Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 76

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 76

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Our subject remained under the home roof until his marriage, the license for which was the first one of the kind issued by the authorities of McLean County. The wedding of himself and Miss Char- ity Weedman occurred on the 9th of June, 1831. Mrs. Rutledge was the daughter of George and Charlotte (Hune) Weedman. Her parents were both born and reared in Pennsylvania, whencc they came

later to Perry County, Ohio, where their daughter, Charlotte, was born July 21, 1812. Her parents remained in the Buckeye State until the fall of 1830, when they started for the farther West, and coming into McLean County settled in Randolph Township, where they both died in the same log cabin which had first become their home. Of this marriage there were born thirteen children, six now deceased : Mary J. is the widow of John Halsey, and resides in Boone County, Iowa; Sarah L. mar- ried Joseph T. Martin, a farmer of Randolph Town- ship; George T. married Miss Maria Wagener, and they reside on a farm in Randolph Township; Nancy E., Daniel and Leander are also residents of this township; the latter married Miss Mary A. Tilghman; Marcius Lafayette resides with his father on the old homestead; the deceased are Harriett, Benjamin, Charity A., Robert M., Americus C. and Martin A. Mrs. Charity Rutledge, the mother of these children, died at her home in this township May 27, 1882. She was in early life connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, but later identified herself with the Christian Union Church.

Since coming to this county Mr. Rutledge has been identified with its industrial and agricultural interests, and has materially aided in its develop- ment and progress. He has been a friend of tem- perance, a supporter of the laws, and a member in good standing of the Christian Union Church. Politically he coincides with the principles of the Democratic party, with which he has uniformly cast his vote since exercising the right of suffrage.

AMES RYBURN, one of the progressive farmers of McLean County, is located in Randolph Township, on section 12, of which he owns half, and besides this, 280 acres in Wapello Township, De Witt County, near his pres- ent homestead. Mr. Ryburn is rated as one of the best farmers and most successful stock-breeders of the township. He keeps only a good grade of ani- mals, and everything in. and about his homestead denotes the supervision of an intelligent mind and cultivated taste. The farm residence is a modern structure, handsome and substantial, and his barns

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McLEAN COUNTY.

and all other out-buildings are of first-elass de- scription. Everything is kept in good order and repair, and the homestead, with its beautiful lo- eation, invariably attraets the eye of the trav- eler through this region.

The subject of our sketch took possession of his present farm in 1872. and its present condition is largely due to his own industry and enterprise. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Washington County, near the city of the same name, Sept. 19, 1826. When seven years of age his parents re- moved to Harrison County, Ohio, where they re- mained until 1853, and eoming thenee to the Prai- rie State, located in this county. James was the eldest of the family and was reared to habits of industry, receiving the advantages of but a limited education. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage, which took place in Cadiz, Ilar- rison Co., Ohio, Feb. 9, 1854, the maiden of his ehoiee being Miss Elizabeth Hamilton, who was a native of the Buckeye State, and born April 5, 1832. The wedding took place at the home of the bride's parents, Rev. James Forsythe officiating. Mrs. Ryburn is the daughter of Joshua and Jane (Craig) Hamilton, natives respectively of Fayette and Washington Counties, Pa. Her grandfather, William Hamilton, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, of American parentage and Scottish aneestry. Her grandfather Craig was born in the North of Ireland, was of Seottish descent, and a Protestant in religion. Ile emigrated to the United States when twenty-one years old, and was afterward mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Johnson, of Washington County, Pa. Both the Craigs and Hamiltons were prominent families in Pennsylvania. They fol- lowed agrienltural pursuits, and removed to Harri- son County, Ohio, at an early period in the history of the Buekeye State. John Craig died when fifty- five years old, Aug. 22, 1825. In addition to his farming pursuits he also carried on a dry-goods trade in Harrison County, and was one of the most valued citizens of the town of Cadiz. William Hamilton spent his last years also in Cadiz, and died there in January, 1839, after reaching the ad- vaneed age of eighty years. His son, Joshua, the father of Mrs. Ryburn of this notice, was the see- ond ehild of his parents' family, by whom he was

