Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 65

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 65

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).

Mr. Nafziger is one of the extensive land-owners of this section, having 230 acres in his home farm and 240 aeres in Tazewell County. He has of late years been turning his attention to the breeding of fine stock, including both cattle and horses. He has one valuable thoroughbred Short-horn bull, three eows and two heifers and several high-grade eattle, and his horses will compare with any that can be exhibited in this part of the county. The earcer of Mr. Nafziger is a striking illustration of what may be accomplished by industry and resolution. After leaving his native land and coming to Ohio, he worked on a farm by the month in Warren County, receiving the first year $8. per month. The second year he received $12 per month. He

rented his father's homestead in this county for ten years, and at the end of that time purchased his present homestead. Every dollar of this he has accumulated honestly by hard work and good management, and is now enjoying the fruits of his early toil and industry.

OHN D. LEWIS is the owner of 200 acres of some of the best land in Cheney's Grove Township, of which he became a resident on the 1st of May, 1847. Ile first purchased forty aeres three years later, which comprises a part of his present homestead, but to which he has added until it is of the dimensions above given. His farm is under a fine state of eultivation, and for a few years he was quite extensively engaged in buying and shipping stoek. Of late, however, he has' confined himself more elosely to the raising of grain and general farming. Ile has a handsome and comfortable residence, with a good barn and all other necessary out-buildings, and he and his family are enjoying all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.

Mr. Lewis was born in Fleming County, Ky., Nov. 5, 1823, where he lived until he reached his majority, and east his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay. His father, Peter B. Lewis, served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was born in Culpeper Connty, Va., June 21, 1789, whence he removed to Mason County, Ky., and from there to Fleming County, where he departed this life Nov. 29, 1860. He was married, June 16, 1816, to Miss Catherine B. Ringo, who was born Feb. 24, 1798, and died at the home of onr subjeet on the 21st of September, 1884. Both parents were prom- inently eonneeted with the Methodist Episcopal Chureh, of which the mother had been a member since her girlhood. Their eleven children were, Emeline, Naney, James R., John B., Hannah, Rob- ert, Albert, Alice R., Melville (who died when four years of age), William F. and Bridget A.

After coming to this county, John D. Lewis was married to Miss Margaret P. Riggs, Aug. 17, 1848. Mrs. L., a native of this eounty, was born Aug. 10, 1832, and was the daughter of William M. and

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Naney (Pitts) Riggs, the former a native of Mary- land, and the latter of Lewis Connty, Ky. William Riggs was born Sept. 7, 1803, and departed this life Jan. 28, 1887, at his home in Saybrook. The mother was born Jan. 4, 1806, and died Jan. 26, 1881. Their six children were, George W., Henry M., Margaret P., William H., Mary J. (now Mrs. Hall), and Samuel R., who died in Texas, June 8, 1883.

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis became the parents of eight children, seven now living. Naney C. was married to Briee N. Read; William A. married Miss Laura Owens; Mary A. married William C. Means; Emma D. became the wife of H. MeMaekin; Katuria; Samuel G. married Miss Emma Miller; Corla H. is at home. Mr. Lewis and his family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which our subjeet has offieiated as Class-Leader for a period of thirty years and been Steward and Sunday-school Superintendent about the same length of time. In early manhood, during the existence of the Whig party, he was a firm adherent of its principles, but on the abandonment of the old party by the organ- ization of the new Republican party he eheerfully endorsed the principles of the latter, with which he uniformly easts his vote.

The grandfather of our subjeet on his mother's side, Burtis Ringo, served in the Revolutionary War for a term of seven years, and died a pensioner at the advanced age of one hundred and three years.

ACOB SPEERS owns and oeenpies a fine farm of 160 aeres in Blue Mound Township, on seetion 24. His land is all improved and under a good state of cultivation, with a tasteful and convenient residenee and all necessary out-buildings for the shelter of stoek and storage of grain. Mr. Speers has been a resident of Me- Lean County sinee 1865, and of Blue Mound Township sinee 1870. He was born in Westmore- land County, Pa., Dee. 15, 1814, and is the son of Noah and Naney (Frye) Speers, also natives of the Keystone State, where they passed their entire lives. They were the parents of thirteen ehildren,

all of whom, with one exeeption, grew to mature years. That one was killed when quite young, by being thrown from a horse.

