Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 75

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 75

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He was employed as a farm laborer for about two years in this county, then coming to Lawndale Township, purchased twenty acres on section 13, which comprises a part of his present homestead. He was prospered in his farming and business trans- actions, and in due time added to his first purchase, so that now he is the owner of 604} aeres, which he has brought to a fine state of cultivation. He has also erected a handsome and substantial set of frame buildings, second to none in this part of the county. He keeps a herd of about 100 head of Short-horn cattle and twenty head of fine horses, be- sides fattening about 200 head of hogs annually. Everything about the premises is kept in the finest order, and is indicative in every respect of the supervision of an intelligent man possessing more than ordinary good judgment and taste. The homestead forms one of the most attractive spots in this section of the county and its inmates are widely and favorably known, and esteemed among the first citizens.

Samuel Weeks was first married in the city of Bloomington, Ill., April 23, 1859, to Miss Elizabeth Cooper, who was also a native of England, born in 1830. The issue of, this marriage was as follows : George HI., Leafy A. and William A. were tbe three cldest. Mary A., Maria J. and Minnie E. are triplets. The first is the wife of J. C. Harris of Cropsey Township, and the third, Minnie, is Mrs. Robert Abby, and resides in Belle Prairie Town- ship, Livingston County. The mother of these children died on the family homestead, Lawndale Township. April 6, 1869.

The second wife of our subject, to whom he was married in Fairbury, Ill., Oct. 30, 1872, was Elizabeth J., daughter of John and Grace (Jewel) Dart, and widow of Richard Taylor, who died in Devonshire, England, in 1870. Of the first mar- riage of Mrs. W. there were born six children- William T., Mary J., Bessie D., Richard, Robert S. and Grace D. Mrs. Elizabeth Weeks was born in England, June 29, 1829. Of her union with our subjeet there is one child, a son, Frederick T. Our subject and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Church. In politics Mr. W. is a stanch Republican and has held some of the minor offices of his township, at present being Township

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Commissioner. He is publie spirited and liberal, and one interested in the welfare and progress of his eounty and eominunity.

inne

R ILEY MILLER, one of the representative business men and meehanies of Saybrook, and connected with the firm of R. Wirt & Co., tile manufacturers, was born in Ross County, Ohio, on the 30th of May, 1854. He is the son of William and Elizabeth R. (Dunlap) Miller, natives of Ohio. Both parents early in life eon- neeted themselves with the United Brethren Church. The father is still living and makes his home in Saybrook.

The subject of this history is the eldest of his par- ents' three children, the other two being John B. and Emma H. Mr. Miller has been a resident of this county since a boy of ten years, in 1864, at which time his parents located in Arrowsmith Township. He was reared to farming pursuits, and received a fair education in the distriet sehools. After arriving at years of manhood he was united in marriage with Miss Fannie English on the 3d of March, . 1875. Mrs .: Miller, was born in Clark County, Ill., and is the daughter of Abel and Susan (Hutchinson) English, both natives of New Jersey. Their children were Henry, Allen, Morri- son, Fannie, Florence, Augusta and Belle. Al- len and Augusta are deceased.

Mr. Miller was trained by his excellent parents to habits of industry, and sinee early youth has been employed in some useful ealling. In 1881 he engaged in the manufacture of tile in this eity, where he worked two years, and one year in Fair- bury, then returned to Saybrook and entered into partnership with Rush, Wirt & Co., with whom he has been eonneeted sinee that time. They are do- ing an extensive business, running two burning kilus, each with a capacity of 8,000 per week, of one foot eaeh in length and from three to twelve inehes in diameter. They are enabled to obtain a very superior elay, and the produet of their kilns is of a corresponding quality. They give employment to about ten men, and in connection with their tile business have recently put in operation a Penfield

plunge-mill, which was manufactured in Wil- loughby, Ohio, at a eost of $1,250. The eapaeity of this machine is about 10,000 four-ineh tile per day. They are using soft eoal for fuel. The tile from this factory is sent all over the State, and yields a fine ineome. Each member of the firm possesses good business ability, and all are honora- ble and upright in their transactions, their word being considered as good as gold. All are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Yea- man being Superintendent of the Sunday-sehool and Messrs Wirt & Yeaman are connected with the Official Board. The former belongs to the Masonie fraternity and the K. of P. Our subjeet and Mr. Yeaman are members of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 460, at Saybrook. The firm unanimously supports the Republican party.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller have one ehild, a daughter, Sylvia, born Dee. 5, 1875. They oeeupy a pleas- ant hoine on Main street, and enjoy the friendship and association of the best people of Saybrook.

