Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 147

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 147

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. Blaisdell became a resident of Weston in the spring of 1872, and for four years superintended the grain business of Haines, Jordan & Co. In the fall of 1875 he formed a partnership with Al- bert Rakestraw, and under the firm style of Blais- dell, Rakestraw & Co., they operated in grain for one year, then purchased a warehouse. Afterward Mr. Blaisdell for four years operated in company with Joseph Leeret. The firm was dissolved in 1882, since which time our subject has carried on business alone.

On the 21st of September, 1871, Edgar Blaisdell was united in marriage with Miss Susan A., dangh-

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ter of Longworth and Sarah A. (Fry) Arınstrong. Mrs. Blaisdell was born in Peoria, Oet. 20, 1848, and by her union with our subjeet has beeome the mother of six ehildren-Fannie, Louisa, Edgar, `Alına, Amelia and Jay. Mr. Blaisdell is a fine il- lustration of the self-made man, who, by the exer- eise of his own energy and industry, has attained a good position in the community and in a business way. He is careful in his business transactions, prompt in meeting his obligations, and in all re- speets is entitled to be elassed as an honest man and a good eitizen. A lithographie view of Mr. Blaisdell's residenee, elevator and offiee, appears on another page.

OHN McCONNELL. In MeLean County are many extensive land-owners, and fre_ quently these gentlemen have amassed their property by their own energy and business taet. Prominent among this number is Mr. : MeConnell of Downs Township, who is proprietor of 500 aeres on seetions 35 and 2. This is finely im- proved and eultivated,and providedwith a handsome and commodious residenee, from which may be ob- tained a fine view of the surrounding country. Our subjeet is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of MeLean County, who has made the most of his opportunities and taken advantage of mod- ern progress. His barns and out-buildings are of first-elass deseription, finely arranged for the shel- ter of stoek and the storing of grain. He has a fine lot of high-grade eattle and blooded horses, and everything about the premises indieates the supervision of an enterprising and intelligent man.

Mr. MeConnell eame to MeLean Connty in 1854, while a young man about twenty one years of age, and purchased 160 aeres of land, which constitutes a part of his present homestead and of which he took possession in 1855. His first dwelling eon- sisted of a board shanty, 14x15 feet square, in which he made his temporary abode and which gave place to a better one, a frame building 19x32 feet in area, and with four rooms. This constituted a comfortable home for his family for a number of years, and still continuing in the mareh of progress,

he later put up his present handsome and substantial residence, which is considered one of the best in the township. It is set in the midst of fine grounds, with handsome shade trees and slirubberies planted by the hand of the proprietor, and in the summer time is a delightful resort.

Mr. MeConnell was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, April 9, 1832. His father, William MeCon- nell, was born in Pennsylvania, April 12, 1778, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Ile participated in various engagements, receiving wounds which made him a eripple, and on aeeount of which he was given a pension. He lived in Penn- sylvania several years after leaving the army and then removing to Hamilton County, Ohio, opened a publie house which became very popular through- out that seetion. He was a neighbor and stanch friend of Gen. Harrison, whom he assisted greatly by his influenee at the Presidential election in 1840. and was a prominent figure generally in the "log eabin eampaign." William MeConnell was a staneh Whig in polities, a man of great foree of eharaeter, and respeeted by all who knew him. He was not eonneeted with any ehureh but was an advocate of the Presbyterian faith. IIe died at his home in Hamilton County, Ohio, Det. 2, 1876. His wife, formerly Miss Catherine A. Lafever, was a native of Pennsylvania, in which State she was married. They afterward removed to Connersville, Fayette Co., Ind., and Mrs. MeConnell was the first woman buried in the cemetery at that place. The par- ental household consisted of thirteen ehildren, three only of whom are now living.

Our subjeet was the twelfth ehild of his parents' family and grew to manhood in Ohio. He pursued his studies in the common sehools and completed his education at Farmer's College, in Hamilton County. He then taught sehool nine years follow- ing, in the meantime having eome to this county, a part of his labors being in Downs and Empire Townships. He was successful as a teacher, has been so as a fariner, and soon after eoming here identified himself thoroughly with the interests of the county. He became a resident before the organi- zation of the township, and when this took place was eleeted Township Clerk and afterward Assessor and Supervisor, holding the former office five eon-

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seeutive years, and the latter two years. He was also Road Commissioner two years, early in the history of the township, being one of the first who made the survey for a publie thoroughfare. IIe has served as Justice of the Peace for about fifteen years and in politics is a solid Republican.

