Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 37

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 37

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G EORGE FOREMAN, a prominent resident of the little eity of MeLean, is a blacksmith by trade, and has obtained quite a reputation as an importer of English draft horses. He was born in Norfolk County, England, Jan. 23, 1841, and is the son of George and Hannah (Loads) Fore- man. His father was also a dealer in horses, and spent his entire life in Norfolk County. At the age of fifteen years our subjeet was apprentieed to the blacksmith trade, at which he served four years, and was afterward employed at " jour " work until

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1863. He then came to America, locating first in Toronto, Canada, where he worked until 1865. IIe then came West to Illinois, and passed the follow- ing winter in MeLean County. In the spring he .returned to Canada, where he spent the summer, and then, in the fall of 1866, he returned to this locality, rented a shop at MeLean, and commenced business on his own account, carrying on horse-shoc- ing and general repairing. Ile is a natural me- chanie, and soon gathered about him numerous friends and patrons, becoming one of the most popular artisans of the kind in this vicinity. In 1872 he commenced dealing in horses, first pur- chasing the Norman stallion, Louis Napoleon. The following year he purchased a Clydesdale stallion, imported from Canada. In 1883, accompanied by his wife and daughter, he returned to England, where he combined business with pleasure, visiting among his old friends and acquaintances for sev- eral months, and in the meantime looking around among the fine stock of his native county and vi- cinity. While on this trip he purchased the cele- brated English draft horse "Stowbridge," which he still owns. In 1885 he made another trip to En- gland, and brought back with him four valuable animals, two of which he sold at a high price, and the other two still remain in his possession.

Mr. Foreman was married, in October, 1867, in New York, to Miss Emily Bunton, who was born in his own county and there reared to womanhood, They became the parents of one child, a daughter, Alice, who still remains at home with her par- ents. Mr. Foreman is in all respects an enterpris- ing and progressive citizen, and a valued member of the community. In politics he is Republican, and socially belongs to MeLean Lodge No. 469. Α. F. & A. M.

ENRY W. McCORMICK, Ph. D., of Normal, is one of the self-made men of the Prairie State, who has, through his own persever- ance and love of learning, obtained a fine education under adverse circumstances, and from a humble position in life, now takes his rightful place among the intelligent minds of the age.

Prof. McCormick is a native of Ireland, born in . County Mayo on the 5th of February, 1837. Ilis parents were Edmund Burke and Betty (Rowan) McCormick, also of Irish birth and parentage. The former came to the United States in 1851, and engaged as clerk in New York City. He only lived, however, two years after coming here, his death occurring in '1853.

That same year our subject crossed the waters to join his father, and upon arriving here found that he had died ten days before. Henry then occu- pied himself in various pursuits. After a brief visit with relatives he went to Ohio, and in Wash- ington County was employed for one year as a la- borer on a railroad. He then went onto a farm in Guernsey County, Ohio, where, for his services, he received $11 per month. After a few months he was taken ill and remained in feeble health until the following spring. He then went to Walworth County, Wis., and was there employed as a farm laborer during the summer of 1855, at the rate of $100 per year, attending school during the winter season, and " doing chores " for his board. Deter- mined upon securing a good education, he alter- nated his farm work with the pursuit of his studies, and in due time entered Wayland University at Beaver Dam, Wis., where he took a thorough course of one year, and at the expiration of this time again resumed his farm labors. In November, 1859, he commenced teaching in a district school in Walworth County, near the State line, where he was employed four months at $16 per month, and " boarded round." The following Christmas he was united in marriage with Miss Numantia B. Kinyon, who was born in New York State, but in childhood removed with her parents to Wisconsin. In the spring of 1860 Mr. McCormick located on a small farm owned by his wife, and situated in Le Roy Township, Boone Co., Ill. To this he re- moved with his wife, cultivated his land in sum- mer and taught school in the winter seasons, con- tinning thus employed until the spring of 1865.

The mother of our subject, in the meantime, who had remained in Ireland when her first husband came to the United States, was married the second time in her native country, and with her daughter and husband came, in' 1863, to the United States,

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and settled in Athens County, Ohio. Of the first marriage there had been only two children, our subjeet, and his sister Aliee, who became the wife of Peter Deane, and now resides at Lake View, Ill. The step-father of our subjeet was Anthony Dun- lavy, and of the marriage of his mother with this gentleman, there were born two sons-Christopher and James.

