Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 73

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 73

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Josephi Rankin was the eldest of a family of four eliildren born to his parents, of whom only two are living, himself and one sister. The latter, Marga- ret, is the wife of Jolin Irvin, and they reside on a farm in Derry Township, Westmoreland Co., Pa. Those deceased were, Isabella and Mary E., neither of whom were married. Joseph Rankin was reared and educated in his native county, and was there married, June 6, 1865, to Miss Sarah L. Lintner, of Indiana County, who was born March 24, 1838. Her parents were William and Maria A. (Hender- son) Lintner, who were American born but of English and Seoteh descent and Presbyterians in religion. Mrs. Sarah Rankin departed this life at the home of her husband in Randolph Township, March 23, 1876, leaving a family of four children, one having died in infaney, before the death of the mother. The others-Maggie B., William L., Emma L. and Mary -- are at home.

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rankin located upon a farm in their native county in Pennsyl- vania, whence, after three years they removed to Johnstown, Cambria Co., Pa., where Mr. R. engaged in mereantile pursuits for five years. He retired from this business after two years, and in the spring of 1875 eanie to this county and located upon his present homestead. He is a straightfor-

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ward business man and enjoys in a marked degree the respeet of his neighbors and associates. The eldest daughter is eonneeted with the Presbyterian Church, and our subject politieally is a solid Re- publiean.

OHN S. IIARPER, editor and proprietor of the Le Roy Eagle, has been a resident of the Prairie State sinee 1840, and an interested witness of its growth and development. He was born in Lexington, Ky., Oet. 27, 1832, and is the son of Cyrus A. Harper, who was a native of Vaneeburg, Lewis Co., Ky. His grandfather, John Sterling Harper, of Virginia, removed to Kentucky while a young man, and became the intimate friend of Daniel Boone. He was a eooper by trade, and carried on a large business in that line.

Cyrus A. Harper, the father of our subject, be- eame a merehant of Lexington when a young man, and carried on business there until 1836. He then came North to Galena, Ill., where he opened a large store and also established a smelting furnace. He was joined by his family in 1840. While there in busi- ness he also started a store in Dubnqne and another in Potosi. In 1838 he shipped the first boat load of flour ever sent up the Mississippi River, and sold it at Galena at $20 per barrel. He removed from this latter place to Elizabeth, Ill., where he carried on mereantile business and mining for eight or ten years, whenee he went to Carroll Co., and was engaged in the same enterprise, mining near Mt. Carroll. He lived there for eight or nine years, but unwisely went security for different parties, and was thereby financially ruined. He remem- bered that a few years previous he had pureliased land in Madison, Wis., which had been sold for taxes. This, in the meantime, had beeome valua- ble, and he took steps to reeover it, receiving there- for $15,000. He then went to Lyons, Iowa, and established a general store, which he operated two years, and was afterward a resident of Keokuk and Davenport, whenee he returned to Lyons. Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion, he enlisted in an Illinois regiment and served three years, and upon his return from the army, settled in Amboy, Ill.,

where he died in 1867, from disease contraeted in the army. Ile left a wife and four children; the former now lives in Monroe, lowa. The mother of our subjeet, before her marriage, was Miss Har- riet Sterling, of Virginia, who, by her union with Cyrus A. Ilarper, became the mother of four ehil- dren, of whom John S. is the eldest; Margaret, Mrs. DeLare, lives at Moberly, Mo .; Charles is proprietor of the Madison House, Chieago; Mary, Mrs. Brown, lives at Glenwood Springs, Col.

John S. Harper was a lad of eight years when he removed with his mother to Galena. Three years later he returned to Kentucky, and entered the office of the Louisville Journal, as an apprentice to the "art preservative," under the instruction of the now well-known George D. Prentiss. He lived in the family of the latter for three years, working at his trade, and then returning to Illinois, he en- tered Mt. Morris Seminary, where he pursued a thorough course of study for another three years. Then, going to Freeport, he set type in the Journal office for two years, and sinee that time has been eonneeted with various newspapers in the West, and earned the distinetion of being the founder of more newspapers than any other man in the world, having started 152 in the States of Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. These inelude the Freeport Journal, the El Paso Journal, Virginia Enquirer, Columbus Statesman, and Farmer City Republican, all of which were small offiees compared with others now running. Mr. Harper eame to Le Roy in the summer of 1886, and in his management of the Eagle has displayed excellent judgment, and met with sueeess. He is a strong and foreible writer, with a good eommand of language, and both in his supervision of the me- ehanieal and literary departments of the paper, has indieated rare judgment and good taste, and ae- cordingly the paper has beeome a power for good in the community, and prospered.

