Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 33

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 33

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The "Mark-Field Monthly " of March, 1886, has given a lengthy notice of the Vanguard Stud, by which the collection of horses bred by Mr. Rounds is familiarly known throughout this sec- tion. It cditorially remarks: "The truth of the matter is that Mr. Rounds has employed lis brains in the most effective manner, and to the greatest possible advantage. In addition to this he has been wonderfully fortunate in getting hold of a

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lot of dams whose pedigrees eontain in harmonious union about all the eleet blood lines . which are known to the trotting register, and whose forms and breeding qualities are admirably adapted to the head of the stud. The splendid sueeess with whieh the efforts of the owner of the Vanguard Stud have been erowned, is easily traced to the sound judg- ·ment and practical wisdom that were employed in laying the foundation of that interest. That the plueky, intelligent and thoroughly honest labors of Mr. Rounds are an enduring credit to himself and a source of untold profit to the eity of Blooming- ton, eannot for one moment be denied." We can- not, in the space of a brief biography, name the various members of his family of equines, but it will be safe to say that the eolleetion has no supe- rior, if any equal, in this portion of Illinois. The animals are models of beauty and symmetry, and those whose speed has been tested, give indieations of remarkable feats to be performed in the future.

Mr. Rounds is a native of Lewis County, N. Y., and was born Oet. 28, 1830. 'When a young child his parents removed to Medina County, Ohio, and later, in 1841, journeyed still further Westward, coming to the prairies of Illinois, making their lo- eation in Fulton County. In 1856 they all came to Bloomington, which has remained their home sinee that time. The parents are still living, and make their home with their son, our subject. The father, Samnel D. A. Rounds, was a native of Bos- ton, Mass., and the mother, who, before her mar- riage was Miss Amy Hatfield, was born in the State of New York.

David H. remained with his parents until he had attained to years of manhood, and was married at Farmington, Ill., in 1852, to Miss Laura Sweet, a native of Allegany County, N. Y., who had come West with her parents one year previously. Of this union there have been born eight children, four of whom are now deceased: Aliee, who became the wife of J. M. Grant, a farmer, and resides at Elwood, Ill .; Nellie, Olivia and Amy are at homc. The deceased are George A., Mary, Speneer and Samuel D. Mr. and Mrs. Rounds are prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in polities the subject of our sketch is a Re- publiean.

Among the numerous portraits of the leading eitizens of McLean County given in this volume, we are confident none are more deserving a prom- inent place or will be received with greater favor than that of Mr. Rounds.

ONAS SILL has been a resident of Dry Grove Township since 1857, and is now lo- eated on section 16. His has been a varied and busy life, interspersed with travel to various parts of the world, ineluding two trips to Europe and visits to different parts of the United States; in faet he has seen the wonders of the prin- cipal eities of the world, and his experienees, if written out, would make an interesting volume.

Mr. Sill was born in Bedford County, Pa., on the 10th of April, 1819. He is the son of Daniel and Catharine (Stiffler) Sill, natives of the same eounty as their son. Daniel Sill was born in 1778, and died in Pennsylvania in 1850, at the age of sev- enty-two years. He was possessed of a good En- glish and German education, and was engaged in farming pursuits the greater part of his life. Mrs. Catharine Sill was born in 1786, and departed this life in 1848, after becoming the mother of sixteen ehildren, nine sons and seven daughters, viz .: Eliz- abeth, Sophia, Henry, Jacob, Catharine, Isaac, Dan- iel, Zachariah, Mary, Jonas, George, Michael, Henry (seeond), Mary (second), Susan and Naney. Of these only six are living. The parents were mein- bers of the Lutheran Church and were people highly eonneeted in their community, training up their family to habits of industry and principles of honor and virtue.

Jonas Sill was married in his native State, to Miss Theresa Boyer, on the 22d of October, 1841. Mrs. Sill was born in Somerset County, Pa., Oet. 26, 1816. Her parents were Benjamin and Elizabeth (Ellrich) Boyer, natives of Maryland. Of this union there were born four children, two sons and two daughters. William, who married Miss Nora Swallow, is living in this eounty; Elizabeth, Mrs. John Lucas, resides in Missouri; Catharine, who married Rev. Andrew. Latimer, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Latimer was

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born in New York State. in 1838, and reared in Canada, where his education began. He came to Illinois in 1868, and completed his studies at Evan- ston College, near Chicago, entering the ministry the following year. He is now located at Durham, Marion Co., Iowa, and to himself and wife have been born two children: Simpson J., born Sept. 29, 1874, died Sept. 27, 1886; Arthur H. was born July 4, 1878. Mr. Latimer is distinguished as a revival- ist, and is one of the most prominent clergymen in his locality. Daniel M., the other son of our sub- ject, was born Dee. 3, 1851, and is still an inmate of the parental home. He is highly educated, com- pleting his studies in the Wesleyan University at · Bloomington. On account of failing health he went to Oregon and spent four years, and after re- turning to Illinois, made a trip to Europe.

