instruction of his father, he purchased live-stock in Western Pennsyl- vania and Ohio, which he drove through to the Philadelphia market and there disposed of it at a reasonable profit. Three years later this parent died, and our subjeet received $1,300 as his share of the estate, and continued his live-stoek transactions as before.

In 1846 John Niceolls removed from his native State to Harrison County, Ohio, where he continued his operations in live-stock and engaged in agricult- ural pursuits. He made his first visit to Illinois in 1850, and purchased 15,000 aeres of land in Mc- Lean County. The following year he removed to the county and located near the city of Blooming- ton. The first year he was in the Prairie State he purchased 2,200 head of cattle and as this was be- fore the era of railroads he drove the cattle to Eastern Pennsylvania to market. For many years thereafter he continued to handle from 2,000 to 3,000 head annually, with continued prosperity. In the meantime he also inereased his real-estate interests by entering land in Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas, in each of which he secured a large aereage. At one time, for a period of ten years, he engaged in mercantile pursuits in which he was successful as in all his other undertakings. In 1870, had he so chosen, he could have retired with at least a half million of dollars.

At this period, however, he invested largely in Short-horn eattle at high prices and then com- meneed to lose. The hard times of 1873 caused a great decline in real estate, and this, with other inisfortunes, contributed greatly to diminish his property.

The finest farms in this county to-day were first owned by Mr. Niecolls. McLean owes much of its prosperity to his kindly and generous assistance

which was proffered the early pioneers in their struggles to establish and maintain their homes. Through his influenee many excellent families from Ohio and Pennsylvania were indueed to remove to Illinois and settle. When a poor family came into the county Mr. Niecolls would open to thiem lis hospitable doors and feed them freely from his bountiful table. He would sell to them their land at a very low price, give them a team and whatever else they needed, and allow them their own time to pay for the same. He was familiarly known as the poor man's friend, and received the blessings of those who, without his aid, would have abandoned what seemed to them a hopeless undertaking. The records of that time show more transfers of land in the name of Mr. Niecolls than of any other three men in the county; but not one will show that he ever wronged any one or committed any act in the least approaching to oppression.

The marriage of John Niceolls with Miss Alvira Smith was celebrated in 1829, in the town of Greensburg, Pa. Mr. Niecolls was then nineteen years of age. His bride was the daughter of Dr. B. Smith, of Westmoreland County, Pa., and after two.short years he 'was bereaved of the companion of his youth, who died, leaving one son, Eben S., who is now engaged in mining in Old Mexico.

The second wife of our subject, to whom he was married on the 31st of December, 1833, was for- merly Miss Maria Steele, a native of Fayette County, Pa., who was born Nov. 11, 1807. This excellent couple have now lived peacefully together for a period of fifty-three years. Of their union there were born cight children, as follows: John T. died at the age of forty-one years; one daughter died in childhood. Those living arc: William S., a farmer of this county; Cassius M. is a merchant of New Berlin, Ill. ; Albert is in El Paso; Tex. ; Elliott is a resident of Kansas City, Mo .; Violet became the wife of J. B. Moore, and died in 1875, leaving four children; Harriet is the wife of H. G. Reeves, of Bloomington.

In early life and during the existence of the Whig party, Mr. Nieeolls was one of its strongest adherents and a staneh supporter of Henry Clay. When the old party was abandoned and the Repub- lican party built upon its foundations, he cordially

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supported the principles of the latter, with which he has uniformly east his vote sinee that time. He has never been an office seeker, but has wisely filled up the generous measure of his days with good deeds. In religion he has for many years been an honored and prominent member of the Presbyter- ian Churel. As a man and a eitizen his record is without spot or blemish, and lie is fully entitled to hear the words: "Well done, good and faithful servant."

S TEPHEN SMITH, one of the prosperous and sueeessful merchants of Bloomington, is proprietor of the dry-goods house lo- cated at No. 117 East Jefferson street. Mr. Smith is a native of Clarksville, Tenn., and was born Oet 22, 1830, being the son of Aaron and Matilda (French) Smith, natives of North Caro- lina and Virginia respectively. Aaron Smith left his native State when about eighteen years old, and going into Tennessee, purehased a plantation, and engaged in raising cotton and tobacco, the work being done by his slaves. Some of these he liberated before and some after coming into Illi- nois, in 1834-35. After coming to this State he engaged in stock and grain raising, his property being located in Greene County, where he remained until his death, in 1849." The mother had died in 1830, in Tenuessee. Both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Churel. Of their three sons and one daughter, the subject of our sketeh is the only one living.