In 1866 our subjeet eoneluded to adopt the pro- fession of a teacher for the future, and in order to prepare himself more thoroughly for its duties and requirements, he entered the Illinois State Normal University, where he remained for the following three years, and from which he graduated in June, 1868. He was then eleeted Principal of the Nor- mal Publie Sehools, which position he oeeupied for a year, and in the summer of 1869 was elected to a professorship in the University, first as Professor of Geography, to which has sinee been added history. After graduating at the Illinois State Normal Uni- versity, Prof. MeCormiek took the Post Graduate eourse at Illinois Wesleyan University, and re- eeived the degree of A. M., to which was afterward added that of Ph. D. In his history have been il- lustrated the results of resolution and perseveranee in a marked degree. When landing in New York City young MeCormiek possessed but a half erown (sixty eents) and eveu this small sum he loaned to a lady before leaving the vessel, so he praetieally began life at the foot of the ladder in the New World. Too much eredit eannot be given to the possessor of such wise determination, and such courage amid many difficulties.

Prof. and Mrs. MeCormiek have beeome the par- ents of five ehildren, as follows: Aliee is the wife of Oliver R. Trowbridge, Principal of the Laeon Sehools; Nelson K. is a praetieing physician at Bloomington; Edmund B., Ferdinand C. and Henry G. are at home. The family residence is pleasantly located between Bloomington and Nor- mal, and its inmates are surrounded by all the eoul- forts and many of the luxuries of life. They en- joy the friendship and association of the most eul- tured people of this vieinity. Although not a pol- itieian, Prof. MeCormiek upholds the principles of the Republican party, with which he uniformly easts his vote. He is an active member of the

Methodist Episcopal Church, belongs to the A. F. & A. M., and is an Alderman of the eity of Nor- mal. His intellectual and social attaiments have constituted him one of the most valuable members of society, and one of the bright lights of a rarely intelligent community.

R OWLAND, N. EVANS, City Clerk of Bloomington, has been a resident here sinee 1856. He was born on a farm in Cambria County, Pa., in June, 1834, being the son of David R. and Ann (Jervis) Evans, both natives of Wales, who emigrated to the United States early in life and located in Pennsylvania. There the father died in 1847 ; the mother is still living. The parental household ineluded four children, of whom our subjeet was the eldest. He remained under the home roof until fifteen years of age, assisting his mother in the duties around the farm, and then served an apprenticeship to the earpenter's trade. Upon completing this he went to Ohio, where he staid one year, and in the fall of 1856 pushed on further westward to the Prairie State. He worked at his trade in Bloomington until the outbreak of the late war, and then enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. C, 20th Ill. Vol. Inf., serving four and one- half years in the Western army. , He was engaged with his eomrades at the battles of Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, the siege and eapture of Vieksburg, and marehed with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. He served as a private one year, and was then pro- moted First Lieutenant, being afterward given a Captain's eommission. Afterward he beeamne Ma- jor of the regiment, with which rank he was mus- tered out at Louisville, Ky., in July, 1865.

At the elose of his military eareer Maj. Evans returned to Bloomington, and engaged as book- keeper for the Bloomington Stove Works, and J. W. Evans & Son, with whom he remained until May 1, 1886, when he was elected to his present offiee. Ile served as Alderman from the Sixth Ward two years, and in other respeets has been prominently identified with the affairs of the city.

Mr. Evans was married in May, 1870, to Miss Mary L. Parke, who was born in 1842, and the

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daughter of Samuel S. Parke, an old resident of Bloomington. Mr. and Mrs. E. have one child, a daughter, Ida Lueretia. They oecupy a pleasant home on Douglas street and enjoy the soeicty * of many warm friends. Mr. Evans is connected with the G. A. R.

E R. MORSE, politieal and city editor of thic Bloomington Leader, first opened his eyes to the light on the rugged New England eoast, being born in the town of Jay. Franklin Co., Me., Sept. 14, 1850. ITis parents were Moses and Louisa (Cooper) Morse, natives of the same State, where his father was a prominent citizen and largely en- gaged in railroading and as a stock dealer. He emi- grated West to Minnesota, and died in the city of Minneapolis, in 1861. The mother is still living and resides with her daughter in Wisconsin. Of their seven children three only are living, as fol- lows: Reuben S. is a resident of Beetown, Wis .; Mary J., Mrs. Pierce, resides in Cassville, Wis .; our subjeet and the two above mentioned are the only living children. The mother of our subjeet received a fine education, and after the death of her husband gave her children all the advantages in her power. She possessed fine abilities as a writer and was a contributor to several publieations in the East. She is regarded with the highest respect and admiration by all who know her as having done her part well, and having overcome difficulties be- fore which many others would have been diseour- aged.

