Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 41

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 41

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Allan London beeamc master machinist in the celebrated woolen-mills of Blackwood Bros., at Kilmarnock. In 1839 he moved to Dalry, in Ayr- shire, to take charge of Bridge End Mills, which position he held for about forty years, and was noted for his fidelity to duty and being reliable in his vocation. He also invented an engine gover- nor, which was a great improvement over the old

ball governor, and the lap machine for wool, the first which ever worked successfully, and which is running to-day; the doubling for twisting woolen yarn, and a carding-machine which involved a sav- ing of about twenty per cent. These' inventions were of comparatively little benefit to Allan Lon- don, but assisted the proprietors of the mill to a fortunc.

The great-grandfather of our subject, whose name was French, was a fine violinist and musical com- poser, and was known all over the west of Scotland. Ile and Neal Dow often played together at the fancy balls of the Lords and Dukes of that region, and one of his pieces of saered musie, which bears the name of French, is still sung by many congrega- tions. Robert London states that he has heard his grandmother relate that when her father died Neal Dow appropriated all of his music and pub- lished it as his own productions, reaping all the honors and profit that should have been lier fa- ther's. Dow lived in Old Cumnock, near Dum- fries.

The parents of our subject, Allan Loudon and Jeanette Kennedy, were married in Kilmarnock, Scotland, and lived there until 1839. The mother was born in Old Cumnoek, where her ancestors had lived. They became the parents of three sons and five daughters. Our subjeet was born in Kilmar- noek, March 18, 1833, and removed with his par- ents to Dalry in 1839. He commenced attending school when four years old and continued until twelve, when he was considered old enough to do something for himself. He was accordingly ap- prenticed to learn silk weaving by hand loom, and served an apprenticeship of three years. The busi- ness, however, did not suit him, for, having in- herited the talents of his father, he desired to be- come a machinist and was bound to learn this trade, the agreement being that he should serve five years. At the expiration of that time, on the 8tli of April, 1857, he was united in marriage with Miss Jeanette Johnston, and soon afterward, with his wife, concluded to try his fortune in the New World. Taking with them their only child, a babc six months old, they secured passage on thic steam- ship Edinburgh, which sailed from Glasgow to New York. After landing, they at onee set out for

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the West, first coming to Alton, Ill., where the brother of Mrs. L. had previously located. Our subject engaged to work for the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad Company, and continued with them until after the removal of their shops to Litchfield, Ill.

In the fall of 1859 Mr. L., in company with two others, started a machine-shop at Jacksonville, Ill., beginning business under the firm name of Ellis, Shields & Loudon. This proved an unfortunate venture, as times were hard, and the following year being no better Mr. L. sold out and returned to the railroad shops in Litchfield, where he worked until 1863. He then went to Cairo as a Govern- ment employe, and had charge of a gang of men who were engaged in repairing the dispatch boats which ran between Cairo and Vicksburg and up the Yazoo River. In December, 1863, he was solicited to come to Bloomington and take charge of the C. & A. R. R. machine-shops. He arrived therc the first week in January, 1864, being delayed on account of the snow blockade. From here he en- gaged with the J. M. Ollis foundry and machine- shops, but this move proving unsuccessful, he con- cluded to begin business for himself, which he did in 1870, having for his partner Mr. N. Diedrich. After one year they dissolved partnership, and then Mr. L. established his present business, which he has operated alone since that time, and in which he has been remarkably successful.

Of the six children of Mr. and Mrs. Loudon the record is as follows: Allan K. married Miss Car- rie, daughter of William Gillespie, of Bloomington ; David J. is at home; Robert W. married Miss Min- nie, daughter of Shelby Hodge, now deceased; Emma J., a graduate of Normal University, is a teacher in the ward schools; Jeanette M. and Agnes G. are at home with their parents. The handsome and substantial family residence is located at No. 812 North Prairie street, and all its appoint- ments indicate the presence of cultivated tastes and ample means. Mr. L. politically affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church, of which our subject is a Deacon, and has contributed liber-

ally and cheerfully to its support. He is a stock- holder in the Bloomington Chair Factory, and gen- erally a leading man in every enterprise which is calculated to advance the welfare and prosperity of his city and county. We present in this vol- ume, as a representative business man, the portrait of Mr. Loudon.

