Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 31

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 31

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Mr. Leaeh was Township Clerk for fourteen years. He is also Township Treasurer, which of- fiee he has oeeupied since 1874. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees for a number of years, a position which he still holds, and was ap- pointed in November, 1884, Supervisor of Mt. Hope Township, eleeted in 1885, and re-elected in 1886. IIe is Republican in polities, and so- eially belongs to the G. A. R., Harrison W. Wood Post No. 173. Ile also belongs to the A. F. & A. M., being a member of Lodge No. 469, MeLain and Bloomington Chapter, De Molay Command- ary No. 24, at Bloomington.

Mr. Leaeh, in connection with his official duties, has the supervision of his farm, which is operated by a tenant, and is quite extensively interested in stock-raising. It comprises 237 aeres of land, all under a good state of cultivation, and yields him a handsome ineome.

ON. SAMUEL BEVAN KINSEY, a prom- inent and wealthy farmer of Mt. Hope Township, owns and occupies a valuable farm estate which is pleasantly located on seetion 12. He is an old and valued resident of MeLean County, and has contributed his full share toward the development of the resources of this seetion. He is possessed of fine abilities, is of an energetie and enterprising turn of mind, and has always had in view some worthy aim and objeet.

Mr. Kinsey was born in Highland County, Ohio, on the 19th of September, 1824. His father, John Kinsey, and his grandfather, Christopher Kinsey, were both natives of North Carolina, the latter emigrating from his native State to Clinton County, Ohio, during the early settlement of that county. He there purchased a farm and pursued the peace- ful calling of an agrieulturist the balance of his days. His son John, the father of our subjeet, there learned the trade of a millwright, and later, that of a carpenter. Soon after his marriage he removed to Highland County, and in about 1825 returned to Clinton. He was industrious and en-

terprising, and was afterward engaged as a builder and contraetor. In 1840 he engaged to build a few miles of stone pike that extended from Cineinnati to Columbus, which he completed, but which, owing to the dishonesty of his partner, proved unprofitable. In the spring of 1843 he removed from Ohio to Illinois, accompanied by his wife and six children. Their outfit consisted of.six horses and two wagons, and they carried the greater part of their household belongings, and camped and cooked by the way- side. The first stop was made in the south part of Logan County, where they were obliged to wait for the waters of Salt Creek to subside before they eould proceed further. They then journeyed to the northern part of the county, and settled two and one-half miles southwest of the present site of the then unknown eity of Atlanta. The elder Kin- sey then being unable to buy land, rented for the succeeding three or four years, afterward going to Tazewell County, Ill., and engaging in his former business as a builder and contractor. He there superintended the ereetion of several large barns and two county bridges on the Mackinaw Creek, and in this vieinity he spent the last years of his life.

The mother of our subjeet, before her marriage, was Miss Elinor Bevan. She was born in Virginia, attended her husband in his various wanderings after their marriage, and died at the home of her daughter in the village of McLean, Sept. 22, 1872. They had become the parents of nine children, of whom the record is as follows: Jonathan, the eldest born, died in Logan County, Ill .; Samuel B., our subjeet, was the second son; Lewis lives in Mt. Hope Township; Milton in Tazewell County ; John died in Ohio; Louisa married Lafayette Areher; Ruth lives in MeLean, and also Staey B .; Nathan L. served as a soldier of the Union in Co. G, 33d Ill. Vol. Inf., and died in the army. The parents were reared in the Quaker faith, to which Mrs. Kinsey adhered until the elose of her life.

The subject of our sketeh remained with his par- ents during his childhood and youth, pursuing his education in the common sehools, and in the differ- ent branches of work in which he was engaged. He came to Logan County with his parents and lived with them one year, after which, during the

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winter seasons, he taught school, and during the summer was engaged in farming pursuits. In 1850 he entered 160 acres of land on the southwest quar- ter of section 12, in what is now Mt. Hope Town- ship, and commenced the improvement of a farm. Three years later he moved upon it and since that time has occupied it continuously. The land is all enclosed and in a good state of cultivation, and Mr. Kinsey has a comfortable set of framc build- ings on it. He subsequently added to his first purchase, having 160 acres in another part of the township and fifteen acres of timber in Logan County.

