Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 22

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 22

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they spent the winter in a house belonging to Hiram Quinn, whose name is frequently mentioned in connection with thic history of the early pioncers of this eounty.

During this time Mr. Park had been looking about with an eye to business and had purchased 106 aercs of land in Dale Township on section 26, which constitues his present homestead. Of this there were forty acres broken, and a portion of the land feneed, but there were no buildings upon it. Mr. Park ereetcd a temporary shelter for his fam- ily, and during the following summer built the inore substantial residenee which has been his home since that time. He did all the carpenter work himself, which he feels a just pride in saying was well done. He also carried on the improvement and cultivation of his land, and subsequently added to his acreage until he is now the possessor of 226 aeres, with a good set of frame buildings and a generous supply of grain and stock. He has been successful in his business transactions, and has eon- ducted himself in that straightforward, honest and methodieal manner which has secured him the es- tecm and confidence of his neighbors and fellow- eitizens.

The subject of our sketch was united in mar- riage with Miss Barthana Quinn on the 6th day of October, 1836, in Madison County, Ky. Mrs. Park was born in the latter named county Oct. 27, 1818, and removed with her husband and children to this State: She remained the faithful compan- ion of her husband for a period of fifty-four years, and departed this life on the 20th of August, 1882, in Dale Township. Their family ineluded ten ehil- dren, seven of whom are now living; the record is as follows: Minerva E. became the wife of J. J. Denham, and lives in Dalc Township; Sidney Q. is also a resident of that township; Alwilda is at home ; Eli is in California; Rhoda married T. E. Cutting and lives in Bloominton, Ill. ; Sallie, the wife of S. F. Clark, lives on the old homestead; Luey married John C. Douglas, and they live in Madison County, Ky .; Hiram, the sixth ehild, was born Nov. 4, 1846, and died Sept. 1st, 1870; Mary, the young- est child, was born Marel 20, 1862, and died March 22, 1882; one died in infaney unnamed. Mr. Park beeame a member of the Christian

Church in 1843, and his wife two years later. Ile commeneed preaching in 1852, and was ordained in Kentucky, that same year, as a minister of the Christian Church. He preached at Grassy Ridge Church, alternately with John G. Campbell, two or three years, in a school-house, and then a church building was erected, and they continued their ministerial labors together until 1858. The Cliris- tian Church of Dale Township was then organized in a school-house on seetion 26, and Mr. Park was the first preacher who ininistered to the spiritual wants of the congregation and continued to per- form this offiee until the church building was ereeted in Shirley. He is now afflicted with throat trouble, and has been able to speak but little within the past six or seven years. Mr. Park has recently bought a home in Bloomington, where he will soon move, to spend the remainder of lis days.

During his residence in Kentucky Mr. Park was a member of the State militia and held commis- sions as Captain and Major. He is a gentleman of good abilities, and has filled many offiecs of trust in Dale Township. He has been Jnstiee of the Peace, Assessor and School Director, and to whatever po- sition in life he has been appointed has fulfilled his respective duties as became an honorable and con- seientious citizen. In polities in early life he was an old Henry Clay Whig, and on the organization of the Republican party he became identified with and has sinee been a strong supporter of its princi- ples. During the Rebellion he was a staneh sup- porter of the Union cause. One of his sons, Ely, served three years as a soldier, doing honorable serviee for his country in Co. H, 94th Illinois Vol- unteers.

M RS. IIATTIE ENLOW, widow of James Enlow, owns and occupies a fine homestead in Bloomington, and is a member of a prominent family in McLean County, who were among the pioncer settlers of the Prairie State. Mrs. Enlow was born in Rossville, Ind., in 1849, and is the daughter of Robert and Eliza (Harvey) Campbell, natives of Pennsylvania. They were married in Franklin County, that State, in 1849, and located for a short time upon a farm there,

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whence they soon afterward removed by wagon to Indiana, and located in Clinton County upon rented land for a period of five years. They then removed to Illinois and purchased cighty acres of unimproved land in Dale Township, this county, upon which Robert Campbell built a comfortable house, planted an orchard, and made other im- provements as time went on. The parents still oc- cupy the old homestead, which now comprises 240 acres, and is one of the most valuable farms in this section. Their family consisted of four children, of whom Hattic, Mrs. Enlow, was the eldest; New- ton married Miss Dora Culp, and lives on the homestead; William was married to Miss Anna Mc- Coy, March 28, 1867, in Bloomington, and is en- gaged in the grocery trade, and Crawford is at homc.

