Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 16

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 16

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).

Samuel and Mary F. Fitehhorn have beeome the parents of ten children, one of whom, Stella, is deceased. Those living are, Henry, Minnie, Lulu, Marshall, Anna, Charles, Hattie, Marion and Alba. Mr. Fitehhorn eame to MeLean County in 1866, and is essentially a self-inade man. His present possessions are the result of his own industry and perseveranee, and he has been fairly sueeessful in his struggle to maintain his family and provide them with the comforts of life. In the business community he is regarded as substantial and relia- ble, prompt to meet his obligations, and in all re- speets is rated as a valued member of society.

G EORGE L. HUTCHIN, editor and proprie- tor of the Sunday Eye, of Bloomington, is a native of the Prairie State and born in De Witt County Sept. 25, 1854. He is the son of John D. and Elizabeth Hutehin, natives of Ohio, where the father was engaged extensively in farm- ing and the raising of fine stoek. Jolun Hutehin eame to.Illinois about 1840, and settled in De Witt County. While on a visit to Bloomington he was offered the central portion of the site of the pres- ent eity for $300, being an area of about 640 aeres, but he preferred to take his chances in De Witt County, and there purchased 2,500 aeres. He was the first man to introduce fine Berkshire hogs into this part of the country, and also what is known as the Hutehin eorn. In 1849 he took a trip to Cali- fornia for the purpose of speeulating, being absent about eighteen months, and then, satisfied with his experience in that direction, he returned to De Witt County, where he resumed his farmning op- erations and passed the remainder of his days. He departed this life in 1861. Mrs. Hutehin was sub- sequently married to Mr. G. Gandy, and is still living in De Witt County. Their family consisted of nine children, of whom six are living.

George L. Hutehin was the fourth child of his parents' family, and after receiving his primary education in the publie sehools entered Wesleyan College, from which he graduated in 1876. In all he spent six years in high seltools and colleges and received a thorough education, by which he be-

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came well fitted for the duties which lie has as- sumed in his later life. After completing his stud- ies Mr. Hutchin first took a position as city editor of the Bloomington Leader, having already had considerable experience as a reporter. After a year with the Leader he became traveling agent for the Pantagraph, which occupied him another year, and he then -purchased the Sunday Eye, which, after conducting one year he sold, and was one of the original projectors of the Bulletin. This occupied his attention for a year, and he then sold his interest in it and purchased a half interest in the Sunday Eye, with which he has been connected as publisher since 1882. This journal was estab- lished in January, 1877. Mr. Hutchin possesses genuine literary talent, and has been a contributor to the publications of Harper Bros., the Century and other standard periodicals. He is a member of the American Press Association, and President of the Press Club of Bloomington. In politics our subject is independent, and socially belongs to the Knights of Phythias.

The Sunday Eye was first established by H. R. Persinger as a society paper. It was a five-column folio, and was issued every Sunday. It was con- dueted by Mr. Persinger for about one year, when M. I. Leland, who was a silent partner, assumed control of the paper and put it in charge of George L. IIutchin. This arrangement lasted about one year, when a stock company was formed which had financial control of the paper. Then Mr. Hutchin secured a half interest. Subsequently the plant was taken to Chicago, where it was issued for that city and Bloomington. This did not prove a finan- cial success and in about two years a move was made back to Bloomington, when Mr. Hutchin be- came sole proprietor. By able management the patronage has been inercased until the Eye now has a circulation of upward of 6,000.

Mr. Hutchin is a forcible and facetious writer, and his short and humorous articles make people nervous as well as merry. Connected with him as associate editor is Cornelius M. Leek, a facile, pun- gent and polished writer, and an experienced ed- itor. The two make a strong editorial team, which has made the Eye very popular and given it a wide reputation. " The Eye is chiefly a literary journal,

and independent in politics. It is a seven-column quarto, extensively and well illustrated. It is ele-‘ gantly got up in all its parts, and is one of the best literary and family papers in the country.

It is ever ready and bold in exposing fraud, injustice, hypocrisy and immorality, and to com- mend justice, honesty, worthi and virtue. The of- fice of the Sunday Eye is located in the Opera House Block.

The marriage of George L. Hutchin and Miss Cora Leland took place in Bloomington in 1877. She is a daughter of the late Moses F. Leland, formerly editor of the Leader, and who died in March, 1886. Of this union there have been born two children-Elberon and Louise. Mr. Hutchin and his family occupy a pleasant home at No. 305 Northeast street, and are highly esteemed for their social qualities and cultivated tastes.

