Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 51

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 51

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).

Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Pat- ton there is only one living, a son, Tilden ; the other two died in infancy. Our subject is a staneh Dem- ocrat politieally, and is in all respeets regarded as a praiseworthy and reliable eitizen, who has eon- tributed his full share toward the prosperity and progress of his native county.

ILLIAM EVANS. The gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketeh has been a resident of the Prairie State for over thirty years. His first location was in this county, six miles west of his present homestead, where he purchased a one-half interest in 120 aeres of land, which he operated in company with Thomas Rawlings for three years. He then purchased the interest of his partner, and operated the whole for the thirteen years following, in the meantime add- ing forty aeres adjoining and opening up a good farm. In about 1872 he exchanged this for a traet of land on seetion 115, which comprises a part of his present homestead. He is now the owner of 340 aeres, under a good state of cultivation, and besides general farming is giving mueh attention to the breeding of high-grade Short-horn eattle and Norman horses. The homestead of Mr. Evans in all its appointments indieates the supervision of the modern and progressive farmer. He has a fine resi- dence and all necessary buildings for the shelter of

stoek and the storage of grain. His fences and ma- ehinery are kept in good repair, and his farm pre- sents one of the most attractive spots in the land- seape of McLean County.

William Evans was born in Fleming County, Ky .; Nov. 26, 1820, his parents being Jesse and Ilannah (Pitts) Evans, natives respectively of Vir- ginia and Kentucky. Jesse Evans was born in 1795, reared to farming pursuits, which he followed the greater part of his life, and died in his native county in Kentucky, in June, 1870. He was a member of the old Whig party, and with his wife prominently connected with the 'Christian Church. The mother of our subjeet was born in 1800, and departed this life in 1879. The parental family ineluded three sons and six daughters, as follows: Susan became the wife of William Hurst, and lives in Kentucky ; William of our sketch was the second ehild; Mary was united in marriage with James Dodds, and lives in Missouri; Naney, Mrs. Thomas Rawlings, is deceased; Margaret married William Lewis, of Kentucky, and both are deceased; Lu- einda married Jacob Walk, of Kentucky; he died, and she was again married, to a Mr. Darnell; Helen became the wife of William Pitts; Jolin A. married Miss Amanda Plumer; James married Miss Lou Perkins.

Mr. Evans after coming to this State and laying the fonndation for a future home, was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth T. Ball, in Cheney's Grove Township, on the 25th of November, 1862. Mrs. E. is a native of this county, born Feb. 27, 1844, and the daughter of Hilleary and Calista (Hildreth) Ball, natives of Kentucky and New York respectively. Her parents' family consisted of six children, as follows: Henry, the eldest, mar- ried Miss Mary Harrison, and is a resident of this township; Elizabeth, Mrs. Evans, was the second child ; Julia A. became the wife of Samuel Gallagher ; Amos married Miss Hannah C. Stephens; Harriet became the wife of Robert Means; Alfred died in. June, 1852, when fifteen months old.

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Evans there have been born five sons and four daughters: Jesse is now in Florida; Arthur married Miss Hester Coile ; John died when three years of age; Villa, Charlie C., Julia, Harry C., Lelia and Matie are at home

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with their parents. The family are all members of the Christian Church at Saybrook, in which our subject has held the office of Elder for many years." He has also been Trustee, and in all respeets promi- nently identified with its maintenance and prosper- ity. He and his wife have been connected with this ehureh for a period of twenty-two years, and Jesse, the eldest son, is following elosely in the footsteps of his father, and taking a lively interest in Church matters. Villa, the eldest daughter, is organist of the ehureh at Saybrook, having held the position for the last three years. Jesse and Arthur have re- eeived a particularly good education, and attended Eureka College several years. Mr. Evans is a thor- ough business man, prompt to meet his obligations, and politically an uncompromising Demoerat.

R. CHARLES R. PARKE, a leading phy- sieian and surgeon of Bloomington, is prominently eonneeted with the State Medieal and Central Illinois Medieal So- cieties, and holds the position of Special Pension Examiner for the eye and ear. His office is located at No. 13 West Jefferson street, and his residence at No. 306 East Walnut. Socially he is surround- ed by hosts of friends, and professionally is a favorite member of the fraternity in this seetion.

Dr. Parke was born in Chester County, Pa., June 25. 1823, and is the son of George W. and Mary (Ross) Parke, both parents having been born and reared in Chester County. The grandfather of our subject was Joseph Parke, whose aneestors were Scoteh-Irish from the North of Ireland, and who emi- grated to the United States at an early day, loeating in Chester County, Pa., where they were pioneers and became prominently identified with the history of that section as among its most worthy and pros- perous citizens.

