Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 28

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 28

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After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Arrowsmith located in Seward County, Neb., where they lived five years, and then came to Illinois, settling first at Stumptown, this county, and in about 1885 re- moved to their present home. Mr. Arrowsmith po- litieally is a staneh adherent of the Demoeratie party, and as a business man and eitizen is eonsid- ered one of the valued members of the community.

W ILLIAM B. MYERS, manufacturer of or- gans and engaged in eabinet work at No. 218 South Main street, Bloomington, is a native of York County, Pa., and was born Mareh 31, 1846. His parents were Lewis and Luey (Bond) Myers, natives of Germany, who emigrated to the United States before their marriage, and be- eame husband and wife in the city of Baltimore, Md. They located in York County, Pa., and there spent the remainder of their lives, the father being engaged in the cabinet business. Lewis Myers died in 1878, and the mother of our subject in 1879. The parental household ineluded nine ehil- dren, seven now living.

William B. Myers was the fifth ehild of his par- ents, and remained an inmate of his father's house

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until twenty-one years of age. He thien learned the cabinet trade, and coming west, located first in Decatur, Ill. He became a resident of Blooming- ton in 1866, and with the exception of three years this city has been his home sinee that time. He was engaged with Andrus Bros. for a period of ten years.

Mr. Myers was married in 1868 to Miss Jennie Weire, of Decatur, the daughter of George and Emeline Weire, and by her union with our subjeet she has beeome the mother of two eliildren-Charles and James A. They have a pleasant home at No. 217 South Center street, and enjoy the society of many friends. Mr. Myers belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is one of the most worthy citizens of an industrial community.

OHN RODMAN, an old pioneer of this county, and one of the old settlers of tlie State, highly respected for his sterling worth and integrity, is passing the sunset of life on his farm of 180 aeres on section 22, Old Town Township. Mr. Rodman was the sixth in order of birth in a family of eleven children, and first saw light in Berks County, Pa., Dec. 5, 1817. He. was reared upon his father's farm, and continued to re- side with the old folk until he had attained the age of manhood. He then left the parental rooftree and began farming for himself. Prior to this, how- ever, his parents had removed to Zanesville, Ohio, and it was there that our subjeet received his edu- eation in a log school-house in Muskingum County.

It was during the year 1838 that our subjeet first began to do for himself. He began farming on eighty aeres which his father had previously given him in Ilopewell Township, and for thirteen years was occupied in that manner, when he went on an- other farm given by his father, consisting of eighty aeres of timber land in Ohio, and was interested in its improvement and cultivation until he eoneluded to try his fortunes farther West. Following up this eonelusion he, in the fall of 1854, accompanied by his wife and seven children, eame to this county, and settled on seetion 22, Old Town Township.

Mr. Rodman has continued to reside upon the

same seetion on which he settled when he first eame here, until the present time, with the exception of about three years, and has been continuously oeeu- pied in agricultural pursuits. He is at present the owner of 180 aeres of valuable and productive land, on which he has a good set of farm buildings, and is one of the self-made men of the county.

Mr. Rodman was married in Muskingum County, Ohio, Feb. 15, 1838, to Mary J., daughter of Leg- gett and Nancy (Gutridge) Grey, natives of Vir- ginia. Mrs. Rodman was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, May 1, 1819, and of her union with our subjeet seven children were born, four of whom are living-Ann, Joseph L., Lueinda and E. L. Ann is the wife of Homer Boise, and they are liv- ing at Bloomington, Ill .; Joseph was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary Hayes, and is a farmer of Old Town Township; Lueinda became the wife of Jeremiah Whiteomb, wlio is also a farmer of Old Town Township; E. L. married Miss Louisa Fogle, . and they are likewise residents of Old Town Town- ship. The deceased children of our subjeet and wife were named Worthington N., Laura and Margaret A. The latter was the wife of John Craig, and de- parted this life in Old Town Township.

Mr. Rodinan has held some of the minor offiees in the township. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of the Master, and with his wife has been a member of the Methodist Protestant Church for almost twoseore years and ten, and all their ehil- dren are members of the same denomination. In polities he is a staneh Republican, and socially is possessed of a genial and kind disposition which has made for him innumerable friends, not only in Old Town Township, but throughout the entire county.

