Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 152

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 152

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Mr. Johnson resided in Dearborn County, Ind., after his marriage until 1852, in the meantime having spent one year in California, mining with fair sueeess. After returning to Indiana he soon removed to this State, settling for a short time on - a new farm in Livingston County, whenee later he came to McLean. In 1864 he visited Idaho and Montana in search of both health and gold, but

owing to Indian and Mormon troubles, which made it very disagreeable for visitors to that seetion as well as the residents there, he was glad to return home, being nearly starved when he was on the journey home, but improved, nevertheless, in health. He then resumed his farming operations and has been fairly successful. His homestead consists of 125 aeres of land with good improvements. He is Democratie in polities, has been Justice of the Peace, and held other local offices .

C. ELDER, Postmaster of Randolpli, and Station Agent of the I. C. R. R., also deals extensively in grain, coal and general merchandise. He came to this vicinity in 1875, and successfully established himself in busi- ness where other parties had repeatedly failed, and increased the trade of the railroad company four- fold while at the same time his own business pros- pered proportionately. He now does an annual trade of $25,000, and it is unnecessary to say, is one' of the most energetie and valued citizens of Ran- dolph Township. He has a splendid residenee and has been interested in most of the enterprises set on foot for the advancement of his community. He has had considerable. experience in farming, but has proved himself particularly adapted to trade.

Mr. Elder has been a life-long resident of Ran- , dolph Township, having been born there March 21, 1845. Ile was the youngest but one of a family of nine children, of whom six are yet living, all married and with families of their own. He was deprived of a father's eare when but three years of age and continued with his widowed inother until twenty-four. He received a good education, eoin- pleting his studies in the business college of Bryant & Stratton of Chicago.

After the outbreak of the late war Mr. Elder en- listed in the 150th Illinois Infantry and went to the South. He saw but little fighting, however, it being near the elose of the struggle, and a year later received his honorable discharge. He re- turned to Bloomington and engaged with L. B. Thomas, his brother-in-law, present Mayor, in the in-

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surance business. He was married, Dee. 3, 1869, to Miss Belle, daughter of the late William Thomas, who died in Bloomington, April 12, 1881, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mrs. El- der was born in Bloomington Jnly, 14, 1841, was finely edneated in the schools of her native eity, and remained with her parents until her marriage. She is a lady of rare intelligence and refinement, and. especially noted for .her benevolence and hospitality. Of this congenial union there were born three sous-William C., Frank W. and Her- man H.

Mr. Elder has been connected with the post-office at Randolph for about eleven years. He is a solid Republican and for the last twelve years has been Secretary of the McLean County Fire Insurance Company, besides having other important interests iu this loeality. Hle belongs to John A. Logan Post No. 146, G. A. R., and with his wife, is a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church.

[ R. A. T. BARNES, senior member of the firm of Barnes & Orner, is a native of Kentucky, born in 1832, and the son of Craven andjMary (Howard) Barnes, also of the Blue Grass region. The grandfather was Shadrach Barnes, a native of Virginia, an extensive farmer and a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. Ilis father was John Barnes who, with a brother, emigrated . from Scotland in the colonial days. John settled in Virginia and his brother in New York, and from these two it is supposed sprang the Barnes family of this country. They were a pro- lifie raee, and their representatives are largely seat- tered throughout the United States.

Shadrach Barnes went to Kentucky when a young man, where he became an extensive farmer and spent the balance of his days. His son, Craven, followed the occupation of his father and operated all his life on the soil of Kentucky. He died in 1833. and the mother selling the farm, removed North and settled near Madison in Indiana, where she purchased a farm which she occupied until her death, in July, 1872. The parents were both mem- bers of the Baptist Church. Of their nine ehil-

dren eight are still living : _ Cynthia, Mrs. Borden, is a resident of Louisville, Ky .; Woodford C. and George B. are in Indiana; Fielding.G. is in'George- town, Ill. ; Henry II. in Clay County ;_ Adeline Y., Mrs. Woods, and Mary _C., Mrs. Seott, are living in Jefferson County, Ind.

