Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 148

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 148

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When in his twenty-fifth year our subjeet was married to Miss Naney Newlon, of this eounty, but a native of Owen County, Ind., and daughter of John Newlon, born in Virginia. Her mother's inaiden name was Anna Walker. The Newlon family were of German origin. After marriage Mr. Bull located on his present farm, seetion 28, Lexington Township. He commeneed on a small seale and kept adding as he eould to his possessions, and now is the owner of 640 aeres of valuable land in one body. He also added to the eultivation of the eereals, the industry of raising and feeding eattle for the market. He has also been suceessful in the raising of hogs and feeds from seventy-five to 100 head for the market annually. He has a fine two-story residenee on his place, together with good barns and substantial outbuildings, and lias met with far more than ordinary sueeess in his business.

Six ehildren, three sons and three daughters, have been born to our subjeet and wife. They are, William S., Isaae II .; Margaret A., wife of James N. Smail; Mary A. married IIarvey Smith; George, Jr., Martha E. Two of their children died in in- faney. Mr. and Mrs. Bull are members of the

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Methodist Episcopal Churel. He has given to each of his children some forty to eighty aeres of land and retains on the home farm 140 acres.

USTUS CASTLE. Among the manufactur- ing establishments of Chenoa the steam tile works of Pike & Castle occupy the most im- portant position. The business was estab- lished in 1880 by Ellington & Castle. Two years later Mr. E. M. Pike purchased the interest of Mr. Ellington and it has sinee been conducted by the firm of Pike & Castle. The factory buildings are fitted up with the mnost approved machinery, in- eluding an engine of fifty-horse power, and the annual output is over 1.300,000 tile, and some years has gone beyond even these large figures. The factory is kept in operation all the year round and 7,000 feet of steam pipe contribute to keep an even temperature throughout the works. They give employment to about eighteen men and ship the products of their manufacture to different parts of this State, besides supplying a large home demand.

Mr. Castle is a native of the Green Mountain State, and was born near Brattleboro, Nov. 5, 1823. Ilis father, Philo, and his grandfather, Timo- thy Castle, were natives of Connecticut, and were descendants of excellent French and English fain- ilies. The father of our subject in early manhood was united in marriage with Miss Jerusha Dix, who was born in Connecticut, and whose father, Ozias Dix, removed to Vermont and there passed the remainder of his days. Philo Castle, after his marriage settled on a farın in Windham County, Vt., and established a home there which he oeeu- pied until his death. The parental household in- cluded eight children, all of whom lived to mature years. Justus of our sketeh was the youngest and remained with his parents on the farm until twenty- one years of age, in the meantime obtaining his education in the district school. In 1845, desiring to see something of the Great West, he canie to Illinois and spent one year in Adams County. He then returned to his home in Verinont but did not give up his original intention of loeating perma-

nently in the West. In 1850 he returned to this State and purchased a farm in Bureau County, upon which he lived until 1867. In the meantime, however, he had revisited his native State, and upon his return to Illinois was accompanied by his bride, who was formerly Miss Harriett A. Boyd of Wilmington, Vt. They located upon a farm as we have stated until 1867, then came to this county, taking up their abode in Yates Township, where Mr. Castle engaged in farming until 1879. In that year he removed to Chenoa, and the year following established his present business.

Our subjeet and his wife became the parents of five children, viz., Timothy, who died aged three years; William D. married Miss Naney E. Hamilton ; Hattie M .; Walter died at the age of five years ; Jesse died when about three years of age. While living in Yates Township, Mr. Castle served four years as Justice of the Peace. During his carly life he was a Whig politically, but after the aban- donment of the old party by the organization of the Republican, he cheerfully endorsed the prin- eiples of the latter, with which he uniformly east his vote.

W ILLIAM H. BALL, a native of Cheney's Grove Township, in which he is now lo- cated, residing on section 10, was born Nov. 24, 1841. He is the son of Hilleary and Calista (Hildreth) Ball, natives of Kentucky and New York respectively. The father was born March 8, 1817, and the mother, May 27 of that same year. They are still living and make their home in this township. The children of the pa- rental family were William H .; Elizabeth T. mar- ried William Evans; Julia A., Mrs. Gallagher, is a resident of Kansas, her husband being the Clerk of Ford County ; Amos married Miss Hannah Ste- phens; Hattie is the wife of Robert Means, a banker of Saybrook.

