Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 62

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 62

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).

The second wife of our subject, to whom he was inarried in 1883, was Miss Catherine, the daughter of John and Barbara (Slatter) Slanaker, natives re- speetively of France and Switzerland. The father was born April 19, 1809, and the mother May 22, 1810. They were married in Butler County, Ohio, in 1833, each having come to this country early in life, the father in 1824. Their six children were, Mary, Louisa, Barbara, Catherine, John and Joseph.

After his marriage Mr. Ummel continued farm- ing until 1884, when he removed into the village of Danvers, having purchased there a good resi- denee which made a pleasant and convenient home for his family. He is dealing principally in Nor- man stock, and has two especially fine animals, be- sides a black Norman which he prizes very highly, and is considered by those well posted, one of the finest that has ever been imported into this eoun- try. Mr. Ummel, formerly Republiean, is now in- dependent in polities.

UDSON R. MASON, Secretary and General Manager of the Bloomington Mutual Life Benefit Association, and one of the self- made and wealthy men of Bloomington, is a native of New York, having been born on a farm in Oswego County, in September, 1841. His par- ents were Stephen R. and Sallie (Johnson) Mason, both of whom were born and reared in Massaehu- setts. Stephen R. Mason was a farmer of modest means, with a family of ten children, of whom our subject was the youngest. The latter remained on the farm with his parents until he had nearly reached his majority, having pursued his primary studies in

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the common schools and completing them in the academy at Mexico Village near his home. He then went to Syracuse, N. Y., where he became book- keeper for the firm of Phelps & Chase, manufaetnr- ers of pianos and organs, in whose employ he re- mained until 1865, in which year he came to Bloom- ington. He still continued in the employ of the old firm after reaching this eity, as a salesman of their pianos and organs.

Mr. Mason was afterward employed by Gillett & Steere, and in 1866 began operating in local fire insurance. During that year he was also appointed State Agent for the Phoenix Fire Insurance Com- pany, of Hartford, Conn., and in this capacity proved himself master of the situation. He had charge of about 800 agents, and was the principal adjuster in case of loss. The insurance business proved very remunerative, and Mr. Mason con- tinued in it for a period of seventeen years. The company lost heavily in the great Chicago fire of 1871. In May, 1883, Mr. Mason was appointed General Manager of the Bloomington Mutual Life Benefit Assocation, which is fast becoming one of the substantial institutions of the eity, principally owing to the discreet and wise management of our subjeet. The company operates over a wide ex- tent of territory, including the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota.

Judson R. Mason was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Rowan, of Bloomington, in 1865. Mrs. M. is the daughter of Martin B. Rowan, Esq., and grand-daughter of Dr. Isaac Baker, of Blooming- ton. Of this union there was born one ehild- Harry R.

Mr. Mason has served in many important posi- tions connected with the Masonie fraternity, and has held all of the offices in the Sunday-School Un- ion in the State Sunday-School Association, and is one of the most active members of the First Bap- tist Church of Bloomington, having officiated in its Sabbath-school as 'Superintendent for the past ten years. He is also President of the Board of Water Works, and at present aeting Mayor of the eity, also Chairman of the Financial Committee and Al- derman of the First Ward. The association with which Mr. Mason is connected has grown from a few members to the number of 9,000 and is represented

by nearly 1,000 agents. Mr. Mason has evineed financial ability equally well in his private affairs, as he eamc to Bloomington with seanty nieans and is now the possessor of a fine property, including one of the finest residenees in the city. He has in contemplation the ereetion of a fine business block tlie coming season, and is accounted one of the most useful and enterprising members of the eom- munity.

OHN A. MACE, editor and proprietor of the Saybrook Weekly Gazette, has been a resident of the Prairie State since 1869, in which year, when a youth of sixteen, he came to this county with his parents. His birth took place in Chester County, Pa., Oct. 10, 1853, and he is the son of Joseph and Mary E. (Thornbury) Mace, na- tives of the same county and State as their son. Joseph Maee was born Feb. 12, 1829, and learned the trade of a miller early in life, which he has fol- lowed since that time. Upon 'coming into this State he located first in Bloomington, whenee after three years he removed to Shirley, and subsequently to Cheney's Grove, where he rented a farm and also purchased 120 aeres, operating the two tracts of land for two years thereafter. He then sold the farm and removed to Saybrook, where he resided one year. In 1876 he went to Michigan and located in Durand, Shiawassee County, whence he removed in 1886 to Baneroft, that State, of which he is still a resident. He is a faithful adherent of the Re- publiean party, and became a Mason before leaving Pennsylvania. The mother of our subjeet was born April 17, 1834, and married to Joseph Mace in 1850. Her parents were Yearsley and Elizabeth (Valentine) Thornbury, also natives of the Key- stone State, and of English ancestry. Mrs. Thorn- bury is still living, having arrived at the advanced age of eighty-six years; her husband died in 1886. Their six children were Thomas, John, Mary E., Phebe, Paseal and Clara. Joseph and Mary E. Maee became the parents of Benjamin P., Marshall T., John A., Sarah Ella B. (deceased), Mary P., Josephi C., Paul V., Lizzie I., Hanson T., Clarence (deceased) and Nimrod.

