Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 40

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 40

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The subject of our sketeh was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Johnstone in 1837. This lady was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, her father, John

Johnstone, having been a native of the same coun- try and a farmer by oeeupation, where he spent his entire life. The maiden name of her mother was Jeanette Johnstone, and she lived and died in her native Seotland, in Dumfriesshire. Mr. Mitehell was her second husband, her first being David Irv- ing, to whom she was married in Dumfriesshire and with whom she eamne to America in 1832. They first located in Canada and afterward removed to Ohio. Mr. I. died in the South in 1833, leaving one child, Jolin J., whose name was afterward changed to Mitehell. Mr. Mitehell and his wife had five children born to them, viz : Andrew T., Rob- ert P., Jeanette, Mary (deceased), and Isaae. The three eldest are residents of Dale Township, this eounty ; Jeanette is the wife of E. H. MeClung, and lives in Englewood, Ill .; Isaac is a resident of Dal- las, Tex .; Robert P. is unmarried and earries on the home farm. Ile served four and one-half months during the Rebellion, in the 70th Illinois Infantry.

Mr. Mitchell was a Republican in polities after the organization of that party. Ile was naturally possessed of energy and industry, and was aetively employed until 1884, when in the fall of that year he was thrown from a carriage, and a broken hip made him a eripple for the balance of his days. His mind, however, was as bright and intelligent as ever, and he direeted the affairs of his homestead with the same judgment as of old. Mrs. Mitehell is a lady of great intelligence and business talent, and has been well fitted for the helpmeet of such a man as her husband. She oeeupies a pleasant home- stead and is surrounded by all the comforts of life.

G EORGE BRAND, wholesale and retail dealer in furniture, located at the corner of North and Main streets, Bloomington, is carrying on a profitable and steadily inereasing trade. Mr. Brand is a representative German eitizen, who has identified himself with the interests of his adopted country, and has beeome a valued factor in the business of this eity. . Ile was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, on the 25th of August, 1829. In aeeordanee with the laws and customs of his native

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country he commenced attending school when six years of age, and continued diligently until four- teen. Hle then engaged to learn the baker's trade, at which he worked two years, then sailed for the United States, which he reached after a prosperous voyage of forty-one days, landing in the city of New York. Thence he proceeded westward to Holmes County, Ohio, where he resumed work at his trade and remained three years, thence going into Somerset County, the saine State. From there he proceeded to the city of Cleveland, and after- ward to Detroit and Chicago.

In 1853 Mr. Brand came to Bloomington, and engaged with J. DePew, with whom he remained for eight years following. He then became the partner of his employer, with whom he operated two years, at the expiration of which time he went into the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railway Company, with whom he remained three years. In the spring of 1870 he commenced business on his own account, with a capital of $190, $100 of which he paid out for a stock of lumber. Ile then com- menced to manufacture furniture on a small scale, and in the course of time began to prosper and business to increase. IIe was soon compelled to enlarge his stock and capacities for work and employ men to assist him. He possessed good business abilities, was prompt in meeting his obli- gations, and before long secured a good patronage. Ile is now carrying on an extensive factory, his business operations extending throughout this and other States.

In 1885 Mr. Brand put up his present business house, which is four stories in height, and covers an area of 24x98 feet, all of which is occupied in carry- ing on his manufactures. The building was erected at a cost of $18,000, and is all paid for, which, consid- ering the modest beginning of our subject, speaks. well for his industry, perseverance and good man- agement. This structure is one of the neatest business houses in the city, and an ornament to the block whereon it is located. Besides this Mr. Brand has a good residence handsomely finished and furnished, where he enjoys the society of his friends and acquaintances and dispenses a generous hospitality.

Mr. Brand was married in 1862, to Miss Lena

Kocht, of Ohio, and they have become the parents of six children, two sons and four daughters. Our subject is a member and Steward of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, and socially belongs to Remembrance Lodge No. 77, I. O. O. F. In polities he affiliates with the Republican party.

E RSKINE M. HAMILTON, attorney-at-law, at Bloomington, is giving particular atten- tion to the pension business, and has his of- fice at No. 101 West Jefferson street. IIe came to this county in March, 1870, and soon afterward lo- cated in Bloomington, where he has since resided, and followed the practice of his profession in a manner indicative of ability and good judgment.