AHLON BISHOP, one of the large land- owners of Le Roy Township, and a success- ful and progressive farmer now living at Le Roy, was born on his father's homestead on section 15, Empire Township, this county, June 13, 1849. His father, Hon. Mahlon Bishop, was born Dec. 25, 1810, in Clarke County, Ohio, and his father, John Bishop, was a native of Virginia and a pioneer settler of Clarke County, Ohio. The grandfather cleared a farm in the latter county, on which he lived and labored and reared a family, and there died. Our subject's father was reared on this farm and received his education in the com- mon schools. He was oue of ten children born to his parents, and at twenty years of age rented land in his native county and began to do for himself. He was there married, and in 1834, accompanied by his wife and one child, started for this State with a cash capital of $200 in his pocket and two teams and six head of sheep. The journey was made overland, and on his arrival here he found a log cabin near the farm of William Bishop, in Old Town Township. He lived in this cabin a short time, and while there entered eighty acres of Govern- ment land, the same being located on section 15 of what is now Empire Township. There was a log cabin with one room on the claim, and in this the family made their home for four years before our subject's father was enabled to build another. He then erected a small frame house, and a few years later a commodious frame dwelling, and con- tinued to reside upon this land until his death. He was possessed of a wonderful amount of energy, and at one time was the proprictor of upward of 1,000 acres of land in Empire and West Townships. He filled many of the local offices and was for a number of years Justice of the Peace and also one

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of the Supervisors of his township, and in 1842 represented his distriet in the State Legislature. His death occurred Feb. 13, 1883. His wife, Catherine Foley, was born in Clarke County, Ohio, Aug. 30, 1812. Of her union with Mr. Bishop eight ehil- dren were born, and four of the number are. yet living. The record is as follows: Naney J. is the wife of Mark Craig, of West Township; Stephen Lewis (whose sketch is also given) ; Kate is the wife of William Hammond, a farmer of West Township, and our subjeet completes the four children who are yet living. James F., third in order of birth, died aged twenty-five years; Eliza- beth, the fifth'ehild, died when twenty-four years old, and Elias departed this life when twenty-two years old; Sarah A. died in infaney. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop were members of the Methodist Epis- eopal Chureh. The former was always aetive in church and school matters and was a Class-Leader in his church for many years. In polities he was a conservative Demoerat. As a representative of the old pioncers of the county, as well as one of her most distinguished eitizens, we give the portrait of Mr. Bishop in this connection. The mother of our subject is still living on the old homestead at the advanced age of seventy-five years.

The subject of this notice was the youngest child of his parents' union. He received his early education in the district schools, and later in life attended a graded sehool at Le Roy, and also one terni at Wesleyan University, and likewise a com- mereial course at Bloomington. . He made his home with his parents until his marriage, and in addition to farm labor was oeeupied in dealing in stoek. About a year after his marriage he left the parental homestead and moved to Le Roy, where he is at present living. He is the owner of 380 acres of the old parental homestead and, although he lives at Le Roy, manages the farm. He has it well stoeked with horses, cattle and hogs, and is also interested in the buying and shipping of stoek, and is extensively engaged in buying wool during the proper season, which business he has followed for the past fifteen years. 1

The old Indian trail running from the head of Old Town-the old Indian fort-passed diagonally across Mr. Bishop's farm and through the north-

west corner of Le Roy. One of the old Indian landmarks is still to be found also on Mr. Bishop's homestead, which is a hole eut by the Indians in an oak tree from which they had taken honey, but at present the orifiee is almost grown over with a new growth. Mr. Bishop has an Indian relic, a veritable tomahawk, found by the father of our subjeet fifty years ago on his homestead.

Mr. Bishop was married Jan. 30, 1878, to Emma Smith. She was born in Licking County, Ohio, Oet. 30, 1860, and is the daughter of Wesley and Mary (Evans) Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have two children-Mahlon L. and Aaron Leslie. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Chureh, and in polities he is a Demoerat.