Stephen Smith remained under the parental roof until seventeen years of age, having received a , praetieal education. After leaving home he went to Carrollton, Greene Co., Ill., and engaged as clerk for his brother, Clark M., two years, and then seeured an interest in the business. They then sold out, and in 1850 removed to Springfield, where they engaged in the same business for the follow- ing ten years, having braneh houses at Jackson- ville. Deeatur and Bloomington. They then dis- solved partnership, and Stephen eame to Blooming- ton, in 1860, and established the business which he now controls. He purchased the ground upon

whiel the Metropolitan Bloek now stands in 1860, and soon afterward ereeted the building. He gives employment to from four to seven elerks, and sell- ing only for eash, always knows how his business stands, and the amount of his obligations and profits. This systematie manner of doing busi- ness has been the groundwork of his sueeess and influenee, and is what has placed him in the front ranks among the business interests of Bloomington.

The marriage of Stephen Smith and Miss Eliza- betlı L. Dorlan was celebrated on the 6th of Oeto- ber, 1857. Mrs. Smith is the daughter of Lewis Dorlan, of Philadelphia, and by her union with our subjeet has become the mother of three eliil- dren-Dudley M. and Howard L., graduates of Bloomington High School, and Nettie B., a grad- uate of the Misses Grant's School of Chicago. The fine residenee of the family is pleasantly located at No. 406 West Jefferson street, where its inmates enjoy the good things of this life and are surrounded by hosts of friends. Mr. Smith is Republican in polities, and a member in good standing of the Masonie fraternity.

OHN HALLIDAY, one of the prosperous farmers and self-made men of Belleflower Township, was born in Dumfriesshire, Seot- land, April 7, 1837, being the son of Adam and Isabella (Wells) Halliday, natives of the same shire as their son, where they spent their lives. The father of our subjeet was a farmer by oeeupa- tion, and John when but eleven years of age went out to work for his great-unele, living with him two and a half years. After that he engaged with different parties until he was eighteen years old, then started for the New World with the hope and strength of youth and the belief that he eould bet- ter his condition. He embarked on the 16th of June, 1855, and after a tedious voyage of nine weeks and three days, landed in the city of New York, with only a few dollars in liis poeket. He spent one day in the eity, and then going to Cum- mingsville, Canada, engaged in a sawmill for $18 to. $20 a month.'He remained in that vieinity for about two and a half years, then eoneluded to return to

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the States, and went first to Michigan, where he fol- lowed his former employment until 1859. In August of that year he came to this vicinity, and the fol- lowing year he commenced farming, first on rented land, and in due time purchased eighty acres on seetion 33, in Belleflower Township, which with the additions he has made, constitutes his present home.

The farm of our subject now comprises 240 aeres of good land, 200 of which is enelosed and improved, and besides the ordinary routine of farming, he has of late years given the most of his attention to the raising of grain and a good breed of stock.

The marriage of Mr. Halliday and Miss Mary MeIntyre occurred on the 16th of August, 1865. Mrs. H. was the daughter of Allen and Eu- phemia (Monroe) Mclntyre, natives of Seotland. The wife of our subject departed this life on the 9th of November, 1872. They became the parents of four children, two of whom died in infancy ; those surviving are Allen and Isabel.

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C ORODON WINSLOW, a retired farmer re- siding in the village of Danvers, has been a resident of the Prairie State since 1852, at which time he purchased a Mexican War land warrant of 160 aeres in Danvers Township, and for many years worked early and late improving and enltivating it. He was prospered in his undertak- ing and is now living in ease and comfort, the just reward of his industry and perseveranee. 1

Mr. Winslow was born in Pittsford, Rutland Co., Vt., July 1, 1818, and is the son of Job and Lucy (Spenser) Winslow, natives of Massachusetts, who died in their native State many years ago, our subjeet being left an orphan at the age of ten years. His father had no worldly possessions and conse- quently our subjeet was left to depend upon him- self, and at onee began to work for his board and what elothing people were disposed to give him. He possessed, however, a large amount of courage and resolution even at an early age, and as soon as possible began to save what he eould of his, at first, scanty earnings.

