Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 77

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 77

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Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Britt there have been born three children-Hallie, William H. and Bessie L. The parents and two of the children are devoted members of the Christian Church. Al- though the immediate descendants of the old pio- neers grew up with but little opportunity for an education, many of them, yes most of them, are noble, high-minded men and women, and are gener- ally among the foremost to make sacrifices to se- cure for their children a substantial education. This rule has been splendidly exemplified in the case of our subject, who has given his children the benefits of a good education.

Mr. B. is Republican in politics, and casts his vote in support of the principles of that party. He has contributed his full quota toward the business and industrial interests of this section, and in all respects is entitled to be classed as an honest man and a good citizen, and as such we present his portrait in this connection.

BRAHAM FRY, one of the honored pio- neers of Randolph Township, is highly re- spected as a citizen and thoroughly trusted as a business man. He is now living re- tired from active labor on a fine homestead which comprises 430 acres of highly cultivated land, and a handsome and commodious residence located on section 4. Mr. Fry came to McLean County in 1854, and purchased a tract of partly improved land which has been his home since that time. He was successful from the beginning in his farming and business operations, and as time passed on, in- creased his facilities for agriculture and stock-rais- ing, and added to his landed possessions until he now has one of the finest country estates in Mc- Lean County.

Mr. Fry was born in Greene County, Pa., Jan. 6, 1816, and in 1827 removed with his mother to Licking County, Ohio, the father having previously died in Pennsylvania. Our subject, the eldest of seven children, four sons and three daughters, was only ten years of age at the time of their removal. The mother spent the remainder of her days in Ohio, and died there at an advanced age. The childhood and youth of Abraham Fry were quickly passed, and he was early trained to habits of in- dustry, being put to all the labor he could accom- plish as he advanced in strength and size. Being the eldest child he early became acquainted with the duties and responsibilities of caring for a fam- ily, and was the true and faithful sympathizer and friend of his mother in her widowhood. He re- mained with her until fully developed into man- hood, and until some of the younger members of the family could fill his place, and was then mar- ried in Licking County, Ohio, to Miss Sarah Myers, who was there born and rearcd and remained until her marriage. They located in that county for a number of years, and removed to Illinois in 1854. Mrs. Sarah Fry departed this life in Randolph Township, April 22, 1863. Of this union there were born two children: Perry A., during the late war, enlisted in the 94th Illinois Infantry, and had only been in service about two months, when he

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was attacked with eamp diarrhea, and died at. Springfield, Mo .; John B. is yet living; he married Miss Pauline Stewart, and resides in Bloomington, retired from aetive business.

For his second wife Mr. Fry married Miss Eliza- beth Bishop on the 3d of November, 1864. Mrs. Fry was born in Randolph Township, Oct. 1, 1832, and is the daughter of Jacob and Mary A. (Weed- man) Bishop, the mother now deceased. They were natives of Perry County, Ohio, where they were reared, cdueated, and married. Mr. Bishop was a farmer by occupation, and with his family removed to Illinois in 1831, settling in Randolph Township. He was one of the first settlers and beeamc one of its most valued citizens. He is yet living, having arrived at the advanced age of nearly ninety years, making his home in East 1lcyworth, on the farm which he first occupied with his family. The house- hold eirele included thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters, all of whom are living and mar- ried except onc, and are established in comfortable homes, most of them being residents of this county, Mrs. Fry was reared under the parental roof, and received a fair cducation in the public schools. Of her union with our subject there have been born two children : Mary, Sept. 30, 1867, and Laura, il 1873, died when less than a year old.

The Fry family are descended from pure Ger- man ancestry, and were among the earliest settlers of the Keystone Statc. There the grandfather of our subject died, and his son Abraham, the father of our subject, was married to Miss Mary Bceken- baugh. He died when his son Abraham was ten years of age. Ile and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject has been a Deacon of the Christian Church for twenty ycars. Mrs. Fry has held the same office in the church since 1883.

In politics Mr. Fry is a solid Demoerat, and has bcen Assessor of Randolph Township for five years. In all his transactions in life he has nothing to be ashamed of or to conceal, having steadily followed the honorable principles to which he was trained by his excellent and honored mother. The family, wherever they have been known, have been noted for their honest dealings with their fellow-men and for their observance of thic Goldeu Rule, which has

impelled them to do unto others as they would be done by. A lithographic portrait of Mr. Fry is shown in connection with this sketch.

ACOB BISHOP, of Randolph Township, is probably the oldest man living in the town- ship, and during his long residenee here has sceured for himself the profound respect of his fellow-citizens. Our subject is a native of Frederick County, Md., and was born June 25, 1797. He is the only surviving son of a family of thirteen children, and has two sisters yet living: Catherine, the widow of Jacob Weedman, agcd ninety-two, and now living in Farmer City, De Witt Co., Ill .; Elizabeth married John Young, now dc- ceased, and is residing at Monmouth, Ill., at an ad- vanced agc.

The father of our subject, John Bishop, was a native of Maryland and of English and Irish de- scent. He was a blacksmith by trade and in early life was married to Miss Hannalı Cooper, a German lady, by whom he became the father of thirteen children. In 