Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 67

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 67

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Mr. Lueas was born in White County, this State, Nov. 7, 1818, his parents being William and Gooden (Hendrix) Lueas, natives respectively of Georgia and England. His father was a farmer by oeeupation, and beeame a resident of MeLean County in 1823, settling three miles south of Bloomington. He there purchased 240 aeres of land, built a log eabin and opened up a fine farm, upon which, with his wife and family, he spent the remainder of his days. The parental household in- eluded ten children, three now living: A. J., our subjeet; Benjamin L., and Doreas, Mrs. Reeder.

Young Lucas was reared to farming pursuits, re- eeived a fair education, and remained with his par- ents until twenty-one years old. Four years later he married, and was given forty aeres of the old homestead. He occupied this two years, then re- moved to LaFayette, Ind., where he stopped, how- ever, but a short time. He then returned and rented land three years in McLean County, and afterward purehased forty aeres four miles south of Bloomington. He lived upon this four years, and then purchased 172 aeres in Martin Township; this was partly improved. After two years he sold out and rented land in the Grove for three years. He then purchased sixty-five aeres, which he eultivated until 1879, and then traded it for 220 aeres in Ran-

dolph and Downs Townships, upon which he lived until 1886, when he praetieally abandoned farming and moved into the eity.

Our subjeet was married on the 28th of Decein- ber, 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Simmons, a native of Virginia, and the daughter of Ephraim and Eliza- beth (Calloway) Simmons. Of this union there were born six children, only two now living: Wil- bur E. married Lydia A. Bay, and they have three children-Roy, Pearl and Ira; Benjamin W. mar- ried M. B. Rhodes, and they have five ehildren- Hugh, Charles, Abbie, Evva and Edith; W. E. lives with his father, and has always followed farm- ing.

Mr. Lueas is Republican in polities, and is a man whose opinions are held in high respect in his eom- munity. He has held the offices of Road Commis- sioner and Sehool Director, and his sons are men of note and reliable and valued citizens, also hav- ing been connected with the School Board.

h ORATIO G. BENT, LL. B., Professor of Common Law and Equity Pleadings and attorney at law, of Bloomington, is a native of Louisiana, but has been a resident of the Prairie State sinee 1859. He was born in the city of New Orleans, Nov. 22, 1857, being the son of Horatio and Lucinda (Grimes) Bent, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Batavia, N. Y. Horatio Bent, Sr., left his native State when a young man, and going South to New Orleans, en- gaged in the commission business and remained there until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he came North, loeating in Bloomington in 1859, but only lived a few years afterward, his death oeeurring in 1865. His wife, with her two children, our subject and his sister, Nellie, who still survive, are all now residents of Bloomington, the sister . having married James S. Neville. a prominent attorney here.

Horatio Bent, Jr., completed his primary eduea- tion in the publie sehools of Bloomington and then entered Wesleyan University, from which he gradu- ated in 1879. He then studied law in the office of

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Stevenson and Ewing, took a course of study in the law department of the Bloomington Law School, whence he graduated in 1882, and was admitted to thic bar that same year. He comincneed the prac- tice of his profession in St. Paul, Minn., bnt re- turned to Bloomington in the fall of 1883, forming a partnership with John J. Pitts. Six months later Mr. J. P. Lindley was taken into the firm, and the three have operated together since that time. This is one of the strongest firms in the- city, all of its , members being ambitious to cxcell in their chosen profession. In 1886 Mr. Bent received the nomi- nation for County Judge by the Democratic party with which he affiliates, but missed the clection on account of a large Republican majority. Aside from his professional duties Mr. Bent is a professor in the Law School of Bloomington, with which he has been connected for the last three years, and at which he graduated with the honors of his class before entering upon his practicc.

The marriage of Horatio G. Bent and Miss Adah Crist, of Bloomington, was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents in 1880. Mrs. Bent is the daughter of Dr. I. W. Crist, and by her marriage with our subject has become the mother of two chil- dren-Horatio C. and Lewis G. Our subject is a prominent member of the First Baptist Church, and Mrs. B. is connected with the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church.