George W. Parke, the father of our subjeet, was an extensive owner of farm property, and built a sawmill and plaster-mill, while at the same time he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was pros- pered in his undertakings and accumulated a fine property. He was a Justiee of the Peace and served as Register of Wills in Chester County for three

years. Both he and his wife were prominently eon- neeted with the Presbyterian Church, and they passed their declining years upon the farm which had remained so long in their possession, the father dying there in 1860, and the mother in 1866.

The subject of this history was the seventh child of his parents' family and remained upon the home- stead nntil eighteen years of age. He had been fairly edueated, and at this time went into the city of Westeliester, where he entered upon a course of study in Hoops' Academy, and during his leisure hours assisted his father in his offiee there. He soon afterward entered upon the study of medieine, and after taking a course at the University of Pennsyl- vania in Philadelphia, gradnated in the spring of 1847, and eommeneed praetiee in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

In 1848 Dr. Parke turned his face toward the Prairie State, and coming into Whiteside County located in Como. The following spring he erossed the plains to California as surgeon for a Como company, where he remained two years, and returned by the way of Niearaugua.' He then located near Peoria whence, in 1852, he eamc to Bloomington where, until 1855, he engaged continuously in practiee and became well and favorably known to the people of this seetion. That same year he crossed the Atlantic, and going to Russia beeame a surgeon of the Russian army during the Crimean War, remaining in the serviee until its elose. He then made a tour of Europe, visiting a large number of hospitals and gaining valuable information. In the fall of 1857 he returned to the United States and to Bloomington, where he praeticed until 1869, and then, on account of the failing health of his wife, went South to Arkansas, and locating on a plantation, engaged in the eulture of eotton until 1873. He then returned to Bloomington, and has pursued his practice continuously sinee that time.

Dr. Parke is chief of the medieal staff of St. Joseph's Hospital, Bloomington, which is owned and conducted by the 3d Order of the Sisters of St. Franeis. The Doetor was instrumental in the establishment of this institution.

The wife of our subjeet was formerly Mrs. Luey Keith, of Winchester, Ky., to whom he was married on the 3d of October, 1865. They occupy a

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pleasant home on Walnut street, and enjoy the confidenee and esteem of a eircle of acquaintances which include the most enltured people of the city. Dr. Parke is a close student, and has condueted his practice with unqualified skill and suceess.

G EORGE A. RUSSELL, a native of the Prairie State, was born in Newark, Kendall County, on the 9th of September, 1858. He is now a resident of the city of Bloomington and successfully engaged as a contractor and builder. He is a fine representative of the skillful and in- dustrious citizens who have contributed to the prosperity of Bloomington and assisted her in main- taining her position among the other prominent towns of a wealthy and populous State. The par- ents of our subject were Henry E. and Sarah (Niblo) Russell, the father a native of New York, and the mother of Connectieut. They came to Illinois in 1853, and settled in Kendall County, where Henry E. Russell engaged as a contractor and builder until 1872. Ile then moved to DeKalb County, where he remained three years, and thence to Livingston County in 1875, which is still his home. He served as a soldier in the Union army during the late war and had charge of a commissary department. The parental family ineluded three ehildren : Elizabeth, Mrs. Enoch Davis of Aurora, Minnie E., living in Dwight, and George A. of our sketcli.

George A. Russell remained at home with his par- ents until twenty-one years of age, in the meantime receiving a practical education. When a lad of thirteen years he commenced work with his father and assisted him in his building and business oper- tions for five years, and was then made a partner. He came to Bloomington in 1880, and first engaged with the C. & A. R. R. in the construction of water tanks, and then on passenger eoaehes. Afterward he worked in a planing-mill for eighteen months, and since that time Mr. Russell has earried on business by himself and gives employment to several men. In 1884 lie purchased the lots in- eluded in his present homestead and erected a comfortable and tasteful residenee, which he has

oceupied with his wife and their only child- Edith M.

Mr. Russell was married in July, 1879, to Miss May, dangliter of Martin and Amarilla (Rockwell) Wilks, natives respectively of New York and Ohio, Martin Wilks was occupied in farming pursuits, and there were only two children in the family-Lucius and the wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are connected with the First Congregational Churchi of Bloomington, and soeially Mr. R. belongs to the Modern Woodmen. He is Republican in polities, a sueeessful business man and in all respeets a good citizen. His headquarters are at No. 910 Linden street and he has a pleasant family residenee.