Young Morse attended the common sehools un- til thirteen years of age, and then began to learn the "art preservative." In the meantime he pur- sued his sehool studies under the instruction of a private teacher, so that at eighteen years of age he was prepared to enter college. When he had completed his apprenticeship at Farmington, Me., he was made foreman of the Chronicle office and afterward beeamc editor. He was also eonneeted with the Liberal Republican of Augusta, and after- ward with the Portland Daily Advertiser, and was city editor of the Sunday Times for a period of seven years. Mr. Morse came to Bloomington in

February, 1881, and assumed the position which he now occupies. He "stumped" the State of Maine for the Garfield tieket in 1880, and was heartily urged to speak in many other States through which bis fame had spread.

Mr. Morse was married in 1872, to Miss Euniee Newell, a native of Halifax, N. S., and they have seven children, all living-Fred. R., Annie L., Florence P., Clinton W., Harvey R., Adlai S. and Gertrude. The family residence is pleasantly lo- cated at No. 1106 North East street, where its in- mates enjoy the society and friendship of the cultured people of the city. Mr. Morse is Repub- lican in politics, and a member in good standing of the A. F. & A. M., and the Modern Woodmen. He is also a member and was one of the organizers of the Knights and Ladies of the Round Table. He has been prominent in city affairs, and was cleeted Alderman of the Sixth Ward in 1886.

Mr. Morse, as a writer, possesses fine abilities and has already placed himself among the leading journalists of the State. Ile has also indulged in the lighter literature of the day, and as a story- writer has gained considerable popularity. His eon- nection with the Leader has lcut added interest to that striking sheet, and he is universally regarded as a favorite among newspaper men and a useful and worthy member of society.

OHN A. MILLER, a resident of MeLean County sinee 1857, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, June 17, 1831. His father, Dr. Thomas Miller, was born in Maryland in 1801, whence he removed to Ohio with his par- ents when a boy. The mother of our subjeet, Rebecca (Harrington) Miller, was also a native of Ohio, and was the second wife of Thomas Miller. Of her marriage with him there were born ten children, and of these eight are still living, John A. . being the eldest.

The subject of our sketeh reeeived a common- school education, and at the age of twenty years commenced work at the carpenter's trade. He was inarried in 1854, to Miss Eliza J. MeGiffen. She was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, Feb. 14,

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1829, her parents being William and Lydia (But- terfield) McGiffen. Three years later they came to Illinois, locating first at Shirley, whence they removed two years afterward to Hudson, where our subject now resides. He followed his trade until about 1882, and since that time has occupied himself with an apiary, consisting of sixty stands of bees, which lighter labor affords him much satisfaction and serves to furnish employment for his active mind and hand which would not be con- tent in idleness.

Before laying aside his active labors as a car- penter, Mr. Miller for twenty-five years was cn- gaged as a contractor and builder, frequently employing a force of twelve or fifteen men, and many of the most important buildings in the vicinity of Hudson stand as monuments of his skill and handiwork. He has been uniformly suc- cessful in life, and has fairly earned the reputation of an honest man and a good citizen.

Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Miller there were born four children, viz .: Sarah M., the wife of George Hasselton of Hudson; Mary R., Mrs. James Middleton of Whiteside County; Emma F., the wife of Stephen B. Houghton of Hudson, and Harvey, who is at home with his parents.

In politics Mr. Miller is a stanch Republican, and religiously has been connected with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church for many years as one of its most active and useful members.

C HRISTIAN C. MARTENS, of Bloomington, is a member of the firm of Hyde & Mar- tens, who are. successfully engaged in the manufacture of buggies, spring wagons and car- riages, and also handle all kinds of farm machinery, carriage iron and wood stock. Mr. Martens is a native of Prussia, and was born in 1854, being the son of Charles J. and Henrietta (Schroder) Mar- tens, natives of the same country. Charles J. Mar- tens emigrated to America in 1869, and proceeded directly westward, settling in Bloomington the fol- lowing ycar, where he followed his profession as a musician. The parental family consisted of eight children, five now living.

The subject of this biography was the seventh child of his parents' family. He attended school until fourteen years old, then worked upon a farm one year, and afterward at blacksmithing in his na- tive country. After arriving in Bloomington he continued as a journeyman for six years, and then formed a partnership with Mr. Hyde, which has re- mained until the present. Their new block was erected in 1876. They give employment usually to about fifteen men and are doing a fine business.

