Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 61

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 61

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AMES M. HALLETT, deceased, was a highly respected resident of Bloomington, enjoy- ing the esteem and confidence of a host of friends. Mr. Hallett was a native of En- gland, his birth taking place in 1814. His parents were Joseph and Sophia (Mecch) Hallett, natives of the same country, the father being a baker by trade, which business he followed the greater part of his life. They had a family of three children, all of whom are deceased. Our subjeet attended school until nine years of age, and then began to assist his father in the bakery, continuing with him until twenty-five years of age. At that time his father died, and the son carried on the business until 1852. He then departed from his native land to the New World, first loeating in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained five years engaged at his trade. In 1857 he came to Bloomington, still pur- suing his early occupation. In 1861 he purchased the home where his family now reside; he was suc- eessful in his business operations, and made for himself a good reputation as a thorough business man and reliable citizen.

James M. Hallett was united in marriage with

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

Miss Lydia Davy in 1837, in his native England. Mrs. H. was the daughter of William 'and Lydia (Raindel) Davy, also natives of England, and the father a tailor by trade. The parental family em- braced seven children, of whom Mrs. Hallet is the only one living. By her union with our subject she became the mother of cight children, three of whom died in childhood; the record is as follows: Will- iam married Miss Emma Hartley, and they have four children-Carrie, William, Harley and Ethel; Joseph, a physician, married Miss Ella Rodenbeck, and they have two children-Jaines and Addison; James married Miss Elizabeth Wilson, and they have had three children-Rose (deceased), Edith and Edna; Lydia is a teacher in the McLean County public schools; Elizabeth is at home with her parents. Mr. Hallett departed this life Feb. 21, 1887, aged seventy-two years. He was a Re- publican in politics, and a member of the 1. O. O. F. Mrs. H. is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ARQUIS L. QUINN. one of the progressive young farmers of Bloomington Township, is successfully engaged in cultivating 250 acres of land, and has a handsome farm residence located in the southwest part of the township on section 31. Mr. Quinn was born upon the homestead where he now resides, April 17, 1860. Hc received his primary education in this township and completed his studies in the High School at Shirley. He took possession of the farm in the spring of 1882, and has operated it success- fully since that time.

Mr. Quinn was married at the home of the bride's parents in Funk's Grovc, to Miss Addie, the daughter of H. L. Jackson, who has been a resident of Funk's Grove Township for a period of eighteen years. Mr. Jackson came from Kentucky to this county soon after his marriage with Miss Margaret Thomas, who became the mother of nine children, of whom the wife of our subject was the sixth in order of birth. Mrs. Addie Quinn' was born in Shirley, this county, Oct. 1, 1863, and remained

with her parents until her marriage. Of her union with our subject there have been born two chil- dren-Lee, who died when eight months old, and Georgia L., born Dec. 6, 1886.

Mr. Quinn was the eighth of a family of ten children. His parents, Sidney M. and Sallie A. Quinn, came from Kentucky in 1851, and the father died at his home in this township in 1882, having been a resident of the Prairie State for a period of thirty years. The mother is still living, making her home at No. 907 West Wood street, Bloomington.

Since his marriage Mr. Quinn has been conduct- ing the affairs of his mother's large farm, and has given much attention to the raising of fine stock. He is a solid Republican in politics, and with his wife, a worthy member of the Christian Church.

J OHN HAY, one of the honored pioneers of the Prairie State, came to Illinois in the spring of 1834, and has witnessed with keen interest and satisfaction its rapid develop- ment and prosperity. During a long residence' in Danvers Township he has become widely and favor- ably known as one of its most reliable and valued citizens. He is now far down the sunset hill of life and remembers many of its interesting events with vivid distinctness, possessing all his faculties to a remarkable degree. He has been a member of the Christian Church for a period of over fifty- five years. He owns and occupies a fine homestead of 120 acres of valuable land, and is an ever wel- come and familiar figure in the vicinity which has known him so long and known nothing of him but good.

The subject of our sketch was born in Washing ton County, Va., March 18, 1797, and is conse- quently now over ninety years of age. He is the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Finley) Hay, natives respectively of Massachusetts and Virginia. His inother was born in Augusta County in the latter State, and Peter Hay, in Boston, Mass. The latter, when a young man, went to Richmond, Va., and there followed the business of a tinner, witlı which he was occupied at intervals through life, in the

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meantime also being engaged in farming pursuits. After their marriage the parents removed to Logan County, Ky., in about 1801, and resided there for nearly twenty years. Thenee they removed to Christian County in the same State, where the father died in 1824, and the mother followed him after a few months. They were both connected with the old-school Presbyterians. Their ehildren were named as follows: Jane B., Mary F., Mareia S., Rachel, Catharine, John and George F., the two latter being the only representatives of the family living.