AMES POINDEXTER, a native of MeLean County, and who has here spent the greater part of his life, was born on the farm where he now lives, on seetion 17, Bloomington Township, on the 10th of September, 1843. His father, Arnett Poindexter, was a native of Virginia and of French descent, their earlier ancestors go- ing with William the Conqueror from France to England, whenee, later, they emigrated to the

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United States, and located in Virginia at about the time of the close of the Revolutionary War. The first representatives in this eountry were two broth- ers, one of whom located in Lexington, Ky., where afterward the father of our subjeet met his future wife, Miss Elizabeth Duncan. After their marriage and the birth of six children, four sons and two daughter, the family removed North to Illinois, in 1839, and settled in Bloomington Township upon a traet of unimproved land, most of the country around them still being in its original condition.

Arnett Poindexter was a miller by trade, and had owned mill property in Kentucky which was devoted to the manufacture of woolen goods. After eoming to this eounty he erected the first woolen- mill within its borders, and successfully followed this ealling until his death, which occurred in about 1844. Our subject was then about one year old and the youngest of the family. He remained on the farm with his mother and brothers and obtained a fair education in the pioneer schools. When quite young he was greatly interested in the opera- tions of the honey-bee, and as he grew older he soon began to make a business of earing for these. He lias now about 200, colonies of Italian bees, from which he obtains large quantities of honey, usually taken in the comb.

The mother of our subject departed this life in Mareh, 1874; five of his brothers and sisters lived to mature years, and two brothers and one sister are yet living .. On the 25th of December, 1879, our subjeet was married in Bloomington Township to Miss Elizabeth Brigham, the daughter of George and Lydia (Shinn) Brigham, the former of Boston, Mass., and the latter of Cincinnati, Ohio. They were married in Pike County, Ill., and loeated there upon a farm, where the father passed the remainder of his days. The mother is living with her son, Asa Brigham, in Bloomington Township. Mrs. Poindexter was born in Pike County, Ill., Dee. 20, 1843. She came to MeLean County with her par- ents when twelve years of age, was educated in Normal, and began to teach when nineteen, which she followed until her marriage with our subjeet. Of this union there has been born one ehild- Jamesina Pearl.

The homestead of Mr. Poindexter embraces

seventy-five aeres of finely cultivated land, a eom- fortable residenee, all necessary barns and out- buildings, and within and without gives evidenee of the supervision of a well-dirceted and intelligent mind. Mr. P. is highly respected in his community, is Democratic in politics, and in all respects a use- ful and valued member of society. He possesses considerable literary taste, and has been a eorres- pondent of the American Bell Journal for some time. He was also Secretary of the Bee-Keeper's Association of Central Illinois in 1884, which po- sition he oeeupied for some time afterward.

ILLIAM KING, deeeased, was formerly one of the most successful farmers in Bloomington Township and ranked among its valued eitizens. He owned a good farm of 300 aeres on section 19, where his widow and youngest son are now living and operating a part of the homestead. Mr. King was born in Somerset County, Pa., Feb. 25, 1813, and was of pure German ex- traetion. He was first married to Miss Amelia Col- burn, who was also of Pennsylvania birth and Ger- man ancestry, and whose parents spent nearly their entire lives in Somerset County, Pa.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. K. remained in Pennsylvania until about 1836, when they re- moved to Illinois and located upon what is now familiarly known as the old King homestcad. Of their union there were born three children, all liv- ing and reeorded as follows: Ellen became the wife of Joseph Nye, a farmer of MeLean County ; William married Miss Sarah Alexander, and is farming near Farmer City, Ill .; Amelia married Mr. John Debolt, and, is residing on a farm with her husband in Martin Township, this county. Mrs. Amelia C. King departed this life at the home of her husband in Bloomington Township, Aug. 12, 1844, greatly mourned by her family and a large eirele of friends and acquaintances.

The second wife of Mr. King was Miss Ann Van Nostin, to whom he was married in Bloomington Township on the 26th of February, 1845. This lady was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Nov. 2, 1824, her parents being Abraham and Margaret

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(Cook) Van Nostin, natives of New Jersey, of New - England parentage and German ancestry. They were married in Hamilton County, Ohio, whenee they removed to Cineinnati, Ohio, and from there to MeLean County, where the father died in Ran- dolph Township in about 1840. The mother is still living, and makes her home with her grandson, Elias King, in Bloomington Township, having ar- rived at the advanced age of eighty-four years.

