Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 47

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 47

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The marriage of our subjeet with Miss Saralı Gil- more was celebrated on the 15th of February, , 1855. Mrs. Rutledge was born in Harrison County, Ohio, and was the daughter of William and Phæbe (West) Gilmore. Her father was a native also of Harrison County, Ohio, where he was reared to farming pursuits. In 1850 he emigrated to Me- Lean County, Ill., first settling in Downs Town- ship, whenee he removed to Empire Township and purchased land on seetion 10. Both he and his wife are still living and are now residents of West Township. Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge became the

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parents of twelve children, seven now living, the record of whom is as follows : Flora Belle married George W. Wilson, and lives in Empire Town- ship; Cyntha, Prudie, Maggie, Presley, Bertha and Josephi are at home with their parents; Belle, Cyn- tha, Prudie and Maggie are highly educated, and are all teachers. Cyntha will graduate from the State Normal this season; two dicd in infancy ; James William when six weeks old; Mary, the third . child, was born July 1, 1860, and died March 7, 1881; Lelia, the tenth child, was born Jan. 19, 1875, and died July 30, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Rut- ledge arc members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and our subjeet politieally is an uneom- promising Prohibitionist.

D R. F. J. PARKHURST, one of the fore- most practitioners of Danvers, is a native of Jefferson County, Wis., where he was born on the 13th of February, 1857. His parents were Hiram and Lois (Morgan) Parkhurst, natives of Vermont, who came to Wisconsin in about 1853. Hiram Parkhurst was a blacksmith and machinist, skillful in his profession, a man of great industry, and strictly temperate habits. He followed his trade in this section of country for a number of years, and passed his declining ycars in , Watertown, Wis., his death taking place in March, 1885, in Iowa, while there on a visit. The mother is still living. The household, by two marriages, ineluded the following children. Of the, first mar- riage there were: Lucian, Helen and Elizabeth. Of the second there were: Daniel, Hiram, Lois, Fred and Frank (twins).

Dr. Parkhurst was reared in the city of Water- town, Wis., and pursued his carly studies in the common schools. . After becoming of suitable age he entered the Northwestern University at Water- town, and after spending one year there, com- mcneed teaching, which he followed for some years. He then began the study of medieine with his un- cle. Dr. II. Parkhurst, of Danvers, with whom he remained one year. He then entered Chicago Medi- eal College, where he studied for three years, and gained a valuable experience in the college and

hospitals of Cook County, attending elinical lee- tures in both, and graduated at the head of his class. He commeneed the practice of his ehosen profession in Danvers in 1880, and made a spc- cialty of surgery. In this comparatively brief time he has built up a large and lucrative practice, and is now elassed among the leading physicians of Mc- Lean County. He is a close student, an extensive rcader, and ambitious to excel.

Dr. Parkhurst was united in marriage with Miss Mary Abbott, Oct. 27, 1881. Mrs. H. is the only daughter of Ira Abbott, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of one child, Arthur A., who was born May 29, 1883. They occupy a pleasant and attractive home, aud enjoy the society of the first residents of Danvers.

Dr. Parkhurst has been a member since 1881 of the A. F. & A. M., Danvers Lodge No. 742, of which he is also filling the position of Senior War- den. Hc has been connected with the Congrega- tional Church for the past fourteen years, and in politics is a stanch Republican. Hc holds member- ship with the American Medical Association, Illi- nois State Medieal Society and McLean County Medical Society.

G EORGE W. PUMPHREY, a farmer of Ran- dolph Township, is pleasantly located on section 30, where he owns 160 acres of val- uable land, which is finely improved and supplied with a handsome and substantial set of farm build- ings. These have been mainly erected by our sub- ject. Ile took possession of his present home in 1882, and since then has been industriously en- gaged in adding to its attractions and increasing its value. Mr. Pumphrey was born in Carroll County, Ohio, Feb. 20, 1859, and was four years of age when he came with his parents to Illinois. Of his father, R. Pumphrey, a sketch will be found in another part of this work.

Our subjeet was reared in Randolph Township, improved his opportunities at school,. and became possessed of a first-class education. He remained with his parents until his marriage, which occurred Feb. 23, 1882, at the home of the bride's parents,

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near Heyworth. The lady of his choiee was Miss J., eldest daughter of Jacob and Mary E. (Came- ron) Boyd, both of Knox County, Ohio, and of ex- eellent Seoteh and Irish ancestry. They were reared in Knox County, and there also occurred their marriage and the birth of their daughter, Mrs. P. This latter event took place Ang. 26, 1862. A few years thereafter they came to Illlinois and lo- eated on a farm in the south part of Randolph Township, where the parents are now living and engaged in farming. Mrs. Pumphrey received a fair education, and remained with her parents un- til her marriage. Of her union with our subjeet there has been one ehild-Mary E.

Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. P. lo- eated on their present homestead, and there is every indication of a prosperous and happy future before them. They have not yet reached the noon of life and still possess the courage and the hope of youth. Mr. Pumphrey is connected with the Pres- byterian Church, and in polities is a Democrat.

OHN S. POPPLE, who is widely and favora- bly known throughout this section of the State, is a gentleman in the prime of life, and has already distinguished himself as one of the most useful citizens of Danvers, having been intimately identified with its business and industrial interests sinee 1860. Mr. Popple was born in Bos- ton, England, Jan 24, 1841, and when a lad of ten years old started for America with his parents, ar- riving here in August, 1851. The family first set- tled in Oswego, N. Y. The father of our subjeet, Rev. Samnel Popple, was a minister of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, and died at Watertown, N. Y., in 1855. John S., a bright and ambitious boy, attended sehool at Oswego and Watertown, and seeured for himself a good English education. Ile eame to Bloomington, Ill., in 1858, whenee he removed two years later to Danvers. He was en- gaged in the milling business until 1870, but being possessed of more than ordinary musical talent, was desirous of perfecting himself in this art, and ae- cordingly went to Chicago, where he entered the . Normal Musical Academy, conducted by Prof.

Palmer. Under the instruction of this eminent musician and teacher, he devoted himself to the study of musie for five years, and then became a teacher of the same, which he followed with sneeess for five years. In 1875, in connection with his brother, M. Luther Popple, he bought out the hard- ware stock of William Estes in Danvers, and since that time has been successfully engaged in this braneh of trade.

Soon after the establishment of the Bloomington Leader Mr. Popple beeame its Danvers correspond- ent, which he continued without the intermission of a single week until April 3, 1880. The Leader fre- quently ealled attention to him as a model for all correspondenee, both in the brevity and terseness of his style, and his manuseript, which, distinct and handsome as copper-plate, was the delight of the composing-room. Upon severing his eonneetion with the Leader Mr. Popple, in company with Prof. John .P. Yoder, established the Danvers Dispatch, April 1, 1881, which at onee commanded publie attention and invited publie patronage. At the end of two years, Prof. Yoder withdrew, and Mr. Popple has sinee been sole editor and proprietor. The Dispatch is a five-column folio, independent in polities, and has now probably the largest eireula- tion of any paper in MeLean County, outside of Bloomington, and has beeomne quite indispensable in this locality. Mr. Popple is a concise and inter- esting writer, and exhibits more than ordinary ability as a journalist and business manager, and receives honorable recognition from the fraternity, whieh largely eopies from the interesting matter in the Dispatch.

In addition to the many arduous duties of his business affairs Mr. Popple has been pressed into serviee in connection with many important enter- prises affecting the welfare and progress of Dan- vers and vieinity. His clear head and wise judg- ment are in constant requisition. He has been eleeted Secretary of the Rock Creek Fair Assoeis .- tion for ten eonseentive years, and for nine years served as Secretary of the Danvers Mutual Fire Insurance Campany. He is also Agent for the Ætna, Underwriters', Hartford, Phoenix, Springfield and Queen Insurance Companies.

The marriage of John S. Popple and Miss Jennie

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McLEAN COUNTY.

E. Franks, a native of Danvers, was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents, Jane 4, 1868. Of their union were born four children-Edwin G., Mabel W., Ethel F. and Park W. The home of our sub- jeet and his family is pleasantly located on Main street, and in all its appointments is indieative of cultivated tastes and ample means.

Socially Mr. Popple is Secretary of Danvers Lodge No. 742, A. F. & A. M., which honored office he has held sinee its organization, March 10, 1873. He is an efficient Sabbatlı-sehool worker, and officiates as organist for the Presbyterian and Baptist Sabbath-sehrools, where his voeal and instru- mental talents are a source of great pleasure and satisfaction to the people who attend. It is seldom that in one individual there is combined extraordi- nary business talent and the most enttivated and refined tastes, but Mr. Popple is a brilliant exeep- tion to this rule. His energy and industry are uni- formly exercised in all departments of life, and he ean devote himself fully as elosely to its sober business as to its lighter and more pleasing tasks. He is yet in the prime of life, and great things are ex- peeted of him. At his home in Danvers he is lion- ored and esteemed by all, and possesses that genial disposition which is careful not to wound a friend and avoids ereating an enemy.