John A. Mace eommeneed business for himself as

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elerk in a drug-store. He soon afterward took up the study of pharmacy, and was employed three years in the drug-store of E. Il. Shores, Saybrook, Ill., during which time he gained an excellent in- sight into the business, and was registered as a com- petent pharmacist. He was afterward connected with the drug establishment of Creed McDaniel, of Saybrook, with whom he remained until 1882. Ilis attention in the meantime had hecn directed to journalistie matters, and he decided to change his occupation to one which he felt was more suited to his taste. He accordingly purchased the Saybrook Herald, afterward changing it to its present title. He is a elear and forcible writer, and has evineed rare business talent in the management of the Ga- zette, which has now become one of the leading pa- pers of the county. He is of that happy turn by which he can adapt himself to almost all eireum- stances, and has been successful in his various under- takings, being possessed of unusual energy and the resolution which admits of no such word as "fail."

The subject of our sketch was married to Miss Mattie S. Crigler, Feh. 20, 1884, and to them has been born one child, a daughter, Ruth E., the date of her birth heing Oet. 15, 1886. Mr. Maee is what is called a genuine mosshack Democrat, and for faithful service to the party was appointed Postmaster at Saybrook, Ill., Aug. 11, 1885, which position he still holds, and is proving himself a capable and efficient public servant.

P RANK HENDER, the proprietor of one of the finest farms in Belleflower Township, is lo- eated on seetions 8 and 9, where he has made his home since 1871. He has a handsome and substantial residence, a good barn and all other necessary out-buildings, and a good supply of fruit trees. Around the dwelling are planted handsome shade and ornamental trees, and the homestead in all respeets presents one of the most attractive spots in the landscape of this seetion. Mr. Hender is very actively engaged in stock-raising, and at present has eighty head of cattle, 100 head of Cots- wold and Southdown sheep, besides about fourteen head of horses. Owing to cholera his hog crop is

rather light at present, he having only ahout twenty lead.

Mr. Hender is an Englishunan by birth, and possesses in a marked degrec the reliable and sub- stantial elements of his countrymen. His hirth oc- curred in Hull, Yorkshire, Feb. 13, 1831. His par- ents were Matthew and Elcanor (Holingsworth) Hender. The father of our suhjeet followed the' sea for many years on a merchant vessel, and came to the United States in about 1854. Coming to the vicinity of Quincy, Ill., he purchased a small farm, which he occupied until 1859, when he started over- land for Pike's Peak, Col., accompanied by lis son, Thomas. There they purchased claims and dug for gold, and the father remained there the greater part of the time for three years following, in the mean- time, however, visiting his family two or three times. He returned to this State during the war, and removing to Davenport, Iowa, lived there for a time, and thenee removed to De Witt, Clinton County, where he spent the last years of his life. His widow now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Fred P. Kittenring, at De Witt, Clinton County.

The parental household ineluded nine children, of whom the record is as follows: James, the eldest, is a resident of Washington Territory; Frank, our subject, is the second son; Mary, Mrs. Dixon, lives in Washington Territory, and Walter in Davenport, Iowa; Thomas, when last heard from, was in one of the Territories; Matthew during the late war served in the 8th Iowa Infantry and was wounded and taken prisoner at Shiloh; he died at his home in Davenport about 1878; Henry, now of Washington Territory, also served as a soldier in the 7th Mis- souri Cavalry; Holingsworth, also in Washington Territory, served in the 28th Illinois Infantry : Eleanor, Mrs. Kittenring, lives in De Witt, Iowa.

