Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 29

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 29

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tieal instruction, choosing those studies which would be of service to her in later years. After leaving school she returned to her parents, and re- mained with thein until her marriage with our sub- ject. She is the elder child and only daughter of a family of two children.

Shortly after his marriage Mr. Cox located upon a tract of land and engaged in farming pursuits. He has been successful in his agricultural and bnsi- ness transactions, and is now the owner of 155 aeres, all fincly improved, and under a good state of eul- vation ; he also owns property in Normal. His homestead is pleasantly located, and he has a com- fortable residence and out-buildings, and all the appliances of a good modern farm estate. Mrs. Cox is a member in good standing of the Christian Church, while Mr. C. is a Methodist in religious belief. He is Republican in politics, and uniformly easts his vote in support of the principles of that party. He is straightforward and upright in his business transactions, and enjoys in a marked de- gree the confidence and esteem of his fellow-towns- men.

EREMIAH WHITCOMB, a well-to-do and. prosperous farmer residing ou section 22, Old Town Township, is an offspring of Francis and Jane (Evans) Whitcomb, na- tives of New Hampshire and Ohio respectively. When about thirty years of age the father, in com- pany with a brother, went to York State, whence the father came to Illinois in 1817, and settled in Vermilion County. For over forty years he heard of none of his relatives. Jane (Evans) Whiteomb was a daughter of William Evans, one of the early settlers of Bloomington, this county. The parents of our subjeet were united in marriage in Vermil- ion County, this State, and made settlement there, and in that county the father was engaged in the manufacture of salt. Subsequently he embarked in the milling business, and still later in life fol- lowed the ocenpation of a farmer. In 1849 the parents moved to MeLean County, and settled in Old Town Township, where the father continued at his chosen vocation. He lived to attain the ad- vanced age of eighty-six years, and she departed

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this life when in her seventy-eighth year, both dy- ing in Old Town Township.

The parental household of our subjeet included seven children who lived to attain the age of ina- turity, and Jeremiah was the fifth in order of birth. Ile was born in Vermilion County, Ill., Jan. 10, 1839, and was ten years of age when he aeeompan- ied his parents to this eounty, and sinee that time has been a resident of Old Town Township. IIis education was received in the common schools of this county, and his years thus far in life have been devoted almost exclusively to agricultural pursuits. He is at present the owner of 233 acres of valuable land, and is meeting with sueeess.in the proseention of his vocation.

Mr. Whiteomb was married in Old Town Town- ship to Miss Lueinda Rodman, Feb. 27, 1862. She is the daughter of John and Mary J. (Grey) Rod- man (see sketeh of John Rodman), and was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, March 27, 1843. Their union has been blest by the birth of the fol- lowing children: Sylvia, Lillie A., May, William A., Mary F. and Alma' E. May is the wife of M. Adams, and they are living in Downs Town- ship. Mr. Whiteomb has held the office of Super- visor two years, Justice of the Peace eight years, Township Clerk two years, Township Treasurer four years, and School Trustee for several years, and is at present Township Treasurer. In polities he is Republican. Mrs. Whiteomb religiously holds fel- lowship with the Methodist Protestant Church.

2 M. CAMPBELL. The subject of the fol- lowing brief history owns and occupies a good farin on seetion 32, Bloomington Township, and is successfully engaged in general agriculture and stoek-raising. His homestead eon- sists of 120 aeres of finely improved land, stoeked with good eattle, and supplied with a fine set of frame buildings. With the exception of a few years Mr. Campbell has made this place his home since he came to MeLean County in 1849.

N. M. Campbell was born in Monroe County, Ind., March 30, 1842. His father, Rev. John G., and his mother, Sallie A. (Campbell) Campbell,

were both natives of Bourbon County, Ky., and descended from excellent Scotch-Irish aneestry. They were reared and married in their native State, and soon afterward eame North to Monroe County, Ind., where, after eleven years, and the birth of three children, they ¡returned to Kentucky on ae- count of failing health. While in Indiana the father of our subjeet had frequently officiated in the pulpit of the Christian Church aud followed preaching afterward with the exeeption of a few years.