Robert Campbell, in 1881, rented his farm, and coming to Bloomington engaged in the grocery trade for three years, then sold the building and stock and moved back to the farm. He has been a good citizen and a prominent man, holding the of- fice of Supervisor and other minor positions. He is Republican in politics, an Elder and Trustee in the First Presbyterian Church, and one of the wealthy and influential men of Dale Township. The faithful and affectionate mother has stood bravely by her husband in his labors and duties, and is also connected with the church of his choice in Bloomington.

The marriage of James Enlow and Mrs. Hattie Campbell took place on the 19th of November, 1868, in Covell, this county. The husband of our subject was the son of John and Catharine (Lan- der) Enlow, natives of Kentucky, who came to Mc- Lean County, Ill., in 1835, and settled on a farm in Dale Township, which remained their home the balance of their lives. Their family included cight children, of whom James was the third in order of birth. IIc was born in Kentucky in 1833, reared to farming pursuits, and given a practical educa- tion. At the age of twenty-nine years, the late war being then in progress, he enlisted in 1862, in Co. HI, 94th Ill. Vol. Iuf., became Sergeant of the company, and served until the close of the war. Upon his return from the army he engaged in farm- ing on cighty acres of land which had been given

him by his father. Two years later he sold this and purchased 160 acres in another part of the township. After his marriage with our subject they occupied this farm until 1878, and then, Mr. En- low wishing to extend his farming operations, re- moved to Russell County, Kan., where he pur- chascd 160 acres, and besides the improvement and cultivation of this engaged in mercantile pursuits, continuing thus jointly engaged until his death in 1880. The bercaved widow returned to Dale Township to her friends, with the body of her hus- band, which was buried in the cemetery here. Mr. Enlow was a man of good business capacity, an up- right and straightforward citizen, Republican in politics, and a 'member of the A. O. U. W.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Enlow, the following year, crected her present fine residence in Bloomington at a cost of over $2,000, and has continued the management of the property which her husband left to her with rare judgment and business tact. The four children born to her and her husband are : John R., Robert, Mamie and Irma. Mrs. E. belongs to the First Presbyterian Church of Bloomington, and.is a lady highly estecmed for her womanly virtues, kindness of heart, and many other excellent traits of character.

RANK EDWARDS owns and operates one of the best livery and feed stables in the city of Bloomington, being located at No. 410 West Front street. Our subject is a native of this county, having been born near Pleasant Hill on the 7th of April, 1858, and is the son of George W. and Mary A. (Hleney) Edwards, natives respect- ively of Tennessee and Troy, N. Y. George W. Edwards left his native State when a small boy, and cmigrated to Carter County, Kan., where he was engaged on a farm until 1845. Ile then re- turned East as far as Illinois, and settled at Paris, Edgar County, where he engaged in keeping hotel. Thence he removed to Pleasant Hill, McLean County, and occupied himself in the manufacture of furniture until 1861. He then came to the city of Bloomington, engaged as a painter, and eight years later purchased a farm two and one-half

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miles east of the eity, where he has since lived. He was married on the 1st of January, 1847. The " parental household ineluded four children : William H., who resides on the home farm; Frank, our sub- jeet; Fred and Ned, at home.

Frank Edwards, at the age of twelve years, started out for himself and was employed the fol- lowing two summers in work 'on a farm. He then learned house and sign painting, which he followed a few years, and during the fall and winter also oe- enpied himself in buying and selling horses. In this latter he was remarkably sweeessful, and eon- eluded to give it his future attention. He estab- lished his present business in the winter of 1881- 82, which from a comparatively humble beginning now yields him a handsome ineome. He subse- quently purelased a farm in Bloomington Town- ship, which he only oeeupied, however, for six montlis, and then moved into the eity. Here he oceupies a handsome residenee at No. 524 West Grove street, and in his business and social life is esteemed as one of the most valued eitizens of Bloomington.

Our subjeet was married to Miss Annie Long, of Kentucky, in 1881. Mrs. E. is the daughter of George and Mary E. (Dixon) Long, of Kentucky, where the father died in 1868. Mrs. Long eame to Bloomington in 1879, and is living with her daugh- ter, Mrs. Edwards. The parental family ineluded six children, of whom one is deceased. Those sur- viving are: William' A., James M., Annie, Betty (Mrs. A.E. White of Bloomington), and Georgia A.