Mr. Harper was married in November, 1860, to Miss Hannah V. Capper. Mrs. Harper is a native of Ohio, and by her union with our subjeet be- eame the mother of two children, of whom only one, John M. C., grew to manhood. Ile was born in Marion, Iowa, Nov. 17, 1861, and died at Spring- field, Ill., Oet. 29, 1883. Ile was a young man of

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great promisc, a graduate of Virginia Seminary in Cass County, Ill .; and at the time of his death was local editor of the Springfield Daily Republican. He was a worthy member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and prominently connected with the Young Men's Christian Association.

Upon the outbreak of the late war, Mr. Harper enlisted as a Union soldier in July, 1862, bccom- ing a member of Co. G, 72d Ill. Vol. Inf., and serving until the close of the war. He was mus- tered in as Sergeant, and had been in the service but a few months when he was prostrated by sun- stroke and confined in the hospital for some time. He recovered sufficiently to be present at the bat- tles of Clarkesville, Corinth, Shiloh, Stone River, Mission Ridge and minor engagements. During tlic last year of service, on account of impaired health, he was given the position of Clerk in the Provost Marshal's office. He is now a member of Lemon Post No. 211, G. A. R., at Farmer City. Both Mr. and Mrs. Harper are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

OHN PURDUM, a retired farmer and highly respected citizen of Weston, has becn'a resi- dent of McLean County since 1857. Dur- ing his thirty years' residence here he has watched the growth and development of this section with the deepest interest and has contributed his sliarc towards bringing the township to its present condition. He is a native of Ohio, born in Allen County, May 14, 1819, being the son of John Purdum, who was a native of Kentucky. The mother of our subject, formerly Miss Sarah Nevin, was born in Maryland and departed this-life when her son, our subject, was but a babc. Besides himself , his little sister, Elizabeth, was also left motherless. Elizabeth became the wife of Joseph Hamilton and is now deceased. After the death of his wife, John Purdum, Sr., was a second time muar- ried, and continued to live in Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring when he was fifty-six years of age.

Our subject was reared to farming pursuits and remained in his native State until 1856. He then

sought the prairies of Illinois and passed his first winter in Putnam County, whence he removed the following spring to this county and purchased eighty acres of unimproved land in Yates Town- ship. Here he followed farming with fair success until 1881, when on account of failing health he . abandoned active labor and moved into the village of Weston, which has since been his home. Besides the farm, which is now operated by 'a tenant, Mr. Culey, he owns the handsome village property which he now occupies.

The subject of our sketch was married in 1839,- to Miss Nancy Hamilton, who was born in Brown County, Ohio, Jan. 24, 1816, and who was the daughter of Robert and Nancy Hamilton. Of this union there were born eight children, two of whom dicd in infancy and one daughter, Samantha Janc, when twenty-three years of age. Those living are, John Turner, a resident of Tulare County, Cal. ; Semiramis, the wife of Guy Farr, resides in Yates Township; Jonah Wayland is engaged in the lumber business in Vernon County, Mo .; Robert Edgar is a resident of Yates Township; Mary E. became the wife of Cal. Wilson and they are residents of Liv- ingston County, Ill.

Mr. Purdum politically is a stanch Republican and has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the past sixteen years.

h ARRISON MILLER, a resident of the Prai- rie State for the last twenty years, and who in early life was engaged in farming pursuits, is now retired from active labor, and pass- ing his later days quietly at his home in Blooming- ton, which is located at No. 205 Union street. Mr. Miller was born in Clarke County, Ohio, on the 8th of August, 1825, and is the son of John and Jo- hannah (Smith) Miller, natives respectively of Vir- ginia and Ohio. Jolin Miller removed from the Old Dominion to Ohio when a young man, and opening up a farm in the wilderness engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1863. The mother , is still living in Clarke County, Ohio, aged eighty-one years. The par-

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ental household ineluded twelve children, seven now living, the subject of our sketeh being the eld- est.