After their return to Kentucky, Mr. Campbell became greatly opposed to the principles of slavery and decided to remove away from it. He aeeord- ingly proceeded to Illinois, where freedom reigned and all enjoyed their liberty. He seeured a wild traet of land in MeLean County, on which stood a small log cabin, into which he removed his family. He now began to preach in earnest, and his health greatly improved. by the change. He labored faithfully among the settlers with good results, and on the 3d of April, 1853, was greatly pleased in being able to assist in the organization of the Grassy Ridge Christian Church, which started in with about a dozen members and Mr. Campbell as Elder and minister. In due time a church edifiee was ereeted on seetion 32, and upon ground do- nated by Wilson Lindley. The church thus started has been well kept up, and the building still oeeu- pied for religious purposes. Rev. J. G. Campbell eondueted the services of this charge for about a quarter of a century, and in the meantime also of- fieiated at other places and was an active agent of the MeLean County Missionary Society. The good seed thus early sown by the father of our sub- jeet sprang up and brought forth fruit, and is felt to-day in the religious influences which prevail throughout that locality.

The subject of our sketeh iu early life was greatly devoted to his parents, and labored on his father's farm early and late. He attended the com- mon schools during the winter seasons until he was twenty years of age and remained under the pa- reutal roof until his marriage. This interesting event took place Oct. 27. 1864, at the home of the bride's parents in Bloomington Township, the lady of his ehoiee being Miss Mary S. Quiun, daughter

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of S. M. and S. A. (Boulware) Quinn, of Rich- mond, Ky. Her parents were born and married in the Blue Grass State, and the father died at the old home in Bloomington Township in 1882, aged about sixty-six years. Mrs. Campbell was born in Kentucky, May 23, 1847, and came North with her parents when a young child, living with them in Bloomington Township until her marriage. She has become the mother of two sons: Charles L., boru March 10, 1866, and Ira C., Oet. 18, 1869. Both have received a good education and are liv- ing at home with their parents.

Mr. Campbell and his family are active members of the Christian Church in Grassy Ridge, of which our subjeet has held the office of Deaeon for sev- eral years and is now Elder in the church at Bloom- ington. In politics he is a staneh adherent of the Republican party.

OSEPH B. AYERS, a retired farmer now living in the enjoyment of a competeney in the village of Danvers, has spent his entire lifetime in this county, having been born in the eity of Bloomington on the 19th of November, 1831. Bloomington, at that time, probably could have hardly been called a eity, and our subject has noted with keen interest the changes which have taken place in his native eounty within a period of over fifty years. He has also furnished his full quota to its growth and prosperity, having been onė of its most progressive and substantial citizens.

The subject of this history was the son of James T. and Rebeeea B. (Bloomer) Ayers, natives re- speetively of Madison and Fayette Counties, Ohio. James T. Ayers was born Nov. 14, 1805, and de- parted this life in Buford, S. C., on the 10th of September, 1865. Mrs. Rebecca B. Ayers was born Oct. 13, 1806, and preceded her husband to the unknown land on the 2d of March, 1848. The parents of our subject were fairly educated in their youth, and were married in Ohio in 1825. His father was a man of fine abilities, an extensive reader and possessed a valuable fund of general information. They emigrated to the Prairie State in the fall of 1831, loeating first in Tazewell

County, whenee they removed to McLean County and settled near Lexington. James Ayers served as a soldier in the Union Army, first as an Orderly Sergeant. and was afterward appointed Regimental Mail Messenger. After going to Nash- ville he was retained by Gov. Johnson of Ten- nessee as recruiting offieer, and was afterward ap- pointed Chaplain and assigned to duty in the 104th Regiment of Colored Troops at Buford, S. C.

Joseph B. Ayers remained under the parental roof until he was eighteen years of age, and on the 27th of April, 1851, was married to Miss Sarah C. Haybarger. Mrs. Ayers was born July 26, 1832, in Augusta County, Va., and is the daughter of Abraham and Mary (Crowbarger) Haybarger, who were of German descent, but natives of Maryland and Virginia respectively. The father was born Nov. 19, 1798, and died in MeLean County, Ill., in 1843. Mrs. H. was born July 5, 1800, in Rock- ingham County, Va., and died in Danvers Town- ship, this county, in September, 1885. They were worthy and valued citizens, and members in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. Their house- hold ineluded seven children, as follows: Susan M. married William C. Hinshaw; George C. died in infaney; John C. married Miss Catharine Peuter- baugh; David K., unmarried, died at the age of twenty-three years; Sarah C. is the wife of our sub- jeet; Elizabeth R. is now Mrs. John Smith, and Julia A., Mrs. D. B. S. Smith.

