Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 141

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 141

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ter of section 6, which is also finely improved, so that his possessions in all amount to 263 acres, for the cultivation of which he has all the machin- ery and appliances required by the intelligent farmer.

The subject of this history, on the 4th of Feb- ruary, 1873, was united in marriage, in Bracken County, Ky., with Miss Euphrasia Reynolds, who was born in Bracken County, that State, Jan. 9, 1846, and the daughter of W. H. and Lucretia Rey- nolds. Mrs. K. became the mother of five children -Linden, Theodore H., May F., Cary B. and Ar- thur R .- and after having been the faithful and affectionate companion of her husband for over twelve years, departed this life on the 25th of No- vember, 1886. She was a most amiable and highly respected Christian lady, and was greatly mourned by her husband and family, and a large circle of friends and acquaintances. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Sharon, Ky., and her remains were taken there for burial.

Mr. Kirk is a gentleman of fine personal appear- ance, and by his excellent character and straight- forward business course in life, has fully established himself in the esteem and confidence of his asso- ciates and fellow-citizens.

ACOB SPAWR, an old pioncer of this county of 1826, and residing at Lexington, was born Jan. 24, 1802, in Westmoreland County, Pa. His father's name was Valentine Spawr, and his mother's maiden name was Margaret Richer. Valentine Spawr was American born but of Ger- inan descent. His wife was born in Germany, and came to the United States when only two years of age. Valentine was a soldier and served under Gen. Anthony Wayne against the Indians, and re- ceived quite a severe wound while in the service.

In the fall of 1826 Jacob Spawr came to Illinois in company with the Fox family and Robert Guth- ric. His father's family came the following year. The journey was made overland and Mr. Spawr was active in driving the sheep and cattle which they brought with them. On arriving here he located in Money Creek timber and there commenced work-

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ing for Mrs. Trimmer, who had a large family of children and had lost her husband by death a short time previous. Dee. 3, 1826, Jacob Spawr married one of his employer's daughters, Eliza Ann Trimmer. Hle had no license, for the distance to Vandalia was too great for him to make the jour- ney, and he consequently posted up notiees to the effeet that he intended to marry one Eliza A. Trimmer. William Orendorff, a Justice of the Peace, married him and made return of the mar- riage to the Clerk of the Court at Vandalia, and it was pronounced legal. Six or seven years later Mr. Orendorff married a second wife, and our sub- jeet, who had been elected Justice of the Peace, had the pleasure of returning the compliment by performing the marriage ceremony.

After our subjeet's marriage he began farming on his own account. In 1827 the settlers were much excited by the Winnebago War, which was threatened by Red Bird, chief of the Winnebagoes. While the excitement continued, Old Machina, chief of the Kickapoos, eame down to Mr. Spawr to inquire the condition of affairs, whenever the latter returned from Bloomington, where he went to attend a militia drilling. Machina declared that in ease of war the Kiekapoos would help the whites. After a while an order came to send fifteen men, and Mr. Spawr being First Lieutenant of the com- pany, was ordered to go with them. But the Rev. Mr. Latta insisted on taking Mr. Spawr's place and at last was allowed to do so. The fifteen men were taken to Peoria, but the Indian troubles were soon quieted and the soldiers came home. During the winter of the deep snow our subjeet was compelled to pound eorn to provide sustenance for his family. For nearly sixty days the sun did not shine with sufficient warmth to make even a wet spot in front of the south door. During that winter a gentle- man by the name of Rook eame down from Rook's Creek (Little Vermilion) with a hand-sled, walking with snow-shoes, and obtained eorn for his family from Conrad Flesher, who lived where Lexington now stands.

. During the Black Hawk War the people of Mackinaw and Money Creek timber were exeited and apprehensive, and many of them moved to Sangamon County. Many parties from Eppard's

Point, on the Little Vermilion, moved their fami- lies into Money Creek Township. The volunteers from Indiana, about 600 in number, camped with- in twenty or thirty rods of Mr. Spawr's house, and during the night they had two false alarms. At one time a lightning bug showed its phosphorous and one of the guards fired at the harmless inseet and the eamp was in an uproar. But after awhile matters were quieted. Soon another gun was dis- elarged and it was found that a soldier, who had a pique against two others, had fired into their tent. The excitement among the soldiers was very great for awhile, and one of them while loading his gun, mistook a ean of buttermilk for a powder-horn and loaded his gun accordingly. The soldiers woke Mr. Spawr to issue a warrant for the arrest of the man who attempted to shoot his comrades, but Mr. Spawr told them that their own martial law should settle such matters.