Mr. Miller remained under the parental roof nn- til he was twenty-five years of age, and engaged in farming pursuits. He received a practical educa- tion, and assisted his parents dutifully while he re- mained with them. IIe then purchased a farm of 100 aeres adjoining the old homestead. This was only partly improved, and he erected a frame house and proceeded with the cultivation of his land. He remained upon this farm until 1867, then eoming to Illinois settled in Hittle Township, Tazewell County, where he had purchased 160 acres of improved land. He occupied this, with his family, until 1881, and then removed to Bloomington for the purpose of seeuring better advantages for his children. He owns the homestead which he now oeeupies, and is passing his days surrounded by the friends who have known him for so many years, and by whom he is held in the greatest esteem.

The marriage of Harrison Miller and Miss Sarah Wise took place in Ohio in 1850. Mrs. Miller is the daughter of George and Mary (Zeigler) Wise, natives of Pennsylvania, who removed to Ohio and settled in Clarke County in 1840. They oeeupied the farm whereon they then located the remainder of their lives. Of his thirteen children, ten by a first marriage, four are now living-Mary, David, Sarah and Jaeob. Sarah was a daughter of the sec- ond marriage.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller became the parents of six children, of whom the record is as follows: John married Miss Cynthia Hieronimous, and they have three children-Addie, Carrie and Roy; Warren married Miss Carrie Raney, and they have one ehild-Mabel; Annie, now Mrs. Jones, has four children-Harry, Alma, Myrtel and Orion; Will- iam married Miss Ada Darnell; Jessie died while a student of the Wesleyan University; George is unmarried and living with his parents.

Mr. Miller is Republican in polities, and keeps himself well posted upon matters of general inter- set. . He was Supervisor in Ohio, and a School Di- rector in Tazewell County. Mr. and Mrs. M. are both members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are held in the highest re-

speet by the cominunity. During the late war Mr. Miller was in the four months' service, participated in several engagements, and was on guard duty in Company G, of the 171st Regiment. He was also one of the Gevernment Home Guards, called out in 1864.

G EORGE T. RUTLEDGE, one of the whole- souled and genial men of Randolph Town- ship, whose faculties are well balanced and who has a capacity for the intelligent enjoyment of the good things of this life, owns and oeeupies a fine homestead on section 36, which by his own in- dustry he has brought to a fine state of cultivation. Ile has also erected a handsome and substantial farm dwelling. a good barn and all necessary out- buildings, and possesses all the implements and ma- ehinery for carrying on agriculture in a first-class manner. He has been straightforward and upright in his business methods and occupies an enviable position among the reliable men of his community.

Mr. Rutledge is a native of Randolph Township and was born on the old homestead of his father Aug. 26, 1834, being the eldest son of R. II. Rut- ledge, a native of South Carolina. He was the eld- est son and third child of a family of twelve, six sons and six daughters, three of each now being deceased. George 'T. was reared to farming pur- suits, pursuing his primary studies in the common schools, after which he entered Wesleyan Univer- sity at Bloomington, where he took a thorough course of study, and from which he became fully equipped for the further duties of life.

Mr. Rutledge was married, in St. Louis, Mo., on the 10th of July, 1860, to Miss Ann M. Wagoner, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Ross) Wag- oner. Her father was an extensive and well-to-do farmer of Downs Township, this county. Mrs. Rutledge was born in Center County, Pa., Nov. 6, 1842. She was only two years old when her par- ents removed from the Keystone State to Tippeca- noe County, Ind., where they lived upon a farm for twelve years. Thence, in 1856 they removed to Illinois, and located on a farm in Downs Town- ship, this county, which the father had purchased

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Mancana & Lineman

Cobb Sincera

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McLEAN COUNTY.

a year previously. Ile was then in moderate eir- eumstances bnt became very successful after com- ing to McLean County, and is now one of the in- dependent farmers of Downs Township. Mrs. R. remained nnder the home roof until her marriage with our subject. She has become the mother of ten children, one deceased and one married. The latter, Aldora, is the wife of D. H. Morgan, and resides at Bloomington; Joseph C., Laura E., Mary F., Robt. H., Jessic M., Frank M., Addie E. and Her- mon H. are at home with their parents. Our subject and his wife, with one son and three daughters, are members in -good standing of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which Mr. R. is Steward. So- eially he belongs to the I. O. O. F., and politically is an uneompromising Democrat.