Mrs. King, by her marriage with our subjeet be- eame the mother of six children, four now living, as follows: David married Miss Crystal Shermer, and is farming in Cheney's Grove Township; Aliee beeame the wife of John Foster, who is farm- ing near Shirley; Elias is engaged in farming pur- suits in Bloomington Township; Zephanialı H. lives with his mother at the old homestead and is earry- ing on farming; he was married, Feb. 23, 1887, to. Miss Anna Burning.

Mrs. King and her husband were among the early residents of MeLean County and favorably known as being numbered with its most valued and worthy eitizens. In polities Mr. King was a mem- ber of the old Whig party, and served as Justice of the Peace for a number of years. The sons are all Demoerats. Mr. King died Oet. 28, 1854.

B. HOBLIT, Cashier of the National State Bank of Bloomington, is a native of Illi- nois, and was born in Fulton County on the 10th of March, 1844. He is thie son of Mahlon S. and Mary A. (Thomas) Hoblit, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Pennsyl- vania.

The early life of Mahlon S. Hoblit was employed in mereantile pursuits in this State, partly in Can- ton and partly at Atlanta. He was busily employed until 1857, when he was obliged to abandon aetive business on aeeount of his wife's failing health, aud removed to Minneapolis, Minn., where his life ter- minated in 1868; the mother survived her husband for a period of seventeen years, dying in Atlanta, Ill., in 1885. Both were members of the Baptist Church. The father was one of the first men in Illinois to advocate the principles of the Repub-

liean party, taking an active part in its organization here, and was also greatly interested in the estab- lishment of sehools and churches and the suecess of temperanee. His lateh-string always hung out to the wayfarer, and the poor and needy found in him a stanelı friend and helper.

The parental household of ten children was bro- ken into by the death of four of its members; the living are as follows: Almeda, Mrs. MeCrary, lives in Little Falls, Minn .; Isaae N. is a dealer in live-stoek at Minneapolis, Minn .; Alviu B. is our subjeet; Lizzie Z. resides in Minneapolis ; Mahlon S., Jr., is farming near Monticello, Minu., and Daniel S. is also living near the latter-named place; John T., who died of fever at Stone River while in the army, was first to enlist in the three months' service at Minneapolis; he was eity editor of the Tribune of that eity ; Isaae N., who was also in the army, was injured at the first battle of Bull Run, but re- covered, and at the expiration of three monthis they both re-enlisted, and served until the elose of the war; they belonged to the famous Minnesota First.

The subject of this sketeh remained at home until seventeen years old, and after his parents went North, attended the Minneapolis High School. He subsequently engaged as a elerk for his brother, a merehant in . Canton, Ill., where he remained two years. He then enlisted in Co. B, 8th Ill. Vol. Inf., and during a service of thirteen months participated in several engagements and skirmishes, being at the siege and capture of Spanish Fort, Ft. Blakeley and Mobile, Ala. He escaped injury, and after reeeiv- ing an honorable diselarge returned to Canton and elerked for the dry-goods merehant, A. C. Babeoek. The following eighteen montlis were spent in Sauk Center, Minn., with the firm of Moore & MeClure, who were engaged in merchandise and milling. He then came to Atlanta, Ill., and was eonneeted with the banking house of Frank, Hoblit Bros. & Co. from 1867 to 1873. Then, on account of ill-health, he accepted a position as Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue at Springfield, Ill., but after two years re- signed. Then, in company with a few friends he assisted in the establishment of the Farmer's Na- tional Bank at Pekin, Ill., where he occupied the position of Cashier three years. He was then eon-

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eerned with others in the organization of the Na- tional State Bank of Bloomington, of which he is a stock-holder and Director, and has been Cashier sinee 1878.

Mr. Hoblit was married in 1876, to Miss Annie E., daughter of Capt. Isaae and Elmira (Neal) Keys, who were natives respectively of Illinois and Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. H. there have been born two sons-Edward M. and Harris K. . The residenee of our subjeet and his family is located at No. 315 Fast Chestnut street, and they enjoy the

1 friendship and society of the cultured citizens of Bloomington. They are both members of the First Baptist Church. In polities Mr. Hoblit uniformly votes the Republican ticket, and is an honored member of the G. A. R. He is also a member of the K. of P. Lodge, and has been Past Chancellor. His energy and enterprise have placed him in the front rank with the business men of Bloomington, and he is the substantial supporter and encourager of every measure tending to its eredit and welfare.