John MeConnell was married in Empire Town- ship, June 17, 1862, at the home of the bride's parents, to Miss Martha E. Buek, who was born at Le Roy Dee. 14, 1838, and is the daughter of Hiram Buek. She is a high-ininded and intelligent lady and greatly respeeted by all who know her. Of this union there were three children, of whom one daughter, Anna B., died when about nineteen years of age. The two sons, Hiram E. and William M., are twins; the former is attending Wesleyan Uni- versity, and the latter the Business College at Bloomington.

Both Mr. and Mrs. MeConnell are members of Downs Grange No. 1163, having been among its organizers and still holding offices in the order. Our subject has been a delegate to the State Grange upon three occasions. He has been Master Lee- turer, Overseer and Gate Keeper. Mrs. McC. has been Master and Secretary of the Subordinate Grange, and was for a long time Seer of County Grange.

AVID SIMMONS, retired farmer, has his residence in Bloomington, at No. 802 North Oak street. Mr. S. is a native of the Old Dominion, having been born at the foot of Peter's Mountain, in Monroe County, W. Va., the date July 15, 1802. His parents were Ephraim and Elizabeth (Galaway) Simmons, na- tives of the same State, where they engaged in . farming pursuits. Of the eight children born to the parents of our subject, only two are living, David and his sister Elizabeth, the latter now Mrs. Jackson Lucas, of Bloomington. Ephraim Simmons departed this life in Cabell County, W. Va., in 1821.

The subject of this sketch remained at home and worked on the farm until the death of his father. Then, with his mother and her family, he started West and locating in Decatur County, Ind., leased

a traet of land which he farmed for a period of nine years. In 1830 he came to the south side of Blooming Grove, and purchased eighty aeres, which he cultivated and improved until 1859

In 1836, Mr. Simmons entered 240 acres of land in Bloomington Township, and was the first man to put up a building on the prairie in that vicinity. With the exception of thirty-six days when he served as a soldier in the Black Hawk War, he has resided in this county continuously since that time. Ile improved his farm, building, and setting out trees, and hewed the logs for the first store build- ing that was ereeted in Bloomington. For this la- bor he received seventy-five cents per day, without · board. He is now eighty-four years old, never took a chew of tobacco, never smoked a eigar or pipe, and never took but one pinch of snuff, and that when a boy. He never signed a temperance pledge, and was never intoxicated but onee, and that when he was about twenty-four years of age. He possessed all the energy and resolution of the genuine pioneer, and was ready for any emergency.

Mr. Simmons was married in 1825, to Miss Eliz- abeth, daughter of Reuben and Martha Jones, na- tives of Georgia. Of this union there were born ten children, only four now living: Levi, of Wil- mington, Kan .; Annie, now Mrs. Lash, of Bloom- ington Township; Benjamin, of Missouri, and Mary, Mrs. Fielder, of Randolph Township.

Our subjeet purchased his present property in 1859. After living upon it one year he was placed in charge of the Poor House Farm, and remained its Superintendent for three years, when the insti- tution was first established, this being the first of . the kind in McLean County. Afterward, Mr. Sim- mons returned to his home in the city. In the fall of 1886 he sold the last of his lands, eighty acres, receiving for it $50 per acre. While in possession of his farm he engaged principally in stock and grain raising, which he carried on intelligently and successfully. When coming to this vicinity there was only one log cabin upon the ground which is now occupied by the beautiful and flourishing eity of Bloomington, and he has watched with that pleasure and satisfaction enjoyed by most of the pioneers, the remarkable growth and prosperity of MeLean County and its capital. He was the first

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Supervisor of Bloomington Township, which ofliec he held several years, and with his wife has been a consistent member of the Christian Church sinee early in life. The latter still remains the affection- ate and devoted companion of her husband, and they are patiently waiting until the summons shall eome for them to cross over the river.

R. ZERA WATERS, physician and surgeon, of Bloomington, was born in Watertown, Jefferson Co., N. Y., in 1836, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Wakefield) Waters, also natives of the Empire State. William Waters was there engaged in farming during the earlier years of his life, and came to Illinois in 1844, settling in De Witt County, where he de- parted this life four years later. The mother died in 1852. Their four children were, Henry, Orin, Dr. Z., and Susan E., now Mrs. N. O. Andrews, of Bloomington.

