Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 57

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 57

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Mr. Ellington first located his factory in Padua but was afterward persuaded that Chenoa would be the better point for operations. He remained in Padua until 1879, then formed a partnership with Justus Castle, and with him established the Chenoa Tile Works, which they operated together for two years. Mr. Ellington then disposed of his interest in the business and established a livery stable in Chenoa, which he carried on in connection with farming until the fall of 1884. He then came to Colfax, and purchased a half interest in the tile works with which he is at present connected. These now have a capacity of half a million tile annually Their machinery is of the most approved pattern, and 6,000 feet of steam pipe assists in facilitating the business. The boiler and engine arc of fifty-five horse power, and in short everything about the factory is calculated for doing the best work in the most expeditious manner. They have a good home market for all they can producc .. The works are conveniently located on the Kankakee branch of the Illinois Central Railroad, which affords excellent shipping facilities.

' The marriage of Henry W. Ellington and Miss Alice Stoops, of McLean County, was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents in Blue Mound Township, in 1874. Mrs. E. was born in Fulton County, Ill., June 22, 1856, and of her marriage

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with onr subject there is one child, Emma Elleanor. born Dec. 4, 1875. The pleasant residence of the little family is located on Grove street, and they cn- joy the society of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

R EUBEN L. PORTER is favorably known in Arrowsmith Township as an intelligent and industrious farmer, and occupies a snug homestead on section 21. He comes of substantial ancestry, and, like his parents, was born in Fayette County, Pa., the date thereof being July 4, 1825. He is the son of John and Eliza (Lowrey) Porter. The first representatives of the family in this country emigrated from England and Scotland respectively, and possessed in a marked degree the reliable characteristics of those races. John Porter was born Aug. 16, 1800, and became a resident of lowa while in the prime of life. He followed farm- ing, shocinaking and tanning, and died in Appa- noose County, Iowa, in 1855. His wife, Eliza L., was born in 1803, and died in the latter-nemed county the same year as her husband. The chil- dren of John and Eliza Porter, the parents of our subject, were, Francis M., Renben L., Sarah; Mary, now Mrs. Payne; Moses; Eliza, Mrs. Gally ; Susan, Mrs. Dr. Bunker; Catherine, now Mrs. Mon- roe, and all live in Appanoose County, Iowa, ex- cept Mrs. Bunker, who lives in Missouri.

Our subject remained with his parents until their removal to the West, and became a resident of this county in 1852. He cultivated rented land for a number of years, and in 1853 purchased eighty acres in Arrowsmith Township which constitutes his present homestead. This he has brought to a good state of cultivation and upon it has a sub- stantial and convenient set of buildings. He was married. Sept. 2. 1851, to Miss Susan Young, a na- tive of Butler County, Ohio, who was born April 15, 1833. Her parents were John and Rebecca (Britton) Young, both now deceased. Their family of five children is recorded as follows: Maria, Mrs. Francis, is a resident of Ohio; Hannah, Mrs. Arma- cost lives in Ohio; Rebecca, Mrs. Hollinger, lives in Ohio; and Benjamin lives in Nebraska. Mr.

and Mrs. Porter became the parents of ten children, of whom the record is as follows: Eliza died when one year old; Virtnc, Mrs. Scott, is a resident of Nebraska; Temperance, who married William John- son, is deceased; Patrick H. married Miss Esther Welch; the remainder are William O., Mary E., John F., a teacher, Almeda, Susic and Eunice. Mr. Por- ter is Democratic in politics, and for many years has been a consistent member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, in which he has served as Class-Leader for twenty years, has been teacher in the Sunday- school and is Trustee of the church and parsonage property. With his son, John F., he is at present Superintendent of the Sunday-school.

C AROLINE M. BRINING, widow of Hamil- ton Brining, is the possessor of a fine property consisting of three farms, the main one be- ing located in Mt. Hope Township, and which con- stitutes the present homestead of the subject of our sketch. The other two lie in Downs Township and consist of 160 acres cach. They are all fincly im- proved and cultivated, and bear evidence of hav- ing been superintended by an intelligent mind.