Jacob Speers remained in his native eounty until 1846. He then eame to this State, loeating first in Peoria County with his wife and six ehildren. After a residenee there of eight years they removed to Stark County, in which they remained eight years, then returned to Peoria County again and resided there until the spring of 1865. Mr. Speers then eame into this eounty and lived in Chenoa Town- ship until the spring of 1868. Thenee he removed to Towanda Township and after about one and one-half years, erossed the Mississippi and became a resident of Kansas, in which State he remained until 1870. He then returned to this eounty and settled in Blue Mound Township, where he has sinee lived. He has identified himself fully with the interests of the county and community sinee eoning here and is reekoned among the thrifty and well-to-do far- mer residents of this seetion.

The marriage of our subjeet took place in his native eounty of Westmoreland, Pa., May 10, 1836, the lady of his ehoiee being Miss Margaret, daughter of John F. and Mary (Sterrett) Power, who were also natives of Pennsylvania, where they spent their entire lives and where their remains were laid to rest. Of their ten ehildren, Mrs. Speers was the sixth. She was born in Westmore- land County, Pa., Mareh 4, 1820. Of her union with our subjeet there were thirteen ehildren, ten now living, namely, James S., John F., Noah L., Naney J., Clarissa, William L., Harriett A., Charles, Solomon E. and Maggie S. The three deeeased died when quite young. John married Miss Eleanor Halstead and resides in Ford County, Ill .; Noah married Miss Maggie Ellis and also lives in Ford County; Naney is the wife of John Watt of Chenoa; Clarissa married M. J. Wilson and is a resident of Seott County, Kan .; William married Miss Laura Power and resides in Blue Mound Township; Harriett became the wife of F. L. Voor- hees, and they are located at St. Jose, Cal. ;. Charles married Miss Ollie Newton and is farming in Blue Mound Township; Solomon married Miss Irene Gay and is a resident of Blue Mound Township; Maggie became the wife of J. B. Niehols of Ne-

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braska; James married Miss Mary Davis; she died in Blue Mound Township, April 28, 1875.

Mr. Speers is Republiean in politics and has held some of the minor offices of his township, ineluding that of Assessor, in which he has served several years. He also served as Supervisor in Stark County, and was twice elected Justiee of the Peace but would not serve. Both our subject and his wife are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church, and held in high esteem by all who know them.

R OBERT STEWART. The name of this gentleman is familiarly known in Yates Township where he has a snug farm home- stead, pleasantly located on seetion 15. He is a native of the North of Ireland, born in County Donegal, in December, 1833, and possesses the generous characteristics of the warm-hearted Celtic raec. His parents. John and Eliza (Glenn) Stewart, emigrated from their native country with their family in about 1850, making their first location in the city of Philadelphia, Pa. Afterward they removed to New Jersey and in 1857, to Illinois, lo- eating in Peoria County. Later they removed to this eounty, where the father died in Yates Town- ship, Sept. 22, 1884. The mother had passed to her long home nearly eighteen years before, at Chenoa, Ill. The five children of the parental family were all born in Ireland, and came to the United States with their parents; Martha became the wife of John Florida and resides in Peoria County, Ill .; Robert is living in Yates Township; Elizabeth married Chester Brown and resides in this eounty; Margaret. Mrs. Samuel Baird, lives in Chenoa Township, and John in Yates Township.

Robert Stewart was seventeen years of age when he eame with his father's family to the United States. He worked first in a eotton factory in Philadelphia, where he remained until 1857, then started westward toward the Prairie State. His first location was in Peoria County, where he worked as a farm laborer, his father joining him in the fall of that year and the balance of the family the follow- ing spring. The second year of his residenee in Peoria County our subjeet rented a traet of land

and followed farming there until 1864. Ile then removed to McLean County, and in company with his father and brother, purchased 120 acres of land in Chenoa' Township, all of which was wild prairie. Ile at onee set about the improvement and eultiva- tion of the new farm, which he oeeupied until 1875, then purehased his present homestead in Yates Township. He is now the owner of 160 acres of land, which he has placed under a fine state of enltiva- tion. Robert Stewart was married on the 4th of July, 1867, to Miss Naney, a sister of William Hanna of Yates Township. She was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and by her union with our subjeet beeame the mother of two children, one of whom died in infaney. Robert J., born Sept. 13, 1871, is living at home with his parents. Mr. Stewart is Republiean in polities, and religiously coincides with the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church.

ILLIAM B. KENT, one of the early pio neers of Dale Township, and whose por- trait is shown in this eonnection, became a resident of McLean County in 1843, and during a residenee of over forty years, has been an inter- ested witness of the various changes that have been taking place in this section of the Prairie State. During this time he has fulfilled his obligations as a good eitizen, and has contributed his full quota toward the progress and prosperity of his adopted township. He has lived honestly and nprightly, inct his moral and legal obligations in a praise- worthy manner, has identified himself thoroughly with the business and industrial interests of this section, and, as a valued eitizen, enjoys the confi- denee and respeet of his townsmen in a marked de- grce.