W B. MOORE, one of the old and honored residents of Bloomington City, in earlier year's carried on the granite, marble and stone business, which is now operated by his son, J. K. Moore, at No. 311 West Washington street. The subject of this history was born in Perry County, Ohio, near Somerset, Dee. 8, 1832, and is the son of John K. and Sarah C. (Ballou) Moore, the father a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., born near Greensburg, in April, 1803, and the mother of Rhode Island, born the same year. They were married in Guernsey County, Ohio, and settled upon a farm in Perry County, where the father taught school in the winter season.

The grandfather of our subjeet, Rev. Thomas Moore, was a gentleman of much learning and fine abilities, having been educated at Dartmouth Col-

lege, N. H., and took the degree of D. D. at Yale. He labored as a Presbyterian minister in Pennsyl- vania and Ohio, and was a Chaplain in the Revo- lutionary War, being with Gen. Washington at Val- ley Forge in 1776. He also considered it liis duty to carry a musket, and be ready to fight if it was necessary. After the independence of the colonies had been established, he loeated in Pennsylvania, and moved to Ohio in 1811 with his family. His children were four in number-Thomas, James P., Catharine and John K. Of these, only one is liv- ing, Catharine, Mrs. Downey, whose home is in White County, Ind.

The maternal grandfather of our subject was Welcome Ballou, a boot and shoe maker by trade, who removed to Ohio prior to the War of 1812, where he purchased land near Chandlersville, where he carried on agriculture and his trade alternately. His family ineluded seven children: Sarah C., Mrs. Moore, now deceased; Aurelius, of Newark, Ohio; Aurelia, and Welcome, M. D., both deceased; Celia A., Mrs. Foster, living in Shirley, Ill .; Lorinda, Mrs. Wartenbee, and Leander, M. D., deceased.

John K. Moore, the father of our subject, in early manhood moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, and engaged in general merchandise. In 1843 he removed to White County, Ind., and there farmed and taught school alternately, finally loeating in Monticello, where he departed this life in March, 1845. The mother had died in Warren County, Ind., when about seventy years of age. Their chil- dren were: Thomas, now of Santa Fe, N. M .; Wel- eome B., in Bloomington; John K., of Sumner County, Kan .; Lorinda B., of Warren County, Ind .; Matilda, who died in Kansas, and James P., of St. Paul, Minn. The parents were members of the Presbyterian Church. In earlier years, John K. Moore commeneed studying for the ministry, but was obliged to abandon it on account of his health.

W. B. Moore of our sketeh remained at home until twenty-one years old, in the meantime re- eeiving his education principally under his mother's instruction. He was reared to habits of industry, and when sixteen years of age began to ehop wood and split rails, and with the money thus earned, seeured a small amount of live-stoek. Then, in company with his brother John K., he purchased a

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team, and they began to farm on rented land. They operated thus the following three years, and then our subjeet went to Covington, Ind., and ap- · prentieed himself to learn the marble business. He soon afterward had the management of a shop, and in 1863 came to Bloomington, where he established the present business.

The marriage of W. B. Moore and Miss Eliza E. Lamb was celebrated in 1855. Mrs. Moore is a native of Fountain County, Ind., and was born near Newtown, being the daughter of William and Lucinda Lamb. Of her marriage with our subject there have been born seven children, one of whom is deceased : Alice A., Mrs. Flanagan, lives in Lo- gansport, Ind .; the others, at home, are John K., William L., Fannie B., Sarah C. and Grace.

Mr. Moore has also operated as a contractor and builder, and has superintended the construction of some of the most important buildings in the city, among them being the Methodist Church, which is a model of architectural beanty. Eight men are employed about the works, and their patrons are among the best business inen of the city and equnty. Mr. Moore is held in the highest respect by his fellow-citizens, and has built up for himself a good reputation for honor, integrity, and straight- forward business principles. ~

W ILLIAM L. VOCKRODT, a carpenter and cabinet-maker, now living in the village of Danvers, this county, was born in Twin Grove, Sept. 5, 1849. His parents, John C. and Mary (Deal) Voekrodt, were natives respectively of Germany and Waynesboro, Va. Jolın Voekrodt was born in 1815, and came to America when a , youth of eighteen years, landing in Baltimore on the night made memorable by a great fall of me- teors. He soon afterward proceeded to Waynes- boro, where he worked at carpentering and cabinet- making until 1848. Ile then came to MeLean County, Ill., and followed the same vocation until his deatlı, which occurred in this village on the 28th of July, 1873, of which he had been a resident since 1852. The parents of our subject were mar- ried in Virginia in July, 1844; the mother was born in April, 1822, and is still living, in fair health. Of

the seven children born to the household three are now living. The record is as follows: John, the eldest, is deceased; William L. of our sketch is the second child; Elinore (1st) is now deceased; Eli- nore (2d) is now Mrs. Culbertson, and resides in Danvers; Charles E. is deceased : Walter L. married Miss Adelaide Kauffman, and lives in Danvers; Susan is deceased.