Mr. Hamilton was born in Schenectady, N. Y., Jan. 8, 1839. His father, F. II. Hamilton, was a native of Massachusetts, and descended from excel- lent Scotch ancestry. The grandfather of our sub- ject, Joseph Hamilton by name, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. F. H. Hamilton removed from his native State to New York when a young man, and there married Miss Ruth Ann Cady, of Schenectady, by whom he became the father of seven children, two of whom died in childhood, and five lived to mature years. Our subjeet was the second son.

Mr. Hamilton remained in his native county un- til about fifteen years old, then removed with his parents to Ohio, where he grew to manhood. The war then coming on he enlisted as a soldier of the Union, in Co. F, 84th Ohio Vol. Inf. Ile pro- ceeded with his regiment to Cumberland, Md., to guard the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and was thereafter on detached duty, which consisted most of the time in fighting guerrillas. He served two years, and was neither wounded nor taken prisonor, and received his honorable discharge in the fall of 1865.

Mr. Hamilton commenced reading law in Sten- benville, Ohio, in 1861, in the office of R. S. Moody, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1863. After his return from the army he was elected City Attorney and served two years. Thereafter he practiced law in a general way, and in March,

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1870, turned his face toward the Great West. After reaching Bloomington he opened a law offiee, and to the duties of this has given his elose attention since that time, making a specialty of pensions and other war claims.

'The father of our subjeet is still living, at the advanced age of over eighty-three years, having been born Mareh 31, 1804. IIe makes his home in Bloomington, at the residence of his son Erskine. The mother died in 1882. She was born Sept. 12, 1812, and was the daughter of Peter Cady, one of the earliest settlers of New York State.

R. ALEXANDER T. DARRAH, Grand Master of the Masons in Illinois, and a skilled physician and surgeon of Bloom- ington, has been a resident of the Prairie State sinee 1838, and of Bloomington sinee 1883. . He is of Seoteh-Irish extraction and a fine speci- men of physical manhood, being the largest in stature of a family noted for its development both physically and intellectually.

Dr. Darrah was born in Delaware County, Ohio, on the 17th of March, 1836. His parents were Jolın and Elizabeth (Orr) Darrah, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively, the father born in 1811 and the mother in 1803. His grandparents, James and Naney (Kent) Darrah, were natives re- speetively of Virginia and Ohio. When a young man James Darrah removed from Virginia to Ohio, where he became a large landholder, and lived until 1856. Hle then sold out, and coming to Griggs- ville, Ill., retired from active labor, and with his wife spent the remainder of his days there. James Darrah died in 1866, aged ninety-nine; his wife departed this life in 1862, at the age of ninety- five years. Both were connected with the Method- ist Episcopal Church, and useful, honored members of society. Of their family of eight children all lived to-mature years, and the records of the famn- ily for generations baek indicate a long-lived raee. On the mother's side, the grandfather, James, and grandmother, Mary (Thompson) Orr, were natives of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Orr was a farmer by occupation, and the

owner of a fine homestead in Pennsylvania. This he afterward sold, and removed to Ohio, purehas- ing a farm in Harrison County, upon which he re- mained until 1838. IIe then came to Pike County, Ill., and passed his deelining years free from eare. Mrs. Orr departed this life in 1834, and James Orr ten years later, in 1844. Their family of seven children lived to become men and women, and al- most without exception the children of both fami- lies were engaged in farming pursuits.

John Darrahı, the father of our subjeet, was reared to farming pursuits, and after his marriage removed from Ohio to Illinois, purchasing 640 aeres of land in Pike County, which he occupied until 1865, and then sold this and purchased a farm in Champaign County, whenee, after a year, he removed to the village of Tolono, where he died in March, 1886. The decease of the mother took place in Champaign County, in 1868. Of the par- ental family of ten children, three died in infaney and six are still living, the record being as follows: Lucinda, Mrs. Curfman, resided in Douglas County until January, 1887, the date of her death; James W. and his sister, Jane Taylor, are in Tolono, Ill .; Dr. A. T. is our subject; Thomas is an extensive farmer, and a member of the Board of Supervisors of Champaign County, Ill., having his residence at Pesotum; Matthew S., of Pittsfield, Ill., has been oe- eupied both in farming and mereantile pursuits, and is now Deputy Sheriff of Pike County; Will- iam H. is a farmer and stockraiser of Sadorns, Ill.

John Darrah was for a number of years Justice of the Peace in Champaign County, and held other minor offices within the gift of his townsmen, being also County Commissioner. Politically he was a staneh Demoerat. Both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the father of our subjeet for many years was Class-Leader, Stew- ard and Superintendent of the Sabbath-school, a useful man in his church and his community, be- loved and respected by all who knew him.

