Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 68

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 68

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).

In 1849 Mrs. Karr was married the second time, to Elias Henry Wall, who was a native of Warren County, Ky., whence he came to this vicinity at 'an early period in the history of MeLcan County. Mr. and Mrs. W. oceupied the Karr homestead some - time, then purchased a farm in Downs Township, where they lived until the death of Mr. Wall, which took place Jan. 18, 1875. After the death of her hus- band Mrs. W. returned to the Karr homestead, which she still owns, and occupies a part of the time.

By her first marriage Mrs. Wall became the mother of three children: Mercy J. was born in IIamilton County, Ohio, Dce. 1, 1835, beeame the wife of Harrison Barnett, and departed this life March 23, 1863; Mr. Barnett died October 9 of the same year, leaving one son, Asbury, who is now a resident of Le Roy. The second child of our subject, James Karr, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Sept. 8, 1837, and died Sept. 16, 1838. The youngest, Rachel, was born Jan. 4, 1839, married George W. Powts, of Le Roy, and died Feb. 24, 1863. Of the second marriage there was born one son, George A. Wall, who died Mareh 16, 1863, aged twelve years and seven months. Asbury Barnett, her grandson, is the only survivor of her immediate family. He was born in West Town- ship, this county, Sept. 25, 1854, and was in his ninth year when his parents died. He then went to live with his grandmother, with whom he re- mained until his marriage, Sept. 25, 1873. The maiden of his choiee was' Miss Mary S. Johnson, who was born in Downs Township, this eounty, Dee. 15, 1853. They have three children-Nettie M., Fannie B. and Marey. Mr. Barnett is engaged in the livery business at Le Roy.

Mrs. Wall through many trials and afflictions has preserved a brave and courageous spirit, and has proved herself equal to every emergeney. She has conducted her business and farming affairs intelli- gently and suecessfully, and her two homesteads

are both handsome and valuable. She is greatly respected in her community, and during her long residence here has distinguished herself for lier womanly virtues and kindness of heart.

NTHONY THAYER, deeeased, was for- merly a highly respected resident of Yates Township, where he settled in 1867. He was born in the village of Warren, Wash- ington Co., Vt., being the son of Aaron and Esther (Field) Thayer, who after their marriage located in Warren, Vt., where the father died in 1863. Three years afterward the mother emigrated to Illinois, and after living one year in Tazewell County re- moved to McLean County and settled in Yates Township, where she died July 13, 1879. Of the ten children composing the parental household only two are now living : Erastus, who resides at Forest, Ill., and Emeline, the wife of Robert Hopkins, of this county.

The subject of this biography received a good common-school education and assisted in the lighter duties about the small farm on which the family resided among the Green Mountains. He was about fourteen years of age when his father died, and being the youngest of the ehildren his mother naturally looked upon him as her future support. He accompanied her to Illinois and soon after ar- riving in McLean. County, purchased 160 acres of land on seetion 19, in Yates Township, in which the mother retained a life lease. Young Anthony was industrious and soon effected numerous improve- ments on the new purchase, having in view the establishment of a future home for himself as well as a comfortable abiding-place for his mother. On the 20th of Deeember, 1870, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Maggie Arnold, who proved his faithful and affectionate companion during his life- time. Mr. Thayer died April 28, 1884, and is mourned as one who was a good eitizen, a kind hus- band and father, and a useful member of the eom- munity. He was a staneh supporter of the Repub- liean party, a believer in the Christian religion, and although never having been connected with any church society he usually worshiped with the Pres-

Tobias . Stauffer

Jouph Hamitton

585

McLEAN COUNTY.

bytcrians. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Thayer there were born six children, two of whom, George M. and Ella M., dicd in childhood. Those surviv- ing arc, Clarence E., born Feb. 3, 1872; Ida L., March 6, 1873; Frank E., July 27, 1874, and Minnie B., Jan. 2, 1883.

Mrs. Thayer is a native of Wurtemberg, Ger- many, and was born April 9. 1851. Her parents werc John C. and Caroline Arnold, who emigrated to the United States when their daughter, Maggie, was but one year old. Mrs. T. continues to reside on the homestead purchased by her husband and which now consists of 240 acres of choice land, which she superintends in an intelligent and highly suceessful manner. She is a member in good stand- ing of the Presbyterian Chureli, and greatly re- speetcd wherever known.