reared and educated near Cadiz, Ohio, and re- mained with his parents until his marriage with Miss Jane Craig, on the 28th of October, 1819. He then located on a farm which he operated sue- eessfully, and the union thus happily begun re- mained intaet for a period of over fifty-one years, when Joshua Hamilton, who was born Sept. 6, 1793, departed this life, his demise taking place Dee. 17, 1870, at seventy-eight years of age. The inother is still living, making her home with two unmarried daughters at Springfield, Ohio. She was born June 14, 1802, and is consequently over eighty-five years of age. She became the mother of eleven children, two of whom died in infaney unnamed. Those who lived to years of maturity were as follows: John married Miss Rebeeea Pritehard, and lives in this eounty; William mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Sellers, and is farming in Knox County, Ohio; Craig was twiee married, both times to ladies by the name of MeFadden, the last one ,being yet living ; he died Oet. 5, 1880; Alexander was first married to Miss Martha MeFadden, now deceased, his second wife was Miss Mary Haver- field, who now resides in Colorado; this, son died in Colorado, April 2, 1885; Elizabeth, the wife of our subjeet, was the next in order of birth; Rachel married Henry Croskey, and resides with him on a farm in Empire Township; Margaret married Osear Clark, a farmer of Walton, Harvey Co., Kan .; Re- beeea and Mary are both unmarried. Mary holds the position of elerk in a dry-goods store at Spring- field, Ohio.

Mrs. Ryburn was reared and educated at Cadiz, Ohio, and remained with her parents until her mar- riage. She is a lady of rare intelligence, having a remarkable memory for dates of important events, and earries in her mind a perfect eneyelopedia of interesting happenings all over the world. This valuable gift, possessed by few, makes her a most interesting conversationalist, and she is considered one of the brightest ornaments in the society of the community where she lives. By her union with our subjeet she has beeome the mother of nine children, one of whom died unnamed, in infancy. John II. is a resident of Kniekerboeker, Tom Green Co., Tex., being a stoekholder of the Stillson & Case eattle raneh; Belle married Rev. S. H. Dunn

Sarah Hte bose

Case

Lewis

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McLEAN COUNTY. .

of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, of Du- luth, Minn .; Jennie M. resides in Bloomington, Ill .; Ingram C., who was given the maiden naine of his great-great-grandmother on the maternal side, lives at home with his parents; Frank is with his brother. John, in Texas; Lucy resides at Bloom- ington, and Harry and James are there also, attend- ing school. Belle graduated at ,Wesleyan Univer- sity in 1878, and Jennie in 1880; Lucy is also a graduate from the musical department of that in- stitution. Mr. and Mrs. Ryburn are meinbers of the Second Presbyterian Church at Bloomington, as is also their daughter Jennie. In . politics, our subject is a solid Republican.

L EWIS CASE. The early settlers of McLean County are fast passing away and soon the time will come when none will be left to tell of the trials and difficulties encountered in its early settlement. Mr. Case of this notice is one of the number who has not yet crossed the river to the other shorc, and is passing the sunset of life on his fine farm on section 25, Old Town Township, enjoying the accumulations of an honorable past. He is the son of Abner and Alice Olive (Rowland) Case, natives of Connecticut. The parents after their marriage located in Ontario County, N. Y., whence they removed to Huron County, Ohio, and there lived until 1833, when they came to this county and settled in Old Town Township, on sec- tion 25. The parents lived there for several years, when they removed to Madison, Wis., and there died, the demise of the father occurring Jan. 5, 1854, and that of the mother January 6 of the same year, and both are buried side by side in one grave. The father of our subject was a farmer and left the plow to become a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a participant in the battle of Lundy's Lanc, where three fingers of his left hand were shot away. Hc witnessed the burning of Buffalo, N. Y., and for his services as a soldier in the War of 1812 re- ceived a pension from the Government. Of his union with Miss Rowland, seven children, four sons and threc daughters, were born.

Lewis Case was the third in order of birth of his

parents' children and first saw light in Ontario County, N. Y., Feb. 27, 1809. He was brought up to farin labor and there lived until 1824, when he accompanied his parents to Huron County, Ohio. He lived in the latter county until 1833, when he came to McLean County and made a settlement on section 25, Old Town Township, bringing with him from Ohio his wife and one child. The journey was made overland with an ox-team and his capital at that time consisted of three feather beds and $50 worth of leather, which he traded for a cow, one hog, seven pigs, and provisions for the winter. He managed to get in a small crop of corn, but in the fall he lost his cow, four pigs and one ox, which left him in a worse condition than when he first located. The following summer he made a short poke and plowed his corn with the single ox. 'He was possessed of that determination which knows no such word as fail and succeeded in erecting him- self a log house and soon had forty acres of his land fenced. The first religious meeting held in Old Town Township was held in the log house of our subject, and there the early settlers assembled from a distance of many miles and worshiped for some thirteen years.