The subject of this history lived on the farm until his father's death, and attended school until sixteen years old. He then engaged as engineer for a sawmill at De Witt, and thence went to the lumber woods where he was employed as " sealer," and kept the books for the proprietor, Charles Smith. The next summer he followed fishing on Lake Huron, then resumed his work in the lumber regions in the winter, and soon afterward eame to Bloomington, and entered the employ of Dr. Wake- field as traveling salesman. He afterward took a two years' course of study at Lombard University, Galesburg, and subsequently became engaged in the furniture and agricultural implement trade in Clinton, Ill. All this time he devoted his spare moments to the study of medicine, and finally, go- ing to Van Buren, Ark., gave his entire time to his studies for one year, then commeneed praetice. He located at Lees Creek about 1861, and being known as an Abolitionist was pronounced a dan- gerous man. After the attack upon Ft. Sumter, he was waited upon by a vigilanee committee, who in- tended to hang him. By a strategetie movement, however, he got possession of some liquor, and managing to get them intoxicated, made his eseape

at 11 o'clock at night, taking with him four horses. Two of these were taken by United States troops, for which he received pay fourteen years afterward. After eoming North he landed at Bloomington, July 3, 1861, whence he went to Cineinnati, where he attended medical leetures and received his dip- loma in the spring of 1862. He then returned to Bloomington, and enlisted in the fifteen-day serv- iee to guard the prisoners at Camp Butler, Spring- field, where he was made Assistant Surgeon of the 68th Illinois Infantry, and joining them at Alex- andria,_Va., remained there five months, then re- turned with his regiment to Springfield, and was discharged. .

After his return to Bloomington, Dr. Waters opened an offiee and entered upon the praetiee which he has since continued with ability and sne- cess. He was married, in 1870, to Miss Martha A. Frazier, of New York, and they have one ehild, a son, Robert A. The Doetor is a Greenbacker politieally, and socially belongs to the Masons, the Knights of Honor aud the A. O. U. W. He is a stoekholder in the Co-operative Stove Works, and in all respects an energetic and worthy representa- tive of the business element of the community. The pleasant family residenee is located at No. 1207 North Main street.

AJOR WELLMAN PACKARD, of Bloom- ington, is the oldest practitioner of the Me- Lean County bar, and during a residence of over forty years has built up for him- self an enviable reputation as counselor, advocate, friend and eitizen. He comes from an old and honorable family, his father having been a descend- ant of Samuel Paekard, who emigrated from En- gland to the New World in 1638. Our subject's father, John A. Paekard, a native of Vermont, was the first child born in St. Johnsbury, that State, ' and his grandfather, Richard Paekard, made the first elearing on St. Johnsbury Plain. Richard Paekard was born in Bridgewater, Mass., in about 1760, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, enlisting when a youth of about sixteen years of age, and for many years before his death received

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a pension on acount of services and wounds. Ilis son, John A., the father of our subjeet, served later in the War of 1812. Early in life he followed farming pursuits but later became a local preacher of the Methodist Church. He married Miss Maria Bullock, who was born in Brattleboro, Vt., and was the daughter of William Bullock, Esq., who was prominent in that locality as a business man and useful member of the community. They became the parents of thirteen children, nine boys and four girls, all of whom lived to become men and women and, with two exceptions, all married and raised families of their own.

Major Wellman Packard of this history, was born in St. Hyacinthe, on disputed Canadian ter- ritory, May 31, 1820. He pursued his primary studies in the schools of his native town and later attended school at Holliston, Mass., where he com- pleted his studies and engaged as a teacher in Manchester, N. H., and other places near his old home in Canada. In the summer of 1844 he started for the Great West, and settled in Blooming- ton during the Presidential campaign of Clay and Polk. He commenced reading law in the office of Asahel Gridley and completed his studies with the late David Davis of Bloomington. Two years later he was admitted to the bar and opened an office in Bloomington, where he followed the prae- tice of his chosen profession until 1850. He then crossed the plains to California in company with hundreds of others who emigrated that year to the Pacific Slope. He remained there until March, 1855, engaged in mining and general merelandis- ing. He then returned to Bloomington and re- sumed his law practice which he has continued un- interruptedly until the present time, having now had an experience of about forty years, and having distinguished himself as being of sound judgment and possessing more than ordinary ability.