Mr. Sill is the possessor of 210 acres of finely cultivated land, upon which he has erected a taste- ful farm dwelling with all necessary barns and out- buildings. Of late years he has been largely en- gaged in the breeding of fine stoek, especially horses, of which he has imported choice specimens of Clydesdale and Norman. Of these he has made three importations and disposed of them to parties in Oregon and other portions of the Northwest. Ilis farm is beautifully located in the central part of the township, and the local elections have been held at his shop for the last sixteen years. Mr. Sill is Republican in polities, and has been a mem- ber of the Evangelical Association for a period probably of forty-seven years. He has been closely identified with the agricultural and industrial inter- ests of this section for the last thirty years, and has contributed his full quota toward its development and growth, and in presenting his portrait, we give that of one of the leading and representative men of McLean County.

OIIN FRY, a native of Greene County, Pa., low owns and occupies a comfortable home- stead in Empire Township, on section 19. He comes of worthy and substantial ances- try, being the son of Abraham and Mary (Becken- baugh) Fry, the father born in the eastern part of

the Keystone State, and the mother in Greene County. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of Germany, and the maternal grand- parents were of German deseent, but born in Penn- sylvania. Abraham Fry departed this life in 1827, leaving a wife and seven children. Just previous to his death he had visited Licking Connty, Ohio, and selected a farm there, which he had paid for by the sale of his property in Greene County, Pa. To this the widow and her children removed, set- tling in Burlington Township. The journey, a dis- tance of 160 miles, was made overland with teams, in the manner common to the pilgrimage of the early pioneers. They took their household goods along, and camped and cooked by the wayside. There was a log cabin on the place, which the fam- ily occupied for some years, and forty of the 175 aeres were partly cleared. Our subject and his brothers cleared all but thirty acres of the remain- der. The mother kept her family together until they had grown to mature years. Twenty years after the death of her first husband she was married again, was again widowed, and during the last years of her life made her home with her children.

John Fry was the sixth child of his parents, and was born Sept. 4, 1824. As soon as large enough he assisted his parents in the labors of the farm and lived with his mother after her second marriage. He attended the common schools in Ohio, and after he had attained his majority and was married, pur- chased the interest of the other heirs in the old homestead. This he occupied until 1870, and then, selling out, removed to this State and county, and located upon the place which he still owns and oe- cupies. This comprises 205 acres of land, all en- closed, with a fine stretch of pasture and good im- provements. He was reared to habits of industry and economy, and inherited from his substantial German ancestors the traits which have constituted him a valuable and reliable member of the com- munity.

The marriage of Mr. Fry with Miss Rebecca Liming was celebrated Feb. 17, 1849. Mrs. F. was born in Monongalia County, W. Va., July 7, 1829. Her parents were Samuel and Jane (Brown) Lim- ing. They removed to Lieking County, Ohio, when Mrs. F. was a young child, and spent the last years

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of their life there.' Of this union there are seven children living, as follows: Susan, the wife of James W. Long, is a resident of Calhoun County, Iowa; Abraham also lives in that county; Ellen married Leroy Oliver, and they live in Downs Township; William is a teacher in Belleflower Township; Charles A., John Wesley and Elizabeth May are at home with their parents.

Our suhjeet and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to the support of which they contribute liberally and cheerfully. Mr. Fry cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Cass, and was Democratie in polities until the formation of the Republican party. His pres- ent possessions are the result of his own industry and perseverance, and he has contributed his full share toward the growth and development of his adopted township. His homestead is finely located and pleasant to look upon, and our subjeet is eon- sidered one of the representative men of the lo- cality.