6 SIIOMAS M. LEWIS, who has been a resi- dent of Illinois for nearly thirty years, is one of the highly respected residents of West 'Township, Town 21, where he owns a com- fortable farm homestead on section 5. He is a na- ' tive of Harrison County, Ohio, born in Green' Township, May 1, 1836. His father, Joseph Lewis, who descended from Scotch ancestry, was a native of Berks County, Pa., where he grew to manhood. He was there married to Miss Mary Benner, also a native of the Keystone State, but descended from the German. After marriage they went into Har- rison County, Ohio, being among the earliest set -. tlers of that region. Joseph Lewis purchased a tract of heavy timberland, only a small portion of which was cleared. This in due time, with the as- sistance of his sons, he converted into a valuable farm homestead, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1883. The wife and mother had passed to the better land in 1850. Their eight children included four sons and four daughters, six of whom grew to become men and women, and five are now living. Jacob B. was for many years a banker in Farmer City, Ill .; Joseph L. is a resi-

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dent of West Township, this county ; Hannah mar- ried William Kent, and lives in Harrison County, Ohio; Thomas M., our subjeet, was the fourth child; Rebecca became the wife of James Maholn, and died in Marion County, Kan., in 1882.

Thomas M. Lewis was reared on a farm in his native county, and received a fair education in the publie schools. He remained under the home roof until he was twenty-two years of age, when he eame to this State and located in West Township. He was then unmarried and employed himself at whatever his hands could find to do, working out for two years by the month. He then purchased a team, and in company with his brother Jacob, commeneed farming on rented land. In the fall of 1860 he returned to the old homestead, and worked with his father until the fall of 1865. He then eame baek to Illinois and West Township, of which he has been a resident since that time.

Mr. Lewis was married in November, 1860, to Miss Naney Smith, who was born in Wyandotte County, Ohio, April 7, 1839. Her father, Benja- min Smith, was a native of New Jersey, whence he removed after his marriage to Ohio, and settled in Wyandotte County. In 1856 he started further Westward, and coming to this State and county located in Empire Township, where he spent the remainder of his days. He married early in life Miss Esther Eft, also a native of New Jersey. She survived her husband a number of years, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. " Coons, in Ar- rowsinith Township, this eounty.

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis there were born seven children: Ida M., Mrs. Nichols, lives in Belleflower Township; Mary Esther, Mrs. Stan- ley, is a resident of Farmer City ; Hartwell E. lives in West Township; Walter V., Callie M., Lela Ma- bel and Jacob S. are with their parents at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are members in good stand- ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. L. has been Trustee and Steward and Superin- tendent of the Sunday-school for a number of years. Politically he is a Republican. He was Colleetor of West Township for a number of years, lias served as Assessor, and has always taken a lively interest in the establishment and mainten- ance of schools.

G EORGE J. FOSTER, who is Superintendent of the Bloomington (Phoenix) Nurseries in Bloomington Township, oceupies a re- sponsible position for which he has proved himself amply fitted by his large experience and natural adaptation to the business. The Bloomington (Phoenix) Nurseries embrace 600 acres of land and are probably the most extensive of any in thé State, and by far the largest of any in the county.

The subject of this history is a native of Rhode Island, born near Providence on the 2d of January, 1846. His parents were natives of the saine State, and traced the Foster ancestry back six generations of a line made worthy and honorable by lives of high moral principles and an upright course. The parental family of our subjeet ineluded seven chil- dren, of whom George J. was the eldest born. His' father owned a farm in his native State and fol- lowed that calling.

George J. Foster 'remained with his parents and attended school until eighteen years of age. He then went to Flushing, L. I., where he engaged with the well-known nursery firm of Parsons & Co. Of this his unele, John B. Foster, was foreman, and un- der him our subjeet remained until 1868, obtain- ing a good knowledge of the different departments of the business. He then came West and engaged with F. K. Phoenix until 1877, a period of nine years. Then, for one season, he was employed by Augustine & Co., after which he returned to the Phoenix Nurseries which had changed hands, and in the fall of that same year became foreman of the business. Since then the nursery has again changed hands, Mr. Foster becoming a member of the firm.