Mr. and Mrs. Ayers became the parents of eight children, of whom the record is as follows: John Thompson, born April 12, 1852, married Miss Ilat- tie A. Estes; William Henry, born June 29, 1854, married Miss Emma Neal; one son, born Sept. 3, 1853, died in infancy ; Mary Elizabeth, born Dee. 30, 1856, married M. L. Keplinger, of Carlinville, Ill .; a daughter was born Jan. 2, 1856, and soon afterward died; Joseph Lincoln, born Jan. 16, 1859, died October 20 of the same year; Seymore Warren was born Aug. 12, 1861, and Frank David, June 15, 1865.

Our subject in early life purchased a farm at Mosquito Grove, in this county, which he occupied for thirty-five years, and where he carried on agri- enlture with fair success, and his sons now oeeupy it. He is a member in. good standing of the

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Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he united in 1853, and held the office of Steward. The father of our subjeet died. as stated, in Buford, S. C., with typhus malarial fever. 'When but twenty years old he eommeneed his ministry in the Methodist Epis- eopal Chureh as a local preacher. IIe possessed fine talents, was fairly educated and a natural ora- tor. Ile was the means of great good during his life, being aetive and useful and a sineere Chris- tian. His wife was also eonneeted with the same church, and a worthy helpmeet of her husband. They were the parents of eleven children: Mary J. became the wife of W. Walters Wallace; Naney was the second, who died in infaney ; Richard died in infaney ; the next was our subjeet; then followed William T., Catharine, Margaret, Benjamin II., Ilenry C., Sarah E. (deceased), and an infant son, who died unnamed. The parents of Mrs. Ayers eame to Illinois in 1834, and located in Tazewell County, whenee they came to Danvers Township three years later, where they remained the balanee of their lives.

NDREW R. DILLMAN, a prosperous and successful druggist of the little eity of Me- Lean, has been a resident of this county sinee 1867, and during a period of twenty years has fully established himself in the confidenee and esteem of his fellow-eitizens. He was born in a log cabin in Lewis Township, Brown Co., Ohio, Jan. 11, 1841. His father, Conrad Dillman, was a native of Maryland, and his grandfather, Andrew Dillman, was of pure German aneestry, and eame to America with his father and mother when a young ehild. They located in Maryland, and later removed to Kentucky, where they passed the re- mainder of their lives.

Conrad Dillman was quite young when his par- ents removed from Maryland to Kentucky, and he there grew to manhood and married Miss Lydia Reed, a native of Jessamine County. After their marriage they removed to Ohio, and the elder Dill- man purchased a tract of land and cleared a farm in Brown County. He was generous-minded and liberal, always willing to assist a friend, and by the

signing of notes lost the whole of his property. In 1841 he removed from .Brown to Clermont County, Ohio, where he cultivated rented land and worked at the carpenter's trade until his death, which oeeurred in 1859, at the age of sixty years. HIis widow afterward removed to Illinois, and spent the remainder of her days with her daughter, Mrs. Margaret Houser, of Champaign County, departing this life in December, 1882, in the eighty-seeond year of her age. The parental household consisted of nine children, three sons and six daughters, eight of whom are still living.

The subject of our sketeh was the seventh child of his parents. In early youth he was attacked with hip disease, and was an invalid for a period of eight years. His father being poor he could do but little toward educating his ehildren, but An- drew R. was fond of his books, and while confined at his home pursued his studies, and with the as- sistance of the distriet school fitted himself for a teacher, and eommeneed this oeeupation at the age of eighteen years. He taught during the winter seasons and in the summer pursued farming on rented land for eight years, and during this time took a partial course of study at Prof. Lay coek's Academy at Felicity, Ohio. In 1866 he decided to remove further West, and aeeordingly journeyed across the State of Indiana and located in MeLean County, pursuing his first duties as a pedagoguc in this State, in the town where he now resides. After one year thus employed he secured a position as elcrk, and followed this in various stores in Mc- Lean for the next four years. In 1874 he was ap- pointed Postmaster, which position he held until December, 1885. In 1872 he officiated'as elerk in a drug-store, where he gained inneh valuable inform- ation, and held the position as druggist's clerk for the following ten years, when he opened a drug- store on his own aeeount, and has successfully op- erated it until the present time.

The marriage of Andrew R. Dillman and Miss Joanna Croswell was celebrated April 2, 1868, in the village of MeLean. Mrs. D. is the daughter of John M. and Mary Croswell, and was born in .1837. By her marriage with our subjeet she has become the mother of one ehild, a daughter, Ora Litta. They oeeupy a pleasant and comfortable

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home and enjoy the esteem and respeet of a large cirele of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Dillman is Republiean in polities, and he and his wife are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Dillman has been prominent in the affairs of his town sinee eoming here. He is local editor of the McLean Lens, and has served six years as Po- liee Magistrate of the village. He has taken a de- eided interest in educational matters, and served as a member of the School Board, doing what he eould to advanee the educational and moral inter- ests of his eommunity.

