Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 49

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 49

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period of twenty years was extensively engaged in buying and shipping stock and pork-packing. At the commencement of the building of the Illinois Central Railroad he took a licavy contract for get- ting out tics, and in the meantime built and equipped two steam sawmills, one in Lytleville and onc in Bloomington. In 1872 he went to Texas, and starting a beef-packing establishment nortlı of Galveston, for two years transacted an extensive business. He then went into Kansas and Missouri, and was engaged in money loaning for Eastern eapi- talists for four years. Ile then returned to McLean County, and was elected City Treasurer of Bloom- ington, which office he oceupied at the time of his death in 1881, being seventy-five years of age. Upon first coming to Illinois he engaged in farm- ing on ground now occupied by the city of Bloom- ington. His wife, the mother of our subject, is still living in this city, and is seventy-three years of age. The parental family .consisted of twelve children, of whom only three are living: Lewis B., our subject; Belle M., Mrs. Elder, of Randolph, in this county, and Joseph A., engaged in life insur- anec business in Iowa.

Lewis B. Thomas spent lis earlier ycars under the parental roof and attended the eity schools un- til fifteen years of age. Hc then entered Jubilee College, at Eureka, Ill., and after an attendanee there of one year took a course in Antioch College, of which Horace Mann was President. He thus spent another year, and then returning to Bloom- ington was soon afterward appointed Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court, which office he occu- pied for three years following. He then engaged in the insurance business, and now represents many of the best companies of the East and West.

Our subject has been prominent in the affairs of his native eity sinee old enough to fill a position of trust and responsibility. He was a member of the City Council from 1880 to 1886, and elected Mayor during the latter year. In 1861 he was City Treas- urer, and also held the same office in the Merchant's Association for three years. In 1879 he became a member of the Board of Education, being still con- nected therewith, and socially belongs to the Ma- sonie fraternity and the Union League, being Sec- retary of the latter.

Charles Ellsworth

Trauma Ellsworth

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

The marriage of Lewis B. Thomas and Miss Belle M. Moore took place in September, 1859. Mrs. Thomas was born in Naples, Ill., and is the daughter of John and Margaret Moore, of Ohio. By her union with our subject she has become the mother of two children-Harry M. and Wilbur F. Mayor Thomas and his lady are among the most esteemed residents of MeLean County. He is the nominee of the Republican party this spring for re- election to the office of Mayor.

OHN & CHARLES ELLSWORTH, Bloom- ington Township, own and operate one of the most finely improved farms of this sec- tion. It is located on section 11, and em- braees 320 acres. In addition to this they also own another tract of equal dimensions, located in Old Town Township, and also under a high state of cultivation. The brothers possess all the appli- ances of modern agrienlture, and these, conpled with their wise judgment, energy and industry make them the leaders in this department of indus- try in this section.

John, the eldest of the Ellsworth brothers, came to this township in 1838. His brother Charles had visited this section two years before and made a purchase of some choice land which embraces the present homestead, and upon which he has re- mained since that time. He was joined in his pur- chase by his youngest brother, Oliver, who died Nov. 27, 1871, at the age of fifty-nine years. This brother was twice married and lost both wives bc- fore his own death. They had become the parents of one child, a daughter who died in girlhood,

Gurdon Ellsworth, the father of John and Charles, was a native of Connecticut, and born near Wind- sor, April 17, 1773. Early in life he left his na- tive town and became a resident of Ellington, where he remained until he came to years of manhood, and was there married to Miss Martha Stonghton, .Jan. 9, 1800; she was a native of the same State, and was born in the year 1777. Gurdon Ellsworth was a farmer by occupation and spent the remain- der of his life on his homestead near Ellington. His wife came to reside with her sons in MeLean

Connty abont 1854, and died Nov. 1, 1857. The father of Gnrdon E., Capt. Daniel Ellsworth, in early manhood married Miss Lydia Makcpeaec, and it is supposed they were descended directly from English ancestry, the grandfather having ob- tained his title of Captain on account of services in the Revolutionary War. He returned home after the independence of the colonies had been es- tablished, and died in 1782, at the advanced age of cighty-two years. The early partner of his joys and sorrows, and the mother of his children, also attained to a ripe old age, and died in Connecticut.

