Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 69

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 69

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).

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from the fine and well-improved farm on which he lives to-day, and which has been brought to its present high state of produetiveness mainly through his own labor. Our subject has devoted consider- able of his time to the feeding and raising of stoek, and some years has fed as high as 100 head of cat- tle and 200 head of logs. His farin consists of 320 acres, 160 being located on section 3, and 160 on section 2, and 170 acres of his land is inside the corporation of the thriving little village of Colfax. About fifty acres of this has been sold out in town lots.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have become the parents of five children, namely, William H., of Colfax; Francis M., now in Dakota; Mary, wife of B. F. Payne, of Dakota; Millard F., also of Dakota, and James M. The latter was a soldier in the late war, and a member of the 8th Illinois Infantry. He served his country faithfully and well, and lost his life while fighting in her defense, being killed at the battle of Ft. Blakesley. Mr. Anderson has served as Supervisor of Martin Township, being the in- cumbent of that office for two years, 1868-69. He was a candidate on the Prohibition ticket, at the election of 1886, for the Legislature, and while he was defeated he received a handsome vote, and in his own township ran away ahead of his tieket. He and his good wife are members of the Christian Church, and for twenty years our subjeet was en- gaged in preaching for that denomination. For five years he was a member of the State Missionary Board, of Illinois, and for one year acted as its Chairman. He acted as finaneial agent of Eureka College, of Woodford County, Ill., from the years 1873 to 1877, and raised more money for the time he occupied the position than any one who has suc- ceeded him, having raised on an average of $1,000 per month while thus employed. Mr. Anderson is a self-made man in every sense of the word, and although his educational facilities in early years were exceedingly limited, he has improved eachı shining moment, and in addition to being a good Bible scholar, and posted upon the issues of Nation, State and county, he is likewise one of the best farmers and one of the most honored and respected citizens of the eounty. A lithiographic portrait of Mr. Anderson appears on another page of this work.

0 RIN WATERS, a resident of the Prairie State sinee 1844, and now engaged as book- keeper for Dr. C. Wakefield & Co., ranks among thie substantial eitizens, and has a thorough understanding of the duties of his position as an aceountant, for which he has become well fitted by a good education and a large experience. The ' subject of this biography was born in Watertown, N. Y., Oet. 3, 1832, and is the son of William and Betsey (Wakefield) Waters, natives of the same place. William Waters was an official of his native eounty the greater part of his life, but in later years removed to Illinois, and purchasing a farm in De Witt County, devoted himself to agricultural pursuits and established a homestead which he oe- eupied until his death, July 4, 1848. The mother died at the same place two years later, in 1850. Their four children were as follows: Henry, a resident of Iola, Kan .; Orin, of our sketcli; Dr. Zera, of Bloomington, and Susan, Mrs. Andrus, of Bloomington, whose husband is engaged in mer- eantile pursuits. The father of our subject was a staneh adherent of the Democratic party, and be- longed to the Universalist Church. He was gener- ous and warm-hearted in his disposition, upright and honorable in his business transactions, a liberal supporter of sehools and ehurehes, and greatly re- speeted wherever he was known.

Orin Waters was a boy of thirteen years when he came to Illinois with his parents. Ile received his edueation principally in the distriet sehools un- til he was eighteen years of age, and then beeame a elerk in the store of Dr. C. Wakefield. In 1849 he eamne to Bloomington in the capacity of a drug elerk for the same gentleman, and continued five years, after which he established in business for himself, being thus occupied for four years, after which he sold out and engaged with R. Thompson & Co., in the drug trade, until 1867. He then as- sociated himself in partnership with J. S. Sibird, and they purchased the Bloomington Pantagraph, eondueting it until the fall of 1869, and then sell- ing out started the Leader, which they sold in 1874. Mr. Waters then engaged as book-keeper for Dr. Wakefield, which position he has oceupied sinee that time.

Our subject was married on the 1st of Deeem-

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ber, 1853, to Miss Mary E. Richardson, of Water- town, N. Y., and the daughter of Josiah and Cyn- thia (Toleman) Richardson, natives respectively of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and her father was a farmer by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Waters are the parents of three children, as follows: Frank R. married Miss Mamie Heaton, and they reside in Bloomington; Cynthia B. is the wife of Prof. George Hastings, of Santa Cruz, Cal .; Della is the wife of Harry N. Woods, engaged in the dry-goods trade at Bloomington, and they have one daughter, Lottie M.

