Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 18

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 18

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Mrs. Naney (Hammond) Clark remained under the parental roof until her marriage with Sampson Clark, which occurred on the 1 st of September, 1853. Mr. Clark was born in Somersetshire, England, Jan. 27; 1831, and was the son of Sampson and Susan (Irish) Clark. After marriage the young people located upon the present homestead of Mrs. C., and became the parents of two children, dangh- ters-Olive, who married William IIoit, and Marga-

ret J., the wife of Hartewell E. Lewis, who resides in West Township. Mr. Clark met his death by accident in 1869, being run over by the cars of the I. B. & W. R. R. He was a very successful busi- ness man and farmer and at the time of his death owned about 800 acres of land. He was a kind husband and father, a good citizen, and universally respceted by all who knew him, giving of his means for the advancement of worthy enterprises and tak- ing a genuine interest in the welfare of his town- ship and county.

P RANK L. HOLLINGSWORTHI, an ener- getic and successful young farmer of Downs Township, is the owner of 170 acres of valuable land on section 5, which includes fifty acres of timber. HIe took possession of this farm in March, 1886, and already has made some exeel- lent improvements, having in contemplation more and greater oues as time progresses. He possesses that spirit of industry, enterprise and resolution which is not satisfied with ordinary achievements but is ambitious to excel, and bids fair to become one of the representative citizens of this prosperous and progressive county.

Mr. Hollingsworth is a native of Champaign County, Ohio, and was born June 7, 1862. IIis father, Samuel W. Hollingsworth, a native of Co- lumbus, Ohio, in early life removed to Champaign County, where he met and married Miss E. Helen Lyon, who was born in Champaign County, where she was reared and educated. Her parents are of American birth and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. After his marriage, Samuel W. Hollingsworth located ncar Lewisburg, Ohio, and was there engaged in farming until 1872, when he came to Illinois, taking up his abode at Monmouth, Warren County. Two years later he went to Missouri and located near Hopkins, whence he removed later to Taylor Coun- ty, Iowa. From there he went to Lincoln, Ncb., where he engaged in merchandising. In 1882 he reerossed the Father of Waters, loeating in Blooml- ington, this county, and is now retired from active labor. Our subjeet was the eldest of his father's family and received his early education at Lincoln,

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Neb. He eommeneed doing for himself at the early age of fourteen years, bis first experience in the business world being as a stoek-raiser in Ne- braska. He came to Bloomington with his father in 1882, and was connected with him for a time in the wholesale notion trade. Later he became interested in farming.

The marriage of Frank L. Hollingsworth and Miss Lizzie Weleh was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents in Downs Townsbip, Dec. 17, 1884. Mrs. H. was born in Downs Township, June 6, 1865, and completed her education at Wesleyan University, Bloomington. Of her marriage therc has been born one child, a daughter, Helen May. Mrs. II. is a lady of more than ordinary intelligence and fine social qualities. Our subjeet is a sold Re- publican in polities, and gives his carnest support to the principles of his party.

E DGAR M. HEAFER is one of the firm of N. B. Ileafer & Co., manufacturers of brick and drain tile, which is carrying on an ex- · tensive and lucrative business. This was estab- lished in July, 1874, by our subject, on a small seale, and at first was limited to the manufacture of tile only. The briek kiln was established in 1861, by Napoleon B. Heafcr and James H. McGregor, and was continued for about twenty-three years, and until its dissolution by the withdrawal of Mr. Me- . Gregor. Tbis yard, the first one established in Bloomington, became the most extensive, and Mr. Heafer, after dissolving with his partner, operated it alone for about one year and then sold it to his son-in-law, Joseph B. Holmes, and his two sons, Arthur and Edgar M. In 1884-85, the brickyard was removed to its present location. The clay of which this briek is manufactured lies about four feet beneath the surface in a strata about eleven feet thiek, and after being manufactured resembles in appearance the famous brick of Milwaukee, the grain being fine and the quality strong and durable. The tile yards and factory occupy about seven aeres

of ground, the main building being 150x252 fect in dimensions, two stories in height, and furnished with the most modern machinery and appliances. This is under the management of N. B. Heafer and his son, Edgar M., and affords thein a fine ineome. In 1883 they turned out 4,000,000 feet of tile. They manufacture it in all sizes, from thirce to twelve inches.