Mrs. Brining was born in Orange County, Ind., Dec. 25, 1833. Her father, Eli Jones, was a native of North Carolina, and her grandfather, Allen Joncs, a native of the same State, was a descendant of English and Welsh ancestry, and emigrated from North Carolina to Iudiana at an carly period in the history of that section. He made the journey overland, and after locating in Orange County, followed his trade of carpenter and cabinct-maker for many years, and spent the latter part of his life there. His son Eli, the father of our subject, was quite young when his parents removed from his na- tive State. He grew to manhood in Indiana, and was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Snyder, the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Hawse) Snyder.

Mr. Jones learned the trade of his father, and in addition to the work of a carpenter and joincr also became an experienced millwright. In 1853 he purchased a tract of land in Greene County, Ind., upon which he lived until 1862, and from there re- moved to Owen County, whence after three years

Hamilton Brining

James H. W. Gregor

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he proceeded to Illinois and located in Logan County. From therc he moved into McLean County, of which he is now a resident, having his home in Allin Township. He is now in his seventy-ninth year.

Mrs. Brining remained with her parents during her childhood and youth, receiving careful home training and a fair cducation in the commnon schools. On the 6th of February, 1861, she was united in marriage with Hamilton Brining. He was a native of Spencer County, Ky., and the son of Jacob F. and Barbara (Hawsc) Brining. He was born on the 13th of June, 1830, and was but six years old when his parents removed from Ken- tucky to Illinois. The entire journey was made overland with wagons, and they camped and cooked by the way. They were among the first to make set- tlement in Logan County, and there Mr. B. grew to manhood, and was educated in the pioneer schools. He lived there until 1867, when he sold his property and purchased 160 acres of land in Mt. Hope Township, McLean County, on section 8. This land was wild and uncultivated, but he was a man of great energy and industry, and in due time had cffected a remarkable change in its original condition. He erected a good set of farm build- ings, planted fruit and shade trèes, and subse- quently added to his possessions, until at the time of his death he was the possessor of 320 acres herc, and two farms of 160 acres each in Downs Town- ship. He departed from the scenes of his earthly labors on the 16th of March, 1886, while still act- ive and little past his prime.

In carly manhood Mr. Brining was married to Miss Sarah Mountjoy, and of this union there were three children-Martha, May J. and Alice. Of the second marriage there were born scven chil- dren, viz., Charles E., Imo G., Minnie M., Owen L., Leslie C. and Lyman T. (twins), and Luther V. Mr. and Mrs. B. were both connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he was an uncompromising Republican.

Since the death of her husband Mrs. Brining has superintended the management of the cstate with ability and success. She is a lady of rare intelli- gence and courage, and was well fitted to be the help- meet of such a man as her husband. The family resi-

dence and the entire homestead is first-class in all its appointments, and bears evidence of the thrift and enterprise which first established it and by which it has been perpetuated. It is one of the attractive spots of McLean County, and invariably attracts the cyc of the traveler through this section.

The portrait of Mr. Brining, which accompanies this sketch, will be recognized by all as that of a worthy and honorcd representative of McLean County.

AMES H. MCGREGOR, President of the Arctic Ice Company of Bloomington, Ill., wliose portrait is shown on page 504, ranks among the enterprising business men of the city, and as one who has contributed his full share toward the advancement of its business and indus- trial interests. Mr. McGregor was born in Wash- ington County, N. Y., on the 16th of March, 1830. His father, Peter McGregor, was a native of Scot- land, who came to America in 1828. All his chil- dren except James HI. were born therc. The father was a farincr by occupation, and located with his family near the city of Montreal, Canada. The mother of our subject, before her marriage, was Miss Mary Stuart, and the family of herself and husband consisted of seven children, five sons and two daughters.

In August, 1853, the subject of this history left the parental roof and coming into the States located in Bloomington, Ill., and engaged at the brick- layer's trade, which lie had previously learned. This he followed for many years, and is still engaged as a contractor and builder. In this capacity he has superintended the erection of some of the most important buildings of this locality and in the city of Chicago. In 1863 he associated himself in part- nership withı N. B. Heafer, of this city, with whom he operated for a period of twenty years. During this time the firm was interested in some of the best improvements in this city, having built the C. & A. R. R. shops, and afterward the MeLcan County court-house, which latter was erected at a cost of over $300,000. They also built the First Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the finest church cdifices in the city, and afterward laid the

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street pavements and built the water-works, to- gether with the tower, which is 200 feet in height. At the same time they were engaged in the manu- facture and laying of brick, also street pavements. The partnership was dissolved in 1883, by mutual consent, the two gentlemen still retaining a life- long esteem for each other. Mr. McGregor bas been since that time carrying on the same business alone and was clected to his present position as President of the Aretie Ice Company in 1884.