The residence of our subjeet is located on East Washington street, at No. 517, where he dispenses hospitality to numbers of friends by whom himself and excellent lady arc held in high estcem. They are both members of the Unitarian Church. Mr. Waters is Republican in polities, and socially be- longs to the I. O. O. F.

AMUEL S. YODER. a native of Mifflin County, Pa., now makes his home in Dan- vers Township, MeLean Co., Ill., being pleasantly and comfortably located on see- tion 36. He has been a resident of the Prairie State since 1851, and is a fine representative of the intelligent and progressive farmers of the West. Mr. Yoder was born in 1816, his parents being John and Susanna (Stutzman) Yoder, also natives of the Keystone State, the father born in 1785, and the mother in 1795. They were married in Mifflin County, Pa., in 1813, and remained upon a farm in that State until 1837. He then removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, and there cultivated rented land until 1852, when he removed further westward into Indiana. In this latter State lie made his home with one of his sons, and there spent the remain- der of his days, dying in about 1874. The mother died in Pennsylvania in 1836. Two of' their twelve children died in infancy : Catherine became the wife of Adam Greenawalt; Samuel, of our sketch, was the second child; Joel married Miss Lydia Yoder; Elizabeth became the wife of Sam- uel Zook;' Joseph married Miss Lydia Kurtz; Gid- eon married Miss Elizabeth IIartze; Lydia be-

eame Mrs. Peter Stutzman; John married Miss Catherine Stahley; Adam married Miss Susan Kurtz; Susan became Mrs. David Kurtz. The parents were members of the Mennonite Church. John Yoder, politically, was an adherent of the old Whig party, but afterward affiliated with the Republicans.

Samuel S. Yoder was reared by his parents to farming pursuits, and received a good common- school education. After attaining his majority he was married to Miss Elizabeth Yoder, in 1838, in Ohio. He cultivated rented land until 1851, then removed to this State and county, purchasing forty aeres in Danvers Township. In a short time he doubled liis landed estate, but has now sold out and is living retired from the active business of life.

The wife of our subject is the daughter of Jacob and Polly (Kinney) Yoder, both natives of Penn- sylvania. They were married in about 1806, and removed from their native State the following year to Marion County, Ohio, where Mr. Yoder followed agricultural pursuits, and where both parents died some years ago. Of their children, three died in infancy. Those living are Naney, Jonathan, Lydia, John, Elizabeth, Margaret and Priscilla.

Of the marriage of Samuel S. and Mrs. Elizabeth Yoder there were born the following-named ehil- dren: Jonathan married Miss Kittie Ballaman; Naney became the wife of Ferdinand Holderly ; Jacob married Miss Lydia King; John married Miss Rosa Zimmerman; Samuel P. first married Miss Ura Lantz, now deceased; his second wife was Miss Lucinda Wallace. Mr. Yoder is Republican in politics, and both he and his wife belong to the Mennonite Church. -

AMES H. SPRAGUE, proprietor of the "Sprague House," Bloomington, is also en- gaged in the eigar and tobacco trade on Main street, where the hotel is located and occupies No. 605. Mr. Sprague has been a resident of this section since 1857, and is as highly . spoken of as he is widely known throughout both the city and township of Bloomington. His birth

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place was Marysville, Union Co., Ohio, and the date thereof Aug. 15, 1846. Ilis father, Jackson G. Sprague, a native of Essex County, N. Y., was a cabinet-maker by tradc. lle migrated to Ohio when a young man, where he met and married Miss Sophronia Rose, a native of Buffalo, Y. Y. After his marriage he located in Marysville, Ohio, where he carried on an extensive furniture business until 1856, and served as Sheriff of Union County, Ohio, for a period of seven years. IIc then removed with his family to Lexington, Ill. He was opposed to slavery and a strong friend of the Union and thus, when the Civil War broke out, his patriotism was moved to such an extent, that he, in 1862, al- though forty-seven years old, volunteered his scrv- ices to the Union and was mustered into the field of action as a member of Co. G, 33d Ill. Vol. Inf., and served two years and a half, and was then dis- charged on account of physical disability. The disease which he contracted while in the army still retains its hold upon him and there is no doubt but that he will suffer from it all the days of his life. In consequence of this he now draws a pension. After retiring from the army he resumed business a few years, but his health compelled him to retire from active labor. IIe then returned to Blooming- ton, and with the help of good employes, carricd . on an hotel successfully for several ycars. The faithful and affectionate wife and mother departed this life in 1885, sinee which time the father of our subject has lived retired from active business. The four children of the family are Cloa A., deccased ; James II., Lucinda R. and Freeman R.

