Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 138

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 138

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. and Mrs. Saunders became the parents of four children, two of whom are still living: Sarah Florence became the wife of John R. Palmer, and lives in Normal, Ill .; Lida A. married Alvin Whit- taker, and lives on the homestead. This is a fine tract of land containing 160 aeres, and supplied with all the necessary and convenient farm build- ings. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Saun- ders has filled his plaec in a worthy and capable manner, and is greatly respceted in her commun- ity for her excellent personal traits of character.

OHN S. MCCLURE, Deputy County Clerk, residing at Bloomington, is one of the most highly respected citizens of the county. Our subject was born in Logan County, Ohio, on the 11th of January, 1844, his parents be- ing John and Sarah (Slaughter) MeClure, natives of Virginia, the former born in 1808, and the lat- ter in 1815. John McClure, Sr., was a farmer by oe- cupation and Republican in politics. He removed with his family from Virginia to Ohio in 1832, and located in Logan County, remaining there until 1858. The father then came to McLean County, where he still lives. The mother died in Ohio in

1101

McLEAN COUNTY.

1846. The record of their seven children is as fol- lows: The eldest born died in infancy; Charles; Sarah, Lucy and Mildred are deceased: John S., our subject, and Susan.

John S. McClure remained at home until he had arrived at years of manhood, receiving a common- school education and assisting in the labors of the farm. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Workman, Jan. 14, 1869. She was born in the samne county and State as her husband, on the 10th of June, 1846, and was the daughter of Daniel M. and Helen (Pratt) Workman, who were also na- tives of the Buckeye State, and are both still living there. Their five children were named-Mary, Sa- rah, Lucy Clara, Ella and John.

During the progress of the late Civil War Mr. McClure enlisted as a soldier in the 4th Illinois Cavalry, at Bloomington, on the 27th day of Sep- tember, 1861. He served in the same regiment until October of the following year when he was discharged for disability. In July, 1863, he re- enlisted in the 2d Ohio Artillery, and was mns- tered out in August, 1865, having participated in several general engagements. among them being Ft. Henry, Donelson and Shiloh. At the close of the war he returned home and soon afterward came to Tazewell County in this State, whence after re- siding there three years he came to MeLcan County, which with the exception of four years spent in Ohio, has been his residence since that time. Hc belongs to the G. A. R., Post No. 146, . at Bloomington. In politics he is a straight Re- publican, and Mrs. McC. is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Of the children born to our subject and his wife the oldest, Willie, died when one year old; the five living are Howard, Daniel, Arthur, Alice and Wal- ter. The family homestead in Dry Grove Town- ship embraces eighty acres of fine land, upon which is a good farm dwelling and all necessary barns and out-buildings, with implements and machinery for the carrying on of agriculture after the most ap- proved methods.

Mr. McClure represented the people of Dry Grove Township in the Board of Supervisors for three terms; has been Township Clerk two years, and is now Deputy Connty Clerk. He has been

a member of the Central Republican Committee. He exercises a marked influence upon the politics of this section and is a man whose judgment is universally respected.

M. DOOLEY, President of the Third Na- tional Bank of Bloomington, has been a res- ident of the Prairie State since 1853, and thereafter extensively engaged in farming. HIc is a native of Kentucky and was born in Win- chester, Clark Co., Mo., Nov. 11, 1830. His par- . ents were William and Minerva (Morris) Dooley, ' both born in Kentucky, and the father an extensive farmer and stock-grower. He came to McLean County in 1851, and purchased land of the Gov- ernment in Old Town Township. He became pos- sessor of a large area, some of which he sold and npon some he farmed, and remained a resident of this county until his death, in 1869. The mother had died in 1844, before the removal of the fam- ily from Kentucky. Of their thirteen children eleven are still living; all received a ·practical edu- cation, and those living are capable and prosperous business men.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and after leaving the primary schools attended Bartlett College, Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1849. He then returned to the farm in Kentucky, and subsequently came with his fa- ther to Illinois. Two years later he purchased land in Old Town Township, where he operated 500 . acres and raised cattle, horses and hogs. He con- tinue stock-raising and general farming until 1883, when he sold his farm property and pur- chased a residence on East Grove street, Blooming- ton, where he is now living and enjoying the fruits of his early labors. He has been prominent in the affairs of this section since coming here, and was Supervisor of Old Town Township three years.

Mr. Dooley was married, in January, 1853, to Miss Susan Nelson, a native of Montgomery. Ky., and the daughter of William and Annic (Smith) Nelson, natives of that State. Of this union there were born eleven children, as follows: Florence, Mrs. Singleton, resides in Bainbridge, Putnam

1102

MCLEAN COUNTY.