ALEB FREEMAN, one of the honored pio- neers of McLean County, is a gentleman possessed of fine personal traits of character, more than ordinary ability, a deep thinker and ex- tensive reader, and essentially a self-made man. He is well informed upon matters of general inter- est, liberal in huis religious views, and in all respeets one of the most intelligent citizens of this locality. He is oeeupied in farming pursuits, and is pleas- antly located in Dale Township, on section 8. His home farm now comprises 340 aeres. During his long residence in the Prairie State, he has estab- lished for himself an enviable reputation as an hon- est man and good eitizen, and one who has con- tributed his full quota toward the advancement and development of one of the wealthiest States in the Union.

The subject of this history was born in Butler County, Ohio, on the 11th of December, 1814. Ilis father, John Freeman, a native of New Jer- sey, was one of the early pioneers of the Buckeye State. His son Caleb was but a small child when both the parents died, and the orphan boy was taken into the home of his nnele, then living in Butler County. The latter subsequently removed to Mereer County, and left Caleb Freeman and his only sister in charge of a neighboring farmer, John Carter, who lived a few miles from Wapakoneta.

The county was thinly settled at the time, and wild game of all kinds was plenty, and our subject well remembers his wanderings over the hills and through the forest, and the lonely feeling which often took possession of him as he thought of him- self and his sister severed from home ties and kin- dred by a Providenee which they were too young to understand. The sister grew to womanhood and removed to Indiana, where she died. After living with Mr. Carter two years, the Overseer of the Poor removed Caleb Freeman and bound him to John Holderman in Montgomery County, with whom he lived until old enough to learn a'trade. He was thus employed until sixteen years of age, and then served three years for his board and clothes while learning the trade of a tanner with Snyder & MePherson. He then removed to Miami County, and was employed by James Hannah for the following two years. He followed his trade in different places in Ohio, and during the last four years of his residence in that State was at Franklin, Warren County.

In the meantime Mr. Freeman had been married, and in February, 1840, aecompanied by his wife and her father's family, started for the prairies of Illinois. Their outfit consisted of three horses and a wagon, and they earried with them their house- hold goods and provisions, camping and, cooking by the wayside, and sleeping in the wagon at night. They arrived in Dale Township on the 28th of the same month, and Mr. Freeman has been a resident of this township sinee that date, embracing a period of over forty-seven years.

Mr. Freeman, at the time of his arrival here, had not a dollar in eash at his eommand. He and his wife moved into a small log house on her father's farm, and shortly afterward Mr. Freeman bor- rowed $100 and commenced business by purehas- ing hides and establishing a tannery. As soon as he had leather enougli prepared for further opera- tions, he hired a shoemaker and had the leather converted into boots and shoes. His tannery was located on the west side of Twin Grove and the middle branch of Sugar Creek. He operated in this manner until June 5, 1845, then took the balanee of his stoek and paeked it ready for transportation to St. Louis. He loaded it onto a wagon and took

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it by team to Pekin, thenee by steamer to St. Louis, where he sold it. He had been prosperous in his leather operations, and when he sold out he bad money enough to pay his indebtedness and start in farming. lle had previously entered eighty aeres of land on seetion 8 of what is now Dale Township, and he now proceeded to the ereetion of a farm house. He put up a one story and a half building, twenty feet square, on the open prairie. As there was great danger fromn prairie fires he al- ways kept a strip burned around his buildings to prevent their being destroyed. and even with this precaution was obliged to keep a elose watch lest some stray spark might set fire to his little property.

The nearest markets in those days were at Pekin and Peoria, and it took two and one-half days to make the round trip. Wheat only brought from forty to ninety-four eents per bushel, and oats ten eents. The pioneers were obliged to avail them- selves of every shift and turn in order to make both ends meet, provide themselves with the neees- saries of life, and proceed with the improvements on their new homesteads. But they all "pulled together," each one helped his neighbor wbenever he could do so, and in due time sueeess began to smile upon their persevering and united labor.

The marriage of Caleb Freeman and Miss Mar- tha Barnard took place at her father's farm, nine miles north of Dayton, Ohio, on the 28th of No- vember, 1839. Mrs. Freeman was a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, and was born Feb. 14, 1819. Her parents were Samuel and Rebeeea (Compton) Barnard. She became the mother of eiglit children, and after remaining the faithful and affectionate companion of her husband for a period of forty-five years, departed this life on the 11th of May, 1884. The children born of this mar- riage are recorded as follows: Rebeeea became the wife of Josiah Myers, and lives at Towanda, Ill .; Samuel is a resident of Bloomington; Euniee mar- ried Lucius Rogers, and lives near Ellsworth, this eounty ; Vietoria, Mrs. George L. Conkling, lives in Atlantie, Iowa; Clinton D. oeeupies a part of the old homestead; L. Edward is now farming in York County, Neb .; Elizabeth died at the age of ten years and ten months; Abraham L. is a eitizen of Kansas.

