Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 39

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 39

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The mother of Mrs. Barnett, who before her marriage was Miss Theda Woodruff, was born in Conneetient, and a daughter of Philo Woodruff, also a native of Connecticut, and who served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. IIe spent the last years of his life with his daughter, Mrs. Gibbs, near Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He was a prominent Abo- litionist, and both parents were members of the Presbyterian Church. The mother of Mrs. Bar- nett died in Leroy in March, 1854. The parental family consisted of seven children, of whom the record is as follows: Maria became the wife of Luther Hill, and died in Akron, Ohio; Philo died in Deeatur, Ohio, when thirteen years old; David died in Ottumwa, Iowa; Simeon lives in Leroy, this eounty ; Enoch, in Kansas City, Mo. ; Mrs. Bar- nett was the sixth ehild; Julia married Rev. Aus- tin Rogers, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and lives in Heyworth.

Mrs. Barnett spent her youth and childhood with her parents, and attended the subscription sehools. When of suitable age and attainments she entered Oberlin College and graduated from there when twenty-five years of age, after her parents had re- moved to Illinois. After joining them there she 'engaged in teaching, and continued three terms after her marriage. This event occurred in Feb- ruary, 1845. Her husband, Thomas J. Barnett, was a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and born Jan. 21, 1818. His father, Moses Barnett, was a

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native of Pennsylvania, also his mother, who was formerly Miss Catharine Ellis. In 1831 Moses Barnett, with his family, emigrated to Illinois and settled in what is now Empire Township, this county, where their son Thomas was reared to man- hood. He received a limited education, and, his parents being without worldly wealth, he worked out by the day or month. He broke prairie and en- gaged in teaming, making frequent trips to and from Chicago, making the tedious journeys with oxen. The Garden City then was but an unpre- tentious hamlet, and the experiences of Thomas J. Barnett, together with the interesting seenes which he witnessed from time to time would make an in- teresting volume. After his marriage with onr sub- jeet they lived with her father's family for a time, and Mr. Barnett cultivated a portion of the land. He was industrious, enterprising, and possessed of excellent judgment, and was soon in a condition to become the owner of 100 acres, which he secured and engaged as before in general agriculture. After a few years lie abandoned farming to engage in the grocery and hardware business, and later merged his stock into, dry-goods. He was a thorough and sneeessful business man, straightforward and hon- est in his transactions, prompt to meet his obliga- tions, and became a useful and honored member of the community. He continued in business until the summer of 1874, and then, on account of failing health, disposed of his interests and retired from active business. Ile departed this life in Septem- ber, 1882.

Mr. and Mrs. Barnett became the parents of six children, of whom the record is as follows: Alice married John Young, and lives in Chicago; Emina became the wife of Denton Young, a elothing mer- chant of Leroy ; Orvin died in infancy ; Orrin is a resident of Lewistown. Fulton County, this State; Laura, Mrs. Dixon Brown, lives in Downs Town- ship, this county, and George in Chicago. Mrs. Barnett's son Orrin possesses imusual musical tal- ent which has been finely cultivated. He attended the Conservatories of Music at Oberlin and Boston, and is well qualified for the position which he oe- cupies as leader in the musical eireles of his local- ity.

Mrs. Barnett is a lady of more than ordinary

ability, has been a wise and judicious mother, at- tending closely to the training and the education of her children, and has fitted them to become good citizens and useful members of the community. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and greatly respected by those among whom she has lived for so many years. As a mem- ber of society, a neighbor and friend, she has ful- filled her duties ereditably and conscientiously, and has built for herself a good record of wom- anly virtues.

EZEKIAII R. BENSON, an intelligent mem- ber of the legal profession in the city of Bloomington, is a native of the Empire State, having been born in Onondaga County, N. Y., in May, 1826. His father, Lyman Benson, who was born in Washington County, N. Y., traces his ancestry as having come from the north of England, but being of Seoteh-Irish de- scent. The paternal grandfather of our subjeet was one of the early settlers of New York State, and other representatives of the family were seat- tered in, Washington and Rutland Counties, the town of Benson in Rutland County having been named in honor of them. They were good busi- ness men generally, and the possessors of comfort- able homes and a good amount of property.