Mr. Hay remained under the parental roof until after attaining his majority, receiving a common- school education and learning to spell from the " Old Dillworth." In the spring of 1834 he came West, in the meantime having been married, and purchased a section of land near his present home, to which he removed his family the following spring. His marriage occurred in October, 1821, when he was twenty-four years of age, the maiden of liis choice being Miss Seley Killebrew, who re- mained his companion for a period of nineteen years, and departed this life on the 9th of August, 1840. Their children were: Samuel S., Peter G., Sarahı E., John W., Mary J., Susan G .. Seley E., Joseph E., and one daughter who died unnamed.

Mr. Hay for his second wife married Mrs. Saralı Daniels, of South Grove, Ill., who was born Sept. 5, 1810. This lady died on the 22d of February, 1858, leaving one child, Alphia, who was born Mareh 5, 1843. In 1860 our subjeet married Mrs. Cynthia Rowell, the mother of Hon. J. H. Rowell, Member of Congress, and this lady died Nov. 4, 1867. Of the four children of Mr. Ilay living, all are residents of Illinois. Soon after coming here John Ilay became actively interested in the affairs of this section. At the time of his arrival, the township was not organized, although a Justice of the Peace was required, and he filled the position withi eredit to himself and satisfaction to all eoneerned. Ile was also School Director and Township Trustee for a number of years.

· Susan G. Hay, a daughter of our subjeet, who was born in Illinois in 1835, became the wife of George Moe on the 5th of January, 1868; the latter was born in Michigan in 1837, and during the late

war enlisted as a Union soldier in the 4th Michigan Cavalry. He was wounded at the battle of Ken- nesaw Mountain and afterward, on aeeont of this, received his discharge and is now drawing a small pension from the Government. Mr. and Mrs. Moe are now living in Colorado, the former being en- gaged in mining. Mr. M. is Republiean in polities and belongs to the Masonie fraternity, being a member of a Bloomington Lodge. Mrs. Moe be- longs to the Order of the Eastern Star and is also a member in good standing of the Christian Churel.

B ENJAMIN F. NICKERSON is engaged in the livery business and as a breeder of fine horses. He owns at present the celebrated Almont King, a roadster stallion, destined to be the finest specimen of his kind in this locality. He was sired by the well-known Mammoint, dam by Powers Denmark, and was foaled June 9, 1881. This animal weiglis about 1,150 pounds, is a bright, riel bay in color and a model of beauty and sym- metry. The record of his half-brother, Louis R., is 2:23}. Mr. N. also has in his possession the beauti- ful horse, Paul Bego, the 2d. This is a dark bay, sixteen and one-half hands high, eight years of age, and weighs 1,400 pounds, with the kindest disposi- tion of the breed of which he is a member. The other animals in the stable of Mr. Niekerson are of the best and most popular breeds, and their pro- prietor fully understands their eare and require- ments. He has a genuine love for his business, and is fast making for himself an enviable reputation as a breeder and a judge of fine horses.

Mr. Niekerson has been a resident of Heyworth since the fall of 1881, when he established his busi- ness. He had previously been engaged in farming in Funk's Grove Township, on seetion 31, where lie located in March, 1875, upon a traet of land of eighty-three aeres which he had purchased and which was well improved. He yet retains his farm" property, and has other real estate in the village of Heyworth.

Mr. Niekerson was born in Randolph Township, Sept. 8, 1851. His father, Albert N., was one of the early pioneers of McLean Couuty, coming here

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McLEAN COUNTY.

nearly half a century ago, and establishing him self in Randolph Township. Ile had previously with his family spent a few months in Missouri, whiell was then an unbroken wilderness through which Indians and other wild game roamed in plenty. The family lived in a covered wagon, intending at first to locate there, but the outlook was too dis- eonraging and they reerossed the river to this county. There were then only a few settlers in this loeality, but the father of our subjeet believed that it would develop into something great in the future, and with the sturdy resolution common to the pioneers of that day resolved to make his lo- eation here. He cultivated and improved his traet of land in Randolph Township and established a comfortable home for his family, remaining there nutil 1871, when he removed to Heyworth and lived retired from aetive labor until his death, which oeeurred in November, 1886, when he was seventy-seven years old.