Dr. Alexander T. Darrah spent his boyhood years on the farm and in attendance at the district school, and remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-four years of age. In 1858, while still pursuing his studies in school, he became one of the Directors, and before the expiration of the

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term he was Prineipal of the school. At this time he determined to see something of the world, and accordingly, leaving the parental roof, became en- gaged as a surveyor for a map publishing firm of Buffalo, N. Y., and was thus employed two years.

From youth the subject of our history had de- termined to become a plysieian, and while teaching school and vocal music he employed his spare mo- ments in the study of medieine. In due time he entered the office of Dr. A. J. Miller, of Stone's Prairie, Adams Co., Ill., and after close application for two years entered Rush Medical College at Chieago, from whieli he graduated with high honors on the 25th of January, 1865, and commenced practice at Tolono, Ill. On the 14th of March, 1866, he was married to Miss Elizabeth II. Fugate, a native of Missouri, and the daughter of Wil- bourne and Euphema (Thomson) Fugate, botlı na- tives of North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. F., after their marriage, located on a farm in Missouri. 'The father of Mrs. Darrah was a man of fine abilities, possessing both musical and literary talents, and commeneed teaching while a very young man. They removed to Illinois in 1838. In his younger years Mr. F. was a student in the William and Mary College, of Virginia, and became a historian of great exeellenee. Ile always took a deep inter- est in educational matters, and'after a worthy and useful life eeased from his earthly labors in 1885. The mother is still living, in Urbana, Ill., aged seventy-five. Of their family of six children, the record is as follows: John T. is a practicing phy- sieian of Urbana, Ill .; Jerome W. is following the same profession in Lawrenee, Kan .; Elizabeth II. is the wife of our subjeet; Lyeurgus W. is praetic- ing medieine at Colehester, MeDonough Co., Ill .; David W. is a resident of Camp Point, Ill., and Martha M. also resides at the latter-named place.

Dr. Darrah eommeneed the practice of lis pro- fession at Tolono, Champaign County, and contin- ued for eighteen years there. For two terms he was President of the Champaign County Medical Society ; has served as Secretary of the Judicial Council Illinois State Medieal Society a number of years, and was Vice President and then President of the same during 1882-83. Ile is also a member of the Champaign County, MeLean County, Cen-

tral Illinois and Illinois State Medieal Societies; is identified with the American Medical Association, and an honorary member of the Southern Illinois Medical Association.

Dr. Darrah eame to Bloomington in 1883, but lis reputation had already preceded him, and he stepped at onee into a luerative and extensive praetiee. Ilis ofliee is located at No. 109 East Washington street, and the attractive residenee of himself and family is at No. 614 East Front street. The household eirele ineludes three children-Del- mar D., Nellie E. and Ada M.

During years of pressing business eares Dr. Dar- rah has been greatly interested in the sueeess of Ma- sonry, and has been a prominent figure among its councils sinee 1863. Besides passing all the de- grees up to liis present high position in tlie frater- mity, he is one of the Trustees of the Illinois Or- phans' Ilome, is Associate Chief of the Illinois Ma- sonie Veterans, and honorary member of Star Lodge No. 240, in Champaign. He now occupies the highest position within the gift of the fraternity of Illinois, to which he is amply entitled by his long experience, mature judgment and wise couneils. In polities Dr. Darrah uniformly easts his vote with the Democratie party.

E DWARD BUNN, an extensive stoek-dealer of Danvers, and having his residence in the village, has been a resident of the Prairie State sinee 1852. Ile has a good knowledge of the business in which he is engaged, and is meeting with fair sueeess. Our subject was born in Ross County, Ohio, Sept. 2, 1835, being the son of Jef- ferson and Mary (Madden) Bunn, of Ohio and Vir- ginia respectively. Jefferson Bunn was of German aneestry and parentage, but born in Ohio Sept. 16, 1802. Ile was a cabinet-maker by trade, having. served his apprenticeship at Chillicothe, in his na- tive county, where he was married. Ile removed to Illinois in the fall of 1852, and located at Bloom- ington, whenee, after two years' residenee he re- moved to Table Grove, Fulton County. There he followed farming pursuits for five years, and then removed to Macomb, where he was employed in the

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cabinet-shop of Messrs John and Thomas McEl- rath for two years. From there he came to Dan- vers, where he passed the remainder of his days and departed this life Dec. 29, 1885.