M ALCOM McNAB, a native of the Empire State, born in Livingston County, Aug. 26, 1829, is now a highly respected resi- dent of this eounty, making his home in Lawndale Township, on seetion 13. He is the son of John and Ann (MeIntyre) MeNab, both natives of Scotland, who emigrated to America and set- tling in New York State, died in Livingston County, the father in 1862, and the mother in 1876. Of their children, thirteen in number, Mal- eoni was the seventh.

Maleom MeNab was reared on his father's farm, remaining under the home roof until about twenty years old. He then engaged as elerk in a store in York, his native county, where he remained three and one-half years. Soon afterward he purchased a farm which, however, he only cultivated one year, then sold out and afterward operated on rented land for a year. After harvesting the season's erops, not being quite satisfied with his condition or his prospeets in the Empire State, he eoneluded to move out westward. After arriving in Illinois he spent the first winter in Livingston

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County, and the following spring, 1858, eame to McLean County and for four years thereafter was engaged in breaking prairie. He then settled down on his present homestead in Lawndale Township, upon which he has brought about great changes since it eanie into his possession. This, which con- sisted of 200 acres, he has since added to, until he now has a valuable cstate of 480 acres, finely im- proved, besides thirty-four acres adjoining Fair- bury. Of late years he has given his attention largely to stoek-raising and has been uniformly successful in his agricultural and business transac- tions. One of the most important events in 'the life of our subjeet occurred on the 19th of April, 1866, when he was united in marriage with Elma G., daughter of Ransom and Mary (Rieketson) Bedell, and widow of Daniel Burt, who departed this life in the late Civil War. Mrs. MeNab was born in Clinton County, N. Y., Feb. 15, 1844. Of her marriage with our subjeet there have been born five eliildren : Christina, Malcom D., Mary E., who died in infaney, Alexander B. and James G. Both our subject and his wife are prominent and useful members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. McNab belongs to the Republican party and has served as Assessor of this Township.

G EORGE C. GRAY. The hardware interests of Saybrook are most worthily represented by the subject of this sketch, who has a complete stock of everything in his line, and is one of the leading merehants of the. kind in this eom- munity. His business was established in 1886. In early life Mr. Gray followed farming in this county, having come to Illinois with his parents when a ehild, in 1842. In early manhood he purehased eighty acres of land in Chency's Grove Township, upon which he operated until 1856, and then com- ing into Saybrook purchased a heavy stock of hardware, in which trade he has been remarkably successful. He still retains his farm property. In connection with his town business he carries on a tinshop, and his agricultural and trade interests contribute to make his life a busy one, witlı little time for idleness. He is still in the prime of life,

and has already built up for himself a reputation as a reliable business man and a valued factor of the community. 1

Mr. Grey was born Sept. 27, 1840, ncar Akron, Ohio, and is the son of Thomas J. and Emma (Lit- tle) Gray, natives respectively of Connecticut and New York. His father was a carpenter by trade, which he followed the greater part of his life in Ohio; his death took place in this eounty Dec. 15, 1879, when seventy-one years of age. He was an excellent eitizen and business man, and politically affiliated with the Democratic party. The mother was born in 1823 and died in 1867. She was a most excellent and worthy lady, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The parental houschold included seven children, who are recorded as follows: Calista was first married to Daniel Mathews, who died in Hennepin, Ill., and she then married A. C. Coles; Cornelia was united to A. C. Coles, and about nine years later Calista and A. C. ,Coles were married, Cornelia having died; Temperance became the wife of Allen Morse; John married Miss Gulliford, who is now deccased ; George C., our subject, was the next in order of birth; Frances became the wife of Samuel Wood, and Julia married William Hamilton.