- LFRED H. MORRIS, of the firm of Ga- lusha & Morris, dealers in hardware at Le Roy, is, with his partner, carrying on an extensive and luerative trade. Mr. M. was born in Empire Township, this county, April 27, 1846. His father, Leonard M. Morris, was a native of North Carolina, whenee he removed at an early day to Indiana, where he lived until 1844; then, with his wife and one ehild, he came into Illi- nois, making the journey overland, and arriving at Le Roy, in this county, with $1.75 in his pocket. He located upon a traet of rented land, which he eulti- vated for a number of years, and then purchased forty aeres one and one-half miles west of Le Roy. To this latter he added eighty aeres, which he con- tinued to eultivate and improve until the fall of 1884, when he sold out and removed to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Helmiek, in Monroe County, Mo., where he departed this life on the 8th of Au- gust, 1885. His wife, the mother of our subject, was formerly Miss Lavina Pugsley, who was a na- tive of Maine, and the daughter of Joseph Pugsley, of the same State, whenee he removed to Indiana, being among the earliest pioneers of that State.

Soon afterward he pushed on to Illinois and located in Empire Township, this county, heing among the earliest settlers of this region. Of their six children five grew to become men and women: Sarah O. married James Helmiek, and they live in Monroe County, Mo .; Alfred H., our subject, was the see- ond child; Charles W. died in Empire Township, June 26, 1885; Mareus P. lives in West Township, and William J., in Sedgwick County, Kan.

The subject of this history pursued his primary studies in the town of Le Roy, and assisted his father on the farm. He remained under the paren- tal roof until twenty-one years old, and was soon afterward married and located upon land. After farming in this manner for twelve years he pur- chased land in Empire Township, which he oeeu- pied and cultivated until December, 1880. He then purchased a one-half interest in the store of Mr. Galusha, with whom he has been associated sinee that time.

Mr. Morris was married, April 9, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth Wyekoff, who was born on the line of Lieking and Fairfield Counties, Ohio, and was the daughter of Matthew and Naney (Finckbone) Wyckoff, natives respectively of Virginia and Ohio. Of this union there have been born four children, all daughters-Ella May, Mary Agnes, Eva and Daisy Aliee. Mr. Morris is Republican in polities, and has held the office of City Treasurer of Le Roy. Socially he belongs to Le Roy Lodge No. 149, I. Q. O. F. He is a straightforward and energetie business man, and in all respeets a representative eitizen.

G EORGE MCINTOSHI, plumber, and carry- ing on a good trade in gas and steam-fit- tings, is contributing his full share to the business interests of Bloomington, and thus fulfill- . ing the obligations of a good citizen. He is a na- tive of Scotland, born in the city of Breehin in May, 1844. His parents were George and Agnes MeIntosh, by whom he was reared and sent to school, where he received a good education. He learned the trade of a plumber in his native eity, serving an apprenticeship of six years, and at the expiration of this time proceeded to the city of

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Glasgow and worked as a "jour" for one year. From there he went to Dublin, where he spent one year, and thenee to the city of London, England, where he worked at liis trade two years. From A

there he sailed for America, and after spending a week in Montreal, Canada, where work was dull, set his face Westward, and soon found a job in Chicago, Ill., from which he derived a handsome salary of $4.75 per day.

Mr. McIntosh spent' two years with one firm in . that city, and was then detailed to go to Blooming- ton, wlicre he completed a contraet for the firm, and where he decided to locate. He became a per- manent resident of the city in 1868, and established himself in business. 'Three years later his stock was destroyed by fire, and having no insurance he lost everything. His eredit, however, was good, and he soon recovered from this disaster. He onee more opened up a stock of fixtures, his business place being located under the First National Bank, at the corner of Washington and Main streets, where he operated -sueeessfully, and in duc time was enabled to put up the present convenient and commodious building. This occupies an area of 22×90 feet, with two stories and bascment.

Mr. McIntosh is a straightforward business man, and takes a genuine interest in the prosperity of his adopted city, and there are few worthy enter- priscs that have not received his encouragement and support. He was married in 1870 to Miss Helen, daughter of John McGregor, of Blooming- ton, and they have two children-George and Adella.

C HRISTIAN W. NAFZIGER, a retired farm- er now living in the village of Stanford, this county, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, on the 28th of May, 1819. He is the son of Christian and Elizabeth (Fisher) Nafziger, and his father, born in 1867, died in Mareh, 1819, leaving a widow and five children. The mother, born in 1788, after the death of her husband emi- grated to the United States with her family, and died three years later in Illinois, in September, 1854. The family lived one year in Ohio.