Co., Ind., and has three children-Edith, Sylvia and Stella; William L. married Miss Stella Law- renee, and is a resident of Humboldt, Kan .; Romu- lus W. is engaged in teaching at Bloomington ; An- nie, Mrs. Charles Brown, is a resident of this eounty, and has one child, a daughter, Alice; Henry S. married Miss Edith Reyburn; Samuel C., Charles W., Emma C., Raymond D., Edna and Berenice are all residents of Bloomington. Mr. Dooley be- longs to the Democratie party, and socially as well as in a business eapaeity is considered a useful member of society.

E. SWAP, who is engaged in merehandis- ing at Weston, eame with his parents to Illinois in about 1847, settling first in La Salle County. He has been a resident of this county sinee 1844, and is now an important factor among the business interests of Yates Town- ship. Ile was born in Erie County, Pa., Jan. 21, 1839, and is the son of Andrew and Sybil (Hitch- eoek) Swap. The former was a native of New York and the latter of Connecticut. The parental family ineluded eleven children, ten of whom grew to mature years, and eight are still living. Upon leaving New York, the parents of our subjeet re- moved first to Wisconsin, whenee, eighteen months later, they came to Illinois and the father followed farming in La Salle County for a number of years. From there he removed to Kansas, and after a res- idenee there of a few years returned to his old home in Erie County, Pa., where the mother died in Au- gust, 1884, at the advanced age of seventy-nine years. The father, who was born in 1802, is still living.

The subject of this history received a fair ednea- tion in the common schools, and was reared to manhood on his father's farin. `At the outbreak of the late Civil War he enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. C, 7th Ill. Vol. Cav., entering the service Aug. 13, 1862, and serving until July 12,1865. He partie- ipated in all the engagements of his regiment and escaped serious wounds and illness, receiving his honorable discharge at the close. He then re- turned to La Salle County, Ill., and was there en-

gaged in farming until February, 1879. He then sold out and removed to Eppard's Point, Livings- ton County, where he purchased 160 aeres of land, of which he still retains the ownership. In 1884 he removed to Meriden, La Salle County, and en- gaged in the mercantile business for nine months. He then sold out, and coming to Weston purchased the business of John Poole, which he has sinee eon- tinued to carry on with profit and sueeess. He is a staneh Republican politieally, served as Towi Clerk seven years in La Salle County, and for a long term was a member of the Board of Educa- tion. Socially he belongs to the G. A. R., con- neeted with the post at Fairbury, Ill.

Mr. Swap was married on the 13th of December, 1866, to Miss Sarah E., daughter of Joseph and Elsie Anne(Phillips) Watson. Mrs. S. was born in Windham County, Conn., Feb. 8, 1843, and when a young girl of eleven years came to Illinois with her father. Her mother died in Mt. Hope, Conn., in 1848. They first located in La Salle County, and her father was a second time married, March 15, 1849. He now resides near Mendota, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. S. became the parents of four children, one of whom, Claude L., died at the age of nine years; Elsie died in infancy. Albert J. and Ethel L. are at home with their parents. A lithographie view of Mr. Swap's store -building is given on another page of this volume.

G EORGE H. WELCH, an enterprising far- mer and stock-grower of Downs Township, owns and oeeupies a fine homestead of 240 aeres on seetion 16, the most of which is under a good state of cultivation. The whole estate is en- elosed with good feneing and the land drained with 800 , rods of tile. The stoek operations of Mr. Weleh have been quite extensive and suceessful and he bears the reputation of being one of the most thorough and intelligent agriculturists of this. seetion.

Mr. Weleh is the youngest son of a family of four sons and four daughters born to his parents. Of these, five are yet living, married and comforta- bly settled in homes of their own. Our subjeet is

MCLEAN COUNTY.

1103

a native of Downs Township, born June 13, 1858, and pursued his early studies in the distriet schools. These were completed at Wesleyan University and the Evergreen City Business College. At the eon- "elusion of his studies he returned to the farm, and since that time has devoted his whole attention to its peaceful oeeupation. Ile remained at home until some time after the death of his father. Henry Welel, which oeeurred April 17, 1881. His mother, formerly Miss Mary Caldwell, is still living, and makes her home with her eldest son, James A., in Randolph Township.