Young Gray remained with his parents during childhood and youth, and in 1872 was united in marriage with Miss Elizabetlı Crocker. Mrs. G. is of English birth and parentage, and eame to the United States with her father and mother when a child. Of her marriage with our subject there have been born a son and daughter-William J. and Alice A. Mr. G. is a Democrat in politics, and a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

OHN M. STEPHENS, one of the prominent and highly respected farmers of MeLean County, is a resident on seetion 9, Hudson Township, and first located in this county in 1851, He was born in Highland County, Ohio, Feb. 12, 1829. His parents, Philip and Naney (Meyers) Stephens, were natives of Virginia, but both moved with their respective families to Ohio when they were young. John Stephens is the eldest

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in order of birth of his parents' children. Ile was reared to manhood on his father's farin and edu- eated in the district sehool, and in 1849 was united in marriage with Eleanor Kerns. She was born in Ross County, Ohio, Nov. 30, 1829. Living in Ohio until 1851, they then came to this State, making the journey overland with wagons, and settled in White Oak Township, this eounty.

In 1852 Mr. Stephens purchased a farm of fifty- five acres in White Oak Township, on which he lived and farmed for two years and then sold. He subse- quently owned two other farms in that township and also disposed of them by sale. In the fall of 1854, he purchased eighty aeres of his present farm, together with twenty acres of timbered land, and neither of the tracts were much improved. Mr. Stephens still continues to reside on the latter purchase and by striet economy, good judgment and hard labor, he has added to his landed inter- ests until he is now the proprietor of over 600 acres, over 400 of which is in cultivation. Ilis place is one of the finest in Hudson Township and in addition to the cultivation of the cereals, our subjeet has and is devoting considerable of lis time to the raising of stoek. He deserves great credit for the competeney he has acquired, consider- ing that when he first came here he was compara- tively a poor man, having only $200 in cash. Dur- ing the war he purchased eighty acres of land and putting the same in wheat, realized for his product an amount equal to 840 per aere, and it has been by taking advantage of such opportunities and labor- ing hard to accomplish his aims, that he has sue- eecded. For twenty years he owned and operated threshing-machines and was highly successful in that business. In fact, he realized his start in life by the following of that voeation. In politics Mr. Stephens is Democratie and has held some of the local offices of his township. In religion he holds fellowship with the Christian Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Stephens have become the parents of eight children. Two died in youth and six are yet living. The living arc, William; Ada, wife of William A. Hogaboom, a resident of Lincoln County, Kan .; Hulda A., wife of Walter Stotler of Hudson Township; Rosa J., who was united in marriage withi J. Messer and now resides in El

Paso, this State; Minerva, who became the wife of Amos P. Johnston, a resident of Bloomington, and Kery, who married Miss Balinda Blough, and resides in lludson Township.

W ILLIAM A. GERKEN, proprietor of the steam bakery of Bloomington, is a repre- sentative German eitizen, and was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, on the coast of the North Sea, June 25, 1835. Ilis father, Albert Gerken, was a gentleman of good education, and in his younger years was engaged at teaching sehool. IIe then entered the army of Napoleon as a musician and soldier, serving six years. The mother of our subject, who in her maidenhood was Miss Catharine M. Floater, was the second wife of Albert Gerken, and they became the parents of five children.

Our subjeet eominenced attending school at the early age of five years, and continued until four- teen. He then served an apprenticeship of three years at the baker's trade, and when seventeen years old started for America. After a prosperous voyage he landed at Charleston, S. C., Nov. 20, 1853. There he passed the winter oceupied at his trade with the firm of Martin Meyer for a time, and then went to Aiken, S. C., engaging in a store with the view of learning the English lan- guage and mereantile pursuits. Two years later he started for tlic Northwest, and landing at Milwau- kee, Wis., engaged as elerk in a dry-goods store. From there he went to Kenosha, and forming a partnership with Andrew Clark engaged in the grocery trade. They operated together for eighteen months, when Mr. Gerken purchased the interest of his partner and continued the business alone for two years following. He then took Mr. Williamn Ernst into the business, which they conducted to- gether for five years, and then our subject sold out to his partner and engaged in the bakery business at Kenosha for twelve months.

In 1870 Mr. Gerken eame to Bloomington, Ill., and opened a bakery on the corner of East and Front streets, where the present business is located. Ile began on a small scale at first, but was pros- pered in his labors and now has the largest establish-

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ment of its kind in the eity. The old building has been replaced by a large and handsomer one, which Mr. Gerken ereeted in 1881. It is 65x115 feet in area, three stories in height, and furnished with all modern applianees of a first-elass steam bakery. The entire building is devoted to the business, which is almost exelusively wholesale, their ship- ments being to neighboring towns and cities. Mr. Gerken is now largely interested in the milling business, having purchased a half interest in the Crown Roller Mills, W. H. Wentz being the owner of the other half interest.