AMUEL F. BARNUM, one of the self- made men of this eounty, and at present residing at Leroy, is a member of the firm of Barnum & Keenan, proprietors of the Leroy Flouring Mills. He was born at Can- ton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Ang. 11, 1824, and his father, Samuel B. Barnum, was a native of the Green Mountain State. The father was reared to manhood in his native State, and was there engaged in a woolen mill and also learned the trade of a eooper. Ile moved to Canton, N. Y., while yet a young man and there followed his woolen trade and

continued to reside there until his marriage with M. Rhoda Farwell. She was a daughter of Jeduthan Farwell, a merchant and manufacturer in Canton, who also owned a flouring and saw-mill, and a large stoek farm in that eounty. He was a Vermonter by birth, and about 1835 removed to Erie County, N. Y., and followed his business as a merehant and . potash manufacturer. About 1846 Mr. Farwell re- moved to Defiance County, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his life. In 1834 our subjeet's father removed to that eounty and settled in Eden Township, where he ereeted a mill and engaged in the manufacture of eloth, following that business un- til 1846. He then rented his mill and removed to Defianee County, where he took another mill, and in 1847 removed the machinery from the mill at Eden to the one in Defianee County. He continued in that business for two years when he purehased a farm near town and devoted the remaining years of his life to agricultural pursuits. He died on the farm in September, 1864. , His widow spent the last years of her life at the home of our subjeet, her demise oeeurring in July, 1882. There were five children born to the parents of our subjeet, of whom he is the eldest : Harriet married S. A. Moore, and departed this life in 1872; Eliza married George Bruner, a resident of Bloomington; Jedu- than died in Indiana: John is a resident of San Franeiseo, Cal.

The subject of this notice attended the common sehools of his native eounty until he was ten years of age when he eommeneed working in his father's mill and there learned the trade of a eloth dresser. He continued to work for his father until twenty- one years old, when he was taken into partnership. This relation existed for one year, when our sub- jeet rented the mill and ran it for his own profit. In 1847 he moved the machinery of the mill to Defianee and assisted his father in setting up the same, when he returned to New York. His father, however, sent for him to return to Ohio, as the fam- ily were all siek and our subjeet soon after arriving there was taken siek himself. After eonvaleseing he went back to New York and remained there during the winter of 1847. In the spring of 1848 he moved his family to Defianee County and en- gaged, in company with his father, in the manu-

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facture of cloth. This relation existed only until the fall of that year, when our subject went back to York State, and once more settling at Eden em- barked in the lumber business. He soon, however, went back to Defiance, and purchasing a lot in that placc erected a building thereon. The climate did not agree with him and the doctor ordered him to return to York State, which he did, and for three years was more or less afflicted with chills and fe- ver and unable to do any manual labor. In 1852 he was elected Constable and performed the duties of that office for one year. About this time he purchased twenty-five acres of land and was also elected Justice of the Peace, and attended to the duties of that office while cultivating his little farm.

In 1855 our subject came to Leroy on a visit to his sister and accompanied by bis father. The latter purchased 160 acres of land about one mile north of Leroy, for which he paid $11 per acre. They returned East, and the following spring our subject with his family came here and located and improved a part of the land which his father had purchased. It was an exceedingly `dry summer and in consequence thereof the crops were a failure and our subject lost his all. He returned to New York $1,500 in debt and began life anew by work- ing at anything he could find to do until the fol- lowing spring. He then engaged as clerk and book- keeper in a wholesale fruit, feed and vegetable estab- lishment and remained with the firm one year. In 1858 he went on his father-in-laws' farm and as -. sisted him until the fall of that year. Then in company with an old schoolmate our subject en- gaged in mercantile business, his partner furnish- ing the capital. Their store was located at Eden Valley, and they continued the business for two and a half years when they sold out, and from that time until 1865, our subject performed the duties of Justice of the Peace.

In the spring of 1865 Mr. Barnum came to Bloomington where he engaged as book-keeper in a lumber-yard for Bruner & Whitmer. He was with this firm five years and then, moving to Leroy, he, in partnership with Mr. Bruner, embarked in the same business. Ile soon thereafter added the coal business to that already established, and one year was engaged in buying grain for E. H. Rood.