Our subject preceded the balauce of his mother's

family to America, eoming here in 1846, landing in New York City on the 22d of September, whence he went to Butler County, Ohio. He was employed as a farm laborer in that State for a per- iod of eight years, and in the meantime was mar- ried to Miss Elizabethi Ehresmann, March 15, 1849. She was born in, Hesse-Cassel, Germany, in Novem- ber, 1823, and eame to America in July, 1842, where she and her sister joined their father and two brothers, who had already been here three years, and located in Butler County, Ohio. Her father died one year after her marriage, His fam- ily consisted of two sons and three daughters, of whom Barbara married Mr. Berck; Frederick mar- ried Miss Emma Jacobs; Christian is deceased; Elizabeth, of our sketch, and Ellen, who married Jacob Musleman.

A few years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Nafziger eame to Illinois, in 1854. Mr. N. rented land the first year and then purchased eighty acres, to which he afterward added a like amount, and be- side this, which comprises the homestcad, has 120 aercs within one and a half miles of the village of Stanford. In 1878 hc engaged in the lumber business in Stanford and was thus occupied for five years, at the end of which time he sold out and retired from active business. He has been a hard worker in his time, and his possessions are but the just reward of his early industry.

Mr. N. beeamc connected with the Masonie fra- ternity in 1877, being a member of Allin Lodge No. 605, and is a warm supporter of the principles which he learned to admire long ago. He is a member in good standing of the Mennonite Church, of which he has been a liberal and cheerful sup- porter, and politieally is a reliable Democrat. He is held in the highest respeet in this community for his usefulness as a eitizen and his cxeellent personal traits of character.

Mr. and Mrs. Nafziger beeame the parents of six children, the record of whom is as follows : John H. married Miss Amelia Nafziger (a cousin) ; Chris- tian F. married Miss McWilliams, and is living in Allin Township; Eliza M. became the wife of Henry Linker, of Tazewell County, this State; Gustoff A. married Miss Birtha Hanter, and lives in Tazewell County ; Lena E., Mrs. George

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Wright, is a resident of Stanford; William J., mar- ried Miss Martha Lamb, and is located in Allin Township.

Mrs. Elizabeth Nafziger departed this life on the 21st of February, 1884, of consumption. She was a lady greatly beloved by her husband and family, industrious, cheerful and affectionate, à good wife and loving mother, and at her death mourned by a large eirele of friends and acquaintances. She was a sineere Christian, a member of the Mennonite Church, and by her daily walk and conversation exerted a good influenee over her household and all who enjoyed her acquaintance. Her memory is held saered by her husband and family, who sus- tained in her death an irreparable loss.

S OLOMON S. PORTER, a prosperous farmer of Normal Township, is pleasantly located on seetion 15, where he owns a valuable homestead, and is carrying on his agrieult- ural pursuits skillfully and with suecess. He has been a resident of the Prairie State for a period of over thirty years, all but one of which have been spent in Normal Township, and during this long period, by his upright eourse as a eitizen and a business man has fully established himself in the confidenee and esteem of a large eirele of friends and associates.

Mr. Porter was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, on Christmas Day, 1828. His father, William Porter, was born in Washington County, Pa., and his mother, formerly Miss Mary Ritchie, in Erie County. They were reared and married in their native State, whenee they removed to Muskingum County, Ohio, in about 1806, being among the early pioneers of the Buckeye State. William Por- ter there opened up a farm in the wilderness and established a permanent home, where he and his wife resided until their death, which oeeurred in 1832, both dying within one week. They left a family of twelve children, of whom the subject of our sketch was the youngest, and he was but four years old when thus sadly orphaned. He was taken into the family of his eldest brother who resided on a farm, where he remained until sixteen years

of age and received the advantages of a common school education. He then started out to take eare of himself. He pursued his studies for some time afterward, paying his expenses by teaching and elerking alternately. He then heeame eolleetor for a large foundry, and in 1857 started for the West.

Young Porter, after leaving Ohio, eamne into La Salle County, Ill., and during the summer sea- son engaged in farming pursuits. In the winter he still followed eolleeting for his former employers, in the south part of the State, where the company had sold a large number of stoves. The following year he came into McLean County, and has been a resi- dent of Normal Township sinee that time. The first purchase of Mr. Porter in Normal embraced 250 aeres of land on seetion 10, which he eultivated and improved industriously for many years and which still remains in his possession. He removed to his present home in 1874. His landed property now ineludes 378 aeres, which are under a good state of cultivation and largely devoted to stoek- raising.