To the parents of John and Charles Ellsworth there were born eleven children, of whom the rec- ord is as follows: Sophia died, uumarried, in Feb- ruary, 1883; Laura, also unmarried, was born March 25, 1802, and although eighty-five years of age, preserves her strength of body and mind to a remarkable degree. She lives with her brothers, the subjects of our sketch; Martha became the wife of George E. Knapp, deceased, and died in October, 1882; they were the parents of three children, of whom Charles is deceased; the survivors arc George and Carrie; Minerva married Simon Carew, and they are both deceased, the former dying in 1882, and the lattter about 1874; Lydia became the wife of Joseph Spalding; they are both now de- ceased, dying at a ripe old age; Gurdon, Jr., died at the age of about twenty years, in Connecticut; John, born Feb. 6, 1809, is one of the subjects of our sketch; Charles, the younger brother, was born Feb. 9, 1811 ; Oliver died in 1871, as before stated ; Eunice S. died in childhood; Eunice, the younger, became the wife of Abe Brokaw and resides in Bloomington, her husband being one of the wealth- iest men in MeLean County.

The Ellsworth Brothers, still unmarried, have mainly been the architects of their own fortune, and although having reached an advanced age are still hale and hearty and capable of much endur- ance. They have taken good care of their health, have been strictly temperate in all things, and in their later days are reaping the just reward of blameless lives. The property which they possess has mostly been accumulated by stock-raising and general farming, and their straightforward methods of doing business, with their honesty and integrity

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have secured for them the profound respcet and cs- teem of their associates and follow-eitizens. They are prominently connected with the Presbyterian Church, and are solid Republicans, as have been all the inale members of this remarkable family since the organization of that party.

The homestead of the Ellsworths is one of the finest farm estates in MeLean County, and invaria- bly attracts the eye of the traveler passing through this section. The residence, barns and out-build- ings all give evidence of refined tastes and ample mcans. Their farm machinery is of first-class deseription, and in every respect the homestead is a model one and reflects eredit upon those who have built it and brought it to its present eon- dition. The portraits of John and Charles Ells- wortlı, which are shown in connection with this brief outline of their lives, will be gladly welcomed by a host of friends throughout the county. It is with pleasure that we also present the portrait of their sister Laura, as that of one of the most es- teemcd ladies in MeLean County.

OLOMON STUTZMAN, a worthy repre- sentative of the substantial and reliable Pennsylvania farmer, transferred his resi- dence from the Keystone State to Illinois in December, 1849. while he was yet a young man,4 and is now operating as a suceessful farmer of Dan- vers Township, on section 2. Mr. Stutzman was born in Juniata County, Pa., in 1829, being the son of Henry and Magdalena (Lantz) Stutzman, both natives of the same State and born in 1797 and 1795, respectively. They were married in their native State in 1821, and followed farming therc for about twelve years afterward. They then re- moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, where the father of our subject operated on rented land until his death, which occurred Sept. 22, 1845. The mother sur- vived him a number of years and died about the 1st of March, 1866. The record of their children is as follows: Jocl is married and residing in Fairfield County, Ohio; Samuel married Miss Sarah Lantz, and they are now living in Hudson, in this county ; Solomon of our sketch was the third child; Moses

married Miss Garland, and lives in Christian County, Ill .; Isaac married Miss Catherine Barnes, and is a resident of this county; David married Miss Belle Wolf, and is a resident of Bloomington ; Jonathan married Miss Anna Fray; he died in about 1876, leaving a wife and six children; Lydia became the wife of Eli Lantz, and lives in Nebraska. The parents were members of the Mennonite Church, and in politics IIenry Stutzman was an old-line Whig.

Solomon Stutzman remained at home until the death of his father and then served four years in a distillery. He came to Illinois in December, 1849, stopping over winter in Woodford County, and in the spring eame to McLean County, where for three years following he farmed on rented land. Ile then purehased 120 acres, to which he subsequently added, and is now the owner of 280 aeres, all improved and under a good state of cultivation. His atten- tion is mostly devoted to the raising, huying and selling of cattle. The family residence of our sub- ject is a conveinent and commodious building, covering an area of 18 x 22 feet, with an L 20 fcet square. His barn and out-buildings are substantial and kept in good repair, and everything about the premises indicates the supervision of a thorough and intelligent business man. Mr. and Mrs. Stutz- man have become the parents of five children, as follows: Joshua H. married Miss Miller, and is a resident of this eounty; Simeon married Miss Tillie Lantz; Abraham also married a Miss Lantz, and Irene is the wife of C. C. Habeeker; Jonathan Y., who also married a Miss Lantz, lives in MeLean County, Ill.