Napoleon B. Heafer, the father of our subject, was born in Charleston, W. Va., in 1823, and at the carly age of ten years began his battle with the world to obtain the necessaries and, if possible, the comforts and luxuries of life. He possessed but a limited education, having been only six months in school, and employed himself at whatever he eould find to do. His wanderings led him northward and he drifted into Kentucky, where he lived for several years and was prospered in his efforts to obtain a livelihood. After arriving at a suitable age he was married, in Jamestown, Ky., to Miss Elizabeth C. Clark, a native of the same place. He remained there with his family until his removal to Bloom- ington and soon afterward engaged in the inanu- facture of briek. He was possessed of much nat- ural genius and very soon became a master mechanic, with a good knowledge of his business. He is the in- ventor of the brick pavement being used in this eity, Jacksonville, Champaign and Decatur. After a few years thus oeeupied, he was obliged to retire on ae- count of failing health and is now in California.

Edgar M. Hleafer, who is now the manager of the tile business, was born in Jamestown, Ky., Mareh 20, 1851, and was about two years old when be came to Bloomington with his parents. He received his primary education in the sebools of this eity and subsequently took a course of study in Wes- leyan University, being in the, Junior Class at the time of leaving. In February. 1876, he was mar- ried to Miss Ida M., daughter of William S. Depew, of Bloomington, whose father was one of the early settlers of the Prairie State. Of this marriage there have been born three ehildren-Stella P., Edgar N. and Roscoe Lionel. Mr. Heafer, although still a young man, is serving a term as Alderman of the eity, and takes an active and intelligent interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his county and city. He is a wide-awake and enterprising busi-

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ness man and has a tile factory of his own a half mile southeast of that which we have mentioned, which he operates independently.

BEDIAII OGDEN, of Lexington, is the eldest son of Samuel and Naney (Vandolahı) Og- den, and was born in Fayette County, Ohio, near a small village called Yankcetown, on the 28th of March, 1830. When three years old his parents removed to Illinois, settling in McLean County, on Mackinaw Creek in Money Creek Township, in the fall of 1833. The grandfather of our subject, Albert Ogden, had removed to Money Creek Township in 1831. He was born in the State of New York, and was of English descent. IIis wife was formerly Miss Margaret Riddle, of Scotch-Irish and Welsh descent. They were the parents of ten children, of whom eight grew to mature years, married and had families of their own. Albert Ogden departed this life on the 15th of August, 1845, at an advanced age, and his wife in 1850, when eighty-six years old.

Samuel Ogden, whose sketeh appears in this work, settled upon a farm in Money Creek Town- ship, and engaged in agricultural pursuits and stoek-raising. He was born in Madison County, Ohio, Aug. 24, 1809, and at the age of twenty years was married to Miss Nancy, daughter of John and Sarah Vandolah. When he first took pos- session of his land in Money Creek Township, it was new and unimproved, and upon it was a small cabin, where he and his wife established themselves as comfortably as possible and lived several years. The journey from Ohio was made overland with an ox-team, and he brought with him two thoroughbred greyhounds and three other hunting dogs, by the assistance of which he caught twenty-one wolves and a large number of deer. The household circle was completed by the birth of eleven children, and our subjeet remained with his parents until thirty- six years old, when he was united in marriage with Miss Hannah, daughter of James and Sarah R. Wiley, of Money Creek Township.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Obediah Ogden located on a farm in Money Creek Town-

ship, where they lived continuously until 1882. They became the parents of eleven ehildren, four sons and seven daughters, eight of whom are yet living: Sarah became the wife of John Kemp; Nancy A., Samuel A., Franeis M., Rhoda M., Mary J., Ella O. and Lizzie M. are at home.

In 1882 Mr. Ogden with his family left the farm and removed to Lexington. The old homestead consists of 585 aeres, finely cultivated and with good improvements. He still retains possession of it but it is operated by a tenant. Ile is still largely interested in stock-dealing, raises from twenty to thirty high-grade calves each year and superintends the feeding of large numbers of eattle and hogs in the winter, which he ships by rail to the Chicago markets. He also has fine Norman horses on his farm, both draft and roadsters. His industry and energy have greatly assisted in developing the agricultural resourees of this section and he has in all respeets been a valued addition to the farm- ing community as well as to society in general. Mr. Ogden belongs to the Baptist Church, and Mrs. O. is connected with the United Brethren. Our subject, politieally, has been a Jeffersonian Demoerat sinee old enough to exercise the right of suffrage and still easts his vote in support of the principles of his party.