The marriage of Solomon S. Porter and Miss Amanda M. Shueey took place in Ohio in the spring of 1859. Mrs. P. was born in Muskingum County, that State, and by her marriage with our subjeet has beeome the mother of seven ehildren, one of whom died in childhood and another at the age of fifteen years. Those living are : Ida, Walter, Weldon, Bessie and Willie. The homestead is one of the finest in McLean County, and is equipped with all the appurtenanees of a first-class country estate, and Mr. Porter and his family are living in the full enjoyment of the good things of this life, and he is in all respects rated as a representative eitizen of one of the wealthiest eounties of the Prairie State.

The eareer of the subject of this history is a striking illustration of what may be accomplished from an exceedingly small beginning. Mr. Porter started out early in life, and " paddled his own eanoe " singly and alone, with but little education and no money. He was thoughtful and studious, . however, and improved upon his meager early ad- vantages to the best ability. His spare time was devoted to study, and he made such good progress

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that he was given the position of a teacher, and with this and the small salary which he received as collector he managed to save a little from time to time until he was enabled to eomc West, which was then the "promised land " to the enterprising and ambitious young man. He was possessed of good judgment and made the most of liis oppor- tunities, and those who have known him and watched his course for the last thirty years rejoice to see that he is reaping the just reward of perse- vering industry and a straightforward and upright life.

C OL. WILLIAM H. SCROGGS, a well-to-do and influential farmer of Hudson Township, owns one of the finest country estates in MeLean County, and is widely and favorably known as one of its most valued eitizens. Col. Seroggs was born in Highland County, Ohio, on the 24th of November, 1835. His parents, Alex- ander and Lavina (Rodgers) Scroggs, were natives of the same State. Alexander Seroggs was a farmer by occupation, and remained in his native State until his death, which occurred in 1862. The mother subsequently removed with some of her children to Warrensburg, Mo., where she departed this life in 1885. The parental household embraced nine ehildren, one of whom died in infaney, and eight attained their majority. The record is as fol- lows: James A. is a resident of Pottawatomie County, Kan .; William H., our subjeet; John G., of Warrensburg, Mo .; Josie, the wife of Capt. W. C. Marlatt, resides in Warrensburg, Mo .; Alexan- der, near Wichita, Kan .; Mary L. became the wife of Capt. James Crawford, of Greenfield, Ohio; Sadic died at the age of twenty-four years; Erskin E. lives near Warrensburg, Mo.

The subject of this sketeh was the second child of his parents' family. He was reared to farming pursuits, attended the common schools, and com- pleted his edueation in the Academy at South Sa- · lem, Ohio. After becoming a young man, in 1859, he entered Momouth College, in Warren County, Ill., and pursued a thorough course of study for one year. He then returned to Ohio and taught school, intending to re-enter eollege; but when the

Civil War broke out he deeided to proffer his serv- iees to aid in putting down the Rebellion. He en- listed in Company C, 81st Ohio Infantry, on the 19th of September, 1861, as a private. The regi- ment was equipped at Benton Barraeks, Mo., and young Seroggs soon afterward was appointed First Corporal. They embarked on a river stcamer the following Mareh, at St. Louis, arriving at Pitts- burgh Landing, Tenn., on the 17th. From there the regiment moved toward Corinth, Miss., arriv- ing there on the 29tli of May, and Mr. Scroggs was there promoted Fifth Sergeant. At the battle of Corinth he was wounded in the right arm and shoulder, and as a soothing medicine for this re- ceived the appointment of First Sergeant.

On the 1st of January, 1863, Mr. Scroggs was transferred to the 111th United States Colored In- fantry, and on the 29th of January following Sergt. Scroggs received a Captain's commission. He was subsequently captured in an engagement with the rebels uuder Gen. N. B. Forrest, and held until Nov. 24, 1864, when he was exchanged, and joined his command at Nashville, Tenn. He was soon afterward assigned to duty as Assistant Inspector of Defences, and ordered to Murfreesboro, Tenn. In July, 1865, he was mustered as Lientenant-Col- onel, but retained on general eourt martial, receiv- ing his final discharge in November, 1866.

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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 33

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