Mr. Case had great faith in the future develop- ment of the country, and from his first settlement in the county economized with a view of increasing his landed interests and at the present time is the pro- prietor of 610 acres of valuable land. The old log honse has given way to a fine residence and the taxes of our subject have increased from twenty- five cents to upward of $300 a year. Mr. Case was married in Huron County, Ohio, to Miss Sarah Hendryx, Oct. 13, 1831. She was the daughter of John and Mary (Flynn) Hendryx, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ireland. Her parents settled in Steuben County, N. Y., after their marriage and there lived until 1817, when tlicy moved to Richland County, Ohio, and were among the carly settlers of that county. Subse- quently they made anotlicr removal, locating in Huron County, the same State, and in 1833, came to this county and settled in Old Town Township, where they lived until their death. They had six children who lived to attain the age of man and womanhood, of whom Mrs. Case was the eldest.

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

She was born in Steuben County, N. Y., Jan. 14, 1810, and was seven years of age when her parents removed to Ohio, and continued to reside in that State until her marriage. She bore our subjeet five children-Mary A., Olive, Sarah E., Hannah E. and Zerilda I. Mary is the wife of Peter B. Priee, and they are living at Hutchinson, Kan; Olive married John W. Savidge, and they reside in Danvers Township, this county; Sarah E. and Wesley Brown were united in marriage and are living in Arrowsmith Township, this county; Hannah is the wife of Sylvanus Mikel, a farmer of Old Town Township. Mr. Case has four great-grandehildren now living; one great-grandehild is deeeased. On the 13th of October, 1881, Mr. Case and wife cele- brated their golden wedding. Mrs. Case departed this life at the old homestead in Old Town Town- ship, on the 4th of January, 1887, at the ripe old age of seventy-seven years.

Mr. Case has held some of the minor offiees of his township. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which his wife was also eon- neeted. In polities our subjeet is a staneh Repub- lican, and was one of the delegates to the first County Convention ever held in MeLean County.

As a representative and honored eitizen of Me- Lean County, and of the township of which he has so long been a resident, we present the portrait of Mr. Case in connection with this sketeh, as also that of his deceased wife.

B ENJAMIN G. FALKINGHAM, a dealer in grain at Towanda, and one of her promi- nent eitizens as well as thorough-going business men, is a son of George and Eliza (Marsh) Falkingliam, natives of England. Soon after their marriage the parents erossed the briny waters to make their home in the free Republie of the United States, and made their way direet to this eounty, locating in Towanda, where the father died Feb. 28, 1878. The mother survives. They had, four children, three sons and one daughter. One died in infaney, and those living are, Benja- min G., John II. and George W.

The subject of this notice was born at Towanda,

Ill., June 14, 1858. He received a good education in the sehools of that place, and when old enough beeame a elerk in his father's store. He continued to act in that capacity until about eighteen years old, when he worked at farm labor for about four years. He was then occupied in running a eorn- sheller for two years, and sinee 1883 has been en- gaged in the buying and shipping of grain and stoek, in which he has met with more than ordinary sueeess.

Mr. Falkingham was married at Bloomington, Ill., Oet. 13, 1879, to Miss Mary Burnes, a native of Wisconsin. Their nnion has been blest by the birth of two children-Eliza and Clarenee. Our subjeet has held the offices of Town Assessor, Town- ship Trustee, and Street Commissioner of Towanda, and in polities he is a staneh Republiean.

OHIN M. WHITE, of Lawndale Township, has been a resident of MeLean County sinee a boy thirteen years of age. He was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., Aug. 17, 1837, being the son of George C. and Julia A. (Noel) White, the father a native of New York State, and the mother of Ohio. The latter died in Towanda Township, March 25, 1865. The father still sur- vives and lives in this township. The subject of this history was the seventh of twelve children born to his parents. He received a fair education in the common sehools, and lived under the home roof until he was twenty-five years old. In the spring of 1862 he left Towanda Township and settled on a traet of eighty aeres of land on seetion 11, Lawn- dale Township, where he has since lived. He has been greatly prospered in his farming operations, and added to his first purchase until he now owns 412 aeres, all improved and under good eultiva- tion, with a fine set of farm buildings.