Our subjeet remained on the farm until: fifteen years old, and a year later, being well advanced in his studies, entered college at South Andover, and soon afterward commeneed the study of medieine. He employed his vacations in teaching, and finally entered the office of Dr. David MeClure, where he gained a good insight into the duties of his chosen profession, and later attended leetures at Louisville, Ky. He commeneed practice soon after reaching his majority at Austin, Ind., and three years later, returning to Louisville, took another course in the college there and graduated. He soon afterward entered into partnership with the eelebrated Dr. P. Green, whose daughter he married, in 1857. While a resident of Clay County he was twice elected Superintendent of Schools, and during the war was appointed Assistant Surgeon of an Illinois regi- ment, being afterward promoted Chief Surgeon. Hle was captured while attending his patients in the hospital at Chiekamanga and also at Buzzard Roost, being both times soon afterward released. The only severe_injury he received while in the service was one night while riding on the Kennesaw Mount- ain after dark, when his horse fell upon him. He had charge of the hospitals at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Bowling Green, Ky., and the field hospital at Chicka- mauga.

Dr. Barnes remained with the army until the elose of the war and then coming to Centralia, en- · tered into partnership with Dr. J. L. Hallan, with whom he remained until 1872, building up his ex- tensive practice, and in the meantime he was appointed surgeon for the Central Illinois Rail- road, was Alderman of Centralia four years and Mayor of the eity one term. He officiated as Superintendent of the Insane Hospital_of Anna from 1872 until 1879, then resigned.

Dr. Barnes came to Bloomington in the latter part of December, 1879, and became the partner of Dr. William Hill, with whom he continued two years, and then practiced alone until 1885. That

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year he became a partner of Dr. Orner, with whom he has sinee continued. In February of he same year he was elected Medical Director of the G. A. R. and re-elected the following year. Ile has been a useful-member of society, . prominent in local affairs and politics, and in 1886 served as Chairman of the Republican Central Committee. He is a member of the various medi- cal societies in the West, ineluding that of MeLean County, this State, the Southern Illinois, the Na- tional and the Physicians' Club of Bloomington.

The lady who has been the eompauion of our sub- jeet for the last thirty years, was formerly Miss Eliza- beth H. Green, to whom he was married in 1857. They became the parents of one daughter, Beldva, who is now the wife of II. H. Green, a druggist of Bloomington, and the mother of. one ehild, named Manrene. Dr. Barnes is a Republican in polities and belongs to the Masonie fraternity. He is one of the stockholders of the Walton Flour Works, the Gas Company, and the Nail and Iron Works of Centralia. He owns a fine property in Blooming- ton, and with his wife is a member of the Method- ist Church, being also one of its Trustees. As a eitizen and a practitioner he has built up an envia- ble reputation, and eounts among his friends the best people of Bloomington.

M AJ. J. C. MCFARLAND is one of the well-known citizens of MeLean County, where he has held many official positions. In 1876 he was elected Clerk of the Cir- enit Court by the Republican party. Since the organization of the county, he has held the ofliee of Supervisor of the township, and as early as 1860, was appointed its Clerk.

When the war broke out in 1861, he left his busi- ness and attempted to raise a company, but at the same time one was being organized in Normal which drew its reeruits largely from that part of the county, and so seriously interefred with the eoul- pany that Maj. MeFarland was attempting to form, that he could not raise enough volunteers to make the number complete, and consequently was obliged to relinquish his plan. When the second eall for

troops was;made, " Aug. 5, 1862, he organized Co. B, 94th Ill. Vol. Inf. It was the twelfth regular organized company and Mr. MeFarland was elected its Captain. _ The _regiment was ordered to Prairie Grove, where, Deeember 7, they met a rebel com- mand and a contest ensued, which resulted in the immediate retreat of the enemy. After several skirmishes, the next siege in which; they were en- gaged was at Vieksburg, and there the regiment was in the hottest part of the conflict. Prior to this Maj. MeFarland had been made Quartermaster, but he rejoined liis regiment and assumed com- nand July 29, 1863, at Ft. Hudson, Miss. Some time after he was attacked with typhoid fever at New Orleans, and after remaining in a hospital several weeks, was sent home, in September, 1863. At the siege of Ft. Morgan, Maj. MeFarland with restored health had again rejoined the regiment and assisted in capturing the fort. In 1865 Capt. McFarland received his commission as Major. The brigade was then marehed to Spanish Fort, Ala- bama, and was brought into aetion in the blockad- ing battle on the right wing of the army. This was the last active engagement. Gen. Lee surrendered, the war was ended, and the regiment was mustered out in August, in Springfield, Ill.