Lyinan Benson, the father of our subject, re- moved with his family to the West in 1849, first settling in Belvidere, Ill., which was then the county seat of Boone County. Here he carried on the manufacture of wagons, at the same time being engaged in farming, and spent the remainder of his days there. In early manhood he married Miss Cornelia Osborn, of Hartford, Conn., and they first located in New York State. They became the par- ents of eight children, seven of whom lived to ma- turity. Two brothers were sacrificed during the late war.

Our subject was the fourth child of the parental family, and came with his father and mother to this State. Ile pursued his early studies in the common schools of Boone County, and completed them at Manlius Academy, N. Y. Later he at-

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tended the law department of the University at Chicago, from which he graduated in 1864. He then came to MeLean County, and opened an of- fice in Chenoa, where he began the practice of his chosen profession, following it there six years, in the meantime serving as City Clerk and Attorney.

Mr. Benson eame to Bloomington in the fall of 1871, and was soon afterward united in marriage with Miss Anna, daughter of Henry Gruzzelle, a farmer residing in the east part of the county. They located in Bloomington, where our subject has sinee followed his profession. He is a member of the Masonie fraternity, and belongs to Bloom- ington Chapter 'No. 26, Royal Arch Masons. For the last eight years he has been Secretary of the Republican Central Committee, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Canton Masonic Mutual Benevolent Society. Religiously he is identified with the Presbyterian Church, and in all respects is pursning the honest and upright course of a good citizen and worthy member of society. Mr. and Mrs. Benson have become the parents of one child -Nellie.

W ILLIAM A. ARROWSMITH, a well-known and highly esteemed resident of Padua -Township, owns and occupies a fine farm estate comprising 110 acres on section 24. His land is valuable and finely improved, the residenee of modern style of architecture, and the barns and out-buildings shapely and substantial structures, in all respects adapted for the purpose for which they were intended. He has been a resident of this see- tion since 1856, and held the office of Supervisor for a period of six years, and in all respects is a representative citizen, taking a genuine interest in the welfare of his eounty and community.

Mr. Arrowsmith eame to this county a single man, being only eighteen years of age, locating first in Padua Township. He is a native of Ross County, Ohio, and was born in Green Township, July 6, 1838. His father, John Arrowsmith, also a native of Ross County, came of Kentucky parentage, and married a lady of that State, by name Miss Phebe Ritter. After marriage they settled on a farm in Ross County, Ohio, and there passed the remainder

of their days. John Arrowsmith was born in 1806, and departed this life in 1846. His wife, Phoebe, was born in 1801, and died two years before her husband, in 1844. Of their six children, our subject was the eldest son and third child, and was quite young when his parents died. He afterward lived with an older sister, for whom the father had provided in his will on eon- dition that she should take the place of mother to the children until they were able to care for themselves. This trust she nobly fulfilled. Our subjeet received a good publie-school education and made his home with his sister until he started for the West. After arriving here he lived with another relative until he reached his majority.

After coming to this eounty, Mr. Arrowsmith, being in possession of some means and desiring to still further perfect himself in his studies, entered Wesleyan College, where he remained until the out- break of the late war. On the 6th of August, 1862, he enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. D, 94th Illinois Regiment, which was then commanded by Col. W. W. Orme, of Bloomington. He is now deceased. The first destination of the regiment after it left Illinois was Prairie Grove, Ark., and young Arrowsmith participated in all engagements thereafter, being at the siege of Vicksburg and the battle at Ft. Morgan, Ala., besides minor engage- ments. He was afterward in the fight at Yazoo City, Miss., Brownsville, Tex., Ft. Morgan and Spanish Fort. He eseaped injury, although his eoat was at one time pierced by a ball from the enemy. He has now in his possession a hiekory eane which bears marks of the enemy's bullets and which in- dicates that they fired close to the ground. After a period of brave and faithful serviee, during which time he shared uneomplainingly the privations and hardships of a soldier's life, Mr. Arrowsmith re- ceived his honorable discharge at Galveston, Tex., July 17, 1865. After being mustered out he re- turned to this eounty and purchased the tract of land which constitutes his present homestead. 1

The marriage of our subject oceurred Dec. 21, 1865, in Padua Township, the maiden of his choiee being Miss Martha J. Martin, who was born on the farm where she now lives, July 22, 1840. Mrs. A. is the daughter of Areher and Jane

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(Lewallen) Martin, who were natives of Virginia, but while young removed to Ohio and were there married. The mother was born in New Jersey. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. M. settled on a farm in Champaign County, Ohio, whence they removed West in 1834 and located upon the farm where on subject and his wife now live, and which Mr. Mar- tin improved from its original condition. Here both parents died, the father, July 28, 1868, at the age of seventy-nine years, having been born Oct. 10, 1789. The mother, who was born May 30, 1802, died June 25, 1872. They were most excel- lent people and greatly respected wherever known.