R EV. GALEN M. GOODE, pastor of the Christian Church of Normal, has charge of one of the most prosperous congregations in the connty. and is performing the duties of his high calling conscientionsly and satisfactorily to all concerned. Mr. Goode is a native of Macoupin County, Ill., and was born July 4, 1842. His father, Dr. John W. Goode, was a native of Maryland and came to Illinois at an early period in the history of this State, in about 1830. Hc located in Maconpin Connty and there practiced medicine the remainder of his life. The mother of our subject, Mrs. Maria (Bush) Goode, was a native of Tennessee and came to this State in about the same year as her husband. She is still living and resides at St. Joseph, Mo.,

aged about seventy years. The parental family included fonr children, all now living: Marshall is pastor of the Christian Church at St. Joseph, Mo .; Darwin L. is the Postmaster of Stirrup Grove, Ma- coupin County, and also superintends the operations of his farm there; Martha is the wife of John B. Corwin and resides in New London, Mo .; Galen M., our subject, was the youngest of the family.

Mr. Goode was reared on his father's farm and educated in the schools of his native county. In the fall of 1859, at the age of seventeen years, he became a member of the Christian Church, in which he at once took an active part, and as his services were always in demand he found himself engaged in preaching before he fairly realized the fact. He was employed first to fill various appointments until twenty-five years of age, and was then chosen pastor of the church at Palmyra, Ill., near his birthplace, where he remained until 1873. He was then re- moved to Illiopolis, Sangamon Co., Ill., where he remained for five years, was afterward located at Harristown, Macon County, and thencc, in Sep- tember, 1883, came to Normal. His life for many ycars has been wholly devoted to the Master's sery- ice, and aside from his pastoral duties he has frc- quently held protracted incctings in different States and taken part in many public discussions. In Pal- myra he conducted a debate with a Methodist cir- cuit rider by the name of Harlan on the subject of baptism, and two with the Presiding Elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church South on the same sub- ject. These discussions took place before our subject was thirty years of age, and he was then known as the " Macoupin Boy."

Mr. Goode is a strong Temperance man and an earnest advocate of Prohibition, having devoted considerable time to lectures upon this subject throughout Central Illinois. In 1886 lic was the candidate for Congress on the Prohibition ticket in the 14th District. His early education was quite limited and his present attainments are the result of his own industry and love of learning. He is now not only fincly educated in the English branches, but has made considerable proficiency in Greek and Latin.

. The marriage of Rev. Galen M. Goodc and Miss Mary Nevins was celebrated Dec. 27, 1863, at the

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home of the bride's parents in Macoupin County. Mrs. G. is also a native of Maeonpin County and the daughter of Sinns and Margaret (Steele) Nev- ins, and by her marriage with our subjeet became the mother of seven children, one of whom died in infancy. Those living are : Carrie B., Jennie A., Walter Scott, Harry Virgil, Russell E. and Lueille.

W 1 ILLIAM MUNSON, an energetic and pro- gressive farmer of Randolph Township, owns and occupies a fine homestead of 120 acres lying on a part of seetions 18 and 19. The land is beautifully located and finely adapted to purposes of general farming. Mr. Munson eame into possession of this valuable traet of land in the spring of 1872. It had then been much neglected and its buildings were of little value, but with that energy and enterprise for which our subjeet is noted all over this seetion of country, he set to work to improve the condition of his purchase, and the results nave been most satisfactory." He now has a handsome and attractive dwelling, good barns and out-buildings, and has brought the land to a high state of cultivation. His example is well worthy of imitation by those prone to give way to discouragement, and is a fine illustration of what may be accomplished by steady and persistent labor.

Mr. Munson was born on his father's old home- stead in Randolph Township on the 17th of Sep- tember, 1844. IIis father, a native of New Jersey (see sketch), had been a resident of llamilton County, Ohio, having left his native State when ten years of age, with his parents. He was married in Randolph Township to Miss Sarah J. Noble, who was born and reared in llamilton County, Ohio. Of this union there were born eight children, of whom our subjeet is the eldest now living and was the eldest but two of the family. . His early life was spent on the parental homestead nntil his mar- riage, which took place Feb. 13, 1869. The maiden of his choiee was Miss Amanda J. Seogin, and their wedding occurred at the residenee of William Karr in Randolph Township. Mrs. Munson was born in De Witt County, near Wapella, this State, Jan. 4,

1845. Her parents were William and Margaret (Karr) Seogin, who were born respectively in Hamilton County, Ohio, and Warren County, N. J. They were married in Ohio, and after the birth of four eliildren eame to Illinois in about 1843, set- tling near what is now Wapella, and engaging in general farming. There the father died in the spring of 1881 ; the mother had passed to her final rest on the 8th of November, 1860.