In the fall of 1871 our subject commenced buying grain on his own account. In 1872, in company with Bruner & Keenan, he purchased the flouring mill at Leroy, and in 1876 our subject and Mr. Keenan purchased Mr. Bruncr's interest in the mill, and the firm has since, been Barnum & Kcenan. Mr. Barnum is also interested with Mr. Keenan in farming and stock-raising. and they own in' part- nership 380 acres of good land.

Samuel F. Barnum was married to Clarinda Bunting in 1854. She was born at Eden, Eric Co., N. Y., and was a daughter of Levi and Christine Bunting. She departed this life in 1861, and in 1865 Mr. Barnum was married to Eliza A. Patter- son. Of our subjects' first union three children were born: Matilda M. married Charlton Waters, and they are living at Leroy; Henry C. died in Le- roy in 1856, and Henry I. is a book-keeper for Bar- num & Keenan. The second union of our subject was blest by the birth of two children-Percy Davis and George Perrin. Mr. Barnum is a Re- publican in politics and has served the city of Le- roy as Mayor, and at present is Supervisor of Em- pire Township. He was President of the Empire Loan and Building Association during its entire ex- istence, eight years, and has been President of the Leroy Loan and Building Association since its or- ganization. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, holding fellowship with Leroy Lodge No. 221.

ARON P. RHODES, a wealthy and influen- tial resident of Bloomington Township, owns and occupies a fine estate on section 24. He comes from a prominent family, the first representatives of whom in this section, settled in this part of the Prairie State before the land had been surveyed, in 1823. They located a "squatter's" claim, which, when surveycd, cm- braced sections 22 (for the house and a small por- tion of land), and 14 and 15. This land is yet. in possession of the family, and our subject owns the homestead as it was first laid out. The father was accidentally killed by an engine of the I., B. & W. R. R., near his home, Aug. 20, 1875, and was nearly cighty years of age. He was a man greatly

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respected and of fine abilities, kind and generous in his disposition, and exercised a good influence over all with whom he came in contaet. His wife, who before her marriage was Miss Mary Johnson, a native of ' Kentucky, came North in early youth, and met her husband for the first time in Cham- paign County, Ohio. She was a most amiable and lovable Christian lady, and by her noble qualities of mind and character was well fitted to be the companion of such a man as her husband. She came to Illinois with him, and departed this life in, Bloomington on the 15th of February, 1845.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Eben- ezer Rhodes, was a native of Maryland, where he was educated and reared to manhood. In his na- tive State he made the acquaintance of Miss Mary Starr, which soon ripened into a mutual attach- ment, and in due time she became his wife. After their marriage they came to Illinois, where Mr. Rhodes, who was of a deeply religious turn of mind, became a local minister of the Baptist Church. They spent the latter part of their lives in Bloomington Township, and here elosed their · eyes forever to the scenes of earth.

, Aaron P. Rhodes of our sketch was the youngest of his parents' family of nine children, which was composed of three sons and six daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter are yet living. He re- ceived an carly education in the log school-house, and being studious and fond of books, in due time was prepared to enter college. About this time came the eall for volunteer troops for the defense of the Union, and young Rhodes, laying aside his personal interests and inelinations, responded to the call and cnlisted as a soldier in Co. G, 17th Ill. Vol. Inf., their Captain being O. A. Burgess, Prin- cipal of the college where young Rhodes intended to pursue his studies. They were assigned to the Western division of the Mississippi Valley, and. participated in the battles of Frederickstown, Ft. Henry, Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Jackson, Memphis and Vicksburg. They were also at the siege and capture of the latter eity, and afterward in the engagement at Yazoo, Miss. Mr. Rhodes escaped through these. many engagements and other skirmishes without being seriously injured or imprisoned, and at the close of the term for

which he enlisted received an honorable discharge at Springfield, in July, 1864, having served his country faithfully for more than three years, and reported for duty each time without fail from the hour that he heard of the firing of Ft. Sumter until he was mustered out. He did not enter the army for amusement or glory, but simply because he realized the importanec of the preservation of the Union, and with thousands of other brave spirits he was willing to yield his life for this cause should it be the will of Providence.