ANIEL W. MASON. This gentleman may be numbered among the intelligent and successful farmers of Downs Township, where he has a fine estate of 120 acres, lo- eated on section 27. The land is under a good state of eultivation and supplied with a modern residenee with handsome grounds and good out- buildings. The dwelling stands on a rise of ground which commands a fine view of the surrounding country. The farm is conducted with system and good order and everything is kept up in the best style. The machinery is after the most improved pattern and the live-stock includes the best grades of domestic animals. Mr. Mason took possession of his present home in March, 1868, having pur- ehased it the previous year. He came to this

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eounty in October, 1839, and has been a resident herc most of the time since.

Daniel W. Mason was born in Preble County, Ohio, April 15, 1833, being the son of Solomon Mason, who was a native of Kentucky, but is now living with his son, S. B. Mason, in Downs Town- ship. The grandfather of our subject is supposed to have died in Kentucky. Solomon Mason rc- moved from his native State to Ohio in 1805, several years before it was admitted into the Union as a State. He settled in what . is now Darke County, thence he removed to Preble County, and from there to MeLean County.

Our subject was the eighth of a family of eleven children, six sons and five daughters; three of each are still living and all have been married. The early life of our subject was spent at home with his parents until. 1852, when he went to Ohio and attended the Audubon University to complete his education. The sehool was carried on under the auspices of the United Brethren Church, of which his parents were members. After returning home he engaged in teaching for a time and then took up the carpenters' trade. His first purchase of land was in Story County, Iowa, and consisted of 285 acres, unimproved. This he sold later and purchased sixty-nine acres in Downs Township, this eounty, where he went to live and which re- mained his home until his removal to his present farm. .

The marriage of Daniel W. Mason and Miss Su- san F. Richardson was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents in Downs Township, Aug. 14, 1860. Mrs. M. is the daughter of Samuel T. and Mary (Weleh) Richardson. See sketch of Jeremiah Weleh for parental history of Mary Weleh. The parents of Mrs. M. were natives respectively of New York and Pennsylvania, and their marriage took place near Ft. Harrison, Ind. They came to Me- Lean County in 1838 and located in Downs Town- ship, where the mother died in 1870, aged fifty- seven years and six months. The father is now living in Bloomington, being seventy-eight years of age. Their children were seven in number, of whom Mrs. M. was the fourth. One daughter is deceased.

Mrs. Mason was born in Downs Township. this

eounty, July 28, 1839. She commeneed her edu- cation in the publie schools and completed it in Bloomington. Mr. and Mrs. Mason have become the parents of the following children: Orville H., who assists his father on the homestead; Cornelia, who was formerly a teacher in the publie sehools, and is now at home with her parents; Mary E., at home; Celia A., who died at the age of nine months, and Stanley L., at home. Mrs. Mason and two daughters arc members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Mason is Republiean and has held the office of Commissioner of Highways, and also been a member of the Board of Eduea- tion. His first vote for President was for Fillmore, and the first vote he ever east was for David Davis for Circuit Judge.

G EORGE W. DOWNS. The subject of this history is a son of one of the earliest settlers of this eounty and Downs Township, his par- ents being Lawson and Sarah Downs. He was born Aug. 22, 1839, and was the second of a family of nine children, of whom the record is as follows : William M. is a resident of Heyworth; Francis M., born Jan. 16, 1844, died when eleven years of age; Peter J., born Aug. 1, 1845, died when three years of age; of John D a sketeh will be found in another part of this ALBUM; Henry L., born Aug. 11, 1849, died when a little more than one year old ; Solomon F. was born June 28, 1851, and is elerking in a hardware store at Saybrook; Albert P., born Nov. 18, 1852, was married to Miss Mary R. Lemon, who died Mareh 9, 1887 ; he is a resident of Downs Township; Alfred E., born Aug. 7, 1855, married Miss Ellen Miller, and is engaged in farming in Downs Township.

The present homestead of our subjeet, which lies on seetion 7, is the farm on which he was born. It now ineludes 175 aeres of valuable land, finely improved. Mr. Downs was educated in the district schools of his native township, remaining under the home roof until the breaking out of the late war. He then enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. F, 94th Ill. Vol. Inf., and for a period of three years per- formed military duty in a brave and faithful man-

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ner. His regiment participated in only a few aetive engagements, but among these was the battle at Prairie Grove, Ark., and the sieges at Vieksburg and Mobile. Young Downs escaped serious illness and wounds and was honorably discharged at Springfield on the 18th of August, 1865. Soon after his return home he was united in marriage with Miss Theodosia A. Myers, at the home of the bride's parents in Randolph Township, on the 16th of March, 1870.