6 OBIAS S. STAUFFER is the owner of a finc farm of 160 acres of land on section 15, Old Town Township, and has been pros- pered in the vocation which he lias followed thus far in life. The parents of our subjeet werc To- bias and Anna (Shank) Stauffer, natives of Lan- easter County, Pa., and of Swiss and German an- cestry. Their married lives were passed in Lan- caster County, and the father died there Sept. 17, 1884, in his cighty-first ycar. They had eight eliildren, four sons and four daughters, and Tobias S. was the fourth in order of birth.

Tobias S. Stauffer was born in Laneaster County, Pa., April 21, 1836. He lived at home until he was about twenty-one years old, having received his education mostly in the common schools. After attaining man's cstate he taught school for eight terms in his native eounty, and after coming to this eounty taught one term in Danvers Township. After leaving the parental home the time of our subjeet was passed in teaching and clerking in a store, and also in working out on a farm for a num- ber of years. He commenced life with naught but a firm detcrinination to sueeecd, and his first pur- chase was a small place in Lancaster County, Pa., where he continued to reside, engaged the while in farming, until the spring of 1867. From 1862 to

April, 1867, he was Justiee of the Peace in Lan- easter County, and was also Assessor in 1865 in the sanc county .. He then came to Alton, this State, and the following summer moved to this county and took up his abode in Dry Grove Town- ship.

Mr. Stauffer's means were limited on arriving in the county, and he at first purchased only forty aeres of land, which he cultivated until 1877, when he sold his place and purchased an eighty-aere traet in Normal Township. There he lived for six years and disposing of his farm by salc, bought 160 aercs of land in Old Town Township, the same being that on which he is at present residing. All his land is under a high state of cultivation and he is suececding as well in his vocation as labor, energy, good judgment and economy will permit.

Mr. Stauffer was married in Laneaster, Pa., Nov. 20, 1860, to Miss Mary Bishop, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Shely) Bishop, natives of Lancas- ter County, Pa., and of Seotch lineage. The mother died in Madison County, Ill., and the father in Sangamon County, this State. Their children werc ten in number and Mrs. Stauffer was the fourth in order of birth. She was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Jan. 1, 1843, and of her union with our sub- ject seven children have been born-Lineas B., Anna M. B .. David M., Henry B., Fannie E., Ben- jamin F. and Albert T. Lincas is a resident of Kansas and a farmer by ealling; Anna M. B. died in Laneaster County, Pa., in infancy. While a resident of Dry Grove Township our subjeet held the office of Colleetor and was also Township Clerk of Old Town Township. He and his good wife are members of the Protestant Methodist Church, and in politics he is a stanch Republiean. The publishers are pleased to present a portrait of Mr. Stauffer in this work, and his many friends and acquaintances will readily recognize it, on another page.

OSEPII HAMILTON, a highly respected resident of Yates Township, where he form- crly engaged extensively in farming, is now retired from aetive business, and oeeupies a handsome residence in the village of Weston. He has been a resident of this county since December, 1

586

MCLEAN COUNTY.

1857, and has witnessed with keen interest the re- inarkable changes which have transpired within a period of thirty years. He has also contributed his full share toward the progress and development of his adopted county, and has presented an example of industry, enterprise and suceess.

Mr. Hamilton was born in Brown County, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1817. Hc traces his descent from execl- lent Irish aneestry, his grandfather, Robert Hamil- ton, being one of the first representatives of the family in this country. The grandfather cmigrated from Ireland to the United States, prior to the Revolutionary War, in which he afterward served as a brave and courageous soldier. His son Rob- ert, the father of our subjeet, after starting out in life for himself, pursued farming, and being very handy with tools frequently worked as a mechanic. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and through his own efforts beeamc fairly educated and informed. During the last years of his life he served as Justiee of the Peaec in Brown County, Ohio. He was taken from his earthly labors in the prime of life, his death occurring in 1829, when he was about forty-three years of age. His wife, the mother of our subjeet, who before her marriage was Miss Naney Parish, was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Brown County, Ohio, about 1875, having survived her first husband nearly forty-six years, and living to the advaneed age of eighty- three. The parental household ineluded seven daughters and two sons, four of whom are deceased.