Our subject comincneed the life of a sailor on a coaster with his father when young, which he con- tinned until sixteen years old. He was then placed in charge of five small vessels called "lighters" and which were used in removing the eargos from large ships to the land, via the rivers. He was thus em- ployed till 1849, and in December of that year set sail from Liverpool for the United States, landing in New York City after a voyage of forty-nine days .. His first business there was in assisting to dig a canal at

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Bordentown, N. J. Thence he soon afterward went to Pittsburgh, Pa., and was employed in a warehouse, of which he had charge for one year, and then started for the Southwest. Arriving at St. Louis, he engaged on the steamer "Arizona," which plicd between St. Louis and Memphis. After making four trips, winter coming on the steamer be- came ice-bound in the river, and he with others went on shore and chartered an ox-team to take them to St. Louis. This mode of locomotion being too slow, they abandoned the team and pushed ahead on foot. There were no houses on the road, and one night they were obliged to lay out on the ground and this in mid-winter. The second night they arrived at the route of the Iron Mountain Railroad then in process of construction, and there our subject engaged to superintend the cooking for 300 men. He was thus employed for six months, and then returning North to Quincy, Ill., engaged with Samuel Holmes, who was a contractor, and with whom he remained three years.

Mr. Henden then engaged with Comstock Bros., stove manufacturers, two years, after which liis em- ployers sent him to Galesburg in charge of a stock of stoves and tinwarc, and he there opened a store, which he managed for the firm until they sold out. He then engaged with another firm, with whom he continued six years and after this, in company with two partners, carried on the same business four years, the firm name being Hender, Zigler & An- drews. At the expiration of this time he disposed of his interest in the business to his partners and erected a building in connection with the Union Hotel, where he established in business alone. This building was destroyed by fire in 1871, and he then concluded to try farming. Coming to McLean County he purchased 140 acres, to which he has added until he now has 300 acres, which constitutes his present homestead, and upon which he has made great improvements since taking possession. The history of our subject thus briefly told, indicates him as a man possessed of more than ordinary abil- ity, with a remarkable faculty of adapting himself to circumstances. He has been uniformly prosper- ous in his business transactions, as the fine proper- ty which he now owns amply testifies.

Mr. Hender was married, April 12, 1858, to Miss

Lucretia Mccrary. Mrs. H. was born in Alabama, her father, Joseph MeCrary, being a native of South Carolina and of Scotch descent. He removed to Alabama when young, where he was married and lived until 1843. He then removed to this State and settled in Jefferson County, where he lived two ycars, whence he removed to Pcoria County and from there to Galesburg, where he spent the last years of his life. His wife, the mother of Mrs. H., also died there. Mr. and Mrs. H. have five chil- dren-Frank, Albert M., Lulu, Mary and Gertrude. The parents and three of the children are members of the Episcopal Church.

The mother of Mrs. Hender, who before her mar- riage was Miss Elizabeth Carter, was born in Vir- ginia, and was married first in her native State to Mr. Philgo, and went with him to Alabama, where he died about six months later. She departed this life at Galesburg in 1884.

R. JAMES F. MYERS, a prominent drug- gist and practicing physician of Saybrook, is a native of Ohio, born in Licking Coun- ty, Dec. 29, 1856. He is the son of Henry A. and Lovina (Schechter) Myers, both natives of the Buckeye State. Henry Myers in his prime fol- lowed farming pursuits, and at one time officiated as a minister of the Methodist Protestant Church. He is now retired from active labor, and pleasantly located on a farm in Randolph Township. The wife and mother still survives, and continues to be the faithful companion and sympathizer of her hus- band. She shared with him his earlier toils, and is now enjoying with him a deserved rest. Their ten children are recorded as follows: Theodosia A. be- came the wife of George W. Downs, and lives in Downs Township; Henry S. went to Washington Territory in 1883, and is now Street Commissioner of Spokane Falls; Margaret C. is at home and sin- gle; James F., of, our sketchi, was the fourth child ; William A. is deceased ; Rosc L., Mrs. Kershaw, is a resident of Empire Township; Otta died in infancy ; Anna J., Mrs. Fisher, resides in Fairmount, Ill .; Stanley, the youngest, is still with his parents.

Young Myers received his early education in the common schools, and when quite young evinced a

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decided taste for music. When eighteen years old he gave elose study to this art, which he taught at intervals for four years afterward, meantime attend- ing Westfield College, and the Evergreen City Commercial College of Bloomington. After leav- ing this institution he began the study of medieine with Drs. Hill & Barnes, of Bloomington, the two most noted physicians of the country, where he studied three years, and in the meantime taking leetures in Rush Medical College at Chicago. He graduated from the latter institution in February, 1883, and immediately commeneed the practice of his profession at Farmer City, De Witt Co., Ill. The third year he took in a partner, with whom he operated one year, then disposed of his praetiee to his partner and removed to Saybrook, which has since been his home. Here he has one of the finest drug-stores in the county, and numbers among his friends and patrons its most wealthy and intelligent people.