William B. Kent is a native of Indiana, and was born in Jones Township, Hancock County, April 23, 1832. His father, Nathaniel Kent, was a na- tive of Mason County, Ky., and his grandfather, John Kent, died there in 1833. Nathaniel Kent learned the trade of a blacksmith at Lexington, whenee he removed to Brown County, Ohio, and renting a tract of land, engaged there in farming pursuits. In the meantime, however, as time and

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

opportunity permitted, he continued at his trade, and remained a resident of that seetion until 1831, when he moved into Indiana, located in Haneoek County, and engaged in farming and blacksmith- ing alternately for the following twelve years.

In the fall of 1843 Nathaniel Kent decided to re- move to the Prairie State. He accordingly loaded his household goods and blacksmith tools into wagons, together with his wife and seven ehildren. The entire journey was made overland, and Mr. Kent employed men to drive the teams. They earried their provisions with them and eooked along the route, making their beds in their wagons at night. After arriving in MeLean County Mr. Kent rented one room in a house in Dry Grove Township, into which they removed and lived for a time, then rented a house of Roswell Munsell, and also a traet of land. Here Mr. Kent pursued farming operations, and worked at his trade for the following five years. He then purchased forty aeres of land lying on seetions 8 and 9 of Dale Township, upon which he removed in the fall of 1848. IIe was prospered in his labors, and in due time made an additional purchase of 160 aeres ad- joining, lying on seetions 16 and 17. As soon as his sons became old enough to manage the farm, he turned the business over to them principally, and applied himself most of the time to his trade for twenty years. Here, Mr. Kent established a comfortable home, which he oeeupied until his death, which oeeurred on the 7th of July, 1884.

. Mr. Kent was united in marriage in early man- hood, with Miss Annie Hawk, who was born in Brown County, Ohio, came West with her hus- band and survived him over one year, her death taking place Dee. 19, 1885. Their family ineluded thirteen children, ten of whom grew to years of maturity, having been carefully trained in those principles of honor and honesty which had been the secret of Nathaniel Kent's sueeess in life, and of the respect in which he and his excellent and worthy helpmeet were held during the period of their long and useful lives."

William B. Kent was the third child of his par- ents, and was eleven years old when he came with them to MeLean County. Here he attended the eominon sehools and assisted his father around the

farm and in the shop. Ile remained at home until the breaking out of the late Civil War, and then, on the 8th of August, 1862, enlisted as a soldier of the Union, in Co. L, 94th Ill. Vol. Inf. He served with his eomrades until the elose, having been in the battles of Prairie Grove, the siege and eapture of Vieksburg, Ft. Morgan and Spanish Fort, and partieipated in various other engagements and skir- mishes. He marehed with his eomrades through the States of Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Ten- nessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas, most of the time being upon active duty, and returned home unharmed, and with his regiment received his honorable discharge at Springfield, Ill., on the 9th of August, 1865.

After his return from the army, Mr. Kent re- sumed his farming operations on the old home- stead, upon whiel he has resided sinee that time. Of this he is now the possessor of 120 aeres, a good set of framne buildings, and all the necessary applianees for carrying on agriculture after the most approved methods. Mr. Kent is still unmar- ried, having for his housekeeper his sister, Miss Susan. Our subjeet is Republican in polities, lib- eral in his religious beliefs, and for his honest and upright dealings and straightforward business mneth- ods, enjoys in a marked degree the confidenee and esteem of his associates and fellow-townsmen.

B ENJAMIN II. WEBB, who owns and oeeu- pies a comfortable farm estate on seetion 15, Dry Grove Township, is a native of Mc- Lean County, and was born March 3, 1832. His parents, Stephen D. and Penina (Hinshaw) Webb, were natives respectively of South Carolina and Tennessee. They were married in the latter State, and eame to Illinois in 1826, loeating in Me- Lean County. Stephen Webb was born May 8, 1795, and died in this eounty April 11, 1886. His wife, the mother of our subjeet, the date of whose birth is not known, died in 1870, at the home of her

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husband in Dry Grove Township. They were mar- ried on the 10th of December, 1824, and became the parents of six sons . and one daughter. The reeord is as follows: John married Miss E. Ruth of Virginia; Kelly married Miss Amelia Jane Platt, and lives in Greene County, Iowa; William married Miss Matilda Barker, who died in about 1863; he then married Miss H. Thomas, who died a few years after marriage, and his third wife was form- erly Mrs. Malinda Christ, Mary Jane became the wife of B. F. Martin, of Dry Grove, and is now de- eeased; Benjamin of our sketeh was the fifth ehild; Thomas married Miss Johnson, and lives in Mis- souri; Milton S. married Miss Mary A. Smith, and is engaged in farming in Dry Grove.