The grandfather of our subjeet's wife, Benjamin Thomas, was the second white man who came into Cheney's Grove Township for permanent settle- ment, arriving here in 1826. IIe was born on the 12th of May, 1799, and died on the 1st of April,

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1834. His wife was born Dee. 26, 1799, and died April 8, 1836. It will thus be seen that they were born in the same year and both died in April. The grandmother survived her husband a little over two years.

William H. Ball is the eldest member of his par- ents' family. He was reared to farming, received a fair common-school education, and after reaching manhood was united in marriage with Miss, Mary ' Harrison on the 10th of November, 1864. Mrs. Ball is also a native of Cheney's Grove Township, and born Sept. 11, 1843. She is the daughter of Davis and Temperanee (Thomas) Harrison, the father a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of Ohio. Davis Harrison was born Feb. 26, 1819, and died at his home in Saybrook, Feb. 9. 1884. His wife, the mother of Mrs. Ball, was born Aug. 23, 1823, and departed this life about the 10th of Mareh, 1873. Four of their eight children are yet living : Mary, of our sketch, was the eldest. Benja- min T., born Aug. 8, 1846, married Miss Love C. Ilogan; Leander J., born Sept. 13, 1848, died May 20, 1871 ; Ilannalı, born Aug. 20, 1851, died Sept. 24, 1853; Charles, born Jan. 27, 1854. died Mareb 31, 1874; Aaron, born Oet. 28, 1856, died Sept. 11, 1858; Ellen C., born Oet. 10, 1860, became the wife of Floyd W. Collins, Oet. 13, 1881; Esther M. was born Sept. 11, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have four children: Harriett E., born Sept. 30, 1865 ; Harrison, Oet. 25, 1866; Minnie E., May 31, 1868, and Frank M., Dee. 22, 1876. Harriett graduated at the Bloomington High School in 1886, and is now teaching five miles East of that eity.

The homestead of our subjeet comprises 290 aeres of valuable land under an advanced state of cultivation. In September, 1881, he removed to Bloomington, where he remained until March, 1887. He then returned to the farm, which seems more like home to him than any place in the world. Here he has a substantial and convenient residenee which, together with his substantial out- buildings and live stock, comprises the model farm estate of an enterprising and representative eitizen. Mr. Ball has one of the finest farm estates in this seetion besides the finest spring in MeLean County, it having a eapaeity sufficiently large to water 1,000

head of stoek daily, even in the driest season of the year.

Mr. and Mrs. Ball .with, two of the children, Hattie and Minnie, are members of the First Methodist Church of Bloomington. A view of Mr. Ball's residenee is shown on another page.

AMES M. SELLS. One of the handsomest homesteads in Martin Township, lying on seetion 14, is occupied by the subject of this sketch, of which he took possession in the spring of 1864. The family residenee, which is splendidly located, is one of the neatest and most tasteful in that loeality, and the barn and other necessary farm buildings are handsome and sub- stantial structures, ealeulated alike for beauty and utility. The fenees and farm machinery are kept in good repair, and the stoek and other accessories of the estate testify in a silent and foreible manner to the intelligence, industry and enterprise of the proprietor.

Anthony Sells, the father of our subject, and Benjamin Sells, the grandfather, were both natives of Virginia. The former emigrated to Indiana when a young man, where he remained a short time, and then came into Woodford County, this State. There he was married to Miss Mary Mun- dell, a native of Woodford County. After their marriage the young people settled at Dixon, Ill., whenee they shortly afterward removed to Johnson County, Iowa. Anthony Sells being a miller by trade put up a mill on the lowa River, near Iowa City, which he operated for a number of years, and then pushed southwestward into Kansas, where he passed the remainder of his days. The mother had died while living in Johnson County, Iowa.

James M., our subjeet, after residing three years in Johnson County, Iowa, returned to Woodford County, making his home with his unele and grand- mother. He started out in life for himself at the early age of ten years, and eommeneed working on a farm and herding eattle. He soon learned the value of money, and saved what he eould of a very limited ineome. During the war he dealt largely in eattle for other parties, and in time be-

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gan to trade on his own aceount, investing what means he could raise in live stock. As his opera- tions extended he began shipping cattle from Kan- sas and Colorado to Chieago, New York, and other Eastern points. His transactions in this line contin- ned for a period of over thirty years. IIe has been remarkably successful in his operations and aecumu- lated a handsome competenecy. His career from first to last has been a striking illustration of what may be accomplished from very small beginnings. Ilis first property in the eattle line was a yearling calf, which he seeured in payment for cutting eorn stalks. Ile has fed as high as 500 head of cattle during the winter, for which purpose he raises an immense quantity of eorn, probably more than any other man in this township. Besides liis eattle op- erations, which have ineluded large numbers of thoroughbred Short-horns, he has been engaged quite extensively in the breeding of Norman horses. IIis stables contain some of the handsomest animals in this section of the State.