Mr. Vockrodt remained under the parental roof until his marriage. On the 20th of December, 1876, he was united with Miss Margaret Crist, who was also a native of Illinois, and was born in Taze- well County, Oet. 28, 1845. Mrs. V. is of German and Englishi ancestry, being the daughter of Hiram and Clarinda (Brown) Crist, natives of Ohio and New York respectively. Hiram Crist was born May 22, 1809, in Hamilton County, Ohio, where he spent his childhood and youth, coming to Illinois in 1842. He located in Pekin, but after a few months removed to Tremont, in Tazewell County, where, with his family, he remained a few years, then moved to Bloomington, and thereafter to Danvers Township, where he died in 1871. Mrs. Crist was again married in 1879, to Mr. Philo Washburn, a resident of this township. Mrs. Crist by her 'first husband had nine children: John O. B .; Nathaniel; Franklin, who died at the age of eleven years; Abraham; Margaret L .; Eliza A. and Mary E. (twins) are living; Eliza married Mr. John Ament, and lives in Bloomington, Ill .; Mary E. married James H. Deal, a farmer near Baxter Springs, Kan .; Loyd married Miss Annie Diekin- son, and Harriet died at the age of six years. Mr. and Mrs. Voekrodt are the parents of two children : .Clara M., born Oet. 29, 1878, and John C., July 25, 1881. The father of our subject served as Jus- tice of the Peace for twenty years in Danvers, holding the office at the time of his death. Will- jam L. was thereafter elected to fill the vacaney, and has occupied the position for thirteen years. He is a member of the Town Board, of which he has been President for three years, has been No- tary Publie for the last twelve years, and in the fall of 1873 was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors. He is now upon two committees, one having charge of the paupers in Western Distriet. and the Committee on Education.

RESIDENCE OF D. F. BIDDLE, SEC. 1., TOWANDA TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF ALBERT OGDEN , SEC. D ., MONEY CREEK TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF ELIAS B. JOHNSON, SEC. 21., BLUE MOUND TOWNSHIP.

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

Mr. Voekrodt is strictly Republican in polities, and Mrs. V., taking the other side of the question, upholds Democratie principles. The latter has been a member of the Christian Church sinee she was fourteen years of age. Mr. V. is not eon- nected with any ehureh organization. Mrs. Voek- rodt is a lady of good musieal talent, and has quite a reputation as a singer in this community, having oeeupied the leading position in the choir of tlie Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She recalls many pleasant incidents of her childhood, having been an especial pet of Abraham Lincoln, who used to stop at her father's hotel, which he earried on at Tremont, and where Mr. Lineoln often stopped. Mrs. V. was then a child of three or four years old, and used to dance and sing for "Unele Abe," who trained and eneouraged her in these aceomplish- ments.

Mr. Voekrodt beeame a resident of Danvers in 1852, and here received his education. He has been a thorough-going business man, and by his own industry has aeeumulated property consisting of three lots and a fine dwelling-house. His at- traetive home is the abode of peace and plenty, where he lives in the enjoyment of the comforts of life, and the confidence and esteem of his fellow- eitizens.

R. JAMES McCANN is one of the successful practitioners of Normal, and has made that his home sinee 1879. He was born in Connersville, Fayette Co., Ind., May 24, 1832. The parents of our subject, James and Bar- bara (Dary) MeCann, were natives of Fayette County, Pa. In 1818, the parents, accompanied by Daniel Yantes, founder of Indianapolis, took pas sage on a flatboat down the Ohio River for Cinein- nati, whenee they removed to Fayette County, Ind., and the same year, accompanied by Mr. Yantes and twenty other men, went to what is now Indian- apolis. There, all except Mr. MeCann were taken down with the ague, and as soon as they recovered he (being the only eook and nurse), becoming dis- pleased with the locality, returned to Fayette County to his family, where he followed farming and stoek-raising during the remainder of his life.