Our subject was married in 1866, to Miss Mary A. Barnes, a native of Ohio, and they have two children-Mary and Edith. Mr. McG. is a mem- ber in good standing of the I. O. O. F., Remem- brance Lodge No. 77. The family occupy a bandsome and attractive home and enjoy the so- ciety and esteem of a large circle of friends.

Dunean MeGregor, deceased, a brother of our subjeet, was one of the most active railroad men of the West. He was born in Scotland, and after the death of his father in Canada, he and his brother, James H., went to Kalamazoo, Mieh., where Duncan had charge of a foree of men employed in the construction of the Michigan Central Railroad, their part of the line stretching from Michigan City, Ind., to,Chicago, and employing them during the summer of 1852. Duncan McGregor next went to LaSalle, Ill., where he superintended tbe laying of the track of the Illinois Central Railroad to Bloomington, it being the first road to enter the latter city. He tben made his home at Blooming- ton for several years, bolding the position of con. duetor on the I. C. R. R. In 1858 he went to Texas to take charge of the track laying of the Texas Central which ran to Huston.

During the Rebellion Duncan MeGregor assisted in building the Brazos River Railroad. While in that section of country he was pressed into the serv- ice of the Confederates in constructing and re- pairing railroads, and also ran a locomotive for them over different roads until the engine was so worn and the boiler so leaky that he was compelled to abandon it. At this the Confederates became enraged and were going to hang him, but by deter- mined effort he made his eseape toward the Gulf, where he was picked up by a Northern vessel and reached a place of safety. He tben came North to

Logansport, Ind., where he was employed as an en- gineer and eonduetor on the C. C. & I. C. R. R. for several years. On the night of his death he had taken the place of another engineer to run out an extra. When nearing the city of Columbus, Ohio, an obstruction upon the traek threw the lo- comotive from the rails, and in the wreek he was instantly killed. This terrible aeeident occurred in 1874. Dnnean McGregor was classed among thic best railroad men of the West.

M RS. MARY C. KIRKPATRICK, widow of Thomas K. Kirkpatrick, owns and occu- pies a good home in White Oak Township, on section 34, and has been a resident of the Prairie. State for nearly forty years. She was born in Rockbridge County, Va., Sept. 14, 1809, being the daughter of George and Ellen (Lowry) Guylinger. Her father was born in New York about the time of the Revolutionary War, and her mother, a native of Scotland, was about six years the senior of her husband. They were married in Rockbridge County, Va., in 1807, and remained there until 1840, when they removed to Ohio, and rented land in Adams County, where Mr. Guylin- ger died in the seventy-second year of his age. The mother preceded him three years, living to be seventy-five years old. They were members of what was known as the Seeeders' Church. Mr. Guylinger was Republican in politics. They had a family of three children: John married Miss Martha Finley; Susan beeame Mrs. Richard Kirk- patrick, and Mary C. of our sketeh was the eldest.

Mrs. K. was reared under the home roof and re- eeived a fair education in the common schools. She was married to Thomas Kirkpatrick in Adanıs County, Obio, Sept. 6, 1831, and they remained in Ohio until 1849, when they removed to this State and county, and located on the farm which is now the bome of Mrs. K. This comprises 160 acres of good land, with substantial farm buildings.

· Mr. K. was born in Bourbon Connty, Ky., in 1805, and departed this life at his bome in White Oak Township, Feb. 3, 1857. Mr. and Mrs. K. became the parents of eleven children, of whom

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only four are living, as follows: Ellen J. beeamc the wife of Adam Kirkpatrick, and they live in Bloomington; Adeline married John Kirkpatrick; George married Miss Catherine Wright, and Robert W., Miss Margaret Hilton. The seven deceased arc Samuel, who died April 30, 1859 ; James, Nov. 16, 1860; Margaret C .. Aug. 25, 1885; John died in 1862; Thomas M. died in 1863, and Sarah M. in 1865; Elvia A. was born Oet. 6, 1855, and died in 1873.