The subject of this history was married in Le Roy, at the home of the bride's parents, on the 6th of February, 1884, to Miss Sarah E. Phillipps, a brief history of whose parents will be found in the sketeh of D. F. Phillipps, elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Weleh was born in Dale Township, this eounty, Nov. 23, 1863. Her parents afterward removed to Downs Township and she remained with them until her marriage, receiving a good edueation in the common sehools. Of her union with our sub- jeet there has been born one ehild, a son, Henry.

After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Welch they settled on their present farm, Feb. 14, 1884, where. Mr. W. had already prepared a home for his bride, having ereeted a fine residenee, finished with all the eonvenienees of modern life. The barn and other out-buildings correspond with the dwelling and the entire premises is well eared for and kept in good order. Our subjeet and his wife are regular at- tendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which Mrs. W. has been eonneeted for several years. Mr. Weleh is a firm supporter of the prin- eiples of the Republican party, with which he uni- formly easts his vote.

SAAC HARNESS, one of the pioneer settlers of MeLean County and prominently engaged as a farmer and stock-dealer, is a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and was born near what is now known as Cane Ridge, on the 17th of March, 1811. His father, Jaeob Harness, of Virginia, was born and reared on the Potomae, being the son of Peter Ilarness. Jacob Ilarness removed with his

father to Kentucky and there married Miss Chris- tina, the daughter of Jaeob Smith, whose family were of German aneestry and settled in Virginia at an early period in the history of that State, whenee they removed to Kentucky. Jacob Harness served as a soldier in the War of 181,2, and remained in Kentueky until his son Isaae, our subjeet, was seventeen years of age. Then, with his family, he removed to Fayette County, Ohio, loeating near Washington Court House. Ilis father, Peter Har- ness, had preeeded him to what was afterward the Buekeye State and purehased a tract of land 1,200 aeres in extent, and gave to each of his seven sons 100 aeres of timber land. These sons having been reared on a Southern plantation where the work was done by slaves, were at first quite unequal to the task of opening up a farm in the wilderness, but they eame of a sturdy raee and in time proved themselves equal to the emergeney. Jaeob, the father of our subject, and one of these seven sons, cleared the timber from his land and proceeded with its eultivation, establishing a comfortable homestead where he reared his family. Subse- quently he went to Indiana and located on Woleott Prairie, where he remained for many years. The parents of our subjeet both died near Lexington, where their remains were laid to rest.

Isaae Harness eame to MeLean County in 1832, and was joined about four years later by his father and mother and they settled on the Vermilion River, near Pontiae. The country was new and very siekly, and soon they all removed to Lexing -- ton and settled on a farm one mile south of the present village. This, which now constitutes the homestead of our subject, eomprises 2,000 acres all in one body, and he has 1,000 aeres in another part of the county. He owns beside, in the States of Missouri and Kansas, 1,140 aeres. His farms are well stocked. Mueh of this is leased and his rents amount to over $50,000 per annum.

When Isaae Harness eame to MeLean County his possessions consisted of one horse, and his career. is a most remarkable illustration of what may be accomplished by a resolute and determined will. Hard work was never a bugbear to him and he only asked for his health and strength. This was granted him and he proceeded, with the eourage of

1104

McLEAN COUNTY.

youth and high hopes for the future, to eultivate the little traet of 160 acres which comprised his first purchase. Even a part of this he was obliged to give up in order to keep other parties from bid- ding against him when the land came into market. After this first baekset he industriously sct himself about the improvement of his land and the estab- lishment of a home. Ilis first transactions in live- stock consisted in the purchase of three poor, serawny little ealves, which he fed until they be- eame of good value. Ile enlarged his facilities as fast as possible and was soon fattening a drove of 300 hogs which he sold at $1.50 per hundred, re- ceiving one-half cash in nine months, and the other half in store pay to be drawn at such times as he might need goods. He then commenced to buy steers as his money accumulated and finally secured forty head which he fattened on grass and corn and which, when three years old, he sold at $4 per head. This, in those days, was a good profit, and encouraged him to continue his operations as a stoekman. He soon afterward began to aceumnlatc money rapidily and then formed a partnership with a Jew by the name of Joe Greenebaum (now in Chicago), and embarked in the elothing trade, es- tablishing trade both at Lexington and Pontiae, the goods being purchased in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Harness furnished funds to the extent of $10,000, which he put in a earpet-saek and started for Cincinnati, having previously given his note for $37,765. He paid the $10,000 and ten per cent interest on the notes until they were paid up.

In 1867 Mr. Harness organized the Lexington Bank, and became its President. It has a large paid-up capital and has become one of the perma- nent institutions of the town.