Mr. Kinsey was married. Jan. 16, 1847, to Miss Mary Stephens, a native of Logan County, Ill., and the daughter of Adam and Mary Stephens, who were pioneer settlers of that section. This lady only remained the companion of her husband for six short years, departing this life in 1853, after having become the mother of two children: Guy HI., who died at the age of twenty-seven years, and one who died in infancy. In 1854 Mr. Kinsey was married to Miss Millicent Stephens, the sister of his first wife, and of this union there were born five children, of whom the record is as follows: John is a resident of Bloomington; Jarvis H. lives in Mt. Hope Township; Nathan L' lives in Mc- Lean Village and is employed as a teacher; Effie married Terah Farnsworth and they reside in this township, and Maude is at home with her parents.

Mr. Kinsey has been prominent in the affairs of this locality since first coming here, his talents and ability being duly recognized by his fellow-citizens. For two years he was the Assessor and Treasurer of Logan County, and the second year after com- ing to McLean was elected Assessor, and since that time has held the office of Commissioner of High- ways for twelve years. He has been School Treas- urer for the same length of time, and a member of the Board of Supervisors for the past ten years. In 1862 he resigned his position on the Board. hav- ing received a commission from Gov. Yates as a re- cruiting officer for volunteer soldiers, and in six days raised a company of ninety-six men, of which company he was elected Captain. This was named Company A, and it constituted a part of the 117th Illinois Regiment. They marched to the scene of

conflict and were engaged in the battles at Sabina Cross Roads, and were in all the battles of Sher- man's meridian campaign. Then, on account of ill-health, Capt. Kinsey was obliged to tender his resignation, and on the 10th of May, 1864, reached home and for some time was incapacitated for .any active labor.

In 1884 Capt. Kinsey was elected to represent the 28th District in the Lower House of the Illi- nois Legislature, and re-elected in the fall of 1886. His abilities here, as elsewhere, were at once ac- knowledged, and he was placed on various impor- tant committees, embracing roads and bridges and canals and rivers. He has served his constituents faithfully and conscientiously, and enjoys the re- spect and esteem of the people of his community in a marked degrec. In politics he was originally a Whig; his first vote for President was for Henry Clay, and on the organization of the Republican party he became identified with its principles, and has been a stanch supporter of that party since.

L EWIS HARLEY, deccased, late a highly re- spected resident of Logan County, Ill., was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Decem- ber, 1820, and departed this life at his home in Logan County, Ill., on the 6th of January, 1871. He became a resident of that county in 1844 and built up for himself an enviable record as an hon- est man, a good citizen, and a valued member of the community. He commenced at the foot of the ladder in life and his career offers a striking illus- tration of what may be accomplished by inborn principles of honor, truth and resolution, and perseverance in battling with the difficulties of life.

The father of our subject, Abraham Harley, was also a native of the Keystone State from which he removed to Ohio when his son Lewis was yet a child. He settled with his family near Dayton, and after living there a few years they proceeded further westward and finally located in this county, being among its earliest settlers. Their location was ncar a handsome grove which later received its name from and in honor of the IIarley family, which it still bears, There, in the course of time, and after

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onr subjeet had grown to years of diseretion, the father and son established a comfortable home, im- proved a fine traet of land and erected a sawmill. The tide of prosperity, however, finally turned against them, and by a series of misfortimes the property was lost to the family and its various mem- bers scattered in different directions to look ont for themselves as best they could. Lewis was turned out into the world with all his earthly possessions tied up in a pocket handkerchief. He had been reared to habits of industry, however, and his bright intelligent face soon seenred him friends. He first engaged to work by the month in a distil- lery, and at onee commeneed to save a portion of his earnings. A few years later and at the time of his marriage he was the owner of forty aeres of land in White Oak Township. This lie sold after- ward and purchased a traet of wild land, eighty aeres, in Mt. Hope Township. Upon this he built a frame honse, where he resided with his wife and family for two years, in the meantime break- ing the sod and feneing the land, and two years later sold it at an advanced priee. This enabled him to purchase 400 acres of land in Iowa. Ile did not remove there, however, but soon disposed of this purchase, and in company with two brothers, Gny and Marian Tuttle, built a sawmill near Kiek- apoo River, and was engaged in operating this two years. He then disposed of his interest in the mill and purchased 320 aeres of land on seetions 13 and 14 of what was afterward Atlanta Township, Logan County. On account of insufficient means he only put up a small frame house here, into which he re- moved his family and eommeneed the improve- ment of his purchase. Ile planted hedge all around it and divided it into forty-aere fields.