Dr. Myers was united in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Johnson, March 15, 1882. Mrs. M. is a native of this county, the daughter of J. C. and Elizabeth (Hargitt) Johnson, and was born Nov. 11, 1860. Her father, who is now a resident of Heyworth, was born in 1822, and the mother, Mareh 3, 1827. They were married and came to Illinois in 1858. Their eleven children are recorded as follows : Malinda is now Mrs. G. A. Niekerson; Thomas A. is the eldest son; Mary E., Mrs. Pass- waters, lives in Kansas; George S., Richard M., William R .; Sarah J., wife of our subjeet; Charles W., Alfred E. and Albert W. (twins), and James A. complete the list. The father of Mrs. Myers crossed the plains several times to California, and was riehly rewarded for his labors in the mines. He has been a great traveler, and there are few States in the Union which he has not visited. He has the faculty of observing the peculiarities of people and sections, and in this manner is possessed of a valua- ble fund of general information. His father before him was an astronomer, and his grandfather a highly educated gentleman.

Mr. and Mrs. Myers have two children : Daeie L., born Dee. 27, 1882, and Nettie E., Sept. 14, 1885. The family residence of our subjeet is pleasantly located, and is a home where refinement

and cultivated tastes are apparent in all its appoint- ments. The Doetor is Republican in polities, and as a citizen, neighbor and friend is highly es- teemed among his townsmen.

In addition to his regular college course Dr. Myers has taken great pains to instruet himself in the intricacies of his profession by employing pri- vate tutors. He has received certifieates from the Central Free Dispensary of West Chicago, Illinois Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary, and for a special course in each of the following: Surgical Anatomy, Clinie Diagnosis, Diseases of Women, Venereal and Skin Diseases, Diseases of Throat and Chest. The same are framed and adorn the walls of his offiee. His hospital practice and instruction have tended to make his medieal education and profieieney much above the average.

ONATHAN J. LANTZ, a native of the Buekeye State, but now a resident of Me- Lean County, is carrying on farming oper- ations in Danvers Township, on seetion 3, where he has uniformly met with success. His birth-place was Knox County, Ohio, and the date thereof 1839. His parents, Jonathan and Naney Lantz, were natives of Pennsylvania, where Jona- than Lantz, Sr., was born, in 1804, and his wife, Naney, four years later. They were engaged in farming pursuits, to which he had been reared from early childhood. He left his native State with his parents when about three years of age, and they lo- eated in Knox County, Ohio. There, after attain- ing his majority, the father of our subjeet pur- chased seventy aeres of land and was soon afterward united in marriage with Miss Anna Yoder, the wedding taking place in Knox County, in 1827. Five years later they removed westward to Illi- nois, and located in White Oak Township, MeLean County. Here Mrs. Anna Lantz departed this life in 1847, and the father of our subjeet made his- home with his children until his death, which oeeurred Aug. 13, 1885. The parental household consisted of the following children: Gideon mar- ried Miss Catherine Yoder and lives in Oregon; Benjamin died in infaney; Jonathan of our sketch

Maranda Collins

Robert. Collins

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was the third in order of birth; Jaeob married Miss Rebeeea Yoder; Lydia became the wife of Jaeob Zook; Jeptha married Miss Mary Yoder; John died in the ninth year of his age.

Jonathan J. Lantz, Jr., remained with his parents until the death of his mother, when he became em- ployed on a farm and thus continued until his mar- riage.` This event oceurred Nov. 9, 1862, the lady of his ehoiee being Miss Elizabeth Ehrisman. IIe then purchased 128 aeres of land in Danvers Town- ship, on seetion 4, which remained their home for a period of seventeen years. Mr. L. then sold out and purchased 160 aeres upon which he has ereeted a fine dwelling, a good barn and all necessary out- buildings. He owns a half interest in a large saw- mill, the proceeds of which yield him a handsome ineome. He has been prominent in publie matters sinee coming to this vieinity and has taken a gen- uine interest in the growth and advancement of his township. He held the office of Road Commissioner for nine years and is holding his third term as Township Assessor. He is Republiean in polities, and with his wife, a worthy member of the Menno- nite Church.