S TEPHEN L. BISHOP, residing in Empire Township, is a native of this eounty, and was born in Old Town Township, Jan. 14, 1835. He is the eldest son of Mahlon and Catherine Bishop; a portrait of the former is given in this ALBUM. The great-grandfather of our sub- jeet was a native of England, and came to this eountry in company with two brothers. The three brothers had been in the military service of the mother country, and on arrival in this country they separated, one of them settling in New York, another in Virginia, and the third in South Caro- lina. The great-grandfather of our subject was the brother who settled in Virginia.

. Mr. Bishop of this notice was but three months old when his parents removed to Empire Township, and has made that his home sinee, a period of upward of fifty-two years. He received his edu- cation in a pioncer sehool-house of this eounty, and he remembers that the first school he attended was held in a little log building on seetion 22, and it was taught by James Lineoln. The neighbors made a "bee" and erected the building, which had split puneheons for floor and clapboards for roof, which were held in place by poles. There was a fireplace in the end of the building, made of dirt and sticks. It was in this rudely constructed build- ing that he received liis edueation. He assisted his father on the farm, and when large enough,

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teamed to Chicago and Peoria, it taking about two weeks to make the trip to Chicago with an ox- team. The most tedious trip our subject ever had to the now great metropolis was in driving hogs to that eity on foot.

In 1854 our subject bought Mexican soldiers' land-warrants of Judge David Davis, which he laid on land in West Township. That same year he commeneed to improve his land and continued to "squat" farm there until 1862. IIe then removed to Le Roy and embarked in the mercantile business, and was thus occupied until 1868, when he resumed farming in Empire Township. He has a large and well-improved farm located on sections 16 and 17, Empire Township, his residence being one mile north of Le Roy.

Mr. Bishop has been three times married ; his first union occurred in 1855, and was with Miss Cynthia C. Craig. She was born in Old Town Township, this county, and departed this life before they had been married quite a year. The second marriage was with Miss Cynthia Rice, and took place in 1858. She was born in Empire Township, this county, in 1837, and came to her death by the explosion of an oil ean in her hand, being so badly burned that she only lived five hours after the terrible accident. Our subjeet in trying to save her nearly lost his own life. He was very badly burned, and was confined to his bed for nearly a year. His life was only saved by the best medical skill and care. The third marriage of Mr. Bishop took place Feb. 2, 1882, Kate Crumbaugh being the other contracting party. She was born in Frederick County, Md., in 1839, and is the daughter of Esquire Gideon Crumbaugh, whose sketch will be found in this work. Mr. Bishop has two children living: Frank- lin, a son of his first wife, occupies a part of the homestead. Ile married Matilda Wamsley, and they have three children. The second child of our subject, Myra, is a daughter of his second wife, and is the wife of George Sehrigley, and they are living in Empire Township. Mr. Bishop was a Demo- crat until 1864, when that party proclaimed that the war was a failure, and he then became a Repub- lican, and has since voted with and worked for the success of that party, and is at present Chairman of the Republican Central Committee. He has held

the offices of Assessor and Collector of West and Empire Townships. Socially he is a member of the Masonie fraternity, holding fellowship with the Le Roy Lodge No. 221.

OHIN A. FULWILER, attorney at law and Justice of the Peace, is one of the most worthy representatives of his profession in the city of Bloomington. Ile is a native of the Keystone State, having been born in the city of Shippensburg, Cumberland Co., Pa., June 17, 1843. Ilis father, John Fulwiler, was a merchant of that eity, and of excellent German ancestry. The mother, who before her marriage was Miss Mary Ma- hon, was of Seoteh-Irish ancestry, and both parents possessed the excellent qualities for which those races are eminently noted. The parents of our subjeet after their marriage remained in Shippensburg until 1854, then coming West to Illinois, located first in Lexington, MeLean County, where John Fulwiler, Sr., embarked in mercantile pursuits, which he is still following with success. The ten children which comprised the parental. household included five sons and five daughters, of whom only seven are now living. John A. was the fifth child, and was about fifteen years old when his parents came to this county. His early education was eonduet- ed in the common schools of Lexington, and when eighteen years of age, the late war being in prog- ress he entered the Union army, becoming a mem- ber of Co. G, 33d Ill. Vol. Inf. There he served faithfully for three years, receiving his honorable discharge in October, 1864.