The father of our subjeet was one of the most highly respected and substantial eitizens of Ran- dolph Township, an Elder in the Christian Church, and Democratie in polities. His wife, formerly Miss Ellen Cook, was his faithful and devoted eom- panion and is still living, making her home with her children in Heyworth. She was the sympathizer of her husband in all his undertakings, and with him united with the Christian Church, being noted for her womanly sympathies and kind deeds.

The subject of this history was the seventh ehild and youngest son of a family of ten, seven sons and three daughters. Of these there are yet six sons living, but the daughters are all deceased. Mr. N. was reared in the manner common to most far- mers' boys, and received only three months' sehool- ing annually, until he was eighteen years old. IIe was reared to habits of industry, and at an early age eommeneed to work npon the farm, remaining under the parental roof until his marriage, whieli oeeurred Feb. 11, 1875, the maiden of his choiee being Miss Fidelia A. Washburn, who was a native of Heyworth and born Aug. 7, 1853. Mrs. N. re- eeived her education in her native village, beeame a teacher of inusie before her marriage, and has since occasionally applied herself to this profession. She possesses mneh talent in this direction, being a

skillful performer on the piano. Mr. and Mrs. N. have beeomne the parents of six children, four now deeeased-Mande, Claude, Homer and an infant un- named. Those surviving are Lena M. and John A. Mrs. Nickerson is a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. N. is an ener- getie and straightforward business man; politieally he is a reliable Demoerat.

ESSE OGDEN, a well-known eitizen of Me- . Lean County and a large land-owner and progressive farmer of Money Creek Town- 'ship, and also Supervisor of that township, resides on seetion 32, where he is engaged in gen- eral farmning. His parents were Benjamin and Saralı Ogden, the formner born in what was known as the " Piekaway Claim," Ohio, and the latter in Pennsylvania. The parents resided in Pickaway Connty, Ohio, where the father was engaged in farming, and whenee they removed to Fayette Connty, tliat State, and there resided until the fall of 1830, when they eame to this county, niak- ing the trip overland. They settled ou section 28, Money Creek Township, and there the father eon- tinued his labor as a farmer until his death, which event took place Sept. 27, 1873. The mother died in the same township in the latter part of October, 1883. Six of their ten children lived to attain tlie age of maturity, namely, Maria, Amanda, Jesse, Margaret, Elizabeth and Mary. Maria is the widow of Dr. Ethan MeAfferty, who died in Money Creek Township Nov. 27, 1884, and she is still living in that township; Amanda is the widow of Jonathan MeAfferty, who died Dee. 11, 1863; Margaret is the wife of Wade Hayworth, a resi- dent of Money Creek Township; Elizabeth married J. W. Stover, a farmer of that township, and Mary died in the same township.

Jesse Ogden was born in the township in which he at present resides, July 26, 1834. Ile was reared to manhood on the old homestead of his father and received his education in the schools of this eounty. He has known no other voeation in life than that of a farmer, and is at present the owner of 500 aeres of valnable land, nearly all of which is under

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McLEAN COUNTY.

an advanced state of cultivation. He has held the office of Supervisor of Money Creek Township for several years, and has also been Assessor of the township for two terms. Socially he is a member of the Masonie fraternity, and in polities votes the Republiean tieket.

M RS. SARAH B. AYERS, widow of Rev. Hiram Ayers, formerly of Bloomington City, occupies a pleasant and comfortable liome at No. 610 East Mulberry street, and has been a resident of this eity sinee 1875. Rev. Hiram Ayers was born in Pennsylvania in 1840, being the son of Benjamin and Lueinda (Wass) Ayers, also natives of the Keystone State, and en- gaged in farming pursuits. They came to Tazewell County, Ill., in 1842, and located upon a farm which remained their permanent home. There the father departed this life in 1880; the mother is still living on the old homestead.

Ifiram Ayers remained an inmate of his father's house until seventeen years of age, and then eame to Bloomington for the purpose of attending Wes- leyan University. From this institution he grad- uated in 1863, and soon afterward became a eireuit preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was devotedly attached to the cause of Christ, and continued to preach and labor for the Master until his death, in 1870. He was a man possessed of the rare faculty of making and retaining friends, and at his death was universally lamented.