Mrs. Arrowsmith was reared and educated in Padua Township and remained under the home roof until her marriage. Of her union with our subject there were born five children, two of whom, John and Mary, died when less than one year old. Those surviving are Sarah J., the wife of Ennis Wheeler, a farmer of Empire Township; Laura and William M. at home. Mr. Arrowsmith is strongly Republican in politics, and takes an active interest in the establishment and maintenance of schools. He is an extensive reader and possesses a large fund of general information. Besides the home farm, he owns twenty-four acres of valuable land in Empire Township, and is in all respects a fine representative of the thrifty and intelligent citizen who is contributing his full share toward the pros- perity of his county.

h A. MINER, manufacturer of sash, doors, blinds, etc., and general contractor and builder, has his office and planing-mill on Northeast street, which occupy Nos. 408, 410, 412 and 414, Bloomington, Ill. Mr. Miner has been a resident of the Prairie State since 1856, when he left the home of his childhood, and com- ing West settled first at Galesburg, this State, whence he soon afterward came to McLean County. Ile was born in Ontario County, N. Y., in 1835, and is the son of Seth and Abigail (Phelps) Miner, natives respectively of Connecticut and New York. Seth Miner was extensively engaged in farming in the Empire State, and was a man of great force of

character, and universally respected by all who knew him.

The Miner family trace their ancestry back to the sixteenth century, when two brothers came from England and settled in Connecticut. We only date back in this biography of the Miner family to Ezra, the father of Seth and grandfather of our subject. This gentleman was born in Connecticut, and followed the sea for many years as Captain of a merchant vessel. He finally abandoned the ocean, and spent the last years of his life in the peaceful pursuit of farming. He removed from Connectieut to Canandaigua, N. Y., and thence, in 1840, to Michigan, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying when about seventy-seven years of age. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and always interested himself in the welfare and prosperity of his country.

Seth Miner, the father of our subject, was for many years Justice of the Peace, and held various other offices in Steuben County, N. Y., where he was a leading and prominent man and Captain of the State Militia. He was deeply pious, and in early life connected himself with the Methodist Episco- pal Church, in which he was a Class-Leader and Chorister for many years. He died at Honeoye, Ontario Co., N. Y., lamented by all who knew him, as having been a good and useful citizen, whose loss could scarcely be replaced. The mother died at Prattsburg, N. Y. Of the six children which composed the parental family only three are now living: Henry A., of our sketch; Gertrude, Mrs. Wing, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Jane, of Bloomington, Ill.

Henry A. Miner attended the common schools during his childhood, but remained with his par- ents until only thirteen years of age, when he started out in life for himself. He first apprenticed himself to learn harness-making, but not being sat- isfied with this trade he took up that of a carpen- ter, at which he worked until 1856, in his native county. Hc then came to Illinois, as before stated," and devoted about six months to learning archi- tecture and building. After coming to Blooming- ton he worked first as a journeyman carpenter, and then engaged as contractor and builder, in which he was successfully occupied for ten years follow-

RESIDENCE OF GOTTLIEB ARNOLD , SEC. 21., TOWANDA TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF WM. TYSON, SEC. 22., MT. HOPE TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF WM. SCHWARZEL, SEC. 28., TOWANDA TOWNSHIP.