Mr. Gerken was united in marriage with Miss Minnie A. Stemm, at Kenosha, Wis., in 1863. Of this nnion there were born three children, of whom one only is living-Catharine M. Albert F. died when an interesting youth of sixteen years, and an infant died unnamed. Mr. Gerken is a member of Uhland Lodge No. 305, I. O. O. F., belongs to the Turners Society, and is a regular attendant of the Congregational Chureh.

M. THORNBURY, a sueeessful fariner and extensive live-stock dealer of Randolph Township, owns and occupies a valuable country estate on section 5. He took possession of his present home in the spring of 1875, and has been a resident of McLean County sinee the spring of 1862. He has owned land in different parts of the county, but now is simply the owner of his homestead. He was a member of the firm of Bar- ber & Thornbury, who erected the Union Mills at Bloomington in 1867, which enterprise proved of great value to the eity. Later, Mr. Thornbury abandoned the milling business, and turned his at- tention to farming, stoek-growing and operations in real estate.

The farm homestead of our subjeet ineludes 166 aeres, and he has a five years' lease of the Stewart farm of 320 acres. Upon this large area he oper- ates extensively, and has met with sueeess in his undertakings. The subject of our sketch was born in Chester County, Pa., Aug. 17, 1829. His father, Yearsley Thornbury, was a native of the same eounty and State, where he was reared to years of

manhood, and united in marriage to Miss Phœbe P. Valentine, who was also born in Pennsylvania, and who, surviving her husband, is now living with her youngest daughter, Clara, in Chester County, Pa .. having arrived at the advanced age of eighty- seven years. She is still quite aetive in mind and body, and enjoys a fair degree of good health. The father died in Chester County, Pa., in 1885.

Mr. Thornbury of our sketch was thrown upon his own resourees early in life, and lived for a time with his unele, Hanson Thornbury, in Chester County. He then went to learn the trade of a ear- penter, serving his apprenticeship under Joseph M. Buffington, of Chester, with whom he worked for about four years. For his services he was to re- ceive his working elothes and his board, and was given two weeks in 'harvest time in which to earn his spending money. He followed his trade for three years only, and later engaged in marketing and butchering. meeting with fair suecess. He af- terward turned his attention to farming, which pleased him better than anything he had ever nn- dertaken.

T. M. Thornbury was married in his native eoun- ty, Oct. 10, 1861, to Mrs. Mary (Priee) Preston, who was born in Philadelphia, and reared in Ches- ter County. Her father, Issachar Price, was also a native of the Keystone State, engaged in farming pursuits and also in merehandising, and died in Pennsylvania. The mother, who was Miss Eliza- betli Alexander, is still living, having arrived at the advaneed age of ninety-six years, and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Jane P. Fell, near Normal, in this county. By her first husband, the wife of our subjeet became the mother of two sons, Mahlon and Frederick, who are both success- ful physicians, the former residing in Norristown, P'a., and the latter in Chester, Pa. Of her union with onr subjeet there have been no children, but Mr. and Mrs. Thornbury have an adopted ehild, Jean I. Thornbury.

After his marriage, in the fall of 1861, Mr. Thornbury disposed of his business interests in his native county, and visiting the Prairie State, set- tled two miles east of Bloomington, on a farm, and removed upon it with his family the following spring. Both he and his wife were reared in the

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faith of the Society of Friends. Mr. Thornbury has held the minor offices of Randolph Township, and in polities is a reliable Republiean.

W ILLIAM KERBER, an enterprising Ger- man eitizen of Blue Mound Township, owns 320 aeres of valuable land on seetion 30, and as a sneeessful farmer and stoek-raiser is contributing his full quota toward the agrienltural interests of this seetion. He was born in Germany, Feb. 27, 1828, and is the son of Jacob and Mary Kerber, natives respectively of Franee and Ger- many. Both died in the latter country, after be- eoming the parents of thirteen ehildren.