The wife of our subjeet is the daughter of Jona- than and Magdalena (Wagoner) Yoder, both natives of Schuylkill County, Pa. Jonathan Yoder, a carpenter, followed his trade for a number of years in his native State, and later purchased a large farm, upon which he removed and oceupicd it until the spring of 1852, when he came to Illinois and pur- ehascd forty acres of land in Dry Grove Township, this county, where he passed the remainder of his days. The mother departed this life in 1865, and Mr. Yoder then resided with one of his daughters un- til his death, in 1868. His marriage took place in 1817, and they became the parents of eleven children,

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McLEAN COUNTY.

as follows: Leah, Joash, Elias, Elizabeth, Sarah, Amos, Jonathan (who died Jan. 10, 1833), Mag- dalena (who died Dee. 17, 1832), Asa, Catherine and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Y. were members of the Mennonite Church, of which he was a minister for many years, and they were most worthy people, who trained their ehildren to lives of industry and vir- tue. In polities Mr. Stutzman is a staneh Repub- lican.

OSEPH F. PANCAKE, attorney-at-law and Justiee of the Peace at Bloomington, is a native of this eounty, born in Bloomington Township, Aug. 7, 1841. His father, Isaae Paneake, who is still living in McLean County, was born in Madison County, Ohio, about 1811, and there married Miss Elizabeth Steele, of Clarke County, that State, and daughter of William Steele. Isaac Pancake left Madison County, Ohio, in the fall of 1837, and coming to this State and county located first at Lexington, whence after one year he removed to Bloomington, where the mother died in 1873. The parental household ineluded five ehildren, three sons and two daughters, the former of whom still survive. The subject of our sketeh was the third child and seeond son.

Joseph F. Pancake passed his boyhood in the city of Bloomington, where his father was engaged in . the lumber trade and milling. This gave em- ployment to the bright and ambitious boy, while at the same time he attended the eity sehools and supplemented his studies by a later attendance at Wesleyan University, from which he graduated in 1864. He then taught school two terms, after whiel he entered the office of Judge O. T. Reeves and commenced the study of law. In this he made good progress and was admitted to the bar in 1867. He eommeneed practice at once, and soon became the partner of C. B. Butler, Esq. After operating together one year the firm was dissolved and Mr. P. continued his business singly until 1870. He was then elected Justiee of the Peaee, to which of- fice he has been continuously eleeted since that time. During that time he has disposed of 1,300 eases in each of ten doekets, and while many have

been appealed to higher eourts his decision has usually been affirmed.

Our subject was first married, in 1867, to Miss Ella A. Campbell, of this county, who became the mother of three children-Elmer, Clara and Lloyd. The wife and mother departed this life Feb. 5, 1883. Mr. P. was afterward married to Mrs. Ella T. Schiek, who was at the time of marriage Super- intendent of Schools in Nemaha County, Neb. Her former husband was Theodore Schick, and they were the parents of two children-Murray and Jessie.

Mr. Paneake, during the late war served as a soldier in the Union army, having enlisted in Co. G, 68th Ill. Vol. Inf. He is a member in good stand- ing of the G. A. R., belongs to the K. of H. and is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Bloomington.

RS. EMILY PREY, widow of the late Le Roy W. Prey, of Empire Township, owns and occupies a beautiful farm estate of 540 aeres on sections 5, 7 and 8, where she is surrounded by all the applianees of cultivated tastes and ample means. The family residence is finely located, and the barns and out-buildings, are handsome and substantial structures, always kept in good repair. The farm forms one of the most attractive spots in the landscape of MeLean County.

Mrs. Prey is the second daughter of James and Margaret (Cannaday) Bishop (see sketch of J. Q. Bishop.) She was born on her father's homestead in Empire Township, Aug. 30, 1843, and received careful home training and a fair education in the public seliools. She remained under the parental roof until she arrived at years of womanhood, and on the 6th of February, 1862, was married to William Evans, a native of this county, who was born in 1837, and the son of Francis M. and Mary Evans, who were among the early pioneers of this region. William Evans was reared on his father's farm, and followed agricultural pursuits during his lifetime. His death oeeurred in Empire Township, Jan. 4, 1865. Of this marriage there were born

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two children-Mary M., who died in infancy, and Josephine, who died wlien nearly six years old.