The marriage of our subject with Miss Lydia B. Browning occurred in 1870. She is a native of Chat- liam, Columbia Co., N. Y., and by her union with our subjeet has beeome the mother of five children, of whom the eldest died in infancy. Those living are Alma, George K., Berniee L. and Esther B. They are pleasantly located in a handsome and attractive residence and are surrounded by all the comforts of life. In polities, Mr. Foster is a staneh Repub- liean, is a gentleman highly respected in his com- munity, a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Bloomington, and has held some of the minor offices of his township.

&Wakefield

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L II. KERRICK was born in Franklin Coun- ty, Ind., in 1846. He is the son of Rev. Nimrod and Mary (Masters) Kerriek, na- tives respectively of Loudoun County, Va., and Lancaster County, Pa. To them were born four other children-Eleanor J., Phebe A., William M. and Thomas C. William M. was killed in battle at Vieksburg, May 22, 1863, at the age of nineteen.

The subject of this sketch removed with his par- ents to Woodford County, Ill., in 1860, and grad- uated from the Illinois Wesleyan University, in 1866. He taught a short time in the same institu- tion; studied law and was admitted to practice in Bloomington in 1868. Mr. Kerriek was married to Sallie E., daughter of Hon. Isaae and Cassandra Funk, in October, 1868. Of their four children, but one, Birdie, the youngest, is now living. Mr. Kerriek was elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature in 1871 ; he is at present engaged in farming. In polities Mr. Kerriek is Republican ; himself and wife are members of the First Method- ist Episcopal Church, Bloomington. Their resi- denee is at No. 809 North McLean street.

R. CYRENIUS WAKEFIELD. The late Dr. Wakefield of Bloomington, who de- parted this life on the 20th of February, 1884, was widely and favorably known throughout the nation. As a gentleman he was honored and respeeted by all who ever met him. Possessing as he did fine natural abilities and those qualities which constitute the true man and valu- able citizen, it was not difficult for him to win the esteem and admiration of those about him. The life history of Dr. Wakefield, necessarily briefly given here, is in its elief points as follows: He was born in Watertown, N. Y., and was the son of Joseph and Susan (Sawyer) Wakefield, both natives of Vermont. His great-grandfather, Andrew Wake- field, was born May 5, 1765, was of English deseent, and belonged to the old Quaker stoek who were extensive landholders in the Kingdom. When eighteen years of age he emigrated to the United States, settling first in Nelson County, Ky., whenee he removed to Franklin County, Pa. There he was

married in 1794, to Miss Margaret Campbell, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Mr. Cooper. After settling in Nelson County, Ky., he was fol- lowed by two brothers, John and Daniel, who mar- ried and settled there, reared families, and it is supposed passed the remainder of their lives. The children born to them were all daughters and but little is known of their history. Andrew Wakefield died in Hamilton County, Ohio, June 23, 1828, and his wife, surviving him a period of twenty- seven years, passed to her final rest in the spring of 1855. Mrs. Margaret Wakefield was born in Franklin County, Pa., Dee. 16, 1772, and was eon- sequently eighty-three years of age at the time of her deeease. The maiden name of Andrew Wake- field's mother was Margaret MeCoy. She was of Seottish aneestry and a lady of great intelligenee and personal attraction.

Dr. Cyrenius Wakefield was the fifthi of a family of six children, who lived to become men and women. He was reared on a farm until he attained his majority, in the meantime having received a good education and becoming a teacher in 1837. He then removed westward to Bloomington, Ill., and beeame teacher of a large sehool three miles south of the city, where he was engaged for fifteen months. He then purchased a traet of land in De Witt County, lying west of Farmer City, and while engaged in the improvement of the same, pursued his former ealling during the winter months for four seasons following marriage. In 1847, in company with his brother, Dr. Zera Wakefield, he purchased a stock of goods and they 'engaged in trade near Marion, De Witt Co., Ill., our subjeet taking charge of the store and his brother continuing praetice which, extending for miles around, neees- sitated long drives and the eare of horses. In ad- dition to this the latter eommeneed preparing medieine and leaving it at the store for sale, the demand finally becoming so extensive that what was originally a country store became quite a laboratory for drugs. In June, 1848, after eon- tinuous praetiee of two years, Dr. Zera Wakefield contracted violent eongestion of the lungs and died within thirty-six hours after the attack.