After the close of the war, and after Mr. Rhodes had been transformed from a soldier to a civilian, he returned to his home in Bloomington Township, and at once commenced farming on his own ac- count. He soon felt the need of a helpmeet and sympathizer, and accordingly on the 9th of Novem- ber, 1864, he was married in Bloomington Town- ship, to Miss Martha M. Cox. This lady was born in MeLean County, Aug. 9, 1834, and died at the home of her husband, in Bloomington Township, Feb. 20, 1876. (For parental history sec sketch of David Cox.) Mrs. R. became the mother of two children : Edward, a bright and promising young man, who completed his business and law education at the Evergreen City Business College, and is now in the Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind. ; and Ora M., who is attending school with bright prospects for a good education, as he is fond of his books and ap- plies himself faithfully.

Mr. R. was the second time married, in Randolph Township, this county, on the 13th of October, 1880, to Miss Lottie E. Reid, who was born in Champaign County, Ohio, on the 22d of March, 1848. Her parents subsequently removed from that State and are now residents of Randolph Township, MeLean County. Mrs. R. received her early education in Ohio, and came to this county with her parents in October, 1875. She began teaching when twenty years of age, and followed this profession for a period of ten years. She is an amiable and accomplished lady, and is highly re- speeted in this community.

Mr. Rhodes is the possessor of 800 acres of some of the finest farming land in this section of the Prairie State. It is finely improved and eultivat- ed, and in addition to the ordinary pursuits of ag-

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rieulture Mr. Rhodes is giving much attention to the breeding of fine stock. He has also been cn- gaged in the purchase and sale of mules for the past ten years, and has brought to the State some of the finest draft animals ever exhibited in the Mississippi Valley. Ilis possessions, with the ex- eeption of about 160 aeres, have been the accumu- lation of his own industry and perseveranee, and he has illustrated in a marked manner wliat a resolute will can accomplish.

The family residence is a model of beauty and comfort, and in all its appointments is indicative of cultivated tastes and abundant means. The grounds around it and the barns and out-buildings correspond with the dwelling, being shapely and tasteful structures, which embellish the place and add to the general effect of stability and attractive- ness. He has valuable and costly farm machinery, and all the appliances of a modern farm estate. Mr. Rhodes has contributed his full quota toward the development of this seetion, and is held in the highest csteem for his excellent personal traits of character and the qualities which have rendered him a valued citizen.

RS. NANCY ARROWSMITHI, a lady well- known and highly respected in Leroy, where she has her present residence, is a native of Washington County, Md., and was, born May 13, 1810. Her father, John Oliver, was born in County Derry, Ireland, where he grew to manhood and followed agricultural pursuits. Early in life he emigrated to the United States, lo- cating first in Washington County, Md. From there, in 1812, accompanied by his wife and three children, he emigrated to Ohio, the removal being made after the fashion of those days, overland by wagons. He located in Ross County, being among the early pioneers of that section, and purchased a tract of timber land upon which he erected a log house and in due time opened up a good farm where he lived to see the country around him de- veloped and brought to a fine state of cultivation. He dicd there upon the homestead which he had established, on the 12th of February, 1852, at the

advanced age of eighty-seven years. In ,early manhood he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Beck, who was born in Maryland and desecuded from Seottish ancestry. She also dicd in Ross County, Ohio, Sept. 13, 1852, surviving her hus- band only a few months. The parental family in- cluded nine children.

The subject of this history made her home with her parents until her marriage with John Wesley Arrowsmith, which oeeurred on the 24th of De- cember, 1823. Mr. A. was born in Ross County, Ohio, Oet. 31, 1805. His father, Samuel Arrow- smith, and his grandfather, also named Sanı- uel, were natives of Maryland. The latter was of English deseent and one of the pioneers of Ross County, Ohio, where with the assistance of his children he improved a farm upon which he passed the remainder of his days. The father of John W. was a young man when his parents removed to Ohio, and not long afterward he was married to Miss Elizabeth Ritter, a native of Maryland and of German ancestry. The young people lived in Ross County until 1839, then came to Illinois, the journey being made overland with wagons. Mr. A. purchased quite an extensive traet of land, located in what is now Padua and Arrowsmith Townships. He made his home in the former township and re- mained there until his death, which occurred in 1842. His widow survived him many years, mak- ing her home with her children the latter part of her life, and died in 1869. The town of Arrow- smith was named in honor of this family.

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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 22

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