The town of Lexington was laid off in 1835, and in 1836 Mr. S. moved there from Money Creek timber. It was during December of. that year that the great sudden change of the weather oc- eurred, and Mr. Spawr says that he saw the water blown into waves and frozen that way. He speaks of another sudden change almost as severe. In November, 1842, he started for Chicago with a party to drive hogs. The weather had been mild but it snowed and melted, and by the 7th of No- vember, it froze up. On the return of the party from Chicago they erossed the Kankakee on the iee at the rapids, where the water runs as swiftly as a mill race. The thaw came in January but the cold weather again returned, and winter continued until March.

The union of our subject with Miss Trimmer has been blest by the birth of eight children, and five are living at this writing, all daughters. He has twenty-four grandehildren living and four de- ceased, and also nine great-grandehildren living and one dead. Our subjeet was Justiee of the Peace in Money Creek Township for about nine years, and also Postmaster for a number of years, in the early history of Lexington. Ile was likewise Notary Publie for several years, and in 1840, took the eensus of the county. He was familiarly ac- quainted with President Lincoln, Judge David

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Davis, Judge Sweet of Chicago, and other leading men of the State, who used to stop at his house frequently in early days, and our subjeet takes great delight in relating stories of these great men as they appeared in those good old days. His good wife died about seven years ago, and he is now passing the sunset of life in peace and quiet, retired from active labor at Lexington. He is of · medium height, rather stoutly built, and seems to be enjoying good health in his old age. He is of a quiet disposition, kindly disposed, and much looked up to among the old settlers. Ile is universally respected for his worth and integrity and is well known throughout the entire county.

ON. GEORGE W. FUNK, of Bloomington, is a native of MeLean County, and was born May 14, 1827, at Funk's Grove. He is the son of Isaac and Cassandra (Sharp) Funk, and spent his earlier years upon his father's farm. His early education was begun when he was seven years of age, and he traveled one and one-half miles from his father's house to the school at Funk's Grove, which was conducted in a log cabin. He was considered honored by the schoolmaster when he was requested to remain after study hours to roll up the logs which were to be used next day for fire.

Our subjeet pursued his studies in this manner until he was ten years old, and after that time at- tended only in the winter and worked on the farm in the summer season until he was eighteen. Then the old log school-house gave place to a smart frame building, and he pursued his studies in this until twenty-one. During the summer season he spent part of his time in the saddle herding his fa- ther's eattle on the prairies, the balance being employed plowing corn, wielding the cradle in the grain fields, and the seythe mowing grass. He con- tinued on the parental homestead until the death of his father, in 1865, and being the eldest of the family had become general manager, buying and selling stock and shipping the same to New York. From the age of eighteen until twenty-five he drove cattle and hogs to the Chicago market. Be-

fore leaving home the hogs had to be weighed by means of a pole laid across the fence, the steelyards being upon one end and the hog in a sort of har- ness on the other. A man at the end of the pole hoisted up the porker, and after his weight was as- certained he was ready for market. In these days this would be considered a tedious process, but the pioneers of that time gloried in the resolution with which they overcame difficulties, and this little in- convenience was only one of the many which they cheerfully encountered and overcame ..

Mr. Funk continued his stoek operations in this manner until about 1854, and then eomineneed shipping to New York City. He has been remark- ably successful in his business transactions, and nearly every week he and his brother have sent earloads of stock either to Chicago or New York. He assisted in the settlement of his father's estate in 1865, and received 1,000 acres more than any other member of the family on account of having remained upon the homestead and taken care of it after the other 'sons had left. A peculiarity of this family, probably not possessed by any other in the State, is the fact that the land which passed from father to son has been religiously retained and in- variably added to by thrift and industry.

The subject of our sketch is now the possessor of 4,400 aeres of land in MeLean County, 1,600 of which lie in Funk's Grove Township. In West Township he owns the old Indian Town. The farm ' buildings appertaining to his estate are beautiful and substantial structures, and invariably attract the eye of the traveler through this section. The agricultural operations on this large traet of land have been carried on in the most systematie man- ner, everything moving with the precision of eloek work; the farm machinery being after the most ap- proved patterns, and the barns and other out-build- ing furnished with all the appliances necessary for the shelter of stock and the storing of grain.