B ENJAMIN M: QUINN. During the years from 1854 to 1860 the fertile prairies of MeLean County were more rapidly settled up than during any other half dozen years. Enterprising men began to come in then and im- prove them, and to-day what was thought by the earliest settlers to be only fit for grazing purposes.

are the most highly eultivated and productive fields found within the borders of the Prairie State. A well-known gentleman who came in during the earliest part of the above mentioned period is B. M. Quinn, of Dale Township. He was born in Madison County, Ky., on the 3d of September, 1820, and is the third child and second son of Hiram and Elizabeth Quinn, a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this volume.

The subject of this brief history was rcared in his native county and, as soon as he was large enough, assisted his parents in the labors of the farm, and attended the subscription school which was held in the log cabin. He inherited a part of the old homestead and lived there with his mother until 1854, when, accompanied by her and his brother James W., with the wife of the latter, started overland for the prairies of Illinois. Their outfit consisted of five horses, two wagons and a carriage. Their journey was commeneed on the 9th of October, and they arrived in McLean County on the 2d day of November. The house- hold goods were brought with them and they camped and cooked by the way. They spent the first winter with the brother Hiram and Mr. Jona- than Park, and in the spring moved to a tract of land on scetion 34, which they occupied until the following November and then Benjamin Quinn set- tled upon the place which he now owns and oecu- pies. At the time of his purchase there was upon it a one-story dwelling which included two rooms. and a shed with a straw roof. He at once set about the cultivation and improvement of his land and in due time erected a good set of frame buildings and planted fruit and shade trees. In this home, which he had provided for her, his mother lived until the 6th of October, 1881, when she closed her eyes forever to the scenes of earth.

From his early boyhood Mr. Quinn had been reared to habits of industry and economy and hc has all his life pursued a course in accordance with his early teachings. He has thus become a good citizen, promptly meeting his various obligations in life and taking an interest in everything pertain- ing to the welfare of his community. He was a Whig in polities during the existence of that party, but since the formation of the Republican party he

B. M Quinn

H. W. quinn

. ..

1107

McLEAN COUNTY.

has uniformly east his vote in support of the prin- eiples of the latter.

The features of Mr. Quinn are shown on an ae- companying page and portray those of one of the most highly respected eitizens of the county.

IRAM W. QUINN, a leading member of the family bearing that name so well known in this seetion, is a native of Madison County, Ky., and was among the first settlers who eame from that region to the territory of Illinois. He located in Dale Township, MeLean County, be- fore the hand of eultivation had redeemed the soil from its original condition, and has assisted materi- ally in developing the resources of the Prairie State.

The subject of our sketeh was born on the 8th of January, 1825. His father, Hiram Quinn, was also a native of Madison County, Ky., and his grandfather was born in Virginia. The family removed at an early day from the Old Dominion to the Blue Grass State, Hiram Quinn, Sr., being ing then quite young. He grew to manhood in Madison County and was there married to Miss Elizabeth Moberly, a native of the same loeality as her husband. After their marriage Hiram Quinn, Sr., purchased a tract of land in Madison County, where he established a home, which he oeeupied until his death, which occurred in 1827. He had served in the War of 1812, and his widow received a pension from the Government during the last years of her life. She removed to this State late in life and died in Dale Township, in October, 1884, at the advanced age of nearly eighty-six years. The parental family ineluded five children: Sid- ney, who died in Bloomington Township; Benja- min M., who lives in Dale Township; Barthana, who was united in marriage with Jonathan Park (see sketeli); James W., who lives in Dale Township, and our subjeet.

Hiram W. Quinn, of our sketch, was the fourth child and third son of his parents, and was but two years old when he was deprived by death of a father's care and protection. The mother bravely kept her children together on the old homestead

and Hiram W. remained with the family until March, 1852. He then determined to see some- thing of the Western country and accordingly started for the Prairie State. He went by rail to Louisville, then by river to Pekin, in Tazewell County, and there he seeured a team to bring his family and goods to MeLean County. He rented a house in the village of Bloomington, which he oeeupied for seven months and in the meantime purchased 240 aeres of land on seetion 35, in Dale Township. Upon this there was a log cabin and sixty aeres of it were broken. In the fall of the same year Mr. Quinn ereeted a comfortable frame house and in 1853 commeneed to improve and eultivate the land. He was prospered in his farm- ing and business operations and added to his landed possessions as time passed on. He now owns 260 aeres, all enelosed and improved, with a fine area of pasture and the balance under a good state of cultivation. His residence and other farm buildings are of the best deseription and the home- stead in all respeets presents the pieture of one of the finest farm estates in McLean County.