At the age of twenty-one years Corodon Winslow

found himself possessed of $700 and with this he started West, and after reaching Lieking County, Ohio, purchased 100 aeres of unimproved land, upon which he began to labor industriously, eulti- vating the soil and putting in erops. In due time he built a small frame house but soon after- ward met with a great misfortune in the loss of liis little property, which had been mortgaged and which he was unable to pay at the time specified. He was then thrown upon the world again, his only possessions being $100 and a span of horses. With these he set his face westward again and with the proceeds of the sale of his team, seeured the land already spoken of and once more eommeneed tlie improvement of a farm. From 1845 until 1874, his time was filled in with unremitting toil, mak- ing improvements upon his purchase, raising his annual crops and engaged in the breeding of stock. He became very successful and the traet of wild land has now become a highly cultivated farın, valued at $10,000.

On the 27th of October, 1844, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Wheaton in Danvers Township. Mrs. W. was born in Essex County, N. J., May 2, 1824, and was the daughter of Silas and Mary (Egbert) Wheaton, natives of the -same State, whenee they removed to Ohio in 1841. Her father was a earpenter by trade and the pro- prietor of a comfortable homestead in Ohio, where the old folk spent the remainder of their lives. his death oeeurring in 1866, and that of the mother five years later, in 1871. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: Sarah A., George W. and Mary A. (deceased), Silas P., Emens, Edgar, Eliza- beth (Mrs. John Bailey), Elihu, Loyal, and Leviti- eus who died at the age of eleven years.

Mr. and Mrs. Winslow became the parents of six children, of whom only two are living: Corin- tha A. was born June 17, 1846, beeame the wife of Josiah Day and now lives in Calhoun County, Iowa; William F .. born in 1848, married Miss Emeline Gregg and lives in Adams County, W. T .; Franeis and James M. died in infancy, also a babe unnamed; Mary E. became the wife of Frederiek Gansaw, and died three years later.

Mr. Winslow is a striking illustration of what may be accomplished through perseverance, indus-

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try and courage amid the most adverse conditions. His earliest recollections are of the influence which strong drink possessed over his father, who finally came to his death by its use, under the most dis- tressing circumstances. It is scarcely to be won- dered at then that Mr. Winslow is one of the strongest of temperance advocates and bitterly op- posed to the use of whisky in any form. The greatest credit is due him, in that he so bravely fought his way amid misfortunes and discourage- ments, and has become a man among men in the strongest sense which the term implies. He is now one of the most wealthy and respected citizens of McLean County, and an esteeined member of socie- ty. With his family he is prominently connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and in polities is a reliable Republican.

The brothers and sisters of Mr. Winslow werc: Elkanah, Horace, William Loyal (now deceased), Franklin, Charles, Mary and Harriet, the latter two dying when quite young. Mr. Winslow was the third in order of birth.

h ENRY A. NICHOLS, jobber in cigars and tobacco, is located at No. 210 West Wash- ington street, Bloomington, and attending strictly and successfully to the details of a thriving and increasing trade. Mr. Nichols was born in Madison County, N. Y., in 1836, being the son of Solomon and Caroline (Chapman) Nichols, natives of Massachusetts and New York respect- ively. Solomon Nichols removed with his parents, Joseph and Sarah (Hemingway) Nichols, from his native State when a child four years of age. They settled in Oncida County, N. Y., and afterward re- moved to Monroe County, that State, where they spent the remainder of their days.

Solomon Nichols was brought up on a farm and during life was mostly occupied with agricultural pursuits. Of his family of fourteen children, Henry A. was the ninth, and eleven of the fourteen are still living. Both parents died in Monroe County, N. Y., the father in 1864, and the mother in 1879. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, wherein Solomon Nichols held the offices of Deacon

and Elder. He was a Whig in early life, but on the abandonment of the old party, cordially united with the Republicans. His influence was recog- nized wherever he was known, as he was the friend of education, temperance, morality and everything tending to the advancement and prosperity of his county or community. He was connected with the School Board, and filled various other local offices. To his children he gave the advantages of a good education, and was in all respects the model citizen, husband, father and friend.