During the war Mr. Sells made money rapidly, but in the panie of 1873, which brought ruin to so many men, he suffered heavily. His was not the spirit to be dismayed or discouraged, however, and he recovered from his losses as best he could, and set about with dauntless courage to retrieve his fortunes. In due time he found himself again upon his feet. He purchased his present farm in 1864, taking an entire seetion of land, and giving as part payment 100 head of eattle, but it was not long until he had the whole of it paid for.

The marriage of James M. Sells and Miss Emma F. Brooke, of MeLean County, took place in 1873. Mrs. S. was born near Shirley, Ill., and is the daugh- ter of Matthew and Mary (Thompson) Brooke. Matthew Brooke removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and thenee to Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Sells have four children, three daughters and one son --- Mary, Lavisa, Charles B. and Rachel.

When Mr. Sells first took possession of his pres- ent farm there were no improvements upon it, it having been chiefly devoted to the herding of eat- tle, numbers of which he himself had looked after upon the same land years before he was in a eondi- tion to think of buying. Sinee he took possession of it he has effeeted a wonderful change, and has

brought most of the land to a good state of eultiva- tion, some years raising as high as 20,000 bushels- of eorn on 320 aeres. Our subject was elected As- sessor of Martin Township, which office he held for three successive terms. Politieally he is independ- ent, and is a strong temperanee man.

AMES S. BLAND, a self-made man, is to- . day a prosperous and highly respected far- mer of Empire Township. He came into the Prairie State after the war, poor in poeket and without influential friends, but by the exercise of his native energy and resolution lias seeured for himself a comfortable home and a comu- peteney and has established himself in the esteem of his fellow-eitizens.

Mr. Bland was born in Pendleton County, W. Va., Jan. 23, 1845. His father, Eli Bland, was a native of the same eounty and State, and his grand- father, Henry Bland who, it is believed, was also a Virginian, followed the oeeupation of a farmer in the Old Dominion, spending most of his life in Pendleton County. His son Eli, the father of our subjeet, was also reared to farming pursuits, and spent his entire life in his native county, dying there in the winter of 1862 or 1863. He married in early life Miss Annie Haigler, a native of his own county, who still resides there.

James Bland attended the subscription schools of his native county and assisted his father in farm- ing until 1862. Then, upon the outbreak of the .Rebellion, and when a youth of seventeen years, he enlisted as a soldier of the Confederaey in Co. A, 18th Va. Vol. Cav., and served until the elose of the war. He was in the army of Gen. Lee and was present at the battles of Fisher's Hill, Win- chester, Newmarket, Lynchburg and Gettysburg. Ile was captured by Federal troops in September, 1864, and confined at Camp Chase, Ohio, eight months, being released at the elose of the war. He then returned to his native county in Virginia and resumed farming on the old homestead until 1867. Not being quite satisfied with his condition or his prospeets he resolved to emigrate to Illinois. lle stopped first in Champaign County for one year,

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working on a farm, whenee he went into DeWitt County and was similarly ocenpied until his mar- riage. He then rented a farm in De Witt County until 1878, when he came into MeLean and pur- chased the farm which he now occupies. He has greatly improved the condition of this since it came into his possession, although it was then sup- plied with a good set of frame buildings. On the 2d of November, 1882, the first house was destroyed by fire and he put up the one he now occupies. This is a substantial and convenient structure, pleasantly located, and makes a pleasant home for himself and family. His first purchase consisted of 188 acres and to this he has added and now has in all 287 aeres divided into three farms, two of them being supplied with good frame buildings.

Mr. Bland was married in this county on the 23d of July, 1871, to Miss Elizabeth IIelmiek, who was born in Rutledge Township, De Witt- Co., Ill., July 10, 1851, and is the daughter of Elisha and Mary (Trimble) IIelmiek, both natives of Virginia, who came to De Witt County in about 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Bland became the parents of seven ehil- dren-Ashley, Mary, Hattie, Walter, Ewell, Bessie and Dell. The parents are members in good stand- ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

A lithographie view of Mr. Bland's residence is shown on another page of this work.