The MeLean Lens was established in 1879, by D. G. Palmer, as an independent paper. He eon- ducted the paper until June, 1885, when our sub- jeet became the editor. It is now owned by Critehfield Bros. The Lens is a seven-column folio, issued every Saturday, and is a bright, newsy sheet. It is well edited, and has a liberal country cireulation.

OHN F. WELCH, a farmer and stock-grower of Bloomington Township, is located on seetion 35, and in addition to the ordinary pursuits of agriculture is extensively en- gaged as a breeder of fine stoek. He carries on farming on one of his father's plaees, which eon- sists of 240 aeres. In his stoek-raising operations he makes a specialty of horses, and exhibits some among the best speeimens of their kind in this see- tion of MeLean County.

Mr. Weleh is a native of MeLean County, and was born on the farm which he now oeeupies but which is owned by his father. Eighty aeres of this was purchased by the latter at an early day for the consideration of one yoke of oxen. For a history of the parents of our subjeet the reader is referred to the sketch of Jeremiah Welch on another page of this work.

John F. Weleh remained a member of the paren- tal household until his marriage. In the meantime he received his primary education in the common sehools, and completed his studies at Wesleyan College, Bloomington, where he took a course of praetieal instruction such as lie judged would be of use to him in later years. He was married, Oet.

29, 1885, at the home of the bride's parents in Le- roy, MeLean County, to Miss Lizzie C., the daughter of John W. and Emeline (Buekles) Ker- shaw. The father of Mrs. W. was the only son of Joseph Kershaw, an English gentleman who settled in the Prairie State at an early period in its history, and was the only representative of the family bear- ing that name in this country. His wife, the grand- mother of Mrs. W., was of Virginian parentage and American aneestry, but born in Illinois, her family being of German deseent. The parents of Mrs. W. are still living, and make their home in Downs Township. The wife of our subjeet was born in the latter township Jan. 30, 1867. She was reared under the parental roof, and completed her eduea- tion at the U. B. College, of Westfield, Clark Co., Ill., and subsequently took a course at Wesleyan College in the city of Bloomington. She also be- 'eame an accomplished musician, and in her other studies attained to a high degree of perfection.

Mr. and Mrs. Weleh have become the parents of one ehild-Bessie K., who was born July 2, 1886. Mrs. W. is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically Mr. Weleh affiliates with the Republican party.

HRISTIAN BECK, a prosperous farmer and stoek-raiser of Dry Grove Township, is the owner of eighty-six aeres on seetion 4, and is engaged principally in the breeding of fine horses and eattle. Ilis farm is finely eultivated and im- proved, and he oceupies a handsome country resi- dence which is indicative within and without of cultivated tastes and ample means. His barns and out-buildings are of first-elass deseription, and his business transactions are carried on with that method and system which is one of the requisites of thrift and prosperity.

Mr. Beek was born in Woodford County, this State, on the 8th of June, 1848. He is the son of Peter and Catharine (Gingery) Beek, who were of German birth and parentage. Peter Beek was born in about 1805, emigrated to Ameriea in 1833, mak- ing his first location in Pennsylvania whenee, four

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years later, he eame to the Prairie State and died in Woodford County, Sept. 17, 1850. The mother was born May 27, 1809, is still living, and re- mains a widow. She makes her home with her son Christian. Of their eight children the record is as follows: Barbara was born July 11, 1833, and died in infancy ; Daniel was born Oet. 8, 1834; Elizabeth, Oet. 9, 1836, and married Andrew Keefer, of Allen County, Kan .; John was born Nov. 21, 1838, and died when twenty-six years of age; Ellen, now Mrs. A. Stephens, was born Feb. 19, 1841 ; Peter was born Nov. 21, 1843, and mar- ried Miss Lydia Miller; Catherine, born May 9, 1846, died at the age of one year and twenty days.

Christian Beek of our sketeh was the youngest member of his father's family. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-six years of age, and on the 3d of January, 1874, was married to Miss Barbara Schick. Mrs. B. is a native of Butler Couuty, Ohio, was born April 19, 1847, and is the daughter of Joseph and Magdalena (Augs- berger) Sehiek, her parents being natives of Ger- many, and are still living in Tazewell County, this State, which has been their home sinee 1856. Their family of eleven children ineluded the fol- lowing: Elizabeth, Barbara, Magdalena, Catharine, Joseph, Mary, Annie, Francis, Lydia, Fannie and Rosa.