Maj. MeFarland was a brave and efficient offieer always ready at the post of either duty or danger. He returned home and engaged in business in Iley- worth, and in 1876 was elected Clerk of the Cir- euit Court. Maj. MeFarland was born in Frank- lin County, Pa. His boyhood was passed with his father who was a merchant of Mercersburg. When thirteen years old he engaged as elerk in Janes- ville, for his unele, James William Kirkpatrick, and remained with him two years. Ile then spent some time with Dr. William A. Murphy, another uncle, who resided at St. Thomas, Pa. In 1847 he was married in Bedford, Pa., to Miss Betty W. Logan. She is the daughter of Thomas and Mary ('Taggart) Logan. Her family is of Scotch and Irish extrae- tion, and her parents were natives of Bedford County, where she was born and edueated.

Mr. and Mrs. MeFarland had a family of nine children born to them, five of whom are yet living : Carrie L., Martha E., A. W., Edgar HI. and Iler- man E .; those deceased are Mary V., Emily A.,

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Joseph F. and Thomas L. Maj. MeFarland and family are members of the Presbyterian Chureli, in which he was for many years an Elder. He is a Republican.

D R. GEORGE M. SMITII, oeulist and aurist, located at No. 106 West Washing- ton street, Bloomington. spent the first years of his life in Washington County, Ohio, where his birth took place Jan. 21, 1845. He is the son of Samuel W. and Elizabeth (Bear) Smith, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and of English and German ancestry. Sam- uel Smith was a carpenter by trade, and after his removal to Ohio was for some time employed in building mission churches for the Indians, Ile became well acquainted with various important personages among the Wyandottes, and often atc and slept with the tribe. He was familiarly known in that region as " Uncle Sam," and was distin- guished for his large heart and generous disposi- tion, being always ready to assist the oppressed. Hle was a rabid Abolitionist, one of the chief pro- moters of the underground railroad, and was the means of seeuring freedom to many a fugitive. With his excellent wife he reared a family of cleven children, all of whom lived to mature years, and with the exception of one son, were all over six feet in height and weigbed over 200 pounds, prc- `senting as fine a family as is often seen. Of these, four are still living, namely, Curtis G., a resident of Springville, Iowa; Dr. George M., of our sketcb, who is six feet and three inchies in height and weighs 209} pounds, and Roxanna, now Mrs. Har- ness, of Slater, Mo.

'The father of our subject, on the 1st of May, 1855, gathered togetber his family and bousehold goods, and with the aid of three teams traveled across the country westward to Springville, Iowa, where he arrived after a journey of thirty days. In that vieinity he purchased 160 acres of land, a part of which he obtained from the Government, and lived in the Ilawkeye State nine years. He then purebased property iu Mt. Vernon, Ill., to which place he removed for the purpose of giving his children the advantages of Cornell College, and

there his death took place that same year, in Octo- ber. The mother is still a resident of Slater, Mo., having attained to the age of eighty-three years. Samuel Smith was converted to religion under the ministration of Rev. James B. Finley, the pioneer Methodist of Ohio, and continued faithful to that church the remainder of his life. He served as Justice of the Peace both in Obio and Iowa, and was prominently connected with the Masonie fra- ternity.

Our subjcet was well educated in his youth, and commenced teaching when nineteen years old, at which he employed himself winters and worked on the farm summers. Hc eommeneed studying med- icine with his brother-in-law, Dr. Sharp, of Middle- bury, in 1866, and not long afterward began prac- ticing. Subsequently he took a course of study in the Western Reserve Medical College, at Cleve- land, Ohio, where he graduated at the head of his class, and from which institution he afterward re- ceived the Degree of Adeundem. After twenty- two months spent in Pottersburg, Ohio, he prac- tieed in Lewisburg until 1883, thence came to Bloomington, where he has since remained.

Dr. Smith possesses considerable literary talent, having contributed considerable to various local publications and has written np the incidents of the battle of Gettysburg which were published for the benefit of the Historical Society at Lewisburg, be- sides a history of Mexico in simple style for the benefit of the school children, and at the request of the'McLean County Medical Society.

Dr. Smith was married in 1871 to Miss Lovina E. Hollingsworth, a native of Ohio, and they have two ebildren-Ada I. and Ward M. He is Re- publican in polities, and a Master Mason, and with his wife a member in good standing of Grace Methodist Church.