W ILLIAM J. KIMLER, Supervisor of West Township, is a native of the Prairie State, and was born near the eity of Blooming- ton, Nov. 10, 1838. His father, Caleb Kimler, was a native of Virginia, whenee he removed into Ken- tueky and lived until about 1830. He then eame into that part of Vermilion County, Ill., which is now included in MeLean, and lived a few years in what is now Bloomington Township. He then pur- chased a tract of timber and prairie near Randolph Grove, upon which stood a log house, and he there loeated and commenced the serious business of life in a new country. Ile had served an apprentice- ship as a earpenter and cabinet-maker and after lo- eating here, in company with others put up the first sawmill in the county, at the cast end of

Randolph Grove. He engaged a man to operate his farm and employed himself at his trade most of the time. His death occurred in Randolph Town- ship, Jan. 9, 1848.

The maiden name of Caleb Kimler's wife was Elizabeth Orendorff, and she was born July 29, 1814, in Kentucky, her parents being William and Sallie (Nichols) Orendorff, the former a native of Georgia, and the son of Christopher Orendorff, who was of German descent and parentage. Mrs. Kimler came to this eounty with her parents in 1823, being among the very first settlers, She died in Randolph Grove Oct. 13, 1843, and her remains lie beside those of her husband in Downs Ceme- tery. Of their four children. Lewis C. and Marena J. died near Bloomington ; the latter was the wife of James W. Abel, who died in Belleflower Township; our subjeet was the third child; America became the wife of Christopher Noggle, and lives in Old Town Township.

The subject of this history was but ten years of age when his father died. He lived with his ma- . ternal grandparents for two years, then made his home with his uncle, John L. Orendorff, until he had grown to manhood, receiving a fair education in the common school, and teaching one term. Upon the breaking ont of the Rebellion he enlisted Aug. 29, 1862, in the 4th Illinois Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He was in the Valley of the Mississippi the entire term of service, his regiment for the most part doing garrison duty.

After his return from the army Mr. Kimler' lived with his unele until his marriage, and then removed to West Township and settled on section 2, town 21. After five years he traded his farm there for the one which he now owns and ocenpies. This consists of 200 acres on section 35, all enclosed and improved, and furnished with a good set of frame buildings. Mr. K. is largely engaged in grain and stoek raising, and everything about the premises denotes the supervision of a methodical business man.

The marriage of our subjeet occurred on the 2d of April, 1867, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary E. Hoover, who was born in Clermont County, Ohio, and the daughter of Joel and Nancy (Honser) Hoover, natives of Maryland. The chil-

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dren of Mr. and Mrs. K. are as follows: Cora May, Ola E., Mary Franees, William B. and Jessie Pearl ; one son, a twin brother of William, died in infaney. Mr. Kimler is Demoeratie in polities, has been Township Clerk for several years, School Trustee and Treasurer, and has served three terms as Su- pervisor.

12 ENRY C. LOWREY, importer and breeder of French draft horses, is a native of Wood- ford County, this State, where he was born March 28, 1856. He has been a resident of Normal Township sinee 1865, and has fully es- tablished himself in the confidence and esteem of the citizens of this community, by his straightfor- ward business methods and his upright life. He is a fine judge of horseflesh, and in the business which he has selected for his vocation, is meeting with well-merited snecess.

The father of our subjeet, Joseph Lowrey, a na- tive of Scotland, came to the United States with his parents when a boy ten years of age. They settled in Lancaster County, Pa., where Joseph grew to manhood, and in 1835 came to Illinois and located near Springfield. Here he was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Jenkins, who was a native of Baltimore, Md. After 'their marriage they located upon a farm, and Joseph Lowrey also carried on a real-estate and live-stock business. He subsequently removed into Woodford County, this State, and thenee came to this county, locating on a traet of land in Normal Township. He subse- quently became the owner of 225 aeres, besides land in Woodford and Logan Counties and also in Iowa and Nebraska, making in all an area of 1,400 aeres. Hle departed this life in 1870. He was prompt to meet his obligations, a strictly honest and reliable business man and was held in the high- est respect by his business associates and acquaint- anees at large. His wife survives and resides .on the old homestead in Normal Township. Their household eirele ineluded six children, of whom the record is as follows: Edwin is an engineer in the United States Navy; Mary became the wife of Frank Peppers, a dealer in agricultural implements and also in Norman horses at Albia, Iowa; Henry C.

of our sketch; Adaline lives in Nebraska with an uncle; Josephine married Arthur Keenan, of Le Roy ; Aliee is at home.