W ILLIAM OLIVER, a pioneer settler and well-to-do farmer of Empire Township, owns 235 acres of valuable land on seetion 1, all of which with the exception of a few aeres of timber is finely improved and under good cultiva- tion. Mr. Oliver is of Irish ancestry, his grand- father, William Oliver, Sr., having been born in County Derry, in the north of Ireland, where he married Miss Naney Jaekson, who was own eousin to Gen. Jackson, President of the United States. William Oliver, Sr., followed the pursuit of agri- enlture, and spent his entire life in his native county, arriving at the advanced age of nearly one hundred and one years. In the meantime he had made two trips to the United States, spending altogether about seven years in this country before his mar- riage. His son, John Oliver, the father of our sub- ject, was also born in County Derry, where he re- mained nntil twenty-one years of age, then emi- grated to the United States. He settled near Ha- gerstown, Washington Co., Md., and seven years later was united in marriage with Miss Mary Bock. Mrs. O. was a native of Washington County, Md .. as also were her parents. After the birth of three children, John Oliver and his wife removed from Maryland to Ross County, Ohio, about 1811, where they loeated npon a farm and passed the remainder of their days, the father being seventy-seven, and the mother sixty-two years old at the time of de- cease. 'They were most excellent Christian people,

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and John Oliver politieally was a stanch Democrat.

The subject of this history was the eldest of five sons and four daughters born to his parents. 11is birthplace was near Hagerstown, Md., and the date thereof June 30, 1808. He was but three years of age when his parents removed to Ohio, and he lived with them until his marriage. This event occurred on the 24th of April, 1834, the maiden of his ehoiee being Miss Mary Cowgill. She was born in Ross County, Ohio, May 14, 1805, and was the daughter of Eleazar and Jane (McFarland) Cow- gill, natives respectively of Virginia and Maine. They settled in Ross County at the beginning of the present century, and there passed the remain- der of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. O. became the parents of six children, three now deceased: Mary became the wife of Benjamin T. Hall, of Empire Township, to which he removed when a child with his father from Champaign County, Ohio. He died Dec. 4, 1884, when nearly fifty-one years of age. They had no children. Mrs. H. at present lives with her father, our subject; John Oliver married Miss Ruth MeDaniel, of Ross County, Ohio, and they reside on a farm in Empire Township, this county ; Henry H., now a resident of Le Roy, was first married to Miss Dunlap, who died about 1863. His second wife was formerly Miss Naney J. Far- ver. Those deceased are Willie, Jr., who died when twenty-one years old, and two infants un- named. Mrs. Oliver departed this life at her home in Empire Township, March 21, 1884, aged nearly eighty-one years, mourned by a large eirele of friends.

The paternal grandmother of Mrs. Oliver, who. before her marriage was Miss Martha Curry, was a native of London, England, whenee she emigrated to this country, married .Mr. Daniel Cowgill, and died in Ross County, Ohio, at the advanced age of one hundred and thirteen years.

Mr. Oliver became a resident of Empire Town- ship in the fall of 1853, making the journey from Ohio to this eounty overland with teams. He first purchased 200 aeres of land, which was in its orig- inal condition, and which he brought to a fine state of cultivation, adding to it since that time 200 aeres; a part has been divided among his children. The farm buildings are substantial and convenient

structures, and the out-buildings, stock, fences and machinery indieate the eare and supervision of the intelligent and progressive modern farmer. Mr. Oliver has contributed his full quota toward the agricultural interests of this seetion, and is held in high esteem throughout his township and eounty.

OHN J. FOLLICK, a retired farmer now living in Saybrook, this county, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, July 22, 1823. He is the son of Isaae and Mary Folliek, the former a native of Ohio and of German des- eent and parentage, and who followed farmning all his life. Politieally he was a Jacksonian Democrat. He departed this life in 1837 in Hamilton County, Ohio. The mother of our subjeet was born in England, and died in Indiana in 1854. The record of their children is as follows: Eliza beeame the wife of James Marsh, who is now deceased; John J., our subjeet, was the second ehild; one died in infaney; the remainder were Rachel, Oliver T. and Isaae.

After the removal of Isaac Folliek and his family to Ohio, our subjeet pursued his studies in the eom- inon schools for a brief time and at an early age eom- menced assisting his father on the farın. He came to this eounty in 1854, having the year before pur- chased 160 acres of land in Old Town Township. This he afterward sold, and then purchased 245 acres which he cultivated and improved until 1881. He then desired to retire from aetive labor, and purchasing a fine dwelling in Saybrook, removed thither, where he has sinee inade his home.