For his second wife William Seogin married Mrs. Ella (Tafflinger) Marshall. She is now living with her daughter Emma in De Witt County. Of this latter union there were born four children, two now liv- ing. Anna is married to Charles Buck of Vernon County, Mo .; Mrs. Munson of our sketeh was reared at home until after the death of her mother, when she went to live with her cousin, William Karr, of Randolph Township, where she remained nntil her marriage.

Mr. and Mrs. Munson have beeome the parents of five ehildren, three now living-Nellie II., Frank I. and Anna E. The deceased are John F. and Minnie, aged eleven and eight years, respeet- ively; both died of scarlet fever, one on the 12th and the other on the 17th of December, 1880. Our subjeet and his wife are members in good standing of the Christian Church, and in polities Mr. Munson easts the weight of his influence in support of the principles of the Republican party.

C APT. HIRAM MCDOWELL PHILLIPS, hero of the Mexican and of the late war, and a resident of the thriving eity of Le Roy, is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Pike- ton, Pike Co., Ohio, Feb. 1, 1822. His father, Thomas Phillips, and his grandfather, also Thomas by name, were natives of Pennsylvania, and en- gaged there in agrienltural pursuits. Thomas Phillips, Jr., reinoved to Kentucky at an early day and settled in Harrison County, where his life ter- minated. Thomas, Jr., accompanied his father's family, and after a few years went northward into Ohio and located in Seioto County. Ile was there married to Miss Mary MeDowell, a native of his

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own State. They settled in Pike County, and lived for a few years, then removed to Scioto and from therc, in 1828, to Indiana. They spent one winter in Wayne County, and afterward lived in Tippeca- noe County a few years, then selling out located in Montgomery County. The father of our subject departed this life Feb. 17, 1851, at the home of our subject ncar Danville, Ill. The mother died in 1845. The parental household included ten chiil- dren, eight of whom grew to mature years; our. subject was the youngest.

Young Phillips was rcared to farm pursuits, and pursued his studies in bothi public and private schools. He was a bright boy, fond of his books, and at fourteen years of age commenced teaching, which he followed for many years in Montgomery and Boone Counties, Ind. In 1848 he came to Vermilion County, this State, and taught there and in Champaign County until 1857. He then came to McLean County, and locating at Le Roy en- gaged as a mechanic. He enlisted in the army in May, 1846, becoming a member of Company G, 1st Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and going with his comrades to Mexico served one year, or until the expiration of his term of enlistment. He par- ticipated in the battle of Buena Vista under Gen. Taylor. During the late war, Oct. 11, 1861, he raised a company of volunteers, of which he was appointed Captain, and with his comrades assigned to the 39th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, which was known as Yates Phalanx. He served three years and four months, and during that time par- ticipated in thirty battles, among them being that of Winchester. At Drury's Bluff he was wounded and captured, and confined three months and eight days in Libby Prison. He was then paroled and proceeded to Annapolis, Md., wlicre he was dis- charged in December, 1864, on account of disabil- ity, and it also being the expiration of his term of service.

Mr. Phillips was married, Dec. 17, 1848, to Miss Christiana W. Martin, who was born in Harrison County, Ky., and the daughter of Edward W. and Sarah A. (Phillips) Martin. Ifer father was a na- tive of Kentucky, and her grandfather, John Mar- tin, a farmer in Harrison County, that State, spent his last days therc. Mrs. Sarah A. (Phillips) Mar-

tin was born in Ohio. She came with her husband to Illinois in 1836, and they located in Vermilion County, near Danville, whence they removed to Champaign County, where the mother dicd. Ed- ward W. Martin departed this life at the home of his daughter in Le Roy. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have become the parents of three children: Thomas E., now living in Jefferson County, Mo .; George W., at home, and Sarah A., the wife of I. N. Clarke, of Le Roy.