Joseph Hamilton was only twelve years old at the time of his father's death. His mother subse- quently married again, and the family being in limited cireumstanees, our subject three years later engaged as an apprentice to learn the sad- dlery and harness-making trade. He remained with his first employer three and one -half years, at- tending school three months in cach year, and worked at his trade the balance of his time. He afterward worked as a "jour" for nine months, the highest wages he received being $12 per month. Subsequently he varied his occupation by driving ox-teams, for which he received $8 or $9 per month, and when nineteen years of age taught school at $8 per month and board. On the 21st of Febru- ary, 1837, he was united in marriage with Miss

Elizabeth J. Purdum, who was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1817. After his marriage our subjeet taught school and farmed alternately, and by the aid of his faithful, industrious and econom- ical wife, in time managed to save something from his scanty earnings. Ile resided in his native State until 1855, in the meantime having become the possessor of seventy acres of land. Then, believing . that he could better himself in the further West, he emigrated to Illinois, first loeating in Putnam County, where he resided two years. He then rented a farm of eighty acres at $4.50 an aere in advance, being obliged to borrow the money to pay the rent. For two years he raised 2,000 bushels of wheat each year, and in duc time found himself on the road to prosperity. In 1857 he traded his land in Ohio for 100 acres in Lawn- dale Township, this county, upon which he scttled and commeneed to cultivate and improve. Then eame the panie of 1857-58, and Mr. Hamilton in common with hundreds of others, suffered on ac- count of poor crops and other misfortunes. Ile had no thought of giving up, however, but kept on in the even tenor of his way, and soon recovered himself, and onee more enjoyed the smiles of fort- unc. In due time he was enabled to add to his original possessions, and besides his town property is now the owner of 180 acres of land, finely im- proved and furnished with all necessary buildings. He occupied this farm until the spring of 1880, when he purchased the property at Weston which he now occupies, and where he is living retired from active labor. His faithful companion and helpmeet departed this life Nov. 9, 1884. Of their ten ehildren two died in infaney and one after reaching manhood. The seven living are Sarepta Ann, the wife of John Vawter; Perry ; Amanda, Mrs. Peter J. Piester; Theresa, the wife of John M. White; Robert, William, and Elizabeth, the wife of William Castle.

Mr. Hamilton has been a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church from boyhood. Early in life he became a strong Abolitionist, and afterward identified himself with the Republican party. Of late years he has watched the temperanee move- ment with the deepest interest, and now ranges himself on the side of the Prohibitionists.

587

McLEAN COUNTY.

The publishers of this work have taken eonsid- erable pains in engraving a fine portrait of Mr. Hamilton, which may be found on another page.

OHN E. THOMAS, one of the important faetors' in the arehitcetural department of Bloomington, Ill., 'is prominently engaged as a contractor and builder, and is considered one of the most sueeessful and skillful of the eraft. Our subjeet is a native of Greene County, Ohio, and was born July 3, 1833. He is the son of Franeis F. and Jemima (Riee) Thomas, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Pennsylvania. Franeis F. Thomas, in early mauhood, beeame one of the first settlers of Greene County, Ohio, and for a number of years was a prominent farmer of that region. In 1855 he disposed of his real estate there and came to Bloomington, Ill. The following year he purchased 232 acres of land in Bloomington, where he resumed his old oeeupation, and oeeupied the home here established until his death, which oeeurred on the 20th of September, 1862. The wife and mother had died two years previously, on the 12th of July, 1860. They were the parents of five children, three of whom are living: John E .; Leander, a farmer of McLean County, and Margaret, Mrs. Wilson, of Indiana.

John E. Thomas remained with his parents until he was nineteen years old, and then went to Cin- einnati, where he served a three years' apprentiee- ship at the earpenter's trade. He then eame to Bloomington, Ill., and sinee that time has been en- gaged in his present ealling and is the oldest eon- traetor and builder in the eity who is still doing business. He gives employment to from five to twenty men, and has superintended the ereetion of some of the most important structures in the eity, among which is the Second Ward sehool-house, which is the pride of all the people in that vicinity. He built the Orphans' Home in Indiana, the eost thereof being $80,000, and also the Methodist College at Greencastle, Ind., which eost $40,000. Before coming to Illinois he completed some inn- portant contraets in Ohio, and has proved himself eminently fitted for his ehosen voeation. He will

accept none but the best work from the most skill- ful employes, and his name is a guarantee of the architectural beauty and the solidity of whatever building he undertakes. .