About this time the war came on, and he at onee laid aside his personal and private interests and proffered his services to assist in the preservation of the Union, becoming a member of Co. A, 117th Illinois Infantry. He performed his duties bravely and faithfully as a soldier, encountered with his comrades the dangers and vicissitudes of war, which he escaped nnharmed, and at the elose re- eeived his honorable discharge on the 7th of An- gust, 1865. He then returned to his home in Logan County and resumed his farming pursuits. Ilis

health, however, had become greatly impaired from privation and exposure in the army, but he made no application for a pension and endured his affliction as patiently and bravely as he had done when on the march and in the field.

Mr. Harley was remarkably enterprising and am- bitions, and willing to labor cheerfully to accomplish any desired result. His ambition led him to labor for a comfortable home and a competeney, and his worthy efforts in this direction were richly rewarded. At the time of his death he was the owner of a fine homestead, consisting of 340 aeres of land, a good briek residence, large frame barn, and all the neees- sary ont-buildings required by a first-elass agricult- nrist. The farm was well stocked with high grade animals, the sale of which, after his death, amounted to about $5,000. His marriage with Miss Eliza- beth J. Haughey occurred in February, 1849, in MeLean County. Mrs. Harley was born in Greene County, Ohio, Aug. 7, 1831, and was the danghter of Joseph and Esther (White) Ilanghey (see . sketch of Matthew Haughey). After their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Harley settled in Logan County, and lived there until the following Angust, when they moved into the house of Mrs. Harley's father, where they remained during the winter, while Mr. HI. built a house on his own land.

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Harley there were born two children: Abraham died when two years and five months old; Franeis Marian, the surviving son, was born in Logan County, Ill., July 8, 1855. He pursned his early studies in the common schools and completed his education by attendance at the State Normal University. He now owns and oeeu- pies a part of the old homestead in Atlanta Town- ship, Logan County, and has elsewhere about 300 aeres of valuable land. Ile married Miss Fidelia M. Tuttle, who was born in Logan Connty, and is the daughter of Guy and Martha A. (Roach) Tut- tle. They have one child, a daughter-Edna.

Since the death of her husband Mrs. H. has ad- ministered upon the estate. She remained upon the homestead until 1878, and then purchased prop- erty in McLean, where she erected a fine residenee. She has in her own right 160 acres of land, which comprises a part of the home farm and which is operated by a lessee. She is a lady of fine business

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RESIDENCE OF HENRY PATTON, SEC.1., DRY GROVE TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF J. J. HAM, SEC.33. HUDSON TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF WH GOODFELLOW, SEC. 15., DALE TOWNSHIP.

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capacities, greatly respected in her community on account of her personal worth, and a member in good standing of the Congregational Church.

W ILLET L. MARTIN was born in Padua Township, Dee. 28, 1843, and it has been his home until the present time. He was here reared to manhood, edueated in the distriet sehools, and remained under the parental roof un- til lie attained his majority. He was trained to habits of industry and honesty, and at an early age gained a good insight into business methods, and when quite young was intrusted with the buying and selling of eattle, and other affairs in which he displayed more than ordinary ability. With this valuable experienee he obtained a good start in early life, and has now a beautiful farm homestead, finely located on seetion 31, Padua Township. This eomprises 277 aeres, of which 216 lie in Empire Township, on seetion 6. His land is all improved. The farin residence is a handsome and convenient structure, and the barn and other out-buildings correspond with the general air of thrift that per- vades the whole premises. His agricultural ma- ehinery and his stoek are of the best kind and kept in fine eondition. Mr. Martin has labored indus- triously sinee he first started out for himself, and while yet in the prime of life is reaping a rieh re- ward of perseverance and energy.

The first marriage of Mr. Martin oeeurred in his native township, on the 21st of January, 1869, when he was united with Miss Damaris Dooley. Mrs. M. was born in Clark County, Ky., and eame North with her parents in 1851, remaining under the parental roof until her marriage. Of this union there were three children. This lady died at the home of her husband in Padua Township, Nov. 7, 1872. Sinee the death of the mother, one ehild has passed away. Those surviving are Mary J. and Florence M. The second wife of our subject, to whom he was married Jan. 6, 1876, was Miss Cynthia, daughter of Martin and Catharine (Foust) Banm, who were both natives of Piekaway County, Ohio, where they were reared, educated and married. They remained on a farm in their native State un-