Mrs. Downs is the daughter of H. A. and Lavina (Seheeter) Myers, now of Randolph Township. She was born in Licking County, Ohio, Jan. 20, 1851, and eame to Illinois with her parents in her girl- hood. They located first in Bloomington Town- ship, this county, whence they removed later to Old Town Township, and finally to Randolph Township, their present home. The education of Mrs. Downs, begun in the district school, was com- pleted at Marshall College in this State. Of her union with our subjeet there were born nine chil- dren-Sarah, Henry L., Belle, Lavina, Elmer E., Cloa, George Stanley, Walter J. and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. D. are members in good standing of the United Brethren Church, and our subjeet, politically, is a firm supporter of the Republican party. He has served his township as Collector, Highway Com- inissioner and in other important positions, and was elected Supervisor, April 15, 1887. Their home- stead is pleasantly located and its inmates enjoy all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, and are held in high esteem in their community as good neighbors and citizens.

UDGE O. T. REEVES, who presides over the Cireuit Court of MeLean, Ford, Iroquois and Kankakee Counties, is a resident of Bloomington and one of her most valued eitizens. He is a native of Ross County, Ohio, born in 1829, and the son of William and Mary (MeLain) Reeves, both natives of Virginia. The grandfather of our subjeet, Josiah Reeves, emi- grated from Culpeper Court House, Va., to Ross County, Ohio, in about 1804, where he engaged in farming pursuits. He went to Ross County in 1804, when the territory was but a wilderness, being

among the earliest settlers of that region. He en- tered a claim and cleared 200 aeres of land, where he established a permanent home and passed the re- mainder of lis days. All of his thirteen children lived to beeomne men and women and were all married. One of his sons, Owen T., was the County Judge of Ross County for a number of years. William, the father of our subjeet, was a member of the State Legislature. Josiah Reeves departed this life in 1841, aged eighty-one years. His wife, the grandmother of our subjcet, died the following year, aged eighty. Both were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in early days meetings were held in his log house and were presided over by such men as Rev. Henry B. Bas- eom, of Kentucky, and Bishop MeKendree. The children all received a good education. Grand- father Reeves belonged to the Whig party and took an active part in promoting the interests of his State and county.

William Reeves was reared on the farm, and 1 when twenty-one years of age purchased a traet of land and engaged extensively in grain and stock- raising. . Like his father before him he became prominent in the affairs of that locality and was elected to the Ohio Legislature in 1852. He also held the various township offices and was an ac- knowledged leader of rare intelligence and sound sense. He was married in Ohio, in 1818, to Miss MeLain, of that State, and the daughter of Jolin McLain, a prominent resident of the Buekeye State. Of the ten children born of this marriage, five only are living: Mrs. Julia A. Hitch, of Bloomington; James M., a grain and stoek farmer of Ross County, Ohio; Owen T., our subject; William M., Deputy Reeorder of MeLean County, and Emma, Mrs. Landon, of Kokomo, Ind. Will- iam Reeves moved to Illinois in 1855, settling in MeLean County. He had disposed of all his prop- erty in Ohio, and after coming here purchased a farm in Bloomington Township, which he oeeupied for a number of years and then selling out, mnoved into Old Town Township. The wife and mother departed this life in 1860, and in 1862 Mr. Reeves was married the second time, to Mrs. Mary M. Reeves, of Pennsylvania. He departed this life in 1876, and the second wife died in 1882.