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ing, often having under his employ from twenty- five to fifty men. Finding it necessary to inercase his business facilities he rented the building now oeeupied by the Walton Plow Company, where he operated suecessfully for fifteen years. He then sold out at a profitable figure to a company which had been formed to carry on the same business, and was their manager for three years. He then pur- ehased the ground upon which his present office and shops are located, and built these and the mill in 1881. They oeeupy about 6,000 square feet of ground, are built of briek, being solid and substantial struetures, admirably adapted to the purpose for which they were ereeted. Mr. Miner is also the owner of a fine farm west of the eity, and takes a genuine interest in agricultural affairs. He has furnished designs for many of the best build- ings in MeLean County. He has taken a deep in- terest in the welfare and prosperity of his adopted eity, and has furnished his full quota toward bring- ing it to its present proud position among the growing eities of the West. Politieally Mr. M. is a Republican, and is a member in good standing of the Masonie fraternity.

: Our subjeet was married in Bloomington, in 1885, to Miss Emma Thomas, and they occupy a beautiful residence at the corner of MeLean and Loeust streets, being surrounded by all the eom- forts of life and many of its luxuries. By a former marriage of our subjeet there were born three children : Frank, of Kansas City; Belle, who beeame the wife of C. A. Clement, of Springfield, Mo., and Willie, at home with his father.

R. JOHN W. FISHER, D. S., of Blooming- ton, Ill., is a native of Flushing, Belmont Co., Ohio, where he was born in a log eabin on the 2d of October, 1829. His parents were John and Hannah (Thompson) Fisher, natives of Virginia, who eame to Ohio after their marriage and engaged in farming pursuits. John Fisher, Sr., in early life had learned the trade of a eooper, but praetieally abandoned it after remov- ing westward. The parents established a comfortable home in the Buekeye State, upon which they passed

the remainder of their lives, the mother dying in 1881, and the father two years later. The parental family included nine children, five now living, as follows: Martha, Mrs. Smith, resides in Ohio; the next oldest is our subjeet, Dr. John W .; Asa B. is in Wichita, Kan; Maria, Mrs. Baldertson, is in Washington, Kan .; Anna, Mrs. Holloway, lives in Ohio.

Dr. Fisher was reared on the farm of his parents, and well remembers how the snow drifted through the eraeks of their humble eabin as he lay in his bed in the winter time. He received a fair eduea- tion in the primary schools, and remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-two years of age. He then read medieine for one year, and eommeneed the study of dentistry a year later, first engaging in practice in his own town. Ile was without capital, but was desirous to go to St. Clairsville, the county seat of Belinont County, where he believed he could find a better field of operation. An old Quaker, Daniel Huff, knowing of his desires, stopped him on the road one day, and holding out $100 invited him to help himself. Young Fisher aeeepted $50 at eight per cent inter- est, and six months after settling in St. Clairsville paid the indebtedness in full, both principal and interest.

Dr. Fisher praetieed in St. Clairsville' for over eleven years, with fine results, then, desiring to sce something of the western country, he started for the Prairie State, and in 1869 eame to Blooming- ton. He did not commenee praetiee, however, until two years later, but sinee 1871 has followed his profession continuously. On the 24th of July, 1861, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Clemens, who was born in Harrison County, Ohio, and was the daughter of James and Pleasant (Mer- ritt) Clemens, natives of Pennsylvania. Of this union there were born two children, a son and daughter-James E. and Mary A. Their pleasant home is located at No. 514 East Loenst street, and the office of Dr. Fisher is at No. 402 North Main. In addition to his dwelling in the eity he has a farm of 120 aeres in Blue Mound Township, which is eultivated and improved, and quite valuable. Dr. Fisher is Republiean in polities, and a regular attendant of the Presbyterian Church. He is a

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member of the Illinois State Dental Society, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He is highly esteemed as a citizen, and in his profession ranks among its most skillful and successful members.

0 TIS T. HALL, a retired farmer now a resi- dent of the village of Danvers, is a native of the Old Granite State, having been born in Salem, N. H., April 3, 1828. He is the son of Israel W. and Polly (Stickney) Hall, natives of the same State, both of whom were born in 1798. Is- rach Hall was a shoemaker by trade, and came into the Prairie State in 1834, locating in MeLean County at an early period in its history. He pur- chased 120 acres of good farming land, upon which he located and commenced its improvement and cultivation. IIe was married to the mother of our subject in 1824, and remained upon the homestead which he had first established until his death, whieli occurred in 1865. The mother is still living, and makes her home with her son, the subject of this notice. The parental household consisted of three children : Alice, who married Jacob McClure, and died in 1884; Otis, of our sketch, and Cynthia, who married for her first husband, Thomas Dodge, now deceased, and she was then married to John Morri- son. The father of our subjeet was an outspoken Democrat in politics, and both parents were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Otis T. Hall was reared by his parents and re -. mained with them until he had attained his major- ity. in the meantime receiving a common-school education. He came with them to this county, and remained under the home roof until the father's death. The marriage of our subject and Miss Eliza Wilson took place in this county in 1870. The parents of Mrs. Hall were James and Susan J. (Whiting) Wilson, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. Her father was born in 1800, being twenty years the senior of his wife, who was born in 1820. He had been reared to farming pursuits, and before his marriage removed to Indiana and purchased 200 acres of good farming land. Ile was then married, in 1840, and after remaining