John J. Folliek was united in marriage with Miss Ann M. Stewart. Of this union there were born four children: Sarah J. became the wife of Fred Snyder and lives in Saybrook; Mary E. married Henry Farris, and is now deceased; Laura A. became the wife of John Weakinan, and is deceased ; and Francis M. is carrying on the hardware trade in Saybrook. The mother of these children died Jan. 15, 1870, at the home of her husband near Saybrook. She was a faithful wife and affectionate mother, and a member in good standing of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The second

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

marriage of Mr. Folliek occurred Oct. 19, 1875, with Mrs. Martha (Maxwell) Chambers. The Max- well family located in Montgomery County, Ind., at ,an carly day, where they became widely and favorably known. .

The parents of Mrs. Follick were David C. and Betsey (Ilood) Maxwell, of Irish and German de- seent. Mrs. F. was born in Warren County, Ky., March 16, 1825. The following year her parents came to Indiana, settling in Montgomery County, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Of their five children, Martha M. was the eldest : Zerilda M. became the wife of Joseph Philips, and both are deceased; Paradine M. married Dennis Rusk ; she is now deceased; Ann M. is the widow of Elisha Pierce, who died in May, 1886; Juliette is the widow of John II. Phillips, and has two ehil- dren-Albert and Ella; Albert is now living in Kankakee, Ill .; Rosella, Mrs. McCanly, has one child-Mabel E., born Oct. 6, 1886. Miss Martha Maxwell was married Sept. 29, 1845, to Richard Chambers, a native of Delaware. He was born Nov. 10, 1816, followed agrienltnral pursuits, and died in Indiana. Of this marriage there was one child, a son, William II., who died when thirteen months old.

Mr. and Mrs. Follick are greatly respected wher- ever known, and bear the reputation of kindly Christian people, always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. Mr. F. has been a stanch Democrat sinee old enough to know the differ- ence between parties, and with his excellent wife is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Saybrook. Of this he lias been Trustee for several years, and has in all respects proved himself worthy to be classed among the honest men and good citizens of MeLean County.

L EVI DEISINGER, one of the intelligent and industrious citizens of Cheney's Grove Township, formerly a miller and carpenter, is now engaged in the occupation of a farmer, and has a pleasant homestead located on seetion 3. This comprises eighty aeres of good land, which is

watered by three fine springs, and Mr. D., beside his other employments is quite extensively engaged in the breeding of foreign horses and cattle, of which he makes a specialty, and in which he takes great pride. His horses are Morgan and Clydes- dale, and his eattle graded Short-horns. Of the latter he has eleven head, and also fifty-one head of hogs.

Mr. Deisinger may be properly terincd a self- made man in every respect. He was but fourteen years old when he was obliged to look out for himself, but he had been trained to habits of indns- try and honesty, and found friends wherever lie made his home. He was born in York County, Pa., in 1833, and is the son of John and Lydia Deisinger. He remained in his native State until twenty years of age, then proceedcd to Dayton, Ohio, where lie worked one year at milling, and then came to this county. He was engaged as a carpenter for cight ycars following, and was then enabled to purchase forty aeres of land in Anchor Township, which, however, he sold two years later. Hc then purchased his present homestead, and sinee that time has been industriously engaged in its improvement and cultivation. He has performed faithfully all the duties of a good eitizen, and con- tributed his share toward the business and agricult- ural interests of his township. Mr. Deisinger has never married. Ile has been prominently con- nected with the Saybrook Methodist Episcopal Church for a period of over twenty years, and has contributed liberally and cheerfully to its support.

LFRED FREEMAN, who is engaged in the harness and saddlery business at No. 215 West Jefferson street, Bloomington, has been a resident of McLean County since 1876. Ile is a native of Johnson County, Ind., and was born on the 14th of June, 1828. He is the son of Matthias and Sarah (Bowers) Freeman, natives of New Jersey. Matthias Freeman, when a young man, went with his parents to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there worked at wagon-making and black-,

Bishop

Harvey

A Freeman

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McLEAN COUNTY.

smithing. In 1826 he moved on westward into Indiana, where, to his former business he added the manufacture of plows. Ile then took up 204 aeres of land; in Johnson County, Ind., where he permanently loeated and remained until his death, whiel oceurred in 1859. The wife and mother sur- vived until 1875. The parental household in- eluded seven ehildren, four of whom are now liv- ing-George W., Alfred, Sarah J. and Hannah C.