After the death of his brother, Dr. Cyrenius Wakefield purchased the interest of the first named

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in the business, and continued as before. In 1850 he sold his farm and moved to Bloomington, that he might have better facilities to extend his busi- ness. He also applied himself diligently to the study of medicine and pharmacy and here gained the title of doetor. During the first few years after hils removal to Bloomington he operated exten- sively in drugs in company with Robert Thomp- son, who was a brother-in-law of Mrs. Wakefield, having his laboratory in the rear of his drng-store. In 1856 he put up a briek laboratory near his dwelling and two years later retired from the drug trade, giving his whole attention to the compound- ing of medicine. His business steadily inereased, and in 1879 he had loeal ageneies established over all the Western States and had aeeumulated a large capital.

Dr. Wakefield was a man of firm and decided principles, a member of the Free Congregational Church and a staneh adherent of the Republican party. He was generous, hospitable and charitable, always ready to extend a helping hand to those in need. The four children of his family were Emma, the wife of Mr. A. S. Eddy, Cashier of the People's Bank, and the mother of five children, namely, Gussie, Florence, Adelbert S., Louis and Maxwell. Osear, the eldest son, married Miss Ag- nes Benehly and resides on the old homestead; Hattie is the wife of A. B. Brady of Davenport, Iowa; Mr. B. is editor and proprietor of the Northwestern News. The youngest of the family is a son, Homer.

Dr. Wakefield, on the 17th of August, 1843, was united in marriage with Miss Harriett Richardson, ' at the home of the bride's parents in Watertown, N. Y. Mrs. Wakefield was the daughter of Josiah and Cynthia (Tolman) Richardson, natives re- speetively of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Her parents were married in Watertown, N. Y., in about 1815, and settling there engaged in farming pursuits, the father giving much attention to the breeding of fine horses and eattle. The parental household included eight children, all of whom grew to years of maturity and are recorded as fol- lows: Charles and Juliet (Mrs. Dodge) are in Watertown, N. Y .; Mrs. Wakefield was the third child; Cynthia, Mrs. Thompson; Josiah; Mary, now

Mrs. Waters, and Martha, Mrs. Jones, are all in Bloomington. Josiah Richardson was a man of strong character and much ability and a stanch member of the old Whig party. He took a deep interest in all matters pertaining to his county, State and nation, and remained a resident of, Watertown until his death, loved and respected by all. His children were given a practical education and carefully reared to those principles of honor and honesty which have distinguished most of the members of that family. Both parents belonged to the Universalist Church.

The portrait of Dr. Wakefield is fittingly pre- sented in a work containing the portraits and sketches of so many of the best people of MeLean Connty. With a mind so richly stored as his was and with the genial disposition and temperament which it was his fortune to possess, a successful life, in the full sense of the word, is what we might look for, nor were his friends disappointed.

J. HIGGINS, is of the firm of Higgins & Co., marble and granite manufacturers, Bloom- ington, who are transacting an extensive and profitable business. Their main office is located on East Front street and occupies Nos. 227 and 229. The subject of this biography was born in Georgetown, Ohio, in 1840. His parents were Hon. John J. and Martha C. (Hetteriek) Higgins, the father of Maryland and the mother of Virginia. John J. Higgins was an attorney at law and sue- cessfully practiced in the various eonrts of Ohio. He was prominently identified with the polities of that State, being eleeted a member of the Legisla- ture and holding the offices of County Judge and Sheriff of Brown County.

The grandfather of our subjeet, Col. Robert Higgins, was one of the staneh old veterans of 1876, and contributed his full share toward the emanci- pation of the colonies. After this was effected he purchased over 1,000 acres of land in Sonthern Ohio. He had previously been a slave-holder, but becoming disgusted with the peculiar institution,

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gave to his slaves their liberty. He was a man of prominence and elosely identified with political affairs in the early history of the Buekeye State. He praetieed law and served as Distriet Judge, and spent the main part of his life at Higginsport, which was named after him.

John J. Higgins, the father of our subjeet, was the youngest son of his parents and died in Ohio in 1857. His wife survived him until 1873. Of their family of eleven children, seven are now living, viz., Robert, Mary, Annie, Lydia, Mattie, Hamer J. and Sallie. All are residents of Ohio exeept onr subjeet.

Hamer J. Iliggins remained at home until twenty- one years of age and until after graduating from the High School. About that time the war eamne on and at the first eall for troops he enlisted in the three years' service in the 59th Ohio Infantry, and afterward re-enlisted in the 192d Ohio Infantry, remaining in the army until the surrender of Lee. During this time he was in twenty-nine pitehed battles. He enlisted as a private and was mustered out as First' Lieutenant. Ile was at Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and through the entire Atlanta campaign, fighting 120 sueees- sive days before the fall of Atlanta.