Henry C. Lowrey of our sketeh received a fair education in the common schools and assisted his parents in the duties around the farm. After at- taining his majority he went West to look after some real estate for his father. After arriving in the territories, whither he had gone with some eat- tlemen, he passed three seasons, and then returning home remained a year. In 1881 he embarked in his present business, and subsequently visited France, bringing home with him six valuable horses. Iu 1882 he imported fifteen more choice animals; in 1883, seventeen head, and in 1884, fourteen head, In 1885 he formed a partnership with John J .. Kemp, and under the firm 'style of Kemp & Lowrey they were soon thie possessors of forty-three head of valuable animals, importing during 1886 sixteen head, and in 1887 they im- ported thirty-eight fine horses. They still have a large number of mares for breeding purposes and are rapidly building up a reputation as the most successful and skillful horsemen in this, locality. Our subjeet has been admitted as a member of the National French Draft Horse Association, and has the ambition to strive for the highest excellence in his important work, which so materially affeets the industries of this country.

n ATHANIEL PIERCE HELMICK, a sue- cessful hardware merchant of Belleflower, and still a young man, as a good citizen and an honest and thorough-going member of this community, is contributing his full share toward the business interests of his locality. He is the son of Nathaniel Helmick, Sr., who was born in Virginia, grew to manhood in his native State, and there married Miss Mary Tingler, also a native of the Old Dominion. After a few years they re- moved to Ohio and thenee, in 1839, to Illinois. The journeys from Virginia to Ohio and from the latter State to Illinois were made with wagons, in which they carried their household goods, camping and cooking by the wayside. The father of our

RESIDENCE

OF N. P. HELMICK = BELLE FLOWER, ILLS.

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subject first purchased a elaim in Rutledge Town- ship, De Witt Co., Ill., where he erected a log house. the nearest mill being in Tazewell.County, and the nearest market for eattle was Chieago, 140 miles distant. The elder Helmiek improved his farm there and oeeupied it until 1882, then sold out and removed to Farmer City, where he spends his sum- mer seasons and in winter takes up his residenee in Florida.

The subject of this history was the tenth of twelve children born to his parents. He was reared on his father's farm and received a good common- school education, remaining under the home roof until he had attained his majority. Ilis father then gave him 100 aeres of land, located on seetion 28, Belleflower Township, which he occupied and enl- tivated until 1882. That year he rented his farm and removing to Belleflower, engaged in his present business, in which he has been fairly sueeessful.

Mr. Helmick was married in Belleflower Town- ship, on the 2d of October, 1876, to Miss Martha Greene, who was a native of Illinois. They have become the parents of four children-Melver F. P., Naney M., Clara P. and Thomas N. P. Mr. H. is Democratie in polities and has served as Colleetor of his township.

A lithographie view of Mr. Helmiek's residence and store building is to be seen on another page.

W ILLIAM VAN SCHOICK. There are few men more widely or favorably known throughout MeLean County than the sub- jeet of the following sketeh. He eame to this vi- einity nearly thirty years ago, and the aid which he has extended in eneouraging the mark of progress and building up the eity of Bloomington, ean searcely be estimated. He is of that energetie and enterprising disposition which will not allow him to be idle for a moment, and at those times wlien per- haps his hands are unemployed his busy brain is devising something which shall not only be a ben- efit to himself but to those around him. There are few enterprises in the capital city of MeLean with which he has not been eonneeted, and he is eon-

eeded by all to be one of the best financiers and business men of this county.

Mr. VanSehoiek is a native of Monmouth Conn- ty, N. J., where his birth took place Aug. 2, 1829. Ilis parents, David and Emily (Williams) Van- Sehoick, were natives of the same State, where they remained until after marriage and then started West, loeating in Ohio in 1836. There the father was engaged in farming and milling, and remained a resident of the Bnekeye State for thirty years. In 1866 he came to Bloomington, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1874. The mother is still living in this eity, honored and re- speeted by all who know her.

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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 148

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