James H. Sprague was but ten years old when the family removed from Ohio and settled in this county. He received his early education in the schools at Lexington, Ill., and in 1864, although not having attained the age required to become a soldier, proffered his services to assist in the preserv- ation of the Union and was accepted as a member of Co. G, 146th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served until honorably discharged at the elose of the war. He then returned to Lexington, where he owned and operated a line of drays until 1871. He then cn- tered the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railway Company as a machinist, in their shops at Bloom- ington, where he remained for a period of fourteen

ycars. Subsequently he engaged as a traveling salesman for a Bloomington cigar and tobacco house, and Feb. 1, 1886, succeeded his employ- ers in the business. Hc now conducts a fine retail trade, having one of the finest tobacco stores in Cen- tral Illinois. Hle is courteous and attentive to his patrons, genial and pleasant in disposition, and has gathered around him a host of friends who value him as much for his excellent personal traits as they respeet him for a thorough-going and upright business man. He is a stanch friend of the temper- ance movement, has never tasted intoxicating liquors, and in all respects is a law-abiding citizen and the friend of system and good order. He pos- scsses rare social qualities and takes a decp interest in the prosperity and welfare of his county and community. In about 1875, Mr. Sprague became identified with the Knights of Pythias and is now a member of Damon Lodge No. 10, having passed all the chairs from the outer door to the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of Custer Division No. 22, U. R. K. of P., and belongs to John A. Logan Post No. 146, G. A. R. Although said Post has a membership of over 400 there is but one younger in years than our subject. He possesses excellent executive ability and is scarcely to be ex- celled in military taetics, being a good commander, thorough in drill and possessing the qualities requis- ite for the responsible position which he occupies. Hc is Chief Captain of Ridgley Temple Patriarchal Circle No. 4, one of the best drilled in the county. His company competed for a prize on the 30th of May, 1887, and the Patriarchal Cirele carried off the silver cup. Its members some time sinee pre- sented Mr. Sprague with an elegant watch charm, valued at $30, which, however, is insignificant in comparison with the spirit which prompted the gift. Mr. S. is also a member of Towanda Tribe No. 48, of the Improved Order of Red Men, of which he is the highest officer as well as Captain of the Team.

The marriage of Mr. Sprague occurred on the 24th of December, 1868, the maiden of his ehoiee being Miss Agnes D. Donovan. Mrs. S. was born in Laneaster County, Pa., and is the daughter of Joseph Donovan. Of her union with our subject there has been onc son-Carl R., born Feb. 6, 1871.

RESIDENCE OF F. A. EYESTONE , SEC. G.,(T. 21.), FUNK'S GROVE TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF JOS. T. MARTIN, SEC.1.(T.21.), RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF EZRA W. KENYON , SEC. 5., MT. HOPE TOWNSHIP.

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The Sprague House is a neat little hotel, ably conducted, and furnishes excellent accommodations to a goodly number of the traveling publie. Mr. and Mrs. S. arc lovers of musie and aside from the gatherings around the family fireside their voiees are regularly heard in the choir of the Independent Church of Bloomington. Mrs. S. is, and has been organist of the Sunday-school ever sinec its organ- ization two and a half years ago, and Mr. S. is, and has been Superintendent of the same for the same length of time.

E ZRA W. KENYON, of Mt. Hope Township, is an honored pioneer of the Prairie State, of which he has been a resident sinee lie was a little boy four years old. He was born in Plain- field, Windham Co., Conn., on' the 21st of January, 1836, and is the second son of Ezra T. and Susan (Rathbone) Kenyon; a sketehi of his parents may be found in the biography of Dennis Kenyon, in another part of this volume.

The subjcet of this biography received his early education in the subscription school, and later at- tended the frce sehools after their establishment in this loeality. He eommeneed the duties of life at an early age by assisting his parents on the farm, and made his home with them until after his marriage. He then settled on a farm in what was known as New Kentucky, and is located on section 20 of Mt. Hope Township. It was wild prairie land when he first came into possession of it, and he set himself industriously to work, breaking the sod, eultivating the soil and ereeting the necessary farm buildings. He oceupied this until 1865, and then removed to his present homestead. This last was also uneultivated, and he went through the same processes which he had employed on his first pur- chase. It consisted originally of cighty aeres. He persevered in his operations until it is now finely improved and under a good state of cultivation. A view of the place is shown ou another page.