After returning from the army, young Fulwiler for a short time engaged in general merchandising at Forest, Livingston County, this State. This busi- ness not being in accordance with his tastes and in- elinations, he began the reading of law, in which he' made rapid progress, and was admitted to the bar at Ottawa, in 1870. IIe commenced the practice of his profession at Pontiac, Ill., and associated himself in partnership with E. M. Johnson, and they continued together until 1874. Our subjeet then returned to this county, and in 1876 opened a law office in Bloomington, since which time he

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has devoted his entire attention to his profession, in which he has attained suceess and a good posi- tion in the profession in this eounty. He was eleeted Justiee of the Peace in 1881, and has contin- ued in the office by successive eleetions sinee that time.

Mr. Fulwiler was united in marriage with Miss Mary, the only daughter of Robert and Mary A. Fell, in 1865, and they have three children-John Walter, Leonard Fell and Roberta May. Mr. Ful- wiler is Republiean in polities, and socially a ehar- ter member of the G. A. R. and the Union Veter- ans' Union, also a member of Jesse Fell Lodge, K of P.

AMES HENRY LYON CRUMBAUGII, liv- ing on seetion 7, Empire Township, was, be- fore he divided his property among his ehil- dren, one of the largest land-owners of that township. The financial sueeess in life which he has met with has been due to his own energy, good judgment and perseveranee, as he was never the recipient of any legacy whatsoever. Mr. Crumbaugh was born in Henderson County, Ky., May 1, 1826. His father, Henry Crumbaugh, was born in Frederick County, Md., April 25, 1789, and his father, grandfather of our subjeet, Solo- mon Crumbaugh, was likewise a native of Mary- land. Henry Crumbaugh was reared to manhood in his native county, and while yet young in years learned the blacksmith's trade. On becoming his own man he went to Kentucky, and loeating in Seott County, worked at his trade and also at farm- ing. He was there married to Sarah Baldoek, a na- tive of Kentucky, and a daughter of James D. Baldoek, born in Virginia, and her mother, whose maiden name was Hogan, was a native of Ken- tueky.

Three or four years after his marriage, Henry Crumbaugh moved to Henderson County, Ky., and there lived until 1828. During that year he disposed of his interests in Kentucky and started west for Illinois, aecompanied by his wife and two children. The journey was made overland, the fa- ther driving his stoek, and his good wife making the journey mostly on horseback. They termin-

ated their trip at Elkhart, Sangamon County, in the neighborhood of which place he was a farmer on rented lands until 1830. Ile then came to Taze- well County, and selected a elaim in what is now Empire Township, MeLcan County, and located on seetion 14. He built the customary log cabin. and returned to Elkhart for his family and brought them to his new home. The eabin was incomplete when the family arrived, there being no floor, and Mr. Crumbaugh piled the household goods inside and went to split puneheon for the floor, and also made a door. There was not a foot of sawed lum- ber used in the construction of this cabin, and the chimney was of mud and sticks. This was the sea- son before the deep snow which is so well remem- bered by the few people who were in the county at that time. The nearest mills were miles away, and the snow was so deep and crusted that for weeks travel was entirely impeded. Nearly half his stock died during that winter, and had it not been for the wild game in the country at that time many a family would have perished with starvation.

Mr. Crumbaugh continued to live on that place until his death in 1877. He had lived to see the country develop from a wild and uneultivated prai- rie to one of the most productive counties in the State, and profited by its progress to the extent of possessing a competeney at the time of his death. He was a Democrat in polities, and always voted for Democratie presidential nominees except onee, when he east his vote for Heury Clay. His good wife died in February, 1885. Twelve children were born to them, six of whom grew to attain the age of man and womanhood. Nareissa married Simp- son E. Thompson, and they live in Empire Town- ship; our subjeet was the next in order of birth; John E. is a resident of Le Roy ; Andrew J. is a farmer of Empire Township; Lewis C. lives on the old homestead.

The subject of this notice was but two years old when he came to this State with his parents. Here he received his education in the common sehools, attending the first sehool ever taught at Le Roy, James H. Lincoln being the teacher. On attaining a suitable age he made a full hand in the cultivation of the farm, and continued to reside with the old folk until his marriage, and then

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bought 100 aeres of land east of Le Roy, on which he lived for five and a half years. He then sold it and bought where he is at present residing. His first purchase here was 160 aeres, and he added to it by subsequent purchases until at one time he was the proprietor of 1,000 aeres in Empire and Downs Townships. A goodly portion of this is divided among his children, but he has sufficient left to support him in his retirement from aetive labor during the latter years of his life.