For his second wife Mr. Freeman married Miss Mandana Graee Thurman, the wedding taking place at Charleston, Coles Co., Ill., on the 14th of Jan- uary. 1885. The present Mrs. Freeman was born in Knox County, Ill., and is the daughter of Isaae and Rebeeea (MeGrew) Thurman. By this union they have one daughter, Jessie Belle; they have also an adopted daughter, Jennie May Freeman.

Mr. Freeman has been prominent in the affairs of this eouuty sinee beeomning a resident here. At the time of the organization of the township, he proposed for it the name of Dale, which was adopted without opposition. He has done what he eould toward its moral and educational advanee- ment, and is held in the highest esteem by his fel- low-citizens. During the earlier years of his life he was a member of the Whig party, but after this party was abandoned, and the Republicans organ- ized, he has cheerfully indorsed the principles of the latter, and with them uniformly easts his vote.

The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman are shown in connection with this sketeh.

G EORGE THOMPSON, contraetor and builder at Bloomington, has his business offiee at No. 601 East North street, and in his par- tieular department is considered one of the skilled artisans of this seetion. Mr. T. was born in Call- nonsburg, Pa., Nov. 1, 1854, and is the son of Thomas and Dorothy (Maudlin) Thompson, uatives of England, where they were reared and married, the latter event oceurring about 1840, and eame to America some nine years later. They settled at onee in Cannonsburg, where Thomas Thompson engaged in mining, at which he is employed at the present time. Of the parental family there are four ehildren living : Robert M. is operating a briek- yard at Houstonville, Pa .; Joseph L., of Kansas City, is engaged as a contractor and builder ; Mary, Mrs. Camp, lives in Cannonsburg, and George is . . our subject.

Mr. Thompson remained under the parental roof until he was eighteen years of age and received a practical education. After leaving home he learned the trade of earpenter and joiner and worked one

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year in his native State. In the fall of 1878 lic came to Illinois and settled at Bloomington, where he worked at his trade five years, in the meantime associating himself with a partner, and under the firm name of Zeigler & Thompson, they engaged as contraetors and builders, operating to- gether for four years, sinee which time Mr. T. has carried on business alone. In this he is very sue- cessful, and gives employment to threc men besides himself.

Our subject purelased his present attraetive residenee in 1885, having been married on the 1st of January, that ycar, to Miss Mcttie J. Dustin, the daughter of Clement and Maryette (Lasher) Dustin. Mrs. T. was born in Leavenworth, Kau., in 1868. Her parents were natives of Vermont and Ohio re- spectively, and were married at Janesville, Wis., but are now living at Leavenworth, Kan. Their family consisted of six children, four of whom are living : Edward C. of Leavenworth, Kan., engaged in eom- mission business; Elmer E., an express agent at the same place; Mettic J., Mrs. Thompson, and Emily C., of Leavenworth. Mr. Dustin moved from Wis- consin to Kausas in 1856, and is now retired from active business.

OHN N. KILGORE, a sueeessful agrieult- urist of Lawndale Township, owns a good homestead on seetion 22, and is numbered among the enterprising young farmers of MeLean County. He is a native of Franklin County, Ohio, born Nov. 12, 1859, being the youngest of a 'family of four children. (See his- tory of parents in sketch of Thomas Kilgore.) He attended the common schools and for two years pursucd a thorough, course of study in the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. He remained under the home roof until twenty-four years of age, then started for the prairies of Illinois. He arrived in this county in the fall of 1883, and in the spring following located on his present homestead. This now comprises 240 aeres of finely improved land, with a good house, barn, and all necessary out- buildings.

Mr. Kilgore was married in Plain City, Madison

Co., Ohio, Dec. 31, 1884, to Miss May L., daughter of Edmund and Lavinna Smith, natives respectively of Vermont aud New York. Mrs. K. was born in Union County, Ohio, May 19, 1864, and by her union with our subjeet has become the mother of one ehild, a son, Clyde S., born .Dee. 13, 1885. Mr. Kilgrove is a stanelı adherent of the Repub- . liean party and socially belongs to the K. of P.

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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 73

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