Benjamin HI. Webb was married to Miss Mary A. Diekens on the 3d of March, 1857. Mrs. W. was born in MeLean County, Oet. 9, 1837, and is the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Cleveland) Diekens. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Webb there have been born seven children, who are recorded as follows: Warren married Miss Mary E. Johnson, and they have one child, Willie, who was born in February, 1885; Jenetta, now Mrs. John D. Lamb, has four children-Oliver, Park, Etta and Warren; Hattie is now Mrs. Charles Hatfield ; Char- lotte, Elizabetlı, Edith and Florenee are at home with their parents.

Mr. Webb is the possessor of 240 aeres of fine farming land, and has given much attention to the raising of fine stock. He has been a prominent man in the township and has served the people with eredit in the various offices with which they have intrusted him. He was elected Supervisor in 1874, and politieally is a staneh supporter of the Democratie party. He has made the' most of his opportunities in life, and his well-informed mind lias been greatly benefited by traveling over vari- ous portions of the United States and keeping his eyes open to what is going on around him in the world at large. He is not identified with any ehureli organization but aims to make the Golden Rule the basis of his daily life, lives at peace with his fellow-men and as becomes a law-abiding and worthy eitizen.

A lithographie portrait of Mr. Webb is presented in connection with this sketch.

AMUEL A. DEAL, of Dry Grove Town- ship, is engaged as a farmer and stoek- raiser on seetion 30, where he is the pos- sessor of a comfortable hone. Mr. Deal is a native of the Old Dominion, having been born in Augusta County, Va., the date thereof, July 8, 1841. Ilis parents were Samuel C. and Priseilla (Brown) Deal, who were born, reared and married in Virginia, whenee they removed to Illinois in October, 1848. They located in Dry Grove Town- ship, where the mother departed this life on the 5th of June, 1875. She was a most worthy and estimable lady, and an active member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church. Samuel C. Deal was born Oet. 18, 1814, and is still a hale and hearty old man, his present home being in Danvers Town- ship, about a mile and one-half east of his son's place. The parental family ineluded nine ehildren, as follows : John B .; Samuel A .; Elizabeth E., Mrs. Peter Elkins; Newton, who died at the age of seven years; Mary C., now Mrs. A. K. Rigens; Jane A., who died in infaney; Sarah A., Mrs. John Wright, Emma P., and Virginia V. H., who married Ste- phen Staubus.

The subject of this history remained under the parental roof until lie attained to years of manhood, and on the 27th of March, 1873, was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Ilarris, a native of Warren County, Ky., who was born on the 6th of April, 1846. Mrs. Deal is the daughter of Alex- ander C. and Mary (Norfleete) Harris, both natives of the Blue Grass State. Her father was born Dee. 27, 1808, in Kentucky, and her mother Sept. 18, 1819, in the town of Somerset. The mother is still living. The father died March 26, 1887. They were the parents of seven children, the ree- ord of whom is as follows: Amanda J. married W. C. Johnson; William II. died when' one year old; D. M. for his first wife married Miss HI. Bates, who · died after a few years, and he was then married to Miss Carrie Metealf, of Connecticut; Dr. II. A., who practiced in Menard County, Ky., died on the 11th of Jnne, 1877; "Mary E. is the wife of our subjeet; Thomas M. died at the age of three years; Janes W. died in 1873 at fifteen years of age.

The homestead of our subjeet embraces 799} aeres of land, with a fine dwelling-house, and good

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barns and out-buildings, among which is the finest hog-house in the county. This is 30x80 fect in area, two stories in height, and he now has 300 fine porkers, besides an equal number of cattle, and 600 head of sheep. As a stock brecder he is familiarly known all over the county as one of the best and most extensive. He has sold up to this date (1887) nine car loads of fat cattle, for which he obtains the highest market price. His property is estima- ted to be worth at least $75,000, a portion of which lic inherited from his father, the balance has been accumulated through his own industry and good judgment, and he has added materially to the in- dustrial and business interests of this section, while at the same time his liomestcad forms one of the embellishments of McLean County, both on ac- count of its beauty of location and the improve- ment which Mr. Deal has brought about in addi- tion to its natural advantages. A lithographie view of the place is shown in this work. He has been in all respects a useful and valued citizen, is a member in good standing of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and in politics is an uncom- promising Democrat.