Mr. Crumbaugh was married, Sept. 28, 1851, to Amanda M. Buck. She was born in Switzerland County, Ind., Feb. 10, 1828, and is a daughter of Hiram and Mary (Karr) Buek. Of the union of our subject and Miss Buek three children were born : Laura E. is the wife of William Lafferty, a farmer of Downs Township; Edith May married Charles S. Lafferty, and they are residents of Wel- don, De Witt Co., Ill .; Hiram H. is living at home. Mr. Crumbaugh has held the various offiees of his township, ineluding Collector, Commissioner of Highways and also Township Supervisor. He and his daughter May are members of the Universalist Chureh.

Le AFAYETTE ARCHER, Deputy Sheriff of MeLean County, is a native of Genesee County, N. Y., and was born June 13, 1832. His father, David Areher, was also a native of the Empire State, and his grandfather, Basil Areher, also born in New York, served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was held as a prisoner by the British for some time. After peace had been de- clared he engaged in farming pursuits and passed the remainder of his days in the State where he was born. His son David, the father of our subject, was reared upon a farm and remained in New York State until 1834. He then came to Illinois, and lo- eating in Bureau County operated a sawmill there until the following spring, when he returned to New York for his family. He proceeded with them to the headwaters of the Alleghany River and they went on a raft to Pittsburgh, and from there via the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, reached Hennepin, where they took a private con- yeyanee into Bureau County. Mr. Areher pro-

ceeded with his mill operations a few years, then purchased a traet of wild land and commenced the improvement of a farm. The principal market for grain and pork at that time was Chieago, 110 miles distant, and it usually took seven days to make the trip. Upon these journeys the pioneers carried their provisions, camping and cooking by the way- side. David Areher was a man of resolution and courage, overeame all the difficulties which lie cneountered, and lived to see the county developed into prosperous farms. and railroads running through it. As years passed by the city of Prince- ton was started and grew, being located five miles from his farm. After laboring for a period of over forty years upon the homestead which he estab- lished in the wilderness, he passed his deelining days in peace and comfort, and having arrived at the advanced age of eighty-four years, departed this life in August, 1885. The maiden name of his wife was Climena Grovier, who was also a native of New York State, and lived the faithful and affec- tionate companion of her husband until within a few months of his death, her deeease oeeurring Janu- ary 18 of the same year., Of their union there were born twelve children, of whom ten grew to mature years.

The subject of this history was a child three years of age wheu his parents eame to Illinois. He attended the pioneer schools and grew to manhood in Bureau County, assisting his father in the du- ties of the farmn. He then served an apprentice- ship at the carpenter's trade, which he followed in Bureau County until 1858, and theu coming into . McLean County was similarly occupied until 1862. The late war being then in progress he enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. A, 117th Ill. Vol. Inf., Capt. Kinsey commanding, and served until the close. He partieipated with his comrades in the battles of Pleasant Hill and Meridian, Miss., and at the bat- tle of Nashville received a gunshot wound which compelled him to remain in the hospital for a num- ber of weeks. After several other engagements and skirmishes he received his final and honorable discharge in May, 1865. He then returned to Me Lean Connty and resumed work at his trade, at which he has been oceupied sinee that time.

Mr. Areher was married, Dee. 31, 1855, to Miss

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Louisa Kinsey, a native of Ohio, and daughter of John and Elinorc (Bevans) Kinscy, a sketch of whom will be found in another part of this work. Of this union there were born six children, as follows : Cicero H., a resident of Ft. Niobrara, Neb .; F. Aurelian ; Addie, the wife of Bert Riee; William Lewis, of this county ; Hattic L. and Eva E., at home with their parents. Mr. Areher has served as Collcetor of Mt. Hope Township, and is fulfilling the duties of his present position as Deputy Sheriff in an able and efficient manner. He belongs to McLean Lodge No. 469, A. F. & A. M., and to Harrison W. Ward Post No. 173, G. A. R.

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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 41

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