C IIARLES W. SCHNEIDER, Secretary and General Manager of the Mutual Accident Association, of Bloomington, is a native of this State, born in Beardstown, Cass County, June 10, 1847. His father, Rudolph B. Schneider, a na- tive of Germany, emigrated to the United States

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when a young man, loeating at onee at Beardstown, where he married Miss Elizabeth Crow. The mother of our subjeet was a native of this State. After marriage the parents continued to reside at Beards- town the remainder of their lives. Rudolph Sehnei- der was born in 1805, and departed this life in 1855. His wife Elizabeth was born in 1821, and survived. her husband until the summer of 1883, when she too passed to her final rest. Of their four sons and two daughters, two died in infaney.

The subject of this sketch, the fourth child of the family, received his early education in his na- tive town, and when quite young gained a good knowledge of business affairs by being in the store of his father, who was one of the principal mer- ehants of Beardstown. By the death of the latter he was thrown upon his own resources at a tender age and began the struggle of life as a elerk. He made friends and money and in dne time set up in business for himself which he followed until 1876. He then sold out his stock of goods and commeneed traveling for an insurance company, going to Kan- sas City and other points in the farther West, on be- half of the Aeeident Insurance Company of North America, which made their headquarters at Mon- treal, Canada. After five years he resigned his po- sition to connect himself with the eompany which he now represents at Bloomington. In this he of- ficiated as Superintendent and a few months later was elected to his present position.

Our subjeet was married in 1871, to Miss Hen- rietta Sudbrink, of Beardstown, and they number their friends and associates by the seore, among the best residents of Bloomington. Mr. Schneider was one of the charter members of the Knights of Honor, in which order he has always been greatly interested and whose principles he has actively as- sisted in maintaining.

HRISTIAN NAFFZIGER, an aged eitizen and farmer of Danvers Township, oeeupies a good homestead on seetion 2, of which he took possession in 1853. His birthplace was on the other side of the ocean in the Empire of Ger- many, and he began life over eighty-three years ago,

in 1803. His parents, Peter and Phebe Naffziger, also of German birth and parentage, were married in 1826, and spent all their lives in the Fatherland, where their remains are buried. The parental family ineluded five children, namely, Christian, Peter, Valentine. Catherine and Barbara.

Our subject remained with his parents until reaching his majority, entering school at an early age, and receiving a fair education in his native town. He emigrated to America when over fifty years of age, in 1853, and coming to the West pur- chased the farm upon which he now resides. This includes 490 aeres, finely improved and cultivated, and where he has been engaged for over thirty years tilling the soil successfully and enjoying the respeet of his friends and neighbors.

Our subjeet was married in Germany, Mareh 26, 1826, to Miss Barbara Stehley, and they became the parents of twelve children. Of these three died in infancy in Germany, and two in this coun- try, also in their earliest childhood. Those sur- viving are Elizabeth, Lena, Barbara, Christian, Peter, Valentine and John. Mr. N., politically, affiliates with the Demoeratie party, and with his family, is a member and regular attendant of the Mennonite Chureh.

G EORGE W. RUST, deceased, was one of the most highly respected members of the farın- ing community of Randolph Township, where his death took place at his homestead, Nov. 13, 1871. He was among the early settlers of Me- Lean County, eomning here with his father, Will- iam Rust, from Nashville, Tenn., where both fa- ther and son were born. Our subjeet was reared in the Sonth, and edueated in the common sehools. After reaching manhood he was married, Jan. 27, 1843, in Randolph Township, to Miss Merey Ann, daughter of David and Rebecca (Karr) Noble. Mrs. Rust was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, of which State her father was also a native, while the mother was from New Jersey. She was about seven years of age when she came with her parents

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to this county, which has since been her home. Her birth took place Ang, 16, 1826. Iler parents are now deceased. Mr. Rust first located upon forty acres of partly improved land, and subsequently became the owner of 160 aeres which is still in the family, and which he always maintained was ac- cuumulated in part through the economy of his ex- cellent wife and helpmeet, who was ever ready to assist him in his efforts at building up a home.

Mrs. Rust after the death of her husband ex- erted herself to bring up her children in a worthy manner, and gave them all the advantages within her power. Of these, seven in number, one died in infaney. Those surviving are Sarahı R., the wife of Isaac Dorsey, a resident of Hastings, Neb .; Francis M., who married Miss Julia A. Hollis,'and is residing on the farm with his mother; Harry A., who married Miss Sadie Irwin, and is farming in Randolph Township; Mary E., the wife of William Lafferty, of Ileyworth; Lou E., Mrs. O. P. Rut- ledge, of Randolph Township; John B., who as- sists in carrying on the homestead, and Andrew J., also on the farm. The Rust family is well known and highly respected, and both the mother and children are members and regular attendants of the Christian Church. The boys are Democratie in polities, as was their father before them.