To Mr. and Mrs. Deal have been born the chil- dren who are recorded as follows: James N., born Nov. 8, 1874, dicd Feb. 21, 1875; Mary P., born Nov. 21, 1875, died May 15, 1877; Hattie E. was born July 13, 1877, and lives at home with her parents; Addie P., born March 28, 1878, died Jan. 5, 1885; Samuel C., born May 6, 1882, died Jan. 21, 1885; William H. was born Oct. 8, 1884, and Carey, Nov. 9, 1886.

R. OSCAR WAKEFIELD, proprietor of the Medicine Laboratory, is located at the corner of Washington and Evans streets, Bloomington, and is carrying on an ex- tensive and profitable business. This cstablish- ment gives employment to twenty-five or thirty- five men, besides six men on the road, and has bc- come widely and favorably known throughout this and adjoining States. Dr. Wakefield is a native of De Witt County, Ill., and was born April 7, 1846. His parents were Dr. Cyrenius and Harriet (Rich-

ardson) Wakefield, natives of Watertown, N. Y., who removed to Illinois and located in Blooming- ton in 1837. The parental history will be found in another part of this work. Oscar Wakefield was one of seven children born to his parents, and remained with them during his childhood and youth. He pursucd his primary studics in thic common schools, and later attended the Commer- cial College of Bloomington. He afterward en- tered the medical department of the College of Cincinnati, Ohio, and upon returning to Blooming- ton became, in 1871, a partner with his father, with whom he has continued to the present time.

Dr. Wakefield was married in 1868 to Miss Agnes Benchley, a native of Connecticut, and the daughter of Henry A. Benchley, of Willimantic, Conn. Of this union there were two children- Herbert, who died when three and a half years old, and Bruce. Dr. Wakefield is Republican in poli- tics, a member in good standing of the A. F. & A. M., and prominent as a useful business man and a worthy citizen. He is a stockholder in the Peo- ple's Bank and the Plow Factory, and takes an active interest in all matters concerning the public welfarc. He occupies, with his family, a pleasant residence at No. 506 East Washington street, and enjoys the estcem and confidence of the best citi- zens of Bloomington.

BRAHAM H. CARLOCK, one of the pros- perons farmers of White Oak Township, is located on section 20, where he has estab- lished a comfortable homestead and built for himself a reputation as an honest man and a good citizen. His parents were Abraham W. and Mary (Goodpasture), Carlock, natives of Overton County, Tenn., the father born April 7, 1800, and the mother, Jan. 4, 1803. Mrs. Carlock, on her fa- ther's side, was of English descent, and several of her brothers became prominent men of the State of Tennessee. One of them, Judge Winburn Good- pasture, was Circuit Judge in Tennessee for many years and presided over several countics. Dillard Goodpasture, another brother, is a prominent banker at Nashville, Tenn .; Jolin and MeDonald

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Goodpasture are both prominent physicians in Nashville. Abraham Goodpasture was a clergy- man of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at. Petersburg, Ill .; he is now deccased. William Goodpasture, of Elkhart, Logan Co., Ill., is a prominent farmer. Mrs. Carlock, on her mother's side, was of Scotch descent.

Abraham Carlock was a farmer and stock-raiser, and left his native State while yet a young man, in 1829. Coming to Morgan County, this State, he rented land for two years and then, coming into this county, purchased 360 acres in Kansas Township, Woodford County, and White Oak Township, Mc- Lean Connty. He was prospered in his farming and business transactions, and added to his landed possessions until he became the owner of 1,700 acres, 700 of which he disposed of before his death, but retained 1,000, which since his death has been subdivided. He was here during the winter of the deep snow, which is so well remembered by the carly settlers who were confined to their cabins for several weeks, being unable to communicate with each other. At one time he saw a tribe of Tippe- canoe Indians, which passed about sixty rods fromn his house on their way to Tippecanoe, Ind. There was then no market for farm produce, and for sev- eral seasons he was obliged to drive his hogs to Chicago to sell, and frequently after his toilsome journey could only get in exchange for them a small stock of groceries, but in common with the other pioneers he was made of stanch stuff, which permitted no thought of relinquishing his first pro- ject of establishing a home in the West. He lived to see many.changes in the face of the country and the progress of civilization, and spent his last days where he had toiled the most, and finally reaped an abundant reward.

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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 65

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