Mr. Martens was married in 1882, to Miss Car- rie, daughter of Frederick Agle, of Bloomington, and they have one son-Ernest W., who was born in 1883. Mr. Martens is Democratic in politics, and with his wife belongs to the German Lutheran Church. Their residence, situated at No. 320 South Main street, is the home of refinement and culti- vated tastes, and they enjoy the friendship and as- sociation of the cultured people of Bloomington.

OHN H. SPANGLER owns and occupies a comfortable homestead in Allin Township, on section 28, and has been a resident of the Prairie State since 1856. He was born in Franklin County, Ohio, March 15, 1829, being the son of Eli and Mary (Barbce) Spangler, natives of Virginia, the father born March 12, 1795, and the mother March 25, 1802. Eli Spangler was a farmer by occupation and followed that calling all his life. The parents were married March 14, 1822, and at once removed from the Old Dominion to Franklin County, Ohio, and located upon rented land, where the father died not quite ten years later, on the 1st of January, 1832. Mrs. S. sur- vived her husband over fifty years, and died in this county Aug. 23, 1886. Their children were Susan, Margaret, Mary A., John H. and Eli. The mother of our subject was a member of the United Brethren Church. After the death of his father John H. resided with his mother until he was six- teen years old, and worked out by the month on a farm until his marriage, which occurred in 1850, the maiden of his choice being Miss Caroline Haines. The young couple went to housekeeping upon rented land, and in 1864 our subject pur-

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chased the present homestead of 160 acres. This is finely cultivated and improved, with a tasteful and substantial farm dwelling, a good barn and all necessary out-buildings required by the intelligent and progressive farmer.

The parents of Mrs. Spangler were Jacob and Sarah Haines, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia. Her father was born Sept. 17, 1794, and her mother Dee. 15, 1802. They were mar- ried July 5, 1821, first loeating in Behinont County, Ohio. Thenee they removed to Illinois in 1856, loeating in Mt. Hope Township, this county, where they passed the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1870, and the mother in 1871. Their ten children were Martha, Adeline, Samuel, Horatio, John, Susan A., Robert, Levi, William J. and Jane B.

Mr. and Mrs. Spangler are members of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church, and in polities our subjeet is a strong Republican. Of their seven children three died in infaney unnamed; William S. married Miss Sarah A. MeReynolds, Jan. 14, 1880, and lives in Allin Township: Eliza F. mar- ried Banjamin Kauffman, Dee. 24, 1874; he is de- eeased, and she lives in Allin Township; John mar- ried Miss Mary E. MeReynolds, Dee. 23, 1880 ; they have one ehild which died in infancy unnamed; Margaret E. was the youngest of the family.

LEXANDER MCELFRESH, a retired far- mer and resident of Le Roy, has been a resident of the Prairie State for nearly thirty years. He was born in Ohio County, W. Va., Sept. 22, 1817, his father being Jesse Me- Elfresh, a native of Maryland. His grandfather, Richard M., is also believed to have been a native of that State and there spent his deelining years. The father of our subjeet was reared on a farm in his native State and when a young man went to Pennsylvania. Ile remained there about two years and in the meantime removed to West Virginia, settling on Short Creek, in Ohio County, where he engaged in farming and spent the last years of his life. The mother of our subjeet before her mar- riage was Miss Ann E. Murphy, who was born in

Pennsylvania and was the daughter of Alexander Murphy. a native of the North of Ireland, who eame to America when a young man and was mar- ried to a German lady. Mr. Murphy teamed aeross the mountains, and met his death by a fall from his wagon, receiving injuries from which he soon died. Ilis widow, the grandmother of our subject, after- ward removed to Holmes Co., Ohio, and died there at the home of her daughter, at the age of one hundred and two years. The parental household ineluded seventeen children, ten sons and seven daughters, of whom our subjeet was the fourth son and? seventh ehild. His parents were poor, and as soon as large enough he assisted in the support of the family. His first work was in a wood-yard on the Ohio River, where he eomineneed when ten years of age, and received for his labors from $5 to $8 per month. He worked in this way for about six years, and then in company with a brother, rented a farm, which they operated for about five years, and then our subjeet decided to learn the cabinet-maker's trade. After two years at this and two more at earpentering he resumed farming with his brother-in-law. When twenty-six years of age he was married, in Jefferson County, Ohio, and rented a farm there. He had about $200, which he had saved from his earnings, and this enabled him to carry on a farm. He operated in this man- ner until 1858, and then came to Illinois, making the journey with two horse-teams and being aecom- panied by his brother-in-law, Robert Hanson. The family eame by rail. « HIe first rented land in Downs Township, this county, two years, then purchased eighty acres upon which was a small house and a straw shed. Ile moved with his family into the house, and they continued to reside there until . 1876, the first house in the meantime having been replaced by a comfortable frame dwelling and the straw shed by a good barn. In the year last named, Mr. McE. rented his farm and purchased the place which he now owns and occupies in Le Roy. He is now living retired from aetive business and sur- rounded by all the comforts of life, and is reaping the reward of his early industry.