Mrs. Emily (Bishop) Evans was united in mar- riage with Le Roy W. Prey on the 7th of August, 1877. Mr. Prey had been previously married to Miss Mary Gilbert, Sept. 14, 1864. She departed this life June 14, 1876, leaving one child, John H., who at present is living in Le Roy. Mr. Prey was born in Franklin County, Ohio, Feb. 21, 1840, be- ing the son of Daniel and Hannah Prey. When about twelve years of age his parents removed to Illinois and settled in Empire Township, where he grew to manhood, remaining with his parents until there came a call for troops to assist in the preserv- ation of the Union. In 1861 he enlisted in an Illinois regiment, but the quota in this eounty be- ing full he repaired to St. Louis, and joined the Missouri Infantry, in which he served three years. He participated in many of the battles of the war, being at Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Vieksburg, Jackson, Miss., Champion Hills and Mission Ridge. With his comrades he joined the command of Gen. Sher- inan at Chattanooga, and participated in most of the engagements between that point and Atlanta. On the 17th of May, 1862, he was wounded in a skirmish before Russell House, and was confined for a time in the hospital at St. Louis. Beyond this he eseaped unharmed and received his honorable dis- eharge after the surrender of Lee.

After his return to civil life Mr. Prey resumed farming for a few years in Empire Township. In 1873 he went to Nebraska and entered a elaim, which he occupied for two years, and then return- ing to Empire Township located upon his farm and remained a resident here until his death, which took place on the 7th of July, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Prey became the parents of one child, William Le Roy. Mr. Prey was a gentleman of more than or- dinary business capacity, was enterprising and pos- sessed of excellent judgment, and was uniformly

presperous in his undertakings. He took a genuine interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his eounty and community, was honest in his trans- actions, prompt to meet his obligations, and in all respects a praiseworthy citizen and valued member of the community. Mrs. Prey, sinee his death, has condneted the business of the estate with rare good

judgment, and will maintain it in its present style by her wise management and knowledge of its re- quirements.

R OBERT GREENLEE, one of the prominent contraetors and builders of Bloomington, is of stanch Pennsylvania birth and parentage, having been born in Crawford County, on the 12th of May, 1831. His parents were Owen and Margaret (Townley) Greenlee, natives of the Keystone State, where the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits and operated a sawmill on his farm for a period of thirty years. This home- stead he oceupied until his death, which oeeurred in 1875, he having survived the partner of his youth twenty-five years, the wife and mother dying in 1850. They had a family of fourteen children, only six of whom are living, as follows: Robert, Sarah, Cyrus, Harrison, Margaret and Frances. The parents were members of the First Presbyterian Church and descended from excellent Scottish ancestry.

Robert Greenlec remained under the parental roof until he was twenty years old and then set out for the West to seek his fortune. Ilis first location was in Clay County, this State, where he was en- gaged in building and trestle work on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. After three months thus em- ployed he went to Hancock County, thenee to Jacksonville, and in 1856 came to Bloomington. In the meantime he followed his original oeeupation, and is now possessed of a wide experience which has become a source of profit and yields him a handsome income. His business office is located at No. 409 North East street, and he has been engaged in the construction of some of the best buildings in the eity, among them being the residence of the late Judge David Davis, the house and barn of James Robinson, the same for George Davis, and the residenees of Messrs. William Withers, John Cheney, J. P. Smith and other handsome structures, besides the McLean County Jail, in 1882. Besides several large business houses he also superintended the ercetion of the boiler works for the Orphans' Home at Normal, and has had as many as thirty- five men in his employ.

McLEAN COUNTY.

449

The subject of our sketeli, in 1858, was united in marriage with Miss Sallie Carman of Kentucky, and their union has been blest by the birth of six children, viz .: Franees A., Adelia, Theodore P., John W., Ulysses L. and Cora. The family residence is a handsome structure located at No. 806 North Evans street, and within and without is indieative of the skill and the eultivated tastes of its proprietor. Mr. Greenlee is a Prohibitionist in politics, a straightforward business man, and a use- ful and valued eitizen.

E DWIN C. HEWETT, LL. D., President of the Illinois State Normal University, is the eldest of the four children of Timothy and Levina (Leonard) Hewett. He was born in the town of Sutton, Worcester Co., Mass., on the 1st of November, 1828. His father was a wheelwright by trade, and owned a small farm, on which the family resided. Edwin attended the distriet sehool in his childhood, afterward studied in an academy, and at the age of twenty-one years engaged as teacher in a country school of his native town (not in the same distriet) where he gave instruction for two terms and then, being pleased with the work, decided to fit himself for the profession of a teacher. He accordingly entered the Normal School at Bridgewater, where he took the regular eourse which required one year, and graduated in 1852. The school at that time was in charge of the well- known educator, Nicholas Tillinghast.