til 1874, then removed to Illinois and settled in Padua Township, where the mother died in 1884, being sixty-two years of age. Mr. Baum now lives with his daughter, the wife of our subjeet, and is sixty-two years old. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. B. is Re- publiean in polities. Mrs. Martin and her twin brother, John C., were born in Piekaway County, Ohio, Aug. 7, 1850. The parental household in- eluded six eliildren, three sons and three daughters, all of whom are living, married, and settled . in homes of their own. Mrs. M. was educated in tlie sehools of her native county, being a young lady when her parents removed to the Prairie State. Of the present marriage of our subjeet there were born four children-Laura H., Elberta F., Charles A. and John H. Mrs. M. is a member in good stand- ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and our subjeet politieally is a solid Republiean. As a eiti- zen, farmer and business man, he is regarded as one of the leading spirits of his community, and is held in high respeet.

G EPHART CRICHFIELD, a resident of Funk's Grove Township, this county, was born in De Witt County, Ill., Oet. 23, 1853, being the youngest son of Samuel and Lydia (Dun- can) Criehfield, natives of Pennsylvania. Our subjeet was but a young ehild when his parents eame into McLean County and settled in Funk's Grove, where he attended the district school and assisted his father in the improvement of the farm. He remained under the parental roof until his mar-' riage, and then settled on the old homestead, and is now the owner of ninety-one aeres of this. He has ereeted a good set of frame buildings and is en- gaged in general farming and stoek-raising, whieh he has earried on with uniform sueeess.

Mr. Crichfield was married, Dee. 30, 1877, to Miss Chrissie Baker, who was born in Funk's Grove Township, July 10, 1860, and is the daughter of R. Harris and Mary (Taylor) Baker, a sketeh of whom is given in another part of this ALBUM. Mr. and Mrs. C. became the parents of four children-Ilattie May, Aliee, Nellie and Samuel. Mrs. C. is a mem-

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ber in good standing of the Christian Church. Mr. C. is Republican in politics, and in all respeets a worthy citizen and useful member of the con- munity.

The father of our subjeet, Samuel Crichfield, was born in Fayette County, Pa., April 10, 1817, and was the son of James Crielifield. IIe grew to man- hood in his native county and was there married to Miss Lydia Dunean, a native of the same State. In 1846 they removed to Coshocton County, Ohio, where they remained until 1853, then started for Illinois with four horses and two wagons, making the entire journey overland, camping and cooking by the way. After arriving in the Prairie State, James Crichfield rented land in De Witt County a few years, then purchased a traet of wild land in this county, in what was afterward Funk's Grove Township. He improved a farm and built up a comfortable homestead, upon which he remained the balance of his days, departing this life on the 24th of January, 1886. The wife and mother died in September, 1877. The household eirele was eom- pleted by the birth of eight children.

ALENTINE NAFFZIGER, Postmaster at Danvers Village, and carrying on a trade in general merchandise, is one of the valuable German citizens of this locality who have eon- tributed so much toward its development and pros- perity. Our subject was born in IIesse-Darmstadt, Germany, March 12, 1842, and is the son of Chris- tian and Barbara (Staehly) Naffziger, natives of the same Province, and who are still living, being now residents of Danvers Township. Christian Naff- ziger was born Jan. 17, 1803, and his wife, Barbara, Jan. 22, 1805. They emigrated to America in the fall of 1853, and landing in New York City pro- eceded westward to Chicago; loeating in Danvers Township, this county, on the 19th of March, 1854. The father of our subjeet is a farmer by occupation and the owner of 120 aeres of valuable land in Danvers Township. Both parents are members of the Mennonite Church, and Mr. N. is Democratie in polities. Ile greatly enjoys the political freedom of his adopted country, being a gentleman who en-

joys the privilege of expressing his views and mnain- taining them. The parental family consisted of ten children, of whom the record is as follows: Elizabeth, Mrs. Steitz, is a resident of St. Louis, Mo .; Catharine married Phillip Klenk, and they live in Seward, Neb .; Peter is a merchant of Stan- ford, this county ; Helena married Mr. H. Naffziger, one of the pioneers of MeLean County; Christian is deecased, his wife and daughter live in Princeton, Ill .; Maria died in Germany; Jacob died in Dan- vers Township; our subject was the eighth in order of birth; Jolin married Miss Mary Imhof, and is living on the home farm; Barbara became the wife of Jacob Brenneman, and lives in Dry Grove Town- ship.