OHN MURRAY, deceased, was one of the prominent and 'well-to-do farmers of Mc- Lean County, and was a resident of Old Town Township. He was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, about 1821. When about twenty-eight years of age he came to the eonelusion that he could better his financial condition in life by emigrating to the United States, and following up his eonelusion he landed upon the soil of our free Republie in 1849. He selected as the place of his residence the State of Ohio, and after residing there for seven years he eoneluded to come still further West, and in 1856 became a citizen of MeLean County by settling in Old Town Township. There he determined to make his permanent home, hav- ing, as he often said, great faith in the future de- velopment of the country. He purchased a farm in that township, and was industriously engaged in agricultural pursuits there until Aug. 10, 1886, thie date of his demise. At this time he was the owner of 320 aeres of valuable and productive land, which he had acquired through his own energy and perseverance, He was a self-made man in every

respeet the word implies, and what he possessed up to the date of his demise had been acquired, as stated, through his own exertions and not as the re- eipient of any legaey whatsoever.

Mr. Murray was married at Bloomington, Ill., Sept. 14, 1856, to Miss Eliza Loughman, who was born in Queens County, Ireland, Feb. 22, 1837. She was about seventeen years of age when she came to the United States, and of her union with Mr. Murray eleven children have been born: Anna is the wife of Frank Sehlink, and they reside in Peo- ria: the others are Edward, Michael, John, Maggie, Thomas, Martin, James, Mary, Joseph M. and Will- iam. James died in infaney. Mrs. Murray and her children are members of the Catholie Chureli, as was our subjeet. In polities Mr. Murray was a Demo- erat. His remains are interred in the Catholie Cemetery at Bloomington.

R OBERT S. HOWARD, of Leroy, has been a resident of the Prairie State sinee 1858, and has built up for himself a good record as a man of the highest integrity, and one who has exerted a good influenee in society. He is an ardent Prohibitionist, earnestly and actively op- posed to the use and manufacture of spirituous liq- uors, and a devoted member of the Methodist Epis- eopal Church, with which he has been prominently connected sinee 1845. A large portion of his time has been given to the promotion of those ideas which he believes to be for the welfare of the eom- munity, socially, morally and religiously, and he has contributed liberally and cheerfully of his means to these ends.

Mr. Howard is a native of Madison County, Ky., and was born June 15, 1827. His father, Ignatius Howard, was a native of the same State, and his grandfather, of English birth and parentage, was one of the earliest pioneers of the Blue Grass region. He served as a soldier in the Revolution- ary War, and yielded up his life on the battle-field as a tribute to liberty of thought and conseienee. By his death there were left a widow and two small children, the father of our subjeet being but three or four years old when his father died. The

RESIDENCE. OF A . T. MITCHELL, SEC. 23., DALE TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH DENNING, 808. E.CHESTNUT ST., BLOOMINGTON.

RESIDENCE OF JONATHAN ALLISON, SEC. 1G., DALE TOWNSHIP.

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mother subsequently married Thomas 'Taylor, of Madison County, Ky., who became a well-to-do farmer. Ignatius Howard was reared on the farmn of liis stepfather, and lived there until a few years before his death, his last days having been spent in Owen County. He and his only brother, James, served as soldiers in the War of 1812. The maiden name of the mother of our subjeet was Elizabeth Stalker. She was also a native of Madison County, Ky., and died at the home of her husband in Owen County. The parental household consisted of eight ehildren.

Robert S. Howard was the sixth ehild and third son of his parents, and remained uuder the home roof until sixteen years old. He then went to Jes- samine County, Ky., and became an apprentiee to learn the cabinet-maker's trade. In June, 1846, he enlisted in the 2d Kentucky Infantry, Company F, the latter being known as "Jessamine Blues," un- der command of Capt. Willis. He was mustered into serviee on the 9th of June, and mustered out late in the summer of 1847. His war experience was in the territory of Mexico, where he . partici- pated in the battle of Buena Vista, and where his Captain, Colonel, and Lieutenant-Colonel, Henry Clay, Jr., were killed.