Ile was very sueeessful in a financial point of view. Religiously, he was a member of the Christian Church, and was one of a number of those who organized a congregation of that denomination at Connersville.

Mr. and Mrs. MeCann became the parents of twelve children, one of whom died in infaney, and eleven lived to attain the age of man and woman- hood, and of that number six (all the younger) are living at the present time. Isaae is a farmer and lives in the neighborhood of Connersville, Ind .; James, our subjeet, was the seventh in order of birth; Sarah is the widow of Lewis Oliver, and is living at Connersville; Julia is the wife of Andrew Fowler, and they reside at Goshen, Ind .; Mary and Martin Barker were married, and are living at Connersville, Ind. ; the youngest sister, Ellen, mar- ried Thaddeus Scofield, of Connersville, Ind., and they are now residents of Bloomington, Ill.

The subject of this notice lived on his father's farm until he was sixteen years old, when he entered tlie State University at Bloomington, Ind., and was there a elassmate of Judge J. Q. Gresham.' He re- mained in the University for four years, and then going to Connersville, the same State, entered the office of G. R. Chetwood, and under his pre- eeptorship began the study of medieine. Subse- quently, in 1856, he graduated from the Medieal College of Cleveland, Ohio. He then located in his native town, and after a few weeks' residenec there eame to this State and entered upon the prae- tiee of liis profession at Joliet, where he resided for ten years. At the commencement of the late Civil War lie was appointed U. S. Examining Surgeon of Pensions, and stationed at Joliet. He was sue- eessful in business while a resident of Joliet, built two store buildings, and was looked upon as one of the enterprising young men of that place. In 1866 he removed to El Paso, where he was re-appointed as U. S. Examining Surgeon for that locality, and where he continued to practice his profession un- til 1879, holding his Government appointment for seventeen consecutive years.

During the year last named Dr. McCann eame to Normal, where he succeeded T. S. Mills in the drug trade. Subsequently, in 1885, he purchased his present location, paying $1,000 for the ground,

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

which is 22 x 75 feet, and on which he has ereeted a two-story brick business house, 22} x 60 feet in dimensions, the lower floor being used for the drug business, and the upper one for a residence. The Doctor was Secretary of Will County Medical Society four years, and is a consistent and respect- ed member of the Baptist Church, and in politics Republican. He has never consented to be a can- didate for any political office, but has devoted his entire time to the practice of his profession and his drug husincss.

Dr. McCann was married at Jolict, Nov. 15, 1866, to Martha Isabel, the fourth child and third daugli- ter of James C. Kercheval, now deceased. Shc was born in Will County, Ill., and they now have three children, one boy, Berte H., and two daugh- ters, Bessie and Emina. In 1880 Dr. McCann was one of a committee of five on organization of the Illinois State Pharmaceutical Association, and this committee memoralized tlie State Legislature, and had tlie present Pharmacy Law cnaetcd. The clause in said act imposing a fine of $50 for any adulter- ation of medicine was especially commended by Dr. McCann, and no part of the law las heen more praised than this. The Doctor is an exceedingly sociahle and courteous gentleman, and endowed with the happy faculty of making and retaining friends, and by honorable dealing and true manli- ness has gained a front rank among the respected citizens of MeLean County.

G. RYBURN., The subject of this history is one of the successful breeders of fine stock in Randolph Township. His home- stcad is located on section 2, and embraces 200 acres, and is watered with an cver-flowing min- eral spring. The farm residence and out-buildings are substantial. , Mr. Ryburn makes a specialty of thoroughbred Short-horn cattle, in which he has had an experience of over twenty years. He is a member of the American Short-horn Breeders' As- sociation, and exhibits the register of 400 ealves, inany of which have been uncxcelled on the best stock farins of the State. His stock for sixteen successive years, has been on exhibition at about

eight different fairs per year, and at each fair they have carried off their share of the blue ribbons. His success in this direction has been phenomenal, and his cattle have heen disposed of at large prices in five different States. The head of his herd, " Mateliless Prince" No. 4657, was recently sold at a large price, and "Geneva," which has recently come into his possession, possesses all the qualitics of the highest grade. Hc was rearcd by Col. J. W. Judy, of Menard County, Ill., and is only about eighteen months old. Mr. Ryburn, with two ex- ceptions, has raised all the animals of his present herd, and those which he has sold have commanded the best market prices. Mr. Ryburn established his business in 1866, in connection with his brother, with whom he operated for eight years.

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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 47

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