The subject of our sketch remained under the parental roof until he had attained to years of manhood, and on the 28th of February, 1867, was united in marriage with Miss Henrietta Naffziger, the danghter of Frederick and Barbara (Naffziger) Naffziger, natives of Germany, who emigrated to America in 1840, and after a residence of ten years in Ohio removed to Illinois, in 1850. The family consisted of eight children, viz., Augustus, Freder- iek, Edward, Henrietta, Albert, Julius, Julia, who died in infaney, and Ida, now Mrs. Arthur Hulbert, of Arrowsmith, this county. The wife of our sub- jeet was born in Ohio on the 13th of June, 1848.

Mr. Naffziger was reared on his father's farm and received a fair education in the public schools. He remained with his parents until he attained his majority and afterward, for a few months, en- gaged as clerk for Mr. Abbot, of Danvers. Dur- ing the progress of the late war he enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. D, 94th Ill. Vol. Inf., and when this regiment was mustered out was trans- ferred to the 37th and promoted Corporal. He participated in all of the general engagements around Mobile, Ala., and Ft. Morgan, and served along the Rio Grande River for several months. In July, 1864, his brigade reshipped to New Orleans; he was actively engaged at the siege and capture of Ft. Morgan, Mobile and Spanish Fort, and received his honorable discharge at Huston, Tex., on the 15th of May, 1866. After returning from the army he located in Dry Grove Township, and engaged in farming. He emigrated to Kansas in 1870, and re-

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turned to Danvers in 1876, and in 1877 established his present business, in which he has met with marked success, having now the largest store in the village. In 1880 he erected the fine building which he now occupies, and five years later was ap- pointed Postmaster. This position he is filling with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. He is a worthy member of the Mennonite Church, a systematic business man, and in politics a Democrat, and is a member of Post No. 146, G. A. R. at Bloomington, Ill.

The household circle of our subject was com- pleted by the birth of eiglit children, of whom seven are now living: Edwin, Assistant Postmas- ter, was (in 1886) eighteen yearsold; Ida, sixteen; Otto, fourteen; Clara, deceased; Theodore is nine years old; Emina, seven; Helena, five, and Charles, one year old. .

AMES QUITMAN BISHOP, a former resi- dent of section 10, Empire Township, was born in a log cabin on the farm which he now owns and occupies, Nov. 24, 1848. His father, James Bishop, one of the pioneers of McLcan County, was born in Fauquier County, Va., April 3, 1806. The Bishops from whom he descended came to the colonics from England with William Penn and belonged to the Society of Friends. In the fall of 1809 they removed to the Territory of Ohio and located within the bounds of what is now Clarke County. There James Bishop received his early education and remained with his parents until some years after he had attained his majority.

In the spring of 1831 he set his face for the farther West, coming as far as La Fayette, Ind., and thence to Ft. Clark, now Peoria, also to Pekin, whence he went down the Mississippi Bottoms, where he purchased cattle and returned to Oliio. He then returned to the West, but visited Ohio every year until he was married. This interesting event occurred on the 9th of March, 1837, the lady of his choice being Miss Margaret Cannaday. They became the parents of five children, as fol- lows: Caroline, born June 26, 1838, became the

wife of Thomas Campbell, of Old Town; Jolin Allen was born May 3, 1840, and lives half a mile west of his father's old homestead; Emily was born Aug. 30, 1843, and became the wife of William Evans, now deccased; Rachel was born May 23, 1846, and married Nathaniel Beckman; they live on a farm in West Township; James Quitman was born Nov. 24, 1848, the day when Gen. Scott cap- tured the city of Mexico and made Gen. Quitman the Governor thereof.

The experiences of James Bishop during the first years of his residence in the Prairie State, were very interesting, oftentimes pathetic and frequently ridiculous. The pleasures of the early pioneers werc of the simplest kind, but it is probable that . they reaped fully as much enjoyment and amuse- ment as do the people of to-day with their niore costly recreations. The settlers had their wolf hunts, their bear hunts, Indian hunts and prairie fires, and these served to beguile many days and hours that perhaps otherwise would have been un- bearably tedious. Our subject was reared amid these stirring scencs, and thus became instilled with those sturdy and self-reliant qualities for which the earlier settlers of the great West were so eminently distinguished, and which was necessary to aid them in overcoming the difficulties which beset their path. James Bishop accumulated a fortune by farming and buying and selling cattle, and, was at one time said to be the wealthiest man in Empire Township.

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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 31

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