Our subject was first married in the summer of 1846, at Clinton, Ill., to Miss Maria W., daughter of Samuel W. Bullock, who died two years after- ward, leaving an infant son, Albert W., who fol- lowed his mother to the silent home four months later. After his return from California Mr. Pack- ard was again married, in May, 1857, to Miss Ellen Ilarris of Ohio. Of this union there were born

four children, three living: Lou M. became the wife of Fred Gay, a member of the firm of Gay Bros., book publishers in New York City; Frankie died when two years of age; Engene and Nellie are at home with their parents. Major Packard since coming to this locality has thoroughly identi- fied himself with its interests, and as opportunity afforded has been the encourager and supporter of every enterprise calculated to advance the growthi and prosperity of his adopted city. He has been a member of the Board of Education and its Presi- dent for seven years, and in all respeets has ful- " filled his obligations as a worthy factor of the busi- ness community and of society at large.

USTIN RAWLINGS, general merchant and grain dealer, and also Postmaster at Kum- ler, is a native of Fleming County, Ky., where he was born May 31, 1836, and is the eldest son of John E. and Polly (Scott) Raw- lings. Ile was less than a year, old when his par- ents came to Illinois, and received his early educa- tion in the pioneer schools of Menard County. As soon as old enough he began to work on the farm with his father, and remained under the home roof until he was twenty-five years of age. When a young man he was employed in hauling merchan- dise from Beardstown to Petersburg, a distance of forty miles. His mother raised flax, which she spun and wove, and in this manner provided the clothing for her family until our subject grew to manhood.

In 1861, the Civil War being in progress, Mr. Rawlings was desirous of enlisting as a Union sol- dier, but the quota for Illinois being filled he was obliged to go to St. Louis, where he became a member of the 1st Missouri Cavalry, and served faithfully through the war. He was in many bat- tles and skirmishes, including the engagements at Wilson Creek, Sugar Creek, Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove. He received his honorable discharge with his regiment at Little Rock, Ark., in 1865, after a service of four years and two months. He entered the army as a private, was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company B, in January, 1865, and

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that same year promoted First Lieutenant. He was also an ambulance offieer, from April. 1865, nntil his discharge, and served on the staff of Gen. West for some time. -

After his retirement from the army, Mr. Raw- lings returned to MeLean County, and engaged with his father in the grain business for the follow- ing year. Soon after the completion of the U. P. R. R. he went to California, where he spent a few months, and purchasing a hotel in Wilmington, Will County, operated it one year. In 1874 he purchased a farm on seetion 31, Belleflower Town- ship, where he lived until 1881. He then pur- chased a store at Kumler, which has been his home since that time.

Our subjeet was married on the 8th of April, 1875, to Miss S. L. Wildman. Mrs. R. was born in Logan County, Ill., June 18, 1854, and was the daughter of William Wildman, a native of Ohio, and the son of Jonas Wildman, one of the pioneers of Martin County, Ind. William Wildman was young when, with his parents, he went to Indiana, and after reaching manhood, was married in Mar- tin County to Miss Ellen Howard. This lady was born in Kentucky, whenee she removed with her parents at an early age to Martin County, Ind., and was there reared to womanhood. The family eame to Illinois in 1852, settling first in Logan and afterward in Menard County, where Mr. W. died in 1866. The mother still survives, and makes her home with Mrs. Rawlings. Our subject and wife have one child, a son, Edward E., born in 1876, and who is living at home.

OHN P. ZEIGLER, of the firm of Zeigler & Ferre, contraetors and builders, of Bloom- ington, is a native of Carlisle, Pa., and was born in Cumberland County, Jan. 6, 1837. He is the son of Jacob and Lydia (Furner) Zeigler, natives of Pennsylvania. The grandfather of our subject, Phillip Zeigler, was born at Carlisle Springs, Pa., and descended from German ancestry, his father having been born in Germany and emi- grated to the United States when a young man. Phillip Zeigler's father located at Carlisle Springs,

Pa., and purchased 160 acres of unimproved land, being among the first settlers of the Keystone State. His family ineluded five children-Phillip. Jacob, Henry, Eliza and Mary. After the death of the parents, Phillip purehascd the interest of the heirs in the homestead and remained upon it during the balance of his life. His children were four in num- ber-Jacob, Andrew, William and Margaret.