The marriage of John Thomas and Miss Eliza C. Carman took place on the 21st of October, 1858, in Bloomington. Mrs. Thomas is a native of Ken- tueky, and the daughter of Arehie and Eliza (Grow) Carman, also of Kentucky. Of her union with our subjeet there have been born four children-Emma G., Mrs. Miner; Maude P., Jeannette A. and Car- rie L. The attractive home of our subjeet and his family is located at No. 1105 East Jefferson street, where they dispense a generous hospitality to a large number of friends and acquaintances. The family are connected with the Second Presbyterian Church, . and in polities Mr. Thomas is identified with the Democratie party. He is also a member in good standing of the I. O. O. F.

A lithographie view of Mr. Thomas' residenee is shown on another page of this book.

UGH W. WARNER, of the firm of Smith & Warner, Cooksville, is a native of Cham- paign County, Ohio, and the fifth ehild of Levi and Ann (Huffman) Warner, also na- tives of the Buckeye State, where they were mar- ried and lived until the spring of 1850. They then removed west to Illinois and located in Mar- tin Township, this eounty, where' the father and mother died. Their eight ehildren ineluded three boys and five girls. Hugh W. was born Jan. 11, 1839, and pursued his early studies in the subserip- tion schools of his native eounty until eleven years old, when his parents made the removal West.

Mr. Warner remained an inmate of the parental home until he reached his majority. In August, 1862, after the outbreak of the late war. he enlist- ed as a Union soldier in the 94th Illinois Infantry, remaining in the service three years, and receiving his honorable discharge at the elose of the war. After leaving the army he returned to this eounty and engaged in farming pursuits until 1883. He then went into the lumber trade at Cooksville, in eompany with David Horney, with whom he oper-

588

MCLEAN COUNTY.

ated for two years following. They then sold out and Mr. Warner purchased a one-half interest in the mereantile business of William L. Smith, and they lave operated since then under the style of the firm as above given. They carry an ample stock of merchandise and enjoy a lucrative trade. Both members of the firm are wide-awake, enter- prising and courteous in their dealings with their patrons and friends, and occupy an important posi- tion among the business interests of the eom- munity.

Mr. Warner was married in Chicago, Ill., Oet. 28, 1867, to Miss Ann, the daughter of Harper and Margaret (Janes) Powell. Mrs. W. was born in Ohio, Feb. 7, 1841, and by her union with our sub- ject became the mother of two children, Minnic M. and Alonzo. Mrs. Warner is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Cooksville. Mr. Warner is Republican in polities and belongs to the Masonic fraternity, Lexington Lodge No. 482.

G EORGE BUNNEY, a highly respected far- mer and a resident of Belleflower Township, where he is actively and intelligently en- gaged in the prosecution of his chosen calling, is a native 'of Leicestershire, England, born Aug. 29, 1820. His father, William Bunney, and his grand- father, George Bunney, Sr., were born on the same estate in Leicestershire. William Bunney, while young, learned the trade of a shoemaker, which he followed in his native shire, and there spent his entire life. Ile was married to Miss Elizabeth Gill, a native of the same county as himself and son, and she also spent her life there.

The subject of this history was reared in Leices- tershire and commenced to earn his own living at the early age of ten years, in the meantime assisting his mother in the support of the younger children. ' The most of this time he was engaged in farming pursuits, and after arriving at years of manhood was married, on the 24th of June, 1845, to Miss Sarah Tomblin. . Mrs. B. was born in

Northamptonshire,, England, June 2, 1826, being the daughter of James and Sarah (Eady) Tomblin.

In 1850 our subject set sail with his family for the United States. They embarked at Liverpool on the 26th of March, and after a voyage of about six weeks, landed in Philadelphia on the 14th of May following. A brother of Mr. B. had assisted him by paying his passage. From Philadelphia they procceded directly to Madison County, Ind., where Mr. Bunney soon seeured employment and as fast as he earned the money paid over all he eould spare to liquidate his indebtedness, which took nearly four years. In 1854 he left Indiana and came to this State, via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to Alton, theuee by rail to Bloomington. He was accompanied by his family and they first stopped at Esquire Wakefield's, in Randolph Grove. He was employed by Mr. W. the following year, and the family took up their residence in a log house which belonged to the latter, and lie began to eultivate land on shares. Mrs. Bunney was very industrious and assisted her husband in the support of the family by sewing and washing. After working land on shares for two years, in the meantime having lived economieally and saved what he could, Mr. Bunney was cnabled to buy a team, and then began cultivating land which he rented from Mr. Wakefield. He operated thus for six years, then removed to Bloomington Town- ship and rented land two years longer. At the expiration of this time he purchased forty acres of railroad land, in what was then Mosquito Grove, but now Allin Township, and buying a frame building (the first engine house in Bloomington) removed it to his little farm and converted it into a dwelling. He occupied this with his family for sixteen years following, then removed to Belle- flower Township, and in 1880 purchased his pres- ent homestead, which, however, he did not take possession of until two years later.