After the elose of his army serviee Mr. Howard returned to his cabinet trade, and in the latter part of 1848 started in business on his own account, in Jessamine County, Ky., and operated there for the following ten years. In 1858 he emigrated to Illi- nois, and purchased eighty aeres of land in Empire Township, this county, where he carried on farming six years. He then rented his farm and again re- turned to " jour " work at his trade in Blooming- ton, where, after a year thus occupied, he opened a furniture store. He conducted this until 1872, thien sold out and came to Leroy and opened a store of the same kind, which he operated until 1883, when he sold out and retired from aetive business. His homestead comprises twenty aeres of land within the eity limits, upon which is a good set of frame buildings, and he owns other valuable property in this vieinity.

Mr. Howard was married, Dee. 27, 1848, to Miss Lavina Sageser, who was a native of Jessamine County, Ky., and born Dec. 17, 1830. Her father,

Henry Sageser, was a native of the same eounty and State, and her grandfather, Frederick Sageser, was a native of Germany, whenee he emigrated in early manhood, and spent the last years of his life in Jessamine County, Ky. Ilis son Henry, the father of Mrs. H., spent his entire life in farming pursuits in his native eounty. He was married to a Miss Naney Woodard, a native of his own country, and they became the parents of thirteen ehildren.

Mr. and Mrs. Howard have no children of their own, but. have reared two others. Joseph F. Sage- ser, the nephew of Mrs. H., was taken in charge' by our subjeet and his wife when six months old, earefully reared and educated and given the best advantages; he is now a practicing physician of Chieago, and a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The other child, a little girl by the name of Annie Cook, became an inmate of the household when six years of age, and remained until her marriage.

Mrs. Howard is a member of the same church as her husband, and has been his aetive helper and sympathizer in all his good works. Our subjeet, before the war, was Demoeratie in polities, when he joined the ranks of the Republicans, but since 1872 has identified himself with the Prohibitionists. He voted for Green Clay Smith in 1876, for Neal Dow in 1880, and for St. John in 1884. In 1876 and 1880 he east the only vote for prohibition in this township, and has been among the bravest in the opposition which has been attendant upon the efforts to abolish that which brings sueh untold mis- ery to thousands of human beings.

W ILLIAM MARCUS COX, one of the most sneeessful farmers and stoek-growers of Bloomington Township, is finely located on seetions 34 and 35, the homestead being loeated on the latter. Mr. Cox has carried on his farming operations intelligently and suceessfully, and of late years has devoted his attention principally to the breeding of Short-horn and Jersey eattle, sheep, horses and swine. Mr. Cox is a native of McLean County, and was born on his father's old homestead in Bloomington Township, Aug. 9, 1836. A his-

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tory of his parents will be found in the sketch of David Cox in another part of this work.

Our subject remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-six years of age, and on his twenty-sixth birthday, the late Civil War being then in progress, he enlisted as a soldier of the Union, and joined his command at Bloomington, being assigned to Co. F, 94th Ill. Vol: Inf., Col. Ornie commanding. They were sent to the Department of the West, and later went to Vicksburg, after- ward to the Gulf, where they remained for about one year, and were then ordercd to New Orleans. In August, 1863, Mr. Cox returned home on a fur- lough, and in December of that year returned to the army and joined his regiment in February follow- ing, with which he remained until his final dis- charge, which also occurred on his birthday, Aug. 9, 1865.

Mr. Cox participated in all the engagements and skirmishes of his regiment, being in the fight at Springfield, Mo., and at the siege of Vieksburg, re- maining in the latter place nearly one month be- fore the surrender of the city. They returned to New Orleans in December following, and then went on an expedition across Lake Pontchartrain under command of Lieut. Col. Webb, of the 77th Illinois Regiment. While the fleet was erossing a lake the vessel whielt contained Mr. Cox and his comrades foundered, and Mr. C. was seriously hurt in the - ankle by falling from the deck to the hull of the boat through a trap-door. Afterward, at the siege of Spanish Fort on Mobile Bay in March, 1865, while on duty, a large shell burst within a few feet of him, and he narrowly escaped being torn to pieces. Aside from the slight wounds thus received and some slight illness, he escaped unharmed, and very seldom failed to report at roll-call. He served in the army just three years to a day.

At the elose of his army life Mr. Cox returned to his home in Bloomington Township, and on Dee. 4, 1868, was united in marriage wien Miss Mary J. Orendorff, daughter of Oliver and Sarah L. (Hen- drix) Orendorff, a sketch of whom will be found in another part of this volume. Mrs. Cox was born in Bloomington Township, Jan. 1, 1850, and com- pleted her education in the Normal University at Normal, Ill., where she reecived excellent and prac-

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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 28

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