Jefferson Bunn was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a period of forty years. The mother of our subject was also connected with the same church. Her birth occurred in 1800, and her death on the 22d of July, 1872. The parental household included six children, three now living. The record is as follows : Lewis died in 1829, and Maria L., Feb. 16, 1830; one died in infancy un- named ; George lives in Bloomington, and married Miss E. Rayburn; Susan resides in Danvers, and Edward is the subject of this sketch.

The marriage of Mr. Bunn occurred Jan. 1, 1857, the lady of his choice being Miss Eliza Wil- fong. The wedding took place at Macomb, Ill., Jolın O. C. Wilson, Esq., officiating. Mrs. Bunn was born in North Carolina, May 18, 1833, and is the daughter of William P. and Sarah (Marley) Wilfong. The former was born in Rawleigh, N. C., in September, 1798, where he was reared and mar- ried. He came to Illinois with his family in, 1843, and located in Hancock County, where they lived one year, thence removing to Birmingham, Schuy- ler County, and from there to Macomb, where the death of the father occurred on the 8th of June, 1877. The mother of Mrs, Bunn was born in Randolph County, N. C., in 1809, and was married in 1832. She is still living, and makes her home with her daughter in Danvers. The parental house- hold consisted of ten children, viz., Eliza, Isabel, Ann, Sarah, Emeline, Martha, Rosa, James, John, and one who died in infancy.

Of the marriage of our subject and his wife there have been born six children-Ida, Laura, Clarence, Nora, Mattie and Orin. Ida became the wife of John Musselman, a druggist of Danvers; Laura married William Shorthosc, a farmer of Danvers; Nora married Harry Swearengin, a railroad man; Clarence married Miss Nettie Montagne, and is foreman of a lumber-yard at Bloomington, Ill. Mr. Bunn came to Illinois with his parents in 1852, and in a period of over thirty years has been an interested witness of the development and progress of the Prairie State. He may not have distin-

guished himself by any remarkable deeds, but he has been a law-abiding, enterprising and worthy citizen, living at peace with his neighbors, and per- forming all the obligations of a valued member of the community.

G B. CHRISTIAN P. NAFZIGER, an excellent representative of the worthy German farm- ing element of this region, is comfortably located in Allin Township, on section 18, where he is carrying on the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, and by his upright and honest course in life has se- cured the respect and esteein of his fellow-citizens. Mr. Nafziger was born in Prussia, July 26, 1819, being the son of Jacob and Catherine (Nafziger) Nafziger, both natives of the German Empire, the father born in 1797, and the mother the following year. They were married in their native county in about 1817, and remained there until 1853, when they set sail for the New World. After land- ing in New York City, they procceded immediately westward to this State and county, where the father of our subject purchased eighty aeres of fine farm- ing land, upon which he resided until his death, which occurred in 1884. The mother had died previously in 1863, after they had become the par- ents of seven children, named as follows: Au- gustus, Eliza, Helen, Helena, Katie, Henrietta and G. B. Christian P. of our sketch. They were most excellent and worthy people, members of the Mennonite Church, and trained their children to habits of industry and principles of honor.

The subject of this history remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority and in 1855 was united in marriage with Miss Kate Nafziger, in McLean County, Ill. He reached the United States in the spring of 1840, and first went to Butler County, Ohio, where he lived three years. He then returned to Germany, and after a sojourn of nine years in his native land, set out once more for America. Then Mr. N. came to the Prairie State and this county, where he was married and where he purchased the farm upon which he now resides. Here he is engaged in general agriculture, and is devoting much time and attention to the

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breeding of graded stoek. The eight children of our subjeet are recorded as follows: Augustus married Miss Lizzie Ehrsman, of Allin Township; Eliza became the wife of Christian Otto; Minnie married Arnold Unziger; Emila married a gentle- man of the same name; Katie, Julia, Bertha and Ferdinand are at home with their parents. The lat- ter are members of the Mennonite Church, and our subjcet, politieally, affiliates with the Democratie party.