The parents of Mrs. Lantz were Daniel and Catherine Ehrisman, natives of Germany, where they were married in 1841. Eleven years later they sailed for the United States and New York City, whenee they immediately proceeded to Illi- nois and located in Tazewell County, where they spent the remainder of their lives, Mr. E. dying in 1870, and his wife in 1872.

Mr. and Mrs. Lantz became the parents of one ehild only, a son, Christian, who was born Jan. 5, 1864.

G EORGE BOHRER, a prominent farmer of MeLean County, owns and oceupies a eom- fortable homestead on seetion 10, which comprises 165 aeres, an attractive farm residenee, a good barn and out-buildings, and all the applianees of a first-elass agriculturist.

Mr. Bohrer has been a resident of MeLean C'ounty sinee he was a eliild of eighteen months old, when he removed with his parents from Brown County, Ohio. where he was born on the 26th of

Deeember, 1854. His father was Frederiek C. and his mother, Maria (Ziegler) Bohrer, and after eom- ing to Illinois they settled upon a farm in Norinal Township, this eounty, where our subjeet was reared and received his education in the common sehools. He remained under the parental roof un- til his marriage, which took place on the 26th day of December, 1878, the lady of his ehoiee being Miss Anna E. Bittner, a native of Butler County, Ohio. She was born June 30, 1856, and was the daughter of Conrad and Catharine (Lanz) Bittner. They removed from Ohio to McLean County when the wife of our subjeet was an infant ten weeks old.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. B. settled upon the farm which constitutes their present homestead. They have beeome the parents of three children --- Anna, Hattie and Edwin. Mr. Bohrer devotes mueh of his time to stoek-raising, and his pens and stables are supplied with some of the finest speei- mens of farm stoek in this part of the county. He has in all respeets distinguished himself as a useful eitizen, is Republiean in polities, and has lived a quiet and unostentatious life, doing good as he had opportunity, training his children in those prinei- ples which will constitute them an honor to their . parents and to society.

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R OBERT COLLINS, one of the honored pioneers of Downs Township, is now a resi- dent of Le Roy, where he lives retired from aetive labor, and is enjoying the comforts obtained by early industry and economy. He has watelied with deep interest the growth and pros- perity of his adopted eounty, and has contributed his full share toward its prosperity. Mr. Collins is a native of the Buekeye State, having been born in White Water Township, Hamilton Co., Ohio, Jan. 25, 1819. His father, Robert Collins, settled in Hamilton County at an early period in the history of that seetion, upon a traet of timber land, where he eleared a farm and established a comfortable home, which he oeeupied with his family until his deeease, in 1826.

After the death of the father, our subjeet was bound out to a shoemaker in Harrison Township,

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

with whom he served an apprenticeship of four years. Then, on account of the death of the wife of his employer, young Collins went to live with a brother of the same man, who was a farmer, and in company with him and his family came to Illinois. The journey was made overland, and after sixteen days' travel they arrived in this eounty on the 16th day of October. 1836. Our subjeet lived with his employer, Amos A. Miller, one year after their settlement in Randolph Township, and the two years following with John Mayberry. He then en- gaged with a carpenter in Empire Township, with whom he worked one year, and then purchased a elaim of forty acres on seetion 25 of what is now Downs Township. Upon this there was a log cabin, in which our subject, who had already taken unto himself a wife, removed and they eommeneed housekeeping. He had no money with which to enter the land at this time and was obliged to earn it, and worked at whatever he could find to do. He used to take jobs of splitting rails, and in due time by elose economy had earned enough to pay for the land. Mrs. Collins had a spinning-wheel and loom, and manufactured the eloth, then made " the clothing for her family. For a number of years they kept sheep which provided them with yarn for stoekings, and they raised flax, and in this manner kept the household supplied with linen. Mrs. C. also did considerable weaving for her neighbors, and thus earned mueh of the money which served to support the family, while her husband applied his toward the payment of their land. For a number of years the nearest market was Peoria, sixty miles away, it requiring four days to make the trip, and they carried their provisions along and cooked and eamped by the wayside. Wheat sold at different priecs, sometimes as low as 35 cents per bushel, and for corn at times they would only re- eeive 15 cents per bushel. Mr. Collins with his family remained upon their first purchase for a period of nearly forty-six years, or until February, 1886. He had been prospered in his farming and business transactions, and is now the owner of 224 acres, all in a good state of cultivation and fur- nished with a shapely and substantial set of frame buildings. Mr. Collins, in 1884, purchased the residence he now owns and oeeupies in Le Roy.

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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 62

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