The landed possessions of Mr. Kenyon now ag- gregate 860 aeres of land, furnished with suitable farm buildings. The family residenee is commo- dious and convenient, the out-buildings are in ex-

cellent order for the storing of grain and the shel- ter of stoek, and his valuable farm machinery is modeled after the most approved plan. In short, all the appliances of the homestead give indication of the direction of an intelligent mind and wise judgment, and the farm, with its applianees, is one of the most attractive spots in the landscape of McLean County.

Mr. Kenyon was married on the 25th of March, 1858, to Miss Margaret A. Leonard, a native of Susquehanna County, Pa., who was born on the 19th of May, 1837. Mrs. Kenyon is the daughter of Phillip and Eliza (Prescott) Leonard. The household of Mr. and Mrs. K. ineludes three chil- dren- Sarah E., Emma L. and Arthur T., and all, with the exception of the son, are connected by membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Kenyon is Republican in politics, well informed, and takes au interest in all matters of general im- portanee. He has been intimately eonneeted with the business and industrial interests of this section, and has contributed his full quota' toward the building up of his adopted town and county.

OSEPH DENNING, a substantial and re- speeted resident of Bloomington, located at No. 808 East Chestnut street, Is turning his principal attention to dairying, having a fine herd of fourteen cows, and carrying on a successful trade in milk and cream. Mr. Denning was born in Holmes County, Ohio, April 20, 1834, being the son of Jacob and Mary A. (Wiley) Denning, na- tives of Pennsylvania. They emigrated from the Keystone State and located in Ohio, in June. 1833. There the father was engaged in boot and shoe making, and remained a resident of the Buckeye State until his death, which oeeurred in 1857. He was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and officiated as Class-Leader for many years; the mother is still living at an advanced age, and makes her home with one of her children in Dakota. The parental household of our subject ineluded eleven children, seven now living, viz .: Joseph, Thomas F., Joshua W., Catharine, Samuel R., Jacob H. and Rev. John O.

As is seen our subjeet was the eldest child of the

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family household. He was reared on a farm and attended sehool during his childhood and youth, remaining with his parents until thirty years of age. In 1859 he came to Illinois and rented a farm in Danvers Township, this eounty, which he occupied four years. Ile then rented land in Normal Town- ship for three years following, eoming to Blooming- ton in 1870. Ile rented here until 1875, and then purebiased a home west of the railroad, which he oeeupied six years, and in 1882 purchased his pres- ent home, which ineludes four lots and a eomforta- ble dwelling.

Mr. Denning was married in this eounty in 1863, to Miss Aleinda, the daughter of Asa and Elizabeth (Stewart) Hall, of West Virginia. Her father was engaged in farming pursuits, and eame with his family to Illinois in 1857. He located in Danvers · Township, this county, upon a farm of 170 aeres, which he had purchased, and which remained his home until his death in 1858. The mother sur- vived until 1874. Of their ten children, five only are now living-Thomas E., William S., John N., David C. and Aleinda. The parents of Mrs. Den- ning were members of the Presbyterian Church, of which her father was Deaeon and Clerk.

Our subject and his wife became the parents of two children-Charles A. and Nellie M. Mr. Den- ning' is Republiean in politics, and, with his wife and son, a member of Grace Methodist Church. He at one time occupied a position on the police foree of the eity. He has all his life been a man of industry and enterprise, and is a peaceful and law-abiding citizen, holding the respect of his neighbors and the esteem of many friends. A lithi- ographic view of Mr. Denning's dairy is shown on another page of this work.

O. RUTLEDGE, one of the honored pio- neers of MeLean County, and in former days one of its most useful and valued cit- izens, having now arrived at the advaneed age of eighty years, is spending his deelining days in eom- fort and retirement at the home of his son-in-law, William W. Elder, of Heyworth. During these long years he has built up for himself a good ree-

ord, and has earned the good will of all with whom he has come in eontaet. His familiar form upon the streets is regarded with that peeuliar veneration accorded the first settlers of the Prairie State, and there are none who do not wish that his last days may be his best.

Mr. Rutledge was born near Augusta, Ga., Sept. 18, 1806. Ilis father, Robert Rutledge, was also a native of the same State, and his grandfather, John Rutledge, whose birthplace is not now known, died in White Connty, Ill. Both the father and grand- father of our subjeet were engaged in farming pur- suits. Robert Rutledge grew to manhood in his native State, and was married to Miss Jane Offieer, who was reared in Georgia, but it is believed was born elsewhere. They became the parents of eight children, all born in the latter-named State, and of whom our subjeet was the eldest. The family re- moved to Henderson County, Ky., in about 1820, and engaged in agrienlture. There the father died a few years later, in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, leaving behind him a good record as a eit- izen, neighbor, father and friend.