AMES M. MURPIIY, a rising young and prosperous farmer, is the son of Will- iaun J. and Francis (Stubblefield) Murphy, and was born in Mt. Hope Township, this county, Aug. 14, 1859, being the third ehild in a family of five sons and two daughters. His edu- cation, begun in the district schools, was supple- mented by a course in the Bloomington Commer- eial College and two terms at Wesleyan University, after which he staid at home for a year with his parents, and then began life on his own account. As a preliminary to later important business, he was soon afterward married, Jan. 18, 1883, to Miss Sadie A., only daughter of Mathias and Naney A. (Paugh) Kampf. For a year afterward the young

people resided with the father of Mr. M., but on the 28th of February, 1884, moved into their hand- some new residenee on their present farin. This contains sixty aeres, but adjoining it lies 240 aeres which Mr. Murphy also cultivates, raising grain and making a specialty of corn and oats. The res- idence is situated upon a beautiful rise of ground, commanding a view of some of the finest farming lands in the Prairie State. The little household has been enlarged by the arrival of two bright boys, namely, William Claude, born Nov. 29, 1883, and Harry Kampf, July 22, 1885.

In the biographies of W. J. Murphy and Mathias Kampf, elsewhere in this volume, will be found the parental history of our subjeet and his wife. Mr. Murphy is looked upon as one of the repre- sentative men of his community, and has already distinguished himself as a gentleman of fine busi- ness abilities, and taking a lively interest in the moral and intellectual welfare of his township. He is a Direetor in his school district, and one of the most promising lights in the Republican party of that seetion.

ILLIAM A. WATSON, proprietor of Me- Lean County Nurseries, was born on the other side of the Atlantie, in Suffolk, En- gland, Sept. 5, 1839. His parents, William H. and Charlotte (Kent) Watson, natives of the same country, eame to the United States in 1847, when our subjeet was a child six years of age. They located on a farm in Dane County, Wis., where the mother died in 1882. The father is still living. Of the thirteen children comprising the parental household, twelve yet survive.

William A. Watson eame to the United States with his father's family and completed his educa- tion in two terms at the distriet school. His father, however, instrueted his children evenings for many years and they thus obtained a good insight into book knowledge. William A. studied one term at the State University and improved his time admira- bly while there. He assisted his father in tilling the soil, remaining under the parental roof until the afternoon of his twenty-first birthday and then

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started out for himself; and after muel difficulty succeeded in obtaining a position with the, Winne- shiek Insurance Company, of which he became the first agent. A month later, however, he went to Chicago and purchased a jewelry outfit with which he traveled through the country, peddling. These experiences induced him finally to return to farm life and going to Dane County, he rented a traet of land and farmed in that and Rock Counties until 1867. During that year he visited Normal, and finally entered the employ of F. K. Phoenix, the well-known nursery man of MeLean County, with whom he remained eight years, finally becom- ing foreman. He had then saved sufficient to pur- chase his present property, which was then known as Coleman's Nurseries. For the forty aeres which he now owns he paid $8,000, and has since erected upon his land a fine dwelling, and made other im- provements. The land is underlaid with tile three rods apart and is admirably adapted to the pur- pose to which it is devoted. The property is now considered worth $20,000. Mr. Watson came to this county a poor man and his career illustrates in a forcible manner the results of perseverance and industry.

Our subject was married, Dec. 4, 1862, to Miss Jane N. Miller, who was born in Vermont, and came with her father's family to Rock County, Wis., where he still resides. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Watson are Alpha, Fred T. and Harry S.

W ILLIAM D. BROWN, one of the sue- cessful young farmers of Downs Township, is pleasantly located on section 15, where he has eighty acres of finely cultivated land and a handsome modern residence. He came to this county in 1852, and completed his education in Wesleyan University. His first business venture was in hardware and groceries at Le Roy, and being of an inventive turn of mind he patented the well- known Brown's Ilog Ringer, which at once became a favorite in the agricultural distriets and which, with the improvements which he has added in its design, has been the means, of bringing him in a handsome little fortune. After a few years spent as a traveling salesman and in the grocery trade he

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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 152

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