W ILLIAM B. CARLOCK, attorney at law, Bloomington, is a native of the Prairie State, and was born in Woodford County, March 15, 1842. . His father, Abraham W. Car- lock, who lived in Overton County, Tenn., until arriving at manliood. was born in Virginia, and married Miss Mary Goodpasture, of Tennessee. After their marriage they located in Overton County, Tenn., where they remained until 1826, at which time they came to Illinois and lived for a while in Morgan County, whence they removed to McLean County, and thereafter to Woodford, where the father died, Feb, 19, 1884, being cighty- four years of age, he having been born April 7, 1800. Of the twelve children who completed the household circle, one died in infancy, and another lived until ten years of age. Ten children lived to mature years, and eight still survive, four brothers and four sisters, all being married and having families of their own.

The subject of this history was the eighth child of his parents, and passed his childhood and youth on the farm. He received a fair education in the common schools, and was reared to habits of in- dustry and economy. After leaving home he en- tered Lombard University, at Galesburg, Ill., where he pursued a thorough course of study, and grad- uated with the highest honors in the summer of 1867. In the meantime he also taught a select school for several terms, to assist in defraying his expenses while in college. Wishing to still further perfect himself for business and usefulness in life, he entered the law department of the State Uni- versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and graduated

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MCLEAN ' COUNTY.

from that institution in the spring of 1869. He was then admitted into the law office of Will- iams & Burr, of Bloomington, where he studied until December, 1869, and was then admitted to the bar. He soon afterward opened an office of - his own, and began the practice of his profession, to which lic has devoted his attention closely sinee that time, with the exception of a few inonths spent in Dakota, improving a tract of land, which he had purchased there. In this practice he has succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations. He had a large circle of friends and acquaintances in both MeLean and adjoining counties, which added to his success in the beginning of his career as a lawyer. Mr. Carloek is also the patentee of a wire device for improving the acoustic properties of publie halls, churches, ete., from which he de- rives a handsome sum.

The marriage of Mr. Carloek with Miss Missouri MeCart took place on the 6th of October, 1870. Mrs. Carlock was born May 20, 1848, being the daughter of Robert MeCart, Sr., a prominent con- traetor and builder of Bloomington. She is also a sister of Robert McCart, Jr., an attorney at law at Ft. Worth, Tex., who was formerly in business in this city, where he was widely and favorably known, but is now, and has been a resident of Texas sinee 1877. Of this marriage there were born two sons- Leslie B., Sept. 14, 1871, and William C., July 15, 1877.

In polities Mr. Carloek is a staneh Demoerat, though frequently in local matters he votes for the man who is best qualified to fill the office, instead of following in the line of the party nomination; and while he has been an active and influential leader, he has never had any desire to neglect his business for the purpose of seeking office. Though a Democrat, he has always been in favor of accept- ing the good principles inculcated by any party.

Mr. Carlock is also a fluent German speaker, and much of his business is carried on in that language, and perhaps one-half of his legal and loaning busi- ness is with the German people. As a loan agent, he is considered one of the safest and mnost trust- worthy that can be found, having kept himself well posted upon the valuation of property.

Mr. Carlock is a member of the Unitarian Church,

and his wife of the Christian Church. He has held the office of Trustce, and has always taken a deep interest in the affairs of the church and the spread of liberal Christianity. As a lawyer he has been eminently successful, and is regarded as eare- ful and painstaking, and has acquired an enviable reputation for his legal aemmen, among his fellow members of the profession. His inost luerative practice is, perhaps, confined to eases in elianeery. though he has devoted much time to important common law and criminal eases. As a special pleader, and in preparing and arranging the evi- dence on a ease and presenting the same to a jury, he undoubtedly exeels. He is already far advanecd in the ranks of first-elass Western lawyers.

Socially Mr. Carloek is polite and courteous to all, and his affability and bearing to his elients is such that he wins their confidence. He is much attached to his home, and takes a deep interest in the welfare of his eounty.

HOMAS F. KENNEDY, Supervisor of Mar tin Township, is actively engaged in farm- ing, and owns and occupies a fine homestead, which he purchased in 1882. He is a native of Clark County, Ky., and was born near the town of Winchester, March 23, 1852. He is the son of George and Naney E. (Railsbaek) Kennedy, both natives of the Blue Grass State, and both born in Clark County. They emigrated to Illinois in the fall of 1852, first locating on a farm two miles west of Bloomington. The family continued to reside there until the fall of 1860, then removed onto a tract of land in Martin Township, where George Kennedy engaged in farming pursuits, and departed this life on the 10th of March, 1865. His wife sur- vived him until 1867. Their seven children in- cluded three sons and four daughters, of whom" only four survive. The grandfather of our subjeet, James Kennedy, a native of Kentucky, einigrated to Illinois and located in this county in 1851; lie is still living, and a resident of Martin Township. (See sketeh of Capt. James Kennedy.)