The marriage of Rev. Hiram Ayers and Miss Sarah S. Bishop took place in Bloomington, Nov. 17, 1864. Mrs. Ayers was born in 1843, in Old Town Township, MeLean County, and was the daughter of William and Margaret (Lake) Bishop, both natives of Virginia. They came to Ohio in 1821, and engaged in farming until 1833. They then removed to Illinois and located in Old Town Township, which remained their home during the lifetime of the, father, his death having oceurred in 1855. Mr. Bishop at one time was an extensive land-holder, and purchased in all about 2,000 acres. He was one of the substantial and prosper- ous men of his community, and in all respeets a

useful eitizen. The mother of Mrs. Ayers, after the death of her husband, removed to Bloomington, where she now lives at the advanced age of eighty- three years. The parental family of eight children are all living, and were named Harvey, Henry, Samuel, George, William, Elizabeth (Mrs. Roop), Susan (Mrs. Rayburn), and Sarah B., our subjeet.

Mr. and Mrs. Ayers became the parents of two children-Albert E., born in 1868, and Lottie V., in 1869. The subject of this history is a most es- timable lady, greatly esteemed by her friends and associates, and earnestly devoted to her children and her home.

B. IVES, a worthy member of the legal profession in Bloomington, is a native of the Empire State, and was born in Chau- tauqua County, N. Y., in 1816. He is the son of . Almond and Naney (Tombling) Ives, na- tives respectively of Vermont and New York, the father being engaged in farming in the latter State during the earlier years of his life. He came with his family to Illinois in 1834, settling in Kendall County, near Yorkville, where he had purchased 300 aeres of Government land. This remained the home of the family until 1854. They then eame to this eounty and lived in Bloomington three years, thenee removed to Amboy, Lee County, where the mother died in 1861, and the father in 1863. Of their ten ehildren, seven are now living -Almond B., Simeon P., William E., Franklin B., Enos J., Sarah M. (Mrs. Tooker), and Naney M. (Mrs. Sears). Mr. Ives was County Judge of Kendall County, and Justice of the Peace for thirty years; he also served as County Surveyor and Reeorder. Both parents were members of the Baptist Church, in which the father was a Deaeon for many years. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, as also did the maternal grandfather of our subjeet, the latter receiving honorable wounds.

Mr. Ives of our sketeh deseended from excel- lent Englishi aneestry, the first representatives of the family in this country having been noted for their usefulness as eitizens and their energy and enterprise as business inen. Young Ives remained

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on his father's farm until he was seventeen years old, then came westward with his parents to Illi- nois. Ile was a resident of Chicago some months in 1834, and in 1836 took up a claim in Kendall County, near Plano, which he cultivated and im- proved until 1848. He then sold out and removed to Oswego, the county seat, where lie engaged in the practice of law five years, and then came to Bloomington, where he has continued his practice since.

Mr. Ives was married in 1835, to Miss Sarah Ervin, of Kendall County, Ill., and of this union there were born six children-Mary P. (Mrs. Gage), Almira S. (Mrs. Burnham), William W., Alınond T., Isaac N. and Nellie C. Mrs. Saralı Ives died at the home of her husband, in Blooming- ton, June 14, 1854. He was subsequently married to Miss Lucinda Barber, of New York, of which union two children were born, only one of whom is now living, a son, Ellis L. Mr. Ives is Repub- lican in politics, and one of the representative busi- ness men of Bloomington, respected for his moral and intellectual worth.

ACOB P. JUNG, one of the prominent busi- ness men of Bloomington City, is a member of the firm of Higgins & Co., marble and granite manufacturers, whose place of busi- ness is located at Nos. 227 and 229 East Front street. The subject of this history was born in Nauvoo, Hancock County, this State, on the 9th of February, 1850. He is the son of Christian and Elizabeth (Brandenberger) Jung, natives respect- ively of Coblentz and Bergen, Germany. They emigrated to the United States before their mar- riage, the father in 1838. He first located in New Orleans whence, after a brief stay, he proceeded to New York and thence southwestward to St. Louis, Mo., where he remained until the Mormon troubles of 1848. Thence he removed to Nauvoo, and en- gaged as a contractor for plastering and stone- work, and where he now resides, retired from the active labors of life.