The farm of our subject contains 160 acres, all enelosed, in a good state of cultivation and sup- plied with a good set of buildings. Mr. Bunney has proven himself a first-elass farmer and citizen and is universally respected wherever known. The children of our subjeet and his wife are recorded as follows: Sarah, the eldest, became the wife of

M & Anderson

длоге Ватиу

591

McLEAN COUNTY.

Jonathan Tyas, and lives in Champaign County, Ill .; Mr. Tyas enlisted as a Union soldier early in the conflict between the North and South, afterward veteranized and served until the elose of the war; Elizabeth married Dr. Elijah Woolley, a practicing physician of Saybrook; George W. married Laura Cochran and lives in Belleflower Township, on a farm; James T. married Malissa Knox and they also live in Belleflower 'Township, on a farm; John R. married Hester Jane Vreeland and lives in Belle- flower Township; Wakefield E. married Alice Lyons and lives in the same township; Winfield L., a twin brother of Wakefield E., Mary C. and Emma are at home. The second child died while on the passage from England and received an ocean burial, and two died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Bunney have been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, Mr. B. having assisted materially in the erection of the church at Stanford and being one of its first Trustees and Stewards. He was licensed by the Methodist Episcopal Conference to exhort and has preached in various places since that time, doing excellent service in the cause. Mr. B. is essentially a self-inade man and he most nobly gives his excel- lent wife due credit for the courage and faithful- ness with which she has performed her wifely and motherly dutles. He claims that to this excellent lady a large share of his success in life is duc, and as a neighbor and friend she is no less warmly held in respect and esteem by all who know her. Mr. Bunney, in August, 1845, enlisted in the Queen's army, serving in the 73d Infantry until April following, when he was discharged on account of disability. A handsome lithographie portrait of Mr. Bunney is shown in this work.

R EV. WILLIAM G. ANDERSON, of Col- fax, is one of the foremost citizens of this county. He was born in Jefferson County, Ind., Oct. 12, 1818, and is the fourth in order of birth of his parents' family of nine ehil- dren. The parents of our subject were William G. and Anna (Whitaker) Anderson, and the latter

was a daughter of Aquilla Whitaker, who moved to Kentucky in an early day, and settled on Bull- skin Creek, Shelby County. Mr. Whitaker was a particular friend of the famous hunter, Daniel Boone, and lived a close neighbor to him. To- gether they fought the redskins, and together they passed many a pleasant day hunting over the unde- veloped portion of the State in which they were located. The Whitakers were of German extrac- tion, and the Andersons of Irish lineage.

William G. Anderson, Sr., was an early settler in Shelby County, Ky., whence he removed to Jef- ferson County, Ind., and there engaged in farming. He continued to follow his calling in the latter county, meeting with varied. success until his de- mise. This occurred in November, 1862. Our subject's mother departed this life in the fall of the following year. The parental family comprised ten children, seven sons and three daughters, only five of the number surviving at this writing [1887]. Rev. William G. Anderson passed his boyhood days in Jefferson County, Ind., and there lived, engaged the while in farming until after he had at- tained the age of manhood. When in his twenty- second year, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Miss Jane Sheridan, the ceremony being per- formed in the county of his nativity. Miss Sheri- dan was the daughter of James and Phoebe (Rick- etts) Sheridan, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Anderson was the second in order of birth of her parents' children, and after her marriage with our subjeet they located on a farm in Jefferson County, Ind., and he there successfully followed his calling until the fall of 1855.

It was in the fall of the latter year that Mr. Anderson, hoping to better his financial condition, brought his family to this State and located in this county. In the spring of 1858 he moved to his present location in Martin Township, on section 3, near the Mackinaw Creek. The fine productive farm on which he lives to day was then an unim- proved traet of land, having upon it a small cabin, which is still permitted to stand as a relic of by- gone days. Then he made his residence in it, but to-day he utilizes it as a stable. That our subjeet has been successful as an agriculturist is evident

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 68

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