The marriage of our subjeet took place in Clin- ton, De Witt Co., Ill., Mareh 10, 1864, the maiden of his choiee being Miss Emily G. Ilampleman, who was born in Perry County, Ill., and died the same night on which Mr. White's mother died, March 25, 1865. Mr. White was a second time married, in Lawndale Township, April 18, 1867, to

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McLEAN COUNTY.

Miss Theresa Hamilton, who was born in Brown County, Ohio, June 18, 1847. Of this latter mar- riage there were born two children-Clarence M. and Maurie H. Mr. White has served in his town- ship as School Director and Trustee, and Highway Commissioner. Socially he belongs to the Masonie fraternity, and politically is an earnest supporter of the Republican party.

In connection with his farming operations Mr. White makes a specialty of Norman horses, and in company with his brothers, George W. and Edward . M., has been quite extensively engaged in the im- portation of these from Europe. His stables con- tain about thirty head of these fine animals, in addition to which he has fifty to seventy head of cattle and fifty to 100 head of hogs.

OHN PAXTON, the son of John and Sarah J. (Fitch) Paxton, and now a resident of Blue Mound Township, was born in Guern- sey County, Ohio, Jan. 17, 1832. His par- ents were natives of Pennsylvania, and after their marriage removed to the State and county where their son was born, and where they passed the re- mainder of their lives. John Paxton, Sr., was a cooper by trade, but greatly inelined to farming pursuits, to which he gave most of his attention. Of the two sons who were born of this marriage, the eldest, Alexander, died in Guernsey County, Ohio.

Our subjeet assisted his father on the farm dur- ing his boyhood and youth, and received a fair ed- ueation in the common schools. He remained with his parents until he was twenty years old, and then started out for himself. He first crossed the Mississippi into Iowa, where he remained one year, then returned to Ohio and lived there until the fall of 1856. He then came westward and located in this county, becoming a resident of Old Town Township in the spring of 1857. In 1866 he came into Blue Mound Township and purehased a traet of eiglity aeres on seetion 34, which has sinee re- mained his home. His farm is finely improved, and upon it he has erected a handsome and substantial set of frame buildings.

His marriage took place in Bloomington Town- ship, in the spring of 1857, the lady of his ehoiee being Miss Naney J. Seott, wlio was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, July 4, 1840. Mrs. P. is the daughter of William and Naney (Britton) Seott, who were natives of Pennsylvania, whenee they removed to Illinois and located in this county in about 1856, on a farın in Bloomington Town- ship. Subsequently they returned to their old home in Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their days. Of the ten children of Mr. and Mrs. Paxton, three died in infancy. Those surviving are James A., Mary E., Naney E., John G., Charles S., Frank- lin M. and Laura B. Charles S. and Franklin M. are twins; James married Miss Lizzie B. Story and lives in Padua Township; Naney E. is the wife of John L. Bunn, and resides in Martin Township; they have one child, a son, Charles F. Those who died in infaney were William, Alice and one unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. Paxton are members of the Chris- tian' Chureh, and our subjeet uniformly easts his vote with the Republican party.

OHN MOATS, living on seetion 30, Money Creek Township, is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Hinthorn) Moats, see sketch of J. I. Moats elsewhere in this work. John Moats was the seeoud in order of birth in a family of nine ehil- dren. He first saw light in Lieking County, Ohio, Sept. 16, 1812. When seventeen years old he came , with his parents overland to this county. This was in 1829, and our subjeet is therefore one of the oldest residents of Money Creek Township, now living. He has wituessed its wonderful develop- ment, and has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is now the owner of 270 aeres on which he has fair improvements.

Mr. Moats was married in Knox County, Ohio, Oet. 22, 1874, to Louisa (Zolman) Donnell, daugh- ter of John and Catherine (Passey) Zolman and widow of Joseph Donnell, who died in Cass County, Mo., in 1868. By her union with Mr. Donnell she had three children-Joseph, Josephine and Jesse. Joseph and Josephine are deceased. Mrs. Moats was the youngest of a family of ten ehildren, and

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

was born in Knox County, Ohio, Dee. 18, 1828. Our subjeet has held the office of Constable for one term, and in polities is a Demoerat. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church, and among the foremost citizens of Money Creek Township.