Mr. Quinn was married to Miss Elzira Barelay, Dee. 16, 1847. Mrs. Quinn was a native of the same eounty as her husband and was born May 18, 1832. They have beeome the parents of seven children, who are recorded as follows: James L. is a resident of Dale Township; Flora, the wife of Thomas Stubblefield, lives in Allin Township; William Quinn is a resident of Bloomington Town- ship; Bell married Mr. Jolin Norris and also lives in Dale Township; Ellen and Frank are at home with their parents; Mary is the wife of Olie Norris, of Dale Township. All the members of the family are connected with the Christian Chureli, of which Mr. O. has been Elder and Deaeon. In earlier years he affiliated with the Whig party, but after its abandonment by the organization of the Re- publiean party he eheerfully indorsed the principles of the latter and since that time with it has uni- formly east his vote.

Mr. Quinn has always been the encourager and supporter of everything caleulated to advance the welfare of his community, socially, morally, religiously or educationally. He has served as Sehool Director in his distriet for many years and

1108

McLEAN COUNTY.

is greatly respected by his fellow-citizens for his excellent personal traits of character and his ability as a business man.

M. BATES, General Superintendent of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, with residence at Bloomington, is a native of Pierpont, Ashtabula Co., Ohio. Mr. Bates was born in 1840, and is a son of Melzo and Laura H. (Gould) Bates, natives of Massachusetts and New York respectively. The father of our subject moved to Ohio from Massachusetts in 1836, and settled at Pierpont, Ashtabula County, where he embarked in merean- tile business, first as a elerk and then for himself, and followed this ealling through life. He held the office of Postmaster and was Justiee of the Peaee from about 1840 to 1860. He was a prominent citizen, a sueeessful business man, and always took a deep interest in county, State and Nation. He was a strong advocate of temperanee and held fellow- ship with the Congregational Church. His demise occurred in 1875.

Melzo Bates was of Seoteh lineage and a de- seendant from three Seoteh brothers who came to this country in 1770, and made settlement in the New England States. Melzo became the father of three children : T. M., our subjeet; Ozro, who was an engineer on the Erie & Pittsburgh Railroad and was killed by a collision at Middlesex, Pa., Sept. 8, 1885. He was married to Miss Kate Ritz and they had one daughter, Irma, and mother and child are now living in Erie, Pa .; Vesta L. became the wife of Ilerbert A. Mixer, of Pierpont, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, and they have one child, Grace. The mother of these children is still living and resides at Pierpont. She is a devout Christian lady and holds fellowship with the Congregational Church.

The subject of this notice lived at home until he was eighteen years old, employed the while in elerk- ing in his father's store. He received his education in the common schools and supplemented the same by a practical education received while elerking in his father's store. While elerking, lie became much interested in the study of electricity, and purehas- ing books on chemistry and other seientifie works,

lost no time. He made a telegraph instrument, some- what after the Morse patent, but not being satisfied with it he purchased a Morse telegraph instrument and learned to manipulate it with rapidity in an ex- eeedingly short time. In 1859 he attended the academy at Conneaut, Ohio, and while there spent his leisure hours in the railroad office. During the same year he accepted a position as telegrapher on the Cleveland & Erie Railroad, now the Lake Shore & Southern. He remained in this position until 1861, when, on aeeount of the small wages he re- ecived, he gave it up and returned home and en- tered into partnership with his father in the mereantile business. This relationship existed un- til the fall of 1864, when our subject disposed of huis interest and accepted a position with the Hon. William L. Scott, President of the Erie & Pitts- burgh Railroad, as elerk and telegraphı operater. He remained with this gentleman until 1879, in that capacity, when he was promoted to Train Dis- patcher, Superintendent of Telegraphy and Train- master. He held this position until he received a call from the Chicago & Alton Railroad as Division Superintendent of 200 miles of its track between Bloomington and Mexico, Mo., which he accepted. Two years later he was given charge of the Kansas City Division, together with the St. Louis Division, making in all 600 miles directly under his immedi- ate eharge. June 1, 1883, Mr. Bates was called to Bloomington, and placed in charge of the entire system of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, as Superintendent of transportation and having the entire charge of operating the road, 900 miles, and in doing which he employs about 3,000 men. The gradual but constant promotion of Mr. Bates sinee he has engaged in railroading speaks for itself and is all the eneomium needed.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 138

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