At the elose of his military career young Hig- gins returned to Ohio and was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Common Pleas Court, which position he filled for two years, and then in 1868 eame to Illinois. He eommeneed here with a capital of $10 in eash, and after an experience of eight years, part of which time was spent in traveling, he estab- lished his present business in 1876. The beautiful marble front building, a part of which is oceupied as his business offiee, was ereeted in 1886. He keeps two men on the road and the whole foree of employes ranges from eighteen to twenty-five men. Ilis present status in the business community as will be seen is due to his own persevering energy. Ile eommeneed at the foot of the latter and his present position is his just reward.

Mr. Higgins was married in Bloomington in 1870, to Miss Aliee De Vore, a native of his own State and daughter of Jaekson and Hannah De Vore. Of their union there have been born eight ehildren- Mattie, Frank, Ehno, Maude, Charles, Ina, Robert

and Lilian. Mr. Iliggins is Republiean in polities, and socially is identified with the I. O. O. F., the G. A. R. and A. O. U. W.

C W. ATKINSON, ex-County Clerk of Me- Lean County, has been a resident of the Prairie State sinee 1853, eoming here when a young man eighteen years old. His native place was Lake County, Ohio, where he was born In 1835, and his parents were William and Marian (Fergu- son) Atkinson, natives respectively of New Bruns- wiek and New York. They were married in Ohio in 1833, locating upon a farm of 160 aeres, where William Atkinson industriously engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1853. He then started for the prairies of Illinois and purchased a farm in Cheney's Grove Township, this eounty, which he cultivated for a number of years, and which still remains his home, although he is now retired from aetive life. William Atkinson was born in 1807, and is consequently now eighty years of age. He was always of a religious turn of mind, stndied for the ministry while a young man and was ordained a minister of the Methodist Church in 1848, sinee which time he has served as a local preacher. The parental household consisted of ten children, six now living.

The subject of this history spent his boyhood and youth in attendance at sehool during the win- ter seasons and assisting on the farm the balanee of the year. At twenty-one years of age he entered Wesleyan University, Bloomington, where he · pur-, sued a two years' eourse, and engaged in teaching for two years following, in MeLean and Champaign Counties. During the first year of the war he enlisted as a soldier in Co. I, 23d Ohio Vol. Inf., and served until the elose of the conflict. For brave and faithful serviees he was commissioned Captain, having taken part in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, and all the engagements of the Shenandoah Valley of 1864. He escaped serious injury and received an honorable discharge on the 26th of August, 1865.

At the elose of his military serviees Mr. Atkin- son returned to Iliinois, and loeating at Saybrook,

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engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1868. He then sold out, and going to Bloomington, was appointed Deputy Circuit Clerk, which position lie held four years and then was the incumbent of the same po- sition in the office of the County Clerk until 1877, when he was elected County Clerk and held the office until December, 1886.

Mr. Atkinson was married in 1866, to Miss Kate Guthrie, the daughter of Rev. R. E. and Lucy (Kelsall) Guthrie. Of this union there have been, born five children : William E .; Wilber, a graduate of the city High School, both of whom are clerks in the office of their father; those at home are- Marion, Roy and Carrie. Mr. Atkinson is Repub- lican in politics and socially belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the I. O. O. F., the G. A. R. and K. of P. In addition to his pleasant residence in Bloom- ington, he has a farm near Cheney's Grove, consist- ing of 140 acres of valuable land, finely improved and mostly devoted to stock-raising. Mr. Atkin- son is a thorough business man and in all respects a representative citizen.

RA C. PRATT, the tile manufacturer of Crop- sey, is a native of the Green Mountain State, where he first opened his eyes to light, Jan. 12, 1832. His parents, Ira Allen and Asenath (Wait) Pratt, were also natives of Vermont, where they resided on a farm and passed their entire lives in their native State. The father was accidentally drowned when about fifty years of age. The mother survived her husband many years, attain- ing to the advanced age of eighty-one. The cight children included in the parental household all lived to mature years, and their record is as fol- lows: Curtis, the oldest, is a resident of Milton, Vt .; Sophia married B. B. Woods, and died in Vermont in the fall of 1886; Ira C., is our subject; Charles J. resides in Gilman, Ill .; Lucina became the wife of C. S. Tolman, of Fitchburg, Mass .; Frank is a resident of Livingston County, this State; Mary, Mrs. J. C. Hyde, lives in Iroquois County, and George R. in Cropsey.

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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 16

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