Mr. Kerber of this history pursued his studies several years in the common sehools of 'his native country, and then entered the Prussian army, where he served three years. He afterward en- gaged in farming pursuits in his native Provinee, where he lived nntil 1854, and then set sail for the United States. He spent his first winter here in Wiseonsin, then eame to Illinois, making his home in Bloomington about eight years, and working at whatever his hands eould find to do. In 1867 he purchased forty aeres of land on seetion 20, Blue Mound Township. This he afterward sold and made a purchase on section 30, which comprises a part of his present farm. Here he has made good improvements and brought the land to a high state of cultivation. By his upright and straightfor- ward business methods and promptness in meeting his obligations, he has seeured the esteem and confidenee of his fellow-eitizens, and has oeeu- pied an important place in their counsels. He is Democratic in politics, and has served as Commis- sioner of Highways. Both Mr. and Mrs. K. are firm adherents of the Catholic Church.

After living two and one-half years in this eoun- try, Mr. Kerber returned to the land of his birth and visited for six months among his old friends and acquaintances. Upon the return voyage he formed the acquaintance of Miss Elizabeth Lorig, a native of his own country. The aequaintanee ripened into mutual esteem, and on the 14th of March, 1857, they became husband and wife. 'Mrs.

K. was born in Germany, Mareh 5, 1839, and of her union with our subjeet there were born four- teen ehildren, two of whom are deceased. Those surviving are Nicholas, John, William, Mathias, Mary, Michael, Frederick, Peter, Henry, Anna, Elizabeth and Clara. Nicholas married Miss Annie Sutter, and resides in Blue Mound Township; John married Miss Hoffman, and lives on a farm in An- ehor Township; William married Miss Mary Sut- ter, and Mary became the wife of Joseph Sutter. These reside in Blue Mouud Township.

R OBERT H. RUTLEDGE, one of the oldest settlers of Randolph Township and MeLean County, eame into this seetion while Illi- nois was yet a Territory. in 1812, and the experienees through which he has passed, combined with the changes which he has witnessed during a period of seventy-five years, would make a most in- teresting volume.

The grandfather of our subjeet, John Rutledge, was born and reared in Dublin, Ireland, where he was married and learned the trade of a shoemaker. His bride, formerly Miss Jennie Offise, was a lady of most. exeellent family, of pure Irish deseent, and highly educated and accomplished. They became the parents of several ehildren, and emigrated to the United States, settling in Charleston, S. C., where their son Thomas, the father of our subjeet, was born, being the first child born to them in Ameriea. Later John Rutledge removed North to Pennsylvania, and afterward to White County, Ill., where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, being the first white persons who were laid in the virgin soil of what is now White County, Ill. The grandfather of our subjeet was very skill- ful at his trade of a shoemaker, and a man of the strietest integrity, and universally respected by all who knew him.

Thomas Rutledge, the father of our subjeet, re- mained under the parental roof until after he had attained his majority. He then went South to Georgia, and was there married to Miss Sallie Smith, who was born in that State and of pure En- glish parentage. After the birth of one ehild they

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started North to Tennessee, whence they proceeded to Kentucky and afterward to Illinois, arriving in the Territory, as before stated, in 1812. Fourteen years later they came into McLean County, and at once located in Randolph Township, of which they were among its earliest settlers. Here Thomas Rut- ledge died, four years later, Aug. 20, 1830, and be- ing born Oct. 17, 1768, was consequently a little over sixty. two years of age. The mother, Mrs. Sal- lie Rutledge, who was born Aug. 20, 1778, survived her husband thirteen years, and died in this town- ship, Dec. 12, 1843, being sixty-five years old. Thomas Rutledge became a prominent man in the affairs of this locality, being made Justice of the Peace, and having jurisdiction over a large extent of territory. He performed the marriage ceremony for more people in White County, Ill., than any man before or since, as is shown by the records. He and his excelleut lady had a family of twelve chil- dren, six sons and six daughters, of whom one son and one daughter died in infancy, and ten lived to be married. Of this number, Robert H. of our sketch is the only one surviving.

Robert Rutledge received a limited education in the pioneer schools of White County, Ill. He still remembers when the soil was new and unbroken and Indians numerous, and it was often necessary to seck a barrack or fort, which served as a protec- tion from the vengeance or cruelty of the redmen. In these the pioncers would frequently spend their nights, some sleeping, while others acted as senti- nels. A few years later regular block houses were constructed, where the pioneers dwelt together for mutual protection. The first corpse of a white man which our subject ever saw was that of a Mr. Mor- gan, who had been killed by the Indians. The lat- ter not long afterward, on account of their depre- dations were driven off by the whites and punished to such an extent that they never returned.

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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 75

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