Mrs. Kirkpatrick is an active member of the United Presbyterian Church, and takes much in- terest in missionary work. She has been a good mother, a kind neighbor and friend, and enjoys the esteem and friendship of a large circle of acquaint- anees.

h IRAM BUCK, one of the honored pioneers of McLean County, has now attained to the age of fourseore years and six. He is a hale and hearty old gentleman, in full possession of his mental faculities, active as most men at sixty, suffers no bodily infirmities, and ean still hold the plow and ride on the back of spirited horses. His form has been a familiar one upon the streets of Empire Township for many years, and he is held in that peculiar veneration and respect taeit- ly accorded those who first pushed their way into the Western wilds and marked out the track of a later civilization.

Mr. Buck was born in the town of Ulysses, N. Y., which was then in Seneea but is now in Tompkins County. He first opened his eyes to the light on the 20th of March, 1801. His father, William Sherman Buek, was born in New Milford, Litchfield Co., Conn .; Feb. 17, 1764. His grandfather, James Buek, was also a native of the Nutmeg State and of English descent. The latter engaged in farming pursuits and spent his entire life in his native State. He married Miss Elizabeth Sherman, who was a na- tive of his own town and the sister of Roger Sher- man, who was famous in that day as a philosopher and a man of talents and learning.

The father of our subject learned the trade of tanner and currier in New Milford and worked

there until after he had attained his majority. He then went into Luzerne County, Pa., remaining there until about 1798, whence he removed to Phelps and Graham's Purchase in New York, and settled in the part now ineluded in the township of Ulysses. The removal from Pennsylvania was effected with ox-teams, part of the route lying through a traek- less wilderness. He purchased timber land and on a part of his first purchase now stands the village of Trumansburg. He had been there but a short time when, after clearing a part of his land, he established a tanyard and engaged in dressing hides and in shocmaking. For twenty years he did business without the assistance of railroads or canals. The only way of reaching market was to go overland along the rivers. There William S. Buek remained until 1818, and then selling his property proceeded further westward to Ohio. The journey to the head- waters of the Alleghany River was made overland, and he arrived there the 1st of March, 1818. On account of the great amount of iee in the river his journey was here delayed until the 13th of April. While thus waiting he built a boat and as soon as it could be launched, moved with his family upon it, down to North Bend, Ohio. He had sold his land in New York on time, and was obliged to rent land in order to pursue his further operations. IFe locat- ed in Hamilton County, Ohio, and rented land from President Harrison, until he could get pay for his own in New York State. He remained there eleven years, and then pulled up stakes again and started for Indiana, purchasing a farm in Switzerland Coun- ty, where he located and spent the remainder of his days, his deeease oeeurring on the 4th of Au- gust, 1844. His wife died in Hamilton County, Ohio, in October, 1827. The parental family eon- sisted of thirteen children, eleven sons and two daughters.

Hiram Buck was the eighth child and seventh son of his parents. He was seventeen years old when they removed from New York to Ohio. He assist- ed his father in clearing the farm and tilling the soil, received a limited education in the subscription sehools, and remained under the parental roof until 1826. He had inherited mueh of the energy and enterprise of his forefathers and at this time had en- gaged considerably in speculation on his own ac-

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eount. He made three trips down the river with a flatboat, transporting produce to varions points. He had improved his leisure time with his books, and in this manner had beeome well fitted for a teacher of those days, and employed his time during the winter season in dispensing knowledge to the sons of the early settlers, in the log school-house of those days. He possessed considerable musieal talents and also taught singing as well as day sehool. In 1826 he bought a stoek of goods and eommeneed mer- ehandising in Switzerland County, Ind. After two years thus oeeupied he purchased a traet of timber land and found a ready market for wood which was used on the steamboats, coal not then having been discovered or mined iu that region. In 1833, after having considerably enhaneed the value of his prop- erty he sold out, and started for Illinois, via the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Leaving his family in Beardstown, Ill., he eame on to MeLean County, where he proeured two teams and returned. for his family and household goods. His means were limited, but he purchased eighty aeres of land at $1.50 per aere in Randolph Township, and after building a log eabin, removed his family, and raised a erop upon rented land that year. The follow- ing year he raised his first erop on his own land and proceeded with its cultivation and improvement. In 1837 he sold out and eame to Le Roy, where he purchased village property and also farm land. He built the first hotel in the place, naming it after the town. He soon succeeded in seeuring a post-office and officiated as the first Postmaster. He conduet- ed this hotel for eight years and was remarkably sneeessful in his farming and business operations. In 1851 he removed to the farm he now owns and oeeupies and on which he has been a continuous resident sinee that time, a period of thirty-six years.