The subject of this history was married in Janu- ary, 1868, to Miss Susan Pumplley, a native of Ohio, who was reared in Kentucky and came with her parents to Illinois in 1863. Mrs. Susan Funk departed this life on the 15th of December, 1868, leaving one child, Isaae G., now eighteen years of age, and a student at Lawrenceville, N. J. Mr.

R.Dr. Mmon

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Funk married, for his second wife, Miss Rose, the daughter of William and Hannah Fitzwilliams, of Bloomington, and they have two children --- Madeline and Julius F. The town residenee of Mr. F. and his family is located at No. 401 East . Washington street, where they are surrounded by

all the refinements and luxuries of modern life.

George W. Funk is a worthy member of the family so well known throughout this seetion as having been elosely identified with its agricultural and industrial interests, and who have so materially assisted in the development and progress of one of the richest counties of the Prairie State. The word of Mr. Funk is considered as good as his bond. Socially he is kind and generous in disposition, charitable and hospitable, and a liberal eontributor to, and supporter of every measure ealeulated for the well-being of society. In earlier years he was identified with the old Whig party, but later has cheerfully endorsed the principles of the Repub- licans. In 1870 he was elected a member of the General Assembly of Illinois, and served two years with eredit to himself and satisfaction to his eon- stituents. He has been Supervisor of Mt. Hope Township; is a stoekholder in the First National Bank of Bloomington, a stoekholder and Direetor in the Gas Company and, in short, identified with . most of the enterprises which have been set on foot and were ealeulated for the material good of the eonnty and township. It may be truly said that in all respeets Mr. Funk has fulfilled the obligatons of a good eitizen in a manner not exeelled by any. before him, or that could be exeelled by any who may come after.

ACOB M. MINTON. Worthy of mention among the sueeessful stoek-raisers of Me- Lean County, and their number is not a few, is J. M. Minton. Though young in years as well as in his ehosen department of business, he has already established for himself an enviable reputation as a good eitizen and a thorough-going and enterprising member of the agricultural and industrial community. Mr. Minton is comfortably located near Heyworth, on seetion 9 of Randolph

Township. Upon his farm he is making a specialty of Poland-China swine, and is in possession of some valuable registered animals. His herd was started at Wapella, Ill., in 1882, and he has mate- rially inereased it sinee that time. He has now one of the best herds, and probably the largest, in Cen- tral Illinois, and his animals have taken more pre- miums than any others in this part of the State. His herd was started with Young Roe, No. 2,201, Vol. 5, of Central Poland-China Record. He has sinee had at the head of his herd the well-known J. C. Eye, registered No. 2,803, in the same book. He has now Arnold's Choice, who will be registered in Vol. 8 of the Central Herd Book, and is among the best hogs in the State. This department of stock-raising yields our subject a handsome in- eome, and he has gained a reputation.

. Mr. Minton was born in Claiborne County, Tenn., July 16, 1850. His father, Phillip Minton, was a native of the same State and a farmer by oeeupa- tion. During the late Civil War, he served in the Confederate army, and was shot through the head at Kennesaw Mountain. He survived nine days, and then died at Atlanta Hospital. The maiden name of Mrs. Minton was Marinda Huddleson, and she is still living on the Minton homestead in Claiborne . County, Tenn., being seventy-five years old. After the death of her husband she was mar- ried a second time. The subject of this history was the eldest of his father's family. Following him eame Frank M., who is now living with Jacob M., and also W. B. and Cornelia M., who eamne North in 1884.

Jacob M. Minton received a good education in his native eounty, and remained at home after his father's death, until eighteen years of age. He then went West, first settling in Atehison County, Kan., whenee, after three years, he returned to Tennessee and remained until 1873. He then eame to Illinois, and engaged as a farm laborer for a few years, living temperately and within his means, and becoming well fitted for the further struggle of life. Thus growing up into manhood and passing onward in the rugged pathway of time, disciplined in the stern school of experience, he was prepared to meet every emergeney with a steady and a ready hand.

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The marriage of our suhjeet oeeurred on the 19th of December, 1878, at Heyworth, in this county, the lady of his ehoiee being Miss Mary A. Creswell, of Quehee, Canada, who was born Aug. 14, 1856. Her parents were of Seoteh aneestry, and eame from the North of Irelaud to Canada, where her father died when she was a child of ahout six years old. Her mother, formerly Miss Sarah Lowrey, now lives in Heyworth with her two daughters-Jennie and Maggie.