Mr. and Mrs. Beck have become the parents of four children-Ida M., Amelia A., Mary O. and Rosa L. In religious belief Mr. Beek and wife are members of the Mennonite Church, and politieally che votes the Democratie tieket. The Lake Erie & Western Railroad erosses the sonthwest eorner of his farm.

W ILLIAM BUCKWORTH, one of the lead- ing druggists of Leroy, is a native of Sus- sex County, Del., and was born Feb. 7, 1829. His father, Curtis Buekworth, was a native of Maryland, but was reared and married in Delaware. He removed, in 1832, to Ohio, and loeated seven miles from Chillieothe, in Ross County, where he purchased a tract of heavily timbered land, in the midst of which was a log cabin. IIere he estab- lished himself with his family, and lived to improve

a farm of over 400 aeres, ereeting good buildings and providing all the appliances of a first-elass farın estate. After witnessing the remarkable ehanges which oeeurred during an interval of thirty-seven years, and keeping full paee with the progress of the age, he departed this life on the homestead which he had established in 1869, when seventy- nine years of age.

The maiden name of the mother of our subjeet was Ellen Draper. She was born in Delaware, and was the daughter of John Draper, a native of the same State. She beeame the mother of fonr chil- dren, and died four years after locating with her husband in Ohio, her decease occurring in 1836. The sister of our suhjeet, Susan by name, beeame the wife of John Thomas, aeeompanied her hus- band to Missouri, and died there in 1863; Alexau- der D. lives at North Platte, Neb., and has served as State Senator; he was formerly a physician, and later Register of the land-office of North Platte, and at present is engaged in the banking and real- estate business.

William Buekworth received his early education in the eommon school, and attended two terms at Frankford Academy in Ohio. When twenty-two years of age he commenced the study of medieine, under the instruction of Dr. William Latta at Frankford, and in the winter of 1854-55 attended a course of leetures at Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio. The following spring he eom- meneed practice at Clarksburg, Ohio, and in the fall of the same year came to Illinois, locating first at Mt. Zion, Macon County. In 1862 he attended leetures in the Ohio Medieal College at Cineinnati, from which he graduated in June, 1863. He then returned to Mt. Zion, and after praetieing eighteen months there removed to Champaign County, where he spent six years in the praetiee of his pro- fession, and from there he eame to Leroy. In 1871 he purchased the drug-store of Guy & Sims in this place, which he has successfully eondueted sinee that time. He is a thorough-going business man, genial, courteous and obliging, and a great favorite in the business eireles of his eommunity.

Mr. Buekworth was married in Greenfield, Ohio, Nov. 15, 1855, to Miss Mary S. Parish, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, iu 1831. Of this union

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there were born two children: Dana L., who is as- soeiated with his father in business; Maggie Ellen died in infancy. The store is finely equipped and doing a good business. Our subject is Republican in politics, and in all respeets is fulfilling the obli- gations of a good eitizen.

NSEL D. HOWARD, of MeLean, is senior member of the firm of Howard & Gifford. dealers in hardware. He is a native of Taunton, Bristol Co., Mass., and was born Aug. 18, 1831. His father, Ansel Howard, Sr., was a native of West Bridgewater, Mass., and was born June 24, 1803. Our subject's grandfather, Simeon Howard, was a native of the same town, and it is sup- posed that his great-grandfather, Eliakim Howard, was also born there. Eliakim Howard was a farmer there, and Clerk for the town of Bridgewater in early days, and died there. Simeon Howard was a farmer and miller, and served as a soldier in the . War of 1812, and with the exeeption of the timne he was in the army, spent his entire life in Bridge- water. Ansel Howard, Sr., was reared in Bridge- water, Mass., and served his apprenticeship there at carriage-making. When twenty years of age he went to Taunton, where he worked as a "jour " for one year, and then engaged in business on his own account as a manufacturer of earriages and coaches. After the construction of the 'Taunton & New Bed- ford branch railroad he added to his other business that of ear-building, carrying on this latter depart- ment until 1856, and manufacturing earriages until 1867. He then disposed of, his property in the East, and coming to this State located in MeLean County, and has sinee lived a retired life, spending the most of his time with his son, our subject.

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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 29

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