The first purchase which Mr. Buek made in this vieinity consisted of 172 aeres, to which he added as time passed until he became the owner of 965 aeres, all in Empire and Downs Townships. It is now all improved and under a fine state of cultiva- tion, being operated mostly by tenants, but Mr. Buek has always exercised a general oversight of the whole, and its valuable condition to-day is owing to this remarkable energy and foresight. The land has been devoted to mixed husbandry and stoek-raising

and has yielded its owner a handsome income. It is beautifully located and its broad aeres streteh over a fine traet of country, forming one of the most attractive spots in MeLean County.

The marriage of Hiram Buek and Miss Mercy Karr was celebrated in Ohio on the 5th of April, 1827. Mrs. Buek was born in that part of Sussex which is now Warren County, N. J., on the 16th of November, 1806, being the daughter of Capt. John and Mary (Lee) Karr, natives of Pennsylvania. Her father commanded a company under Wayne's Legion in the Revolutionary War and after his re- tirement from the military service returned to New Jersey and engaged in farming pursuits. His death oceurred at the home of our subjeet in Le Roy in 1840, after he had beeome eighty-two years of age.

. Mrs. Merey Buek died at the home of her hus- band in Le Roy Township, Aug. 6, 1886. They had become the parents of six children, five now living: Amanda M. married James Crumbangh and lives in Empire Township, which is also the residenee of Thomas L; Elizabeth died when three years of age ; Martha E. became the wife of John MeConnell and lives in Downs Township; Naney J. married Isaae T. Dawson and lives in Downs Township; Charles Albert is on the home farm. Mr. Buek has been Postmaster of three different offices-of Pat- riot, Ind., and Randolph and Le Roy, in MeLean County. He received his first appointment from President John Q. Adams, and served in this ca- paeity under Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison, Tyler and Polk. He was School Trustee in Indiana, and Clerk and Treasurer of the Board several years. He was Deputy County Surveyor and School Trustee under the Constitution of 1848, and eleeted a Coun- ty Judge in 1851, to fill a vaeaney. Two years later he was elected for the full term of four years, and re-elected in 1857. He joined the State Militia in Ohio, and when twenty-three years of age was eleeted Captain of the first company of the 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade and 1st Division of the Militia of that State. The same year he came to Illinois he joined the militia of this State, being soon promoted Adjutant, and in the late war he endeavored to enlist as a Union soldier but was rejected on aeeount of his age.

In polities Mr. Buek was formerly identified with

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the Whig party and east his first presidential vote for John Q. Adams, in 1824. He has voted at six- teen presidential elections, and continued a Whig until the abandonment of the old party by the organization of the Republicans. Then he eheer- fully indorsed the principles of the latter and has sinee east liis vote with that party. Mr. Buek was Supervisor of Empire Township four years and served as Justice of the Peace eighteen years. In 1874 he was appointed a Trustee of the Industrial Sehool at Urbana by Gov. Beveridge, and the follow- ing year elected a Trustee of Lombard University.

The mother of Mr. Buek, who before her mar- riage was Miss Berentha York, was a native of Stonington, Conn., and born Sept. 27, 1770. IIer father, Amos York, also a native of Connecticut, afterward removed to Pennsylvania, loeating in Luzerne County, and being among the earliest set- tlers of that region, when the country was peopled largely by Indians. In February, 1778, the Indians surrounded his house, took all his goods and eattle, made him prisoner and carried him to Canada, where he was held in captivity for two years. He . was then released, but died soon after his return home. His wife was thus left a widow with ten daughters and one son, the youngest a babe at the breast. She removed to Wyoming with her ehil- dren and was there at the time of the Indian mas- saere, being one of the few who escaped iu a eanoe down the Susquehanna River. She afterward made lier home in Luzerne County, Pa., and died at the age of ninety years. Mr. Buek is a devout Uni- versalist and contributed largely toward building the chapel in Le Roy ; it is named after Mrs. Buek, being known as "Merey Chapel."

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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 57

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