Mr. and Mrs. Minton have beeome the parents of four children, all living-Charlie C., Chesley W., Wiley B. and John P. Mrs. Minton is a mem- ber in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their pleasant home is the resort of many warm friends who are hospitably entertained. Mr. Minton, iu politics, is a staneh Demoerat, and while in De Witt County, held the office of Town- ship Colleetor.

As a splendid example of what may be aceom- plished hy an energetie, enterprising and deter- mined man, we point to Mr. Minton, and take pleasure in giving his portrait in this volume.

LFRED J. WELCHI, a very sueéessful far- mer of Downs Township, is proprietor. of 311 acres of valuable land, finely loeated on seetions 17 and 18, and twelve aeres on seetions 5 and 7, the residenee being on the first. The greater part of the farm is improved and under a good state of eultivation, and well drained with 700 rods of tile. The place is furnished with good buildings and fenees, and all the appliances of the modern and progressive agrieulturist.

Mr. Weleh is a native of this county, born in Downs Township July 5, 1855, and the youngest of four sons and four daughters horn to his parents. He pursued his earlier studies in the distriet sehools and completed his edueation in Wesleyan Univer- sity. Ile made his home with his parents until his marriage, Nov. 19, 1879, to Miss Bell, the daughter. of James Fulton, of whom a sketeh will he found elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. W. was horn, reared and educated in Downs Township, and when six- teen years of age commeneed teaching, which she

followed snecessfully for a short time. Of her union with our suhjeet there have been born three children, of whom one, Walter H., is deeeased. The two daughters living are Grace and Martha.

Mr. and Mrs. Weleh sinee their marriage have lived upon their present homestead, where our suh- jeet has followed his ehosen vocation with more than ordinary sueeess. The farm is well stocked with eattle, horses, sheep and swine, and everything about the premises is kept in the best eondition. Our suhjeet and his wife are not connected with any church organization but have endeavored as well as they knew how, to do unto others as they would be done by. Mr. Weleh politieally is an earnest supporter of Republican principles.

R EV. JOHN G. CAMPBELL, a highly re- speeted resident of Bloomington, resides at No. 906 Moulton street, and enjoys the friendship and association of the eultured people of the eity. He is a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and was born Aug. 1, 1813. Mr. Campbell is the son of James and Naney A. Camp- bell, natives of Virginia, who were members of the Christian Church, and the father was engaged in farming pursuits. The parents removed from the Old Dominion to Missouri, in 1856, and there spent the remainder of their lives. Of their fam- ily of seven ehildren, four are now living-Hugh, John G., James O., and Mary E., now Mrs. Rich- ards, of Missouri.

The younger days of the suhjeet of this sketcli were spent on his father's farm and in sehool. When twenty-one years of age he went to Indiana and attended the State University one year. He afterward engaged in farming and preaching alter- nately, heing eonneeted with the Christian Church. He was a resident of Monroe County, Ind., for eleven years, and then returned to his former home, where he remained two years, aud in Oetoher, 1849, eame to this State and county, and loeated at Bloomington, where he was engaged as formerly until 1880, when on account of failing health, he retired from aetive life.

When twenty-one years of age, in 1834, Mr.

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Campbell was united in marriage with Miss Sallie A. Campbell, a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and the daughter of Hugh and Mary (Alexander) Campbell, who were engaged in agricultural pur- suits. The mother died in Bourbon County, Ky., and the father in Indiana. Nine of their eleven children are now living, as follows: Nancy J., Mrs. Alexander; Sallie A., Mrs. Campbell; William A., Hugh B., James T., Grennberry W., Wright, Rob- ert, and Mary Catherine, Mrs. Dr. Molett, of Flor- ida. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell of this notice have two children: Newton M., who married Miss Mary Guinn, and they have two sons-Charles L. and Ira C .; Minnie M. is a graduate of the Blooming- ton High School, and resides with her parents. All the family are members of the Christian Church, and our subject in polities is Republican.

R RANK A. WEISHAAR, a contractor and builder, with an office on the corner of Mulberry street and Morris avenue, Bloom- ington, enjoys a successful and lucrative trade. Our subject is a native of Lee County, Iowa, and was born Nov. 5, 1849. His parents were Anthony and Josephine (Hizer) Weishaar, natives of Ger- many, who came to America with their parents when children. They settled in New Orleans, and after arriving at suitable years were married there. In 1846 they removed to Iowa, where Anthony Wcishaar purchased 220 acres of wild land and commenced the improvement of a farm. He was sueecssful in his agricultural and business opera- tions, and the home which he established remained in his possession until his death, which occurred in 1879. The mother still lives on the old farm.