RESLEY T. BROOKS, a retired farmer now living in ease and comfort in the vil- lage of Stanford, is wisely enjoying the fruits of his early toil and taking satisfac- tion in the conseiousness of a well-spent life. Ile was born in Hart County, Ky., Nov. 9, 1821, being the son of Miles and Luey (Pullian) Brooks, both natives of Virginia. The father was born Dec. 1, 1781, and the mother Aug. 5, 1784. Miles Brooks disposed of his possessions in Kentucky in 1828, and started for the prairies of Illinois, stopping during the winter of that year and the summer of 1829 in Indiana. In the fall of 1829 he came into Sangamon County, where he remained until Decem- ber, and then entered a tract of land in what is now Allin Township, this county, to which he removed his family and where he established a comfortable home. There he spent the remainder of his days, dying in 1840. lle was prospered in his farming and business transactions, and at the time of his death was the owner of 500 aeres of choice land with modern improvements. Mrs. Brooks survived her husband about three years and died Feb. 11, 1844. They became the parents of eleven chil- dren, as follows: America was born March 12, 1806; Elizabeth, April 2, 1807; Virginia, Oet. 10, 1808; Millie, June 16, 1810; Benjamin P., March 24, 1812; Elzey, Oct. 12, 1814; Sarepta S., Aug. 26, 1817; Zerilda, Oct. 19, 1819; Presley T., Nov. 9, 1821; Luey A., May 17, 1825; Martha D., Mareli 21, 1823. In Kentucky the parents were connected with the Baptist Church, but after their removal to Illinois became members of the Chris- tian Church.

The subject of this history was reared by his

parents, received a very limited education in the common schools, and after attaining his majority was married, Dec. 29, 1842, to Miss Eliza S. Lari- son. They located in Allin Township, on Govern- ment land, and in 1848 entered the land that he located on in 1842. Mr. Brooks purchased ad- ditional land, until he became the possessor of 480 acres, which he brought to a state of good cultiva- tion and erected upon it a handsome and commo- dious farm dwelling, with a good barn and all neces- sary out-buildings. He donated one aerc of this for a cemetery and for a school building. He has been a useful and valued citizen since coming to this community and held the offices of Constable, Justice of the Peace, Township Supervisor, Asses- sor, and Treasurer, being the inenmbent of the lat- ter office for a period of eighteen years. As a Magistrate he officiated twenty-five years. He has always been greatly interested in the temperance movement. In early life he affiliated with the Democratic party but has now identificd himself with the Prohibitionists. Both Mr. Brooks and his wife are members of the Christian Church.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Brooks consisted of ten children, of whom eight are living, namely, Catherine, Miles, Mary, Abel, Rachel, Luey A., Millie and Ella. The deceased are, America A. and an infant son which died unnamed. Besides his town property Mr. Brooks owns 480 aeres of land in Allin Township, on sections 29 and 32, 160 aeres of which land he purchased on a sol- dier's warrant for the sum of $112.

R OBERT LOUDON is widely known through- out this section as one of the solid mnen of McLean County, and as a gentleman who is intimately identified with the industrial interests of Bloomington. During the years of a busy life he has accumulated a competency and is still eu- gaged with his aetive duties, being proprietor of the Eagle Machine Works, located on North Main street, which occupy forty-four feet front, and run through to Center street. These works include black- smith-shops with all the other accessories of a factory, and an extensive yard for storage. The business

Mahlin ishop

Robert Loudow

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was established in March, 1870, and the prod- uets of the shops are shipped to all parts of this and adjoining States.

The family record of our subjeet extends back to some of the earlier members of the family who were of Seotch ancestry, possessing all the admira- ble traits of that nationality. His grandparents on his father's side were Hugh and Margaret (Hous- ton) Loudon, and on his mother's side, Robert and Margaret (French) Kennedy. Hugh Loudon was a shoemaker by trade and worked in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, where he married and bceame the father of five sons and four daughters. Of these the fa- ther of our subjeet was the third son. All learned the shoemaker's trade except him, and he was ap- prentieed to learn the machinist's trade with Bailey Morton, of Kilmarnock, who was famed all over Scotland for making telescopes. He had an ob- servatory of his own, mounted with a fine telescope, and people came from all parts of Scotland to view the stars through it. While working here Allan Loudon became very proficient, and assisted in the manufacture of telescopes, one of which was made for Sir John Ross, and formed a part of his outfit when he went in search of the North Pole. Another is still in use in the observatory of Dum- fries, which stands beside the monument erected to the memory of the poet Burns. He also made a small locomotive about 1834, which could be enclosed in a space of six inches square, and was a great curiosity. He often amused visitors by raising stcam in it and making it run around the kitchen floor. This was before the days of railroads, but the little locomo- tive is still in good running order, being in posses- sion of our subjcet's father. Previous to this he constructed an eight-day clock, which was then set running and has been kept in motion since that time, being as correet as ever in its indication of time.

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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 40

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