The subject of this biography was the second child of his parents' family, who removed to this

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McLEAN COUNTY.

county when he was but six months old. He received a fair education in the district school, and remained under the home roof until he was twenty-one years old. IIe then began farming on his own account. In 1886 he took unto himself a helpmeet, in the per- son of Miss Naney J. Wilson. Mrs. K. is the daughter of John and Clara Wilson, natives of Indiana, but now residents of this county. After marriage the young people settled on a farm in Martin Town- ship, where our subject engaged in general agri- eulture, including stock-raising. He is still in the prime of life, full of energy and ambition, and is recognized by all as a skillful and intelligent farmer, who avails himself of the most modern and approved methods of operating his land. He en- joys in a marked degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, who have kept him in the po- sition of School Director for many years, and have elected him Township Collector for three years in succession and a member of the Board of Supervisors sinec the spring of 1885, which office he still holds. Politically he is an uncompromising Democrat, and takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the country at large. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are prominently connected with the Christian Church, our subjeet having joined when fourteen years of age. Ile has been Clerk of the church society for several years.

Our subject and his wife became the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, all of whom are living and at home with their parents- Charles O., Ord C., George F., Gertrude F. and Myrtle Belle.

M RS. CLARISSA WALL, a pioneer of 1839 and a resident of Le Roy, is a highly re- spected lady of good education and rare intelligence, and of more than ordinary ability in conducting business affairs. ' She is a na- tive of Kentucky, born Nov. 30, 1807. Her father, Aaron Garrison, a native of South Carolina, left his native State when a young man and wended his way to Ohio, stopping first at Cincinnati. While there he met and married Miss Luey MeColun, who was a native of his own State, and whose parents

removed to Cincinnati while it was yet an infant village.

After marriage Mr. Garrison located across the river in Kentucky, where he remained until 1811. Ile then proceeded to Indiana and settled nine miles west of Lawrenecburg, in Dearborn County, upon a traet of timber land, consisting of sixty acres, where he put up a hewn-log house and eleared fifty aeres. In 1824 he disposed of this and pur- chased 248 acres of timber land in Rush County, where he put up another hewn-log house, which lie occupied with his family until 1856. In the mean- time he also eleared a large portion of this purchase. Then, disposing of this he purchased 160 aeres in Brown County. This was partially improved. He was then in the eighty-fourth year of his age and lived but a few months after his last removal, his death occurring in December of that year. Mr. Garrison was three times married, his first wife, the mother of our subject, dying in Rush County, Ind., in 1829. The second wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Scott, also died in Rush County. Hc married his third wife when eighty years of age. His children, nine in all, were by the first marriage. Of these, four sons and four daughters grew to years of ma- . turity.

The subject of this history made her home with her parents until she had grown to womanhood, and until her marriage, Jan. 29, 1835, to Jacob Karr. He was born in Essex County, N. J., in July, 1799, and their marriage took place in Law- renceburg, Ind. They located in Hamilton County, Ohio, Mr. K. purchasing a farm sixteen iniles from Cincinnati, which he occupied until 1839. On the 12th of May of that same year he started for Illi- nois, which he had previously visited, and purchased 487 aeres of land in what is now Empire Township, this county. There was a log house and barn and sixty acres were broken. There were also fifty bearing apple-trees. Mr. K. was accompanied by three children of the first marriage. Their outfit consisted of two loaded wagons, one drawn by horses and the other by oxen. Mrs. K. came with her father-in-law, Capt. John Karr, accompanied by her two children and her brother-in-law, Thomas Karr, with a two-horse carriage. In the latter part of January of the year following, Mr. Karr re-

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turned to Ohio to settle unfinished business and collect money due him. He started for the West the latter part of February, making the trip on horseback. He eaught cold from exposure, was quite sick when he reached home and lived but a few weeks afterward, his death oceurring April 1, 1840.

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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 67

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