The grandfather of our subject, whose name was also Anthony, was one of the first settlers of Lee County, Iowa, where he opened up a large farm and became one of the prominent men of that see- tion. His son, Anthony, the father of our subject, possessed the traits of his sire in a marked degree, and in early manhood held the offices of Supervisor and Pathmaster, and with his wife and children was prominently connected with the German Cath- olic Church. Their household ineluded nine chil-

dren, six of whom are living: William, of Lec County, Iowa, is engaged as a carpenter and coo- per; Malinda, now Mrs. Keiner, lives in Lce County, Iowa; Frank is a resident of Bloomington; Charles is engaged in farming in Lce County, Iowa, as is also George; Lizzie, who married a brother of the aforesaid Mr. Keiner, lives in Lec County, Iowa.

Frank A. Weishaar remained with his parents until the 7th of August, 1864, in the meantime re- ceiving a practical education and doing farm work. He then went to learn the carpenter's trade of his cousin, Lewis Weishaar, of Lee County, Iowa, with whom he served for three years, and then worked as a journeyman for seven years. In 1870 he came to Bloomington, and after two years returned to Lce County, where he remained six years. He then again came to Bloomington and started out as a builder and contractor, which business he has fol- lowed since that timc. He is a skilled mechanie, a straightforward business man, and is considered one of the representative men of the city.

The marriage of Frank A. Weishaar and Miss Frances Angersbach took place in 1872, at Bloom- ington. Mrs. W. 'is the daughter of Joseph and Frances Angersbach, and by hier union with our subject has become the mother of one child, Gus- sie J. Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the Ger- man Catholic Church, and the former belongs to the German Benevolent Society.

W ILLIAM ELLSWORTH, one of the young- er children, but eldest son of John and Phebe Ellsworth, of New York, is of Ainer- ican parentage. John Ellsworth grew to manhood in his native State, and enlisting in the Revolutionary War, served seven years as a soldier in defense of American liberty. He fought under Gen. Wayne, and miraculously escaped death on several occa- sions, his clothing being pierced through and through with the enemies' bullets. He passed . through many of the thrilling secnes of that period, and much of the time performned special duty as a messenger, carrying important dispatchies. At the close of the war he received an honorable discharge, and lived many years to talk of its thrilling inei-

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dents and the glorious vietory which followed. John Ellsworth had learned the trade of a carpenter when a young man, and after his return from the war pursued this and farming the remainder of his life.

After marriage they settled near Bowling Green, Ky., where their son William, of our sketch, was born, on the 1st of September, 1817. Six years later John Ellsworth set out with his family for Illinois, and located in St. Clair County, about thirty miles from St. Louis, where the parents passed the remainder of their lives, the father hav- ing attained the age of eighty-four years.

William Ellsworth set out early in life to earn his own livelihood, working first upon a farm in St. Clair County, Ill., and employing himself for a number of years at whatever his hands could find to do. After reaching manhood he was married to Sarah Tolbert, of St. Clair County, Ill. Three children were born of this union: John, who lives in Wieh- ita, Kan .; George, a resident of Cowley County, that State, and Jane married Joseph Bishop, and they are living at Heyworth. Mrs. Sarah Ellsworth died in St. Clair County, in 1847. The second marriage of our subjeet took place in St. Clair County, Ill., Nov. 8, 1848, with Mrs. Mary E. Chesney, widow of Robert Chesney, and daughter of Kineheon and Elizabeth (Elder) Pitts. By her union with Rob- ert Chesney there was born a daughter, Harriet, who married John S. Bishop, and they live in Ran- dolph Township. Mrs. Ellsworth was born near Murfreesboro, Tenn., May 10, 1823. Her parents were natives of the same State, her father being en- gaged in farming. They left their native State in 1828, and came with their two children, Mary E. and Naney, to St. Clair County, Ill., where they lo- eated upon a farm. Afterward, in 1873, they re- moved to Nashville, Washington County, this State, where the father died in November, and the inother in Mareh, 1875, hoth aged seventy-five years, and both members of the Baptist Church, as also were John Ellsworth and his wife before they died.

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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 141

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