The marriage of Mr. MeElfresh took place Jan. 4, 1843, the lady of his choice being Miss Lydia Hanson, who was born in Jefferson County, Ohio,

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Nov. 10, 1825. Her father, John Hanson, a native of Ireland, eame to the United States with his par- ents when five years of age and was reared in Pennsylvania. He learned the trade of a black- smith in Lancaster County, and after his marriage removed to Ohio, settling in Jefferson County, where he spent the remainder of his life. The mother, formerly Miss Lydia Galloway, was a na- tive of Pennsylvania. They became the parents of ten children, three sons and seven daughters.

Mr. and Mrs. MeElfresh have no children of their own. Their adopted daughter, Almira, be- eame the wife of Charles Roach, now deceased. Mr. McE. belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian and Mrs. MeE. to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The paternal grandmother of our subjeet's wife was a sister of Geu. Montgomery, who fell in battle at Quebee during the Revolutionary War.

P ETER KING. The subject of the follow- ing brief history, who is successfully en- gaged in farming pursuits on section 2, Dry Grove Township, is principally oeeu- pied in the breeding of Norman and Clydesdale horses, of which he keeps in stoek about twelve head, and exhibits some of the finest animals in this seetion. His farm estate consists of 320 aeres of choice land, with three good farm houses aud all necessary barns and out-buildings. He has been a resident of the township sinee 1865, and has fully established himself in the confidence and respect of his neighbors.

Mr. King was born in Butler County, Ohio, Feb. . 6, 1838, and is the son of Christian and Phobe (Barnett) King, of German ancestry, and who were reared and married in the Fatherland and emigrated to America at an early day. They lo- cated in Butler County, Ohio, a short time, and , then came to MeLean County, Ill., where they spent their declining years and both are now bur- ied. Their eight children were Christian, Jolm, Jacob, Daniel, Peter, Barbara, Samuel and Joseph. Peter King, at the age of five years, eame with liis parents overland to Illinois. They first located in Woodford County, whenee, after three years, they

removed to Dry Grove Township in MeLean County, and located upon the farm of 160 acres which the father had purchased. Here our subjeet grew to manhood, engaged in farming pursuits. Christian King religiously adhered to the Mennon- ite belief, and reared his children in the same re- ligious faith. He lived to the age of seventy-eight years, and passed away leaving a record of an hon- est. and worthy life. Our subjeet was married on the 5tlı of February, 1860, to Miss Barbara Hodler, who was born in Ohio Feb. 8, 1838. She came with her parents to Illinois in 1854, and they lo- eated in Dale Township, this county, where they passed the remainder of their days, both being now deceased. Ten of their children are now living, and the record is as follows: Imhoff was born in 1839; Mary, Dee. 13, 1840; Magdaleua, Feb. 7, 1842; Annie, Dec. 13, 1843; Joseph, Oet. 9, 1845; Peter, Nov. 20, 1847; Elizabeth, March 29, 1850; John, Feb. 27, 1853, and is now deceased; Lydia, Aug. 31, 1854; Daniel, April 28, 1857.

Mr. and Mrs. King of this notice became the par- ents of eight children, as follows: Luey A., born July 8, 1864, married Daniel King, and lives in White Oak Township; Emma N., born Sept. 10, 1866, married Daniel Augustine, of White Oak; Phobe L. was born Feb. 7, 1869; Amelia M., July 16, 1871; Rosa E., Sept. 27, 1873; Lewis I., Jan.‘ 30, 1876; Mary M., deceased, was born Jan. 8, 1861, and died Nov. 29, 1864; Christian, deceased, was born Aug. 9, 1862, and died Nov. 26, 1864.

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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 37

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