The parental family included ten children, six now living, as follows: Julia, Mrs. John Erb, re-

sides in Keokuk, Iowa; Maggie, Mrs. Nifer, in Cali- fornia; Jacob P., in Bloomington; Lizzic, in Keo- kuk, also Mary M., Mrs. Carmichael; Henrietta is in Chicago. Christian Jung has been a prominent man in his community since coming to this State. He was President of the City Board of Nauvoo, and has also served as Alderman. He built the first German Lutheran Church there, and after the set- tlement of the Mormon troubles brought the first Lutheran minister from St. Louis there to preach, and kept him in his own family for a year. He early be- came identified with the Democratic party. He was one of the first to settle in Nauvoo after the Mor- mons had practically been driven out, and while engaged with others in armed opposition to them, was taken prisoner and held six weeks in the Tem- ple, whence he.finally made his escape.

Jacob P. Jung left the parental roof at thirteen years of age, and going to Keokuk, Iowa, first en- gaged with H. K. Love, a banker. After two months he was employed to ride horses across the line from Missouri into Illinois for one summer, the Civil War then being in progress. He then re- turned to Keokuk for a short time, and from there went to Quincy, Ill., and served an apprenticeship in the drug business with Dr. John W. Ritter, for two years and five months. Thence he went to St. Louis and engaged in business whencc, after four months, he returned to his home in Nauvoo. From therc, in 1869, he came to Bloomington, Ill., and engaged with Peter Greenwalt as a stone-cutter, with whom he remained five months, and was variously engaged until May of that year, when lie became an apprentice to a marble cutter, at which he served three years. Then, after a short time spent at each of the cities of St. Louis, Indianapo- lis and Cincinnati, he established business for him- self in Nauvoo, where he remained for two years and until 1876, when he went to South Alabama, and was employed in the Government Works in July, 1877. He then came to Bloomington, where, after being employed at his trade for four months, lie became associated with his present partner in September, 1878. Eight years later [1886] they put up their present marble front, and are now do- ing an extensive and profitable business.

Mr. Jung was married in 1881, to Mrs. Mary

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

Cannon, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and the daughter of Hlughi and Mary MeLean. By her former husband Mrs. J. became the mother of two sons-William and John-and of her union with our subject there have been born a son and daughter-Gracie E. and Jacob P'. The family residence is located at No. 713 East Front street, where its ininates are enjoy- ing all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. Mr. Jung is Democratie in polities, and so- eially is a member in good standing of the K. of P.

C HIRISTIAN UMMEL, a resident of Danvers, and an extensive importer of fine horses, is widely and favorably known throughout this section. He is a native of Switzerland, born in the Canton of Neuehatel, Jan. 22, 1852, being the son of John and Mary A. (Slatter) Ummel, the father a native of Switzerland, born Feb. 7, 1801, and the mother of Franee, born June 13, 1811. John Ummel was a farmer and stoek-raiser, and spent his entire life in his native land, dying there June 28, 1877. The decease of the mother had occurred previously, June 13, 1869. The parental household ineluded nine children, as follows: Mary A., Mrs. Christian Ranseyer; Anna, Mrs. John Ranseyer; Rosina, Mrs. Abraham Kohler; Eliza- beth, Mrs. Phillip Kohler; Susan, Mrs. David Um- mel; David, who married Anna Kohler, and John, who married Elizabeth Saltzman; Henry for his first wife married Miss Anna Ummel, who died, and he was again married, to Miss Louise Nussel; he still lives in Switzerland; Christian, of our sketeh, was the youngest of the family. The par- ents were connected with the Mennonite Church, and were most worthy and excellent people, and greatly respected by all who knew them.

Christian Ummel was reared to manhood in his native land, and after reaching his majority, set sail for America in 1870. He landed in New Or- leans, and from there went to Butler County, Ohio, where he was employed on a farm by the month for three years following. Ile then came to Illi- nois, rented land in this eounty, and commeneed farming on his own account. In 1875 he was mar- ried to Miss Lydia Kohler, and they became the

parents of one child, which died when but seven months old. This lady was the daughter of Chris- tian and Susanna Kohler, natives of Switzerland. She departed this life Nov. 22, 1878, having died of consumption, and her remains were laid to rest in Imhoff Cemetery. She was a lady highly es- teemed for her exeellent qualities of mind and heart. She was an affectionate wife and a kind mother, and her name is held in kindly remem- branee by a large eirele of friends and aequaint- anecs.

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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 61

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