Shortly after the death of her husband, the mother of our subjeet eame with her ehildren to White County, Ill., at an .early period in the his- tory of that State, in'1820. The land was then mostly wild and nnbroken, but in common with the other pioneers of that day they had prepared themselves to meet with courage the difficulties whiel might beset them. They engaged in farm- ing as before, but in 1826 removed to what is now McLean County, Ill., and located south of Ran- dolph Grove, in what is now Randolph Township, on seetion 36. They settled on a squatter's elaim, and when the land eame into market seenred it by purchase. Mr. R. of this notice first seenred eighty aeres, and afterward added to his landed posses- sions until he finally became the owner of 1,000 aeres, which he has sinee mostly divided among his ehildren. He has, however, retained for his own use one fine farm of 240 aeres, the proceeds of which yield him a handsome income.

Mr. Rutledge made his advent into MeLean County, driving an ox-team with a small wagon. After coming to Illinois the family lived one year in Sangamon County. Our subjeet was poor in

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purse, as the father had not left any property, but with the eourage of youth he bravely began the struggle of life and set about the establishment of a future home. He was remarkably successful in his undertakings, but after a short time his labors were interrupted by a eall for troops to defend the whites from the dangers which ensued on account of the Black Hawk War. Our subjeet, in this as in all other respects, bravely armed himself for his duty, went into service and remained until the confliet was over, escaping unharmed. He was, however, one of the very few of his company per- mitted to return to their home, the others being carried off either by disease or the missiles of the enemy. Mr. R. was in the fight at Dixon, Ill., and his company was commanded by Capt. M. L. Co- vell, of Bloomington, Ill.

On the 1st of January, 1829, Mr. Rutledge was married in Randolph Township, then in Tazewell County, Ill., to Miss Cynthia Rutledge, a native of Henderson County, Ky. She came to this State in 1812, when a very small ehild, and was among the early settlers of Randolph Township. She depart- ed this life in this township in February, 1883, and her name is held in tender remembrance by her family and a large eirele of friends. She was a de- voted member of the Presbyterian Church, and was possessed of all womanly virtues, being a ten- der and affectionate wife and mother, and at all times a faithful friend and helper of the afflicted and distressed. Mr. Rutledge has also been eon- neeted with the Presbyterian Church for many . years, and officiated as Elder for a long period. In polities, he has always been an uncompromising Demoerat, and east his first presidential vote for Gen. Jackson.

A LEXANDER J. YANCEY, formerly a prosperous farmer of this county but now engaged in the livery business at MeLean, has been a resident of Illinois since 1872, He was born in Orange County, Va., Aug. 3, 1845, being the son of Alexander and Elizabeth Jane (Lee) Yancey. The former was born in Madison

County, Va., and the latter in Orange County, where they settled after their marriage. The father of our subjeet was a farmer and slaveholder, and afterward became overseer of a plantation in the Old Dominion. He died in Orange County, Va., Aug. 7, 1845, one day before the birth of his son, our subjeet. The latter was the third child of his parents, two others having died in infancy. He lived with his mother until he was ten years of age and was then indentured to a farmer for a term of five years. Being unkindly treated, he only served two of these and then went to live with an unele, with whom he remained until fourteen years of age. Our subjeet then joined his mother in Rockingham County, Va., and received his first instruction at a school. He was employed upon a farm during the summer seasons and pursued his studies in winter, thus gaining a fair education.

In the fall of 1860, young Yancey entered a printing-office in Harrisonburg, but not liking the trade soon retired and became an apprentice to a blacksmith. with whom he served four montlis. The shop was then closed and he was variously employed until the summer of 1862. ' The war being then in progress he was eonseripted into the rebel ariny for detached duty, and after serving six months en- tered Co. C, 6th Va. Vol. Cav., which rendezvoused at Camp Lee, Richmond. Young Yaneey, with others, was obliged to furnish his own horse, to pay for which he borrowed $500 of his unele. The first horse was killed, and he purchased another. To add to his misfortunes he was wounded at the battle of Gaines' Mills, but after a time recovered sufficiently, and was assigned to light duty, being placed in charge of the cattle of the commissary department. He was in the valley of Virginia upon the surrender of Lee and soon after returned to his old home.

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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 69

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