Alfred Freeman remained on the farm until four- teen years of age, and then learned harness-making. After he had gained a good knowledge of the busi- ness he had a shop ereeted on the farm, purehased a team, and there manufactured the articles of his trade, and when he had seeured a load earried it around and sold it to the people in that vieinity. He operated thus until 1849, when he went to Ce- dar Rapids, Iowa, where for one winter he operated a shop, then returned home, and until 1858 carried 011 a harness-shop in Franklin, giving employment to cight boys and six men. This enterprise he finally abandoned, and for two years afterward en- gaged in milling. For this purpose he built a mill in 1858, which he subsequently moved to Texas, and located in Cameron, the county seat of Milam County. There he took in two partners. and they added a distillery and gristmill, all three operating together for four and a half years. While in Texas Mr. Freeman bought sixty-six aeres of land, which he laid out in town lots which he sold at good fig- ures, and after his return to Franklin, Ind., he also made purchases of land and platted some towil lots, whieli were also disposed of to a good ad- vantage. Mr. Freeman then sold out his inter- est, went first to Mexico and then, returning to Indiana, engaged in mereantile pursuits for two years, and afterward built à sawmill, which he op- erated for over four years. In connection with this he also had a stave factory. He then aban- doned this to engage in farming and the raising of seeds for market. He was partienlarly fortunate in the raising of vegetables also, and at the State Fair of 1869 received twenty-two first premiums for all kinds of vegetables and farm produee, and in 1870 1 received nineteen first premiums. After seven years thus oeeupied he engaged in the hardware trade at Martinsville, and also resumed his harness

and saddlery business, which, after eontinuing six years, he sold to remove to Indianapolis. Thence he went to Mt. Carmel, Ill., and opened up a har- ness and saddlery shop, which, with other property, was swept away in a eyclone in 1876. He then came to Bloomington, where he established his present business, at which he has continued sinee that time.

Alfred Freeman and Miss Mary W. Candy were married in 1876, at Mt. Carmel. Mrs. F. is a native of Maryland, and removed with her parents to Lexington, Ky., when a small child. The residence of our subjeet and his wife is pleasantly located at No. 511 South Madison street, and they enjoy the society and friendship of a large eirele of aequaint- anees. They are members in good standing of the Unitarian Church, and Mr. F. politieally belongs to the Greenbaek party, and is a strong temperanee man, and a vigorous advocate of woman suffrage. A lithographie portrait of Mr. Freeman is shown on another page of this work.

b ARVEY BISHOP. One hows almost with reverence in the presence of a pioneer of over half a eentury, and envies him what his eyes have seen and ears have heard, of the sketehes and ineidents of his early days. The gentleman of whom we now write has witnessed in the fifty-four years of his residence here wonderful changes. When he eame there were no school- houses, churches, eostly residences, or ample barns ; no railroads, telegraph or telephone lines spanned these broad aeres, and in fact few if any evidenees of eivilization existed, while now the prairies blos- som as the rose, and the fertile aeres yield abund- anee and to spare.

Our subjeet, of whom we give a portrait in this connection, is respeeted for his sterling worth and integrity, and the honest record he has made since his long residence in the eounty. He is at present living on seetion 32, Old Town Township. and is retired from the aetive labor of life, and passing

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its sunset in peace, and the quiet enjoyment of a suffieieney obtained through years of labor and economy. The parents of our subjeet were Will- iam and Margaret (Lake) Bishop, natives of Vir- ginia, where they spent their early lives and where they were united in marriage. Soon after this event they removed to Clarke County, Ohio, where the father followed farming for a time, and in Novem- ber, 1833, disposing of his interests in that eonnty, came to this, and made settlement in Old Town Township. There the father and family lived, and there he died in 1855. The wife survives him, and has attained to the age of eighty-three years. Their ehildren were nine in number, six sons and three daughters. The subject of this notice is the eldest in order of birth. He first saw light in Clarke County, Ohio, Ang. 2, 1821, and was about twelve years old when he came with his parents to this county. IIere he received his education in the common sehools, and lived with the old folk, as- sisting his father in the maintenance of the family until he was twenty-eight years of age. He then left the parental home, married and settled down in Old Town' Township with his bride, and there engaged in the vocation he has followed thus far in life. IIe has been a resident of MeLean Connty, as stated, sinee 1833, and has witnessed the won- derful advancement it has made during the past fifty-four 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 51

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