After leaving Bridgewater, Mr. Hewett beeame the assistant of Jonathan Tenney in the High School of Pittsfield, where he remained one year, and at the end of that time, by the request of Mr. Tilling- hast, returned to Bridgewater and engaged as a teacher in the Normal School, where he remained four years. In the fall of 1856 Prof. Hewett took charge of the Thomas Grammar School at Wor- cester, which school had an attendanee of 500 pupils and employed ten teachers. There were, at that time, only two grammar sehools in the city.

In the fall of 1858 Prof. Hewett eame West to become a teacher in the Illinois State Normal Uni- versity, which was then entering upon the second

year of its existence, and was located at Blooming- ton, the present building not being completed. Dr. Hewett taught various subjeets at different inter- vals until 1876-his speeial elass being that of geog- raphy and history-when he was eliosen President, vice Dr. Richard Edwards, resigned, and has since oeeupied the Chair of Mental Science and Didacties.

This sehool lias now grown to be one of the best in the country, and its present prosperity is due in no small measure to the efforts of its present able President. The degree of A. M., was eonferred upon President Hewett by the University of Chi- cago in 1863, and the degree of LL. D. by Shurt- leff College in 1878. He has contributed some valu- able literature to the various educational periodieals of the day, and is the author of a "Key to Guyot's Wall Maps" and "Hewett's Pedagogy." In politics our subjeet is a staneh Republiean, and religiously is a Baptist, and has given mueh time and attention to the progress and prosperity of the Sabbath-school of his ehureh.

Edwin C. Hewett was united in marriage with Miss Angeline N. Benton in August, 1857, who was born in Buckland, Mass., and married in Sub- lette, Ill. Of this union there were two children, one of whom, Paul, died in 1870, at the age of five months, and May, who graduated at Normal in 1880, and is now the wife of Prof. Rudolph R. Reeder, of Normal.

RA ROWELL, a prosperous and highly respeet- ed farmer of Danvers Township, has been for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits on seetion 36, where he has met with success. He is a native of the Old Granite State, born in Grafton County, May 20, 1831. His parents were Jonathan B. and Cynthia (Abbott) Rowell, natives of the same State as their son. Jonathan Rowell engaged in farming pursuits the greater part of his life. IIe was born Feb. 3, 1800, and his wife, Cynthia, Mareh 5, 1806. They were married Jan. 22, 1828, in New Hampshire, and resided there, with the ex- eeption of three years, until 1849. In July of that year they started for the West and located in Dry Grove Township, this county, where the father de-

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McLEAN COUNTY.

parted this life Sept. 28, 1850. The mother snr- vived her husband fifteen years, dying in Danvers, Feb. 5, 1866.

Of the ten children of Jonathan and Cynthia Rowell, the record is as follows: Mary J. was born June 29, 1829, and died Sept. 8, 1848; Ira of our sketeh was the second ehild; Jonathan H., born Feb. 10, 1833, is now Member of Congress from this district, and married Miss Marie Woods; Luey M., born Jan. 27, 1835, died April 16, 1849; Charles C., born Dee. 11, 1836, married Miss Mar- garet Rabern; William L. was born Sept. 5, 1838, and married Miss Belle Diekinson; Milo, born Dee. 13, 1840, married Miss Lou Carver; George B., born Dee. 13, 1842, married Miss Dellia War- low; Chester, born Oet. 7, 1844, married a Mrs. Rowell; Albert A., born May 30, 1846, married Miss Nellie Booth. The mother was a member of the Congregational Church, and Jonathan Rowell, politieally, was an neompromising Demoerat.

Ira Rowell received a good common-sehool ed- neation, remaining with his parents nntil eighteen years of age. He then started out for himself and engaged as a farm laborer at $10 per month. He was united in marriage with Miss Lavina Carloek Nov. 16, 1869, having already secured 130 aeres of good land, and being able to offer a comfortable home to his bride. This first purchase constitutes his present homestead. He has industriously eul- tivated the land, and added improvements each year until he now has one of the good farms of this seetion. Besides general farming he is giving much attention to the raising of eattle and horses. He has beantified his homestead by the planting of handsome shade and fruit trees, and has sold from time to time numbers of evergreen and ap- ple trees.

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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 49

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