R ICHARD M. BRITT, a prominent and enter- prising farmer and stock-raiser of Mt. Hope Township, owns and occupies a fine homestead on seetion 18, and in the various departments of his agricultural pursuits is meeting with sueeess. He is a straightforward business man, honest and upright in his transactions, and enjoys the confidenee and good-will of his neighbors and associates.

Mr. Britt is a native of Tazewell County, Ill., and was born in Hill Township on the 5th of Sep- tember, 1837. . His father, Jefferson Britt, was a native of Virginia, born on the 20th of March, 1802. His grandfather, William Britt, was one of the early settlers of Virginia, a man of great indus- try and enterprise, and prominent in the affairs of his community. The family is an old and exeel- lent one, and noted for their high moral principles and excellent traits of character.

Jefferson Britt, the father of our subjeet, was a lad of only twelve years when his parents removed from his native State to Kentucky. They made the journey overland and located in Logan County, being among the earliest settlers of that region. There the grandfather died, and there his son Jef- ferson grew to manhood and was united in mar- riage with Mrs. Mary (North) Dills. She was a na -. tive of Grant County, Va., was born near Peters- burg, and removed to Kentucky with her parents when a child. After marriage Jefferson Britt and wife located in Logan County, where they re- mained until the fall of 1835, and then started with their three children for the prairies of Illinois. They made the journey overland with teams, and first halted in what is now Logan County, where they rented land for two years and then, in the

spring of 1837, removed to Tazewell County. 'There they made a elaim in township 22, range 2 west, now iu Hill Township, where the father ereeted a log house, having a puneheon floor and doors, and split thatches for the roof. He entered land from the Government, when it came into market. improved and cultivated his purchase, established a comfortable home, and remained there until 1853. He then removed to Atlanta, where he spent the last years of his life, and departed from the seenes of his earthly lahors on the 14th of October, 1885, at an advanced age. The companion of his youth and the mother of his children died the year pre- vious, on the 24th of January. Their union had been blest by the birth of four children, who are recorded as follows: William S. lives in Normal; Martha E. married Dr. J. B. Tenney, and lives in Atlanta; Mary H. married J. H. Burt, and lives in Hill Township; Richard M. is the subject of this sketeh.

Richard M. Britt of this history was the young- est ehild of his parents' family. He spent the first sixteen years of his life on the farm, and received his edueation in the old log school-house. This rude structure was in marked contrast to the ele- gant buildings where "young America " now re- eeives his first lessons in expensive and scientific text-books. The floors were of puneheon, the win- dow-panes of greased paper, and the chimney was built upon the outside with dirt and stieks. The fireplace occupied nearly the whole of one end of the building, and would take in a large log. After a few seasons spent in this primitive strneture, the family of young Britt removed to Atlanta and lie attended sehool there, being esteemed quite profi- eient in his studies for those days. He was indeed fond of his books and had made good progress, and after leaving sehool officiated as a pedagogue for two terins. He continued to make his home with his parents until his marriage, and for a period of four years had charge of the farm, and boarded with the family who cultivated the farm after his father had removed to town.

Young Britt remained with his parents until his marriage, and then located upon the homestead which he now owns and occupies, and which his father had purchased from the railroad company.

Abraham Chy

RM Brith

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McLEAN COUNTY.

The latter had made some improvement in its original condition, and after his son, our subject, came into the possession of it he continued its im- provement, and cultivated the soil with uniform success. He is now the possessor of 240 acres, all improved and supplied with a good set of frame buildings. The residence is a model of convenience and comfort, and gives indications in all respects of cultivated tastes and ample means. Besides the home farm Mr. Britt owns eighty acres in Tazewell County, besides forty of pasture in the same county and some timber land in Logan County.

The marriage of .Richard M. Britt and Miss Rhoda C. Medbery was celebrated on the 27th of June, 1864. Mrs. Britt was born at Fonda's Bush, Saratoga Co., N. Y. Her father, Henry Medbery, was a native of Rhode Island, and her mother, whose maiden name was Julia Lansing, was born at Lansingburg, N. Y., and was of German descent. The parents of Mrs. H. removed to Michigan in 1844, and thence to Wisconsin twelve years later, locating in Dodge County. Afterward they went into Winnebago County, where the father died and where her mother still resides. Mrs. Britt when a young lady came here to visit a brother who was teaching. He enlisted in the army and Mrs. B. took charge of the school.

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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 76

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