After the death of his parents. Jacob Zeigler sold his interest in the homestead to his brothers and moved into Carlisle, Pa., where he raised a family of six children-Margaret, Mary, John P., Julia, Kate and David. After leaving the home- stead Jacob Zeigler followed the trade of a black- smith, which he had previously learned. He set up a shop and gave employment to three men, finally becoming engaged in the manufacture of wagons, in which he was occupied the latter years of his life. He was a prominent member of his community and held the office of Supervisor for many years. With his wife he was a member of the Lutheran Church and a Deaeon for a long period. He gave all his children a good education and lived to see them married and comfortably settled in life. He rested from his earthly labors at the age of seventy-two years, dying in 1881, at Greenview, Menard Coun- ty, this State, whither he had removed the year pre- viously. He came with his family to Illinois in 1874, first settling in Farmer City, De Witt Conn- ty. After the death of her husband the mother of our subject went back to Pennsylvania on a visit and died there in 1885, aged sixty-seven years.

The subject of our sketeh attended sehool until he was sixteen years old and then engaged as elerk in a dry-goods store for two years. He afterward learned the earpenter's trade, serving an apprentice- ship of four years, and worked for one year as journeyman. In 1860 he proceeded to Ohio, and after a sojourn of six months returned to his native State and was married to Miss Elizabeth K., daugh- ter of Thompson and Maria (Winecoop) Bosler. He worked at his trade for three years after his marriage and then removed to Chambersburg, Pa., where he spent the following two and one-half years.

In 1871 our subjeet eame to Illinois, loeating in Farmer City, De Witt County, where he became

Was vand choich.

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engaged as a contractor and builder, and continued until 1880. Thenee he removed to Bloomington, still following the same business, and in 1886 be- eame associated with his present partner. The firm has been remarkably sueeessful in its operations and employs from six to eight men.

Mr. and Mrs. Zeigler have beeome the parents of four children, as follows: Annie, Mrs. Adolph, of Bloomington, is the mother of one daughter-Ma- bel; Thomas is engaged in blaeksinithing at Brook- lyn, Iowa; William, also a blaeksinith by trade, is in Bloomington; Irena is with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Z. are members of the Second Presby- terian Church. Onr subjeet was Alderman of Far- iner City for two years. Socially he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and as a eitizen and business man ranks among the representative men of the city of Bloomington.

M ILTON BULL," fariner, stoek raiser and feeder, of Lexington Township, is a native of Owen County, Ind., and born near Mar- tinsville, Jan. 31, 1825. IIe is the son of William Bull, a native of Virginia, a farmer by oe- cupation, and a soldier of the War of 1812. By his first marriage he had two children, George and' John. The former is at present residing in Kansas, having attained the venerable age of eighty-two years. William Bull's first wife had two children by a previous marriage, namely, William and Mary Goodwin. William Bull after his marriage with Esther Goodwin nee Fowler, settled on a farm in Owen County, Ind., and made that his home until the fall of 1853, when he eame to this eounty and, settling in Lexington Township, passed one summer at Selma. He then rented a farm, having but lit- tle means, having lost almost all his aecumulations while a resident of Indiana, by going seenrity. He never recovered his finaneial standing. He lived with his son, our subjeet, until his death, in 1852, in his seventy-second year. His wife died in 1858. By his latter marriage he had eight ehildren, six daughters and two sons, namely : Eleanor, wife of William Arnold; Caroline married John Haner; Eliza, Mrs. Edwin MeMaster, wife of a Methodist

minister of note; Washington is deeeased; Milton was next in order of birth; "Julia A. beeamne the wife of Ilenry Myers, and both died in Cumber- land County, this State ;¡ Mahala was united in mar- riage with James Moore, a resident of Wiehita, Kan., and Margaret became the wife of Nieholas Reed, and is now deceased.

Milton Bull was about eighteen years old when he eame to this eounty with his parents. He received his edueation in the common sehools of Owen County, Ind., and worked on his father's farın, and when twelve years old was almost able to do a man's work on the plaee. When he eame to this eounty he hired out as a hand to Milton Smith for $10 per month for the first year. He continued with that gentleman about fourteen months and with the money he had earned and saved, bought fifty-five aeres of land, going in debt for a portion of it. He soon, however, paid for it, aud by economizing was enabled to purehase more from time to time until he became the proprietor of a handsome property.

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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 147

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