there a number of years, came to this State and county with the view of establishing a permanent home. Mr. Wilson purchased 300 acres in Dan- vers Township, which he cultivated and occupied until 1881, and then removed into the village and practically retired from active business. Here, two years later the mother died, June 9, 1883. The death of Mr. Wilson occurred Feb. 8, 1886. Their fourteen children were named as follows: Sarah, William, John, Joseph, James, Mary, Alfred, Eliza,. Anna. Manley, Charles, George, Margaret and Ad- die. Both parents were members of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Hall and wife have had born to them one child, Gertie W., who is twelve years old. In pol- ities Mr. Ilall is a Democrat. Mrs. Hall is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian and Mr. Hall of the Meth- odist Church.

SAAC P. MITCHELL, deceased March 26, 1887, was an honored member of MeLean County, and first opened his eyes to the light in the Old Dominion, having been born in Frederick County, Va., on the 14th of October, 1811. His father, Thomas Mitchell, was a soldier in the Revolution- ary War, and a commissioned officer in the Naval Department. After the independence of the colo- nies was established he settled on a farm in Fred- erick County, Va., where he followed agricultural pursuits the remainder of his life. He was a slave- holder, but a man of humane and generous instincts, and in his last will and testament made provision for the freedom of all his colored people. One of the slaves was quite young and he was to be sold and freed at a certain age. Isaac P., our subject, purchased this one and freed him at the time ap- pointed. The maiden name of the mother of on subject was Deborah Perkins, and she also was born in Frederick County, Va., and died there on the farm which she had inherited from her father.

Isaac P. Mitchell was the sixth child and second son of his parents. He was reared on his father's plantation and received his primary education in the subscription schools. He remained at home until the death of his mother, when he was nearly

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twenty-one years old. He then joined an older brother in Clarke County, Ohio, and remained there until 1838, in the meantime having assumed domes- tie ties, and was now a man of family with a wife and two children. He now determined to seek a more western loeation, and accordingly started for the prairies of Illinois. IIis outfit eonsisted of two horses and a wagon, into which they loaded their household goods and paeked provisions, and started on their journey overland, eamping and cooking by the way. They spent their first year in the Prairie State in the little town of Paris, Edgar County, and then rented a tract of land in MeLean County, which is now ineluded in the heart of the eity of Bloomington. IIe was thus oeenpied for the following three or four years, and then entered a traet of Government land which is now ineluded in the old homestead. He had just money enough to enter eighty acres, and as he wanted double that amount he visited the office of a lawyer, stated his ease, and by giving the gentleman security on the eighty acres already entered, managed to raise the money required, upon which he paid forty per eent interest. IIe earned money to pay for his land by breaking prairie and then renting it, and continued this labor during the summer season, and while not thus employed was engaged in teaming for merchants between Bloomington, Chieago and St. Louis, using oxen for his motive power. He also hauled wheat to Chicago, 125 miles distant, which he sold at twenty-five eents per bushel, the trip consuming from eight to ten days. During this time he lived very economieally, saved what he could of his earn- ings, and after a few years was enabled to build and loeate on his farm. In the spring of 1868 he removed to Kansas, settled in Wilson County, and together purchased and entered nearly 800 aeres of land, remaining a resident of that State until 1880, when he returned to the old homestead in Dale Township .. Mr. Mitehell was very sueeessful as a farmer, and has been the possessor of 920 acres of land in Dale Township beside his land in Kansas. The greater part of this he has deeded to his sons, beside providing for his daughters.

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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 39

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