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Owen T. Reeves remained on his father's farm, attending the common sehools, until seventeen years old. He then took a two years' course at Salem Academy and afterward attended the Uni- versity of Delaware, Ohio, where he studied another two years and graduated in 1850. He then be- eame tutor of languages in the University, and the following year was Principal of Berea Seminary, whiel was located near Cleveland, Chio. Then, on account of failing health, he retired from aetive labor for one year. In 1853 he became Principal of the Chillieothe High School and the year follow- ing completed his law studies which he had been pursuing while teaching at Chillicothe, under the instruetion of W. T. MeClintoek. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1854, and immediately re- moved to Bloomington and eommeneed the prae- tiee of his profession. His talents and ability re- eeived ready recognition and he very soon attained to a leading position among the professional men of this State. In 1862 he raised and commanded the 75th Regiment, Illinois Infantry. After filling various positions of trust and responsibility eon- neeted with legal matters he was elected Cireuit Judge in Mareh, 1877, which position he has held since that time. He is Republican in polities and lias conscientiously devoted his time and attention to the duties of his position. In addition to other interests, he purchased in 1877, the woolen factory which is located on University avenue, and which gives employment to twelve operatives, yielding to its proprietor large profits annually.

Judge Reeves was married in 1851, to Miss Luey A., daughter of Reuben and Abbie King, of Delaware, Ohio, and of this union there were born four children, of whom only one is now living, Edward C. This son married Miss Nettie Jones, of Normal, and they have two children, Ella B. and Owen F. Mrs. Reeves departed this life in February, 1861. The second wife of our subjeet, to whom he was married in 1862, was Miss Mary E. Hawks, a native of Bloomington, and daughter of M. H. and Elizabeth A. Hawks, of Bloomington. The family of our subjeet includes eight children : Lucy, a graduate of Wellesley College, Massachu- setts; Lineoln, a farmer of Normal; William H., a graduate of Champaign University; Owen T., stu-

dent at Dean Academy, Franklin, Mass., and Lewis M .; James M., Mabel and Huston M., students in Bloomington. Besides his eity property the Judge owns 440 aeres of ehoiee land, and in his profession has aeeumulated a competeney. Both Mr. and Mrs. Reeves are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and greatly respected by all who know them.

EFFERSON BIRDSELL, who is sueeessfully engaged as a gardener and à grower of small fruits, is pleasantly located on section 21, in Randolphı Township. Ile eame to MeLean County in 1852, and sinee that time lias been engaged at his present business. Mr. Birdsell was born in Harrison, Hamilton Co., Ohio, on Christmas Day, 1825. His father, John Birdsell, a cooper by trade, was an old resident of Harrison, and died there some years ago. The mother who, before her marriage, was Miss Allen, departed this life wben our subjeet was but a week old, and he never afterward saw his father.

Our subject, after the death of his mother, was taken into the family of John Richards, a German by birth and parentage, and they came to Dearborn County, Ind., young Birdsell remaining with them until he was seventeen years old. He then went to live with his brother-in-law, Joseph Lawson, the husband of his eldest sister, Saralı A. Mr. Lawson served through the late war, and afterward joined the standing army. He was with Custer's Division in Wyoming Territory at the time the hero of the frontier was killed. He was Captain of a company and on his way to reinforce Custer, but arrived only in time to witness the slaughter of the United States troops and the flight of the redskins. Capt. Lawson died in Wyoming Territory in 1883.

When twenty-four years old Mr. Birdsell left the home of his brother-in-law in Cineinnati, Ohio, and coming to Illinois, located in Randolphi Town- ship, this eounty. He was married to his sister-in- law, Mrs. Lavina (Passwater) Birdsell, who died on the 22d of September, 1883. By her first husband, William W. Birdsell, she had beeome the mother of five children, the record of whom is as follows: Jesse J. was born Aug. 26, 1829; Emily C., May

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16, 1834; William F., Jan. 20, 1837 ; John S., May 25, 1839; Sarah C., April 20, 1842. Mr. and Mrs. B. united with the Christian Union Church soon after their marriage. Our subjeet is a Demoerat politieally, and soeially is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and is Past Grand of the Subordinate Lodge and a member of the Encampment. He has in all respeets been an honest man and a good eitizen, and is highly esteemed in his eommunity.

W ILLIAM LASH, a veteran of the Mexican War and an early pioneer of the Prairie State, beeame a resident of this seetion in

1835. He was born in Miller Township, Knox Co., Ohio, Sept. 14, 1825. His father, Nathaniel Lash, was a native of the same eounty and State, and his grandfather, John Lash, was born in North Carolina. ITis great-grandfather was a native of Germany, and being desirous of emigrating to America and not having money to pay his passage, eontraeted with a North Carolina planter and worked for him to pay his passage. Loeating in North Carolina he spent the balance of his life there, where his remains were buried long years ago. His son, the grandfather of om subjeet, died in Morrow. County, Ohio, at the advanced age of ninety-seven years.

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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 18

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