The subject of our sketch was reared upon a farm, and remained under the parental roof until twenty-one years of age, in the meantime having graduated from the State Normal School at Al- bany. He soon`afterward engaged in teaching in Monroe County, and for three years presided over a public school in the city of Rochester, as Princi- pal. In 1861 he went to Ann Arbor, Mich., and took a two years' course in the State University, and was afterward Principal of one of the schools of Detroit, Mich., for one year. He also spent one year at New Baltimore, Mich., similarly occupied. Upon removing from here he was employed as a book-keeper for a lumber firm in East Saginaw, whence he returned to Ann Arbor and conducted the Union School there for one year. He then en- gaged as a traveling salesman, selling goods from Chicago through Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, and was thus engaged for four years.

Mr. Nichols came to Bloomington in 1871, and since that time has been dealing in cigars and to- bacco; his trade is steadily increasing and he has three men on the road. He deals in only the choicest material, and has a good understanding of hls business in all its details.

Mr. Nichols was married in 1863, to Miss Flora Robinson, who was born in Michigan, and is the daughter of Loami and Isabel (Edmunds) Robin- son, who were natives respectively of Vermont and New York. Her father was a farmer by occupa- tion, and departed this life in 1872; the inother is still living in Michigan. Mrs. Nichols is the ninth of a family of thirteen children, and remained with her parents until her marriage, except when away at school and three years as teacher in the Bishop Union School at Detroit. By her union with our

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subjeet she has beeome the mother of three ehil- dren-Ilarry W., Lyell S. and Isabel R. They have a pleasant and attractive home located at No. 216 East Washington street. Mrs. Niehols is a member of the Baptist Church, of which our sub- jeet is a regular attendant. He is Republican in polities, and socially belongs to the Knights of Pythias.

AMES FULTON, of Downs Township, is the owner of 100 aeres of choice land, part of which is located in Randolph Township. His residence is situated on seetion 31. Ile has been a resident of the Prairie State sinee 1852, and sinee he has made his home in this locality has proved one of its most valued citizens. Our sub- ject is a native of the Buckeye State, having been born in Harrison County, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1826. Ilis father, William Fulton, of Westmoreland County, Pa., was of Seoteh-Irish aneestry, and a deseendant and kinsman of Robert Fulton, who first discovered the application of steam as a means of locomotion. The father of our subjeet was reared to manhood in his native county, and was there married to Miss Leah Thompson, a native of the same State, and of aneestry similar to that of her husband. Soon after marriage they located in Harrison County, Ohio, and became the parents of two children, and there the mother died about 1822. These children are both now deceased, one having lived to mature years, and being married.

The second wife of William Fulton was Miss Mary Moore, who was born in Harrison County, Ohio, about 1803. They afterward came to Illi- nois, and Mrs. Mary Fulton departed this life in November, 1883, at the home of her grandson, Al- bert Fulton, in Randolph Township. The father died in Bloomington in 1872. Of this marriage there were born four children : William married Miss Eliza Boyd, who is now deceased, and he is a prae- tieing physician of Colorado; our subjeet was the second son and child. The others are deceased.

James Fulton was about twenty-six years of age when he eame, a single man, with his father to Illi- nois, and .he has sinee made this county his home. lIe was first married in Harrison County, Ohio,

Jan. 6, 1853, to Miss Mary Boyd, who died at her home in Bloomington, in August, 1856. She was reared in her native county, being the daughter of an Ohio farmer and merchant. By her marriage with our subject she has become the mother of two children, both living. Eliza A. is the wife of Bone Bloek, of Harrison County, Ohio; Albert married Miss Mattie Morrow, and they reside with Mr. Morrow in Randolph Township.

The second wife of Mr. Fulton, to whom he was united in Randolph Township on the 9th of Sep- tember, 1858, was Miss Mary E. Bishop, who was born on her father's homestead in this county, June 24, 1836. Mrs. Fulton is the sister of George Bishop, of whom a sketeh mnay be found in another part of this work. She was reared under the par- ental roof, and remained at home until her mar- riage. Of her union with our subjeet there were born five children, two now deceased. Mary B. became the wife of A. J. Weleh, a farmer of Downs Township; Mattie E. is a teacher, having received her education in the State University at Normal, and holds a position in the publie schools of Ran- dolph Township; James F. is at home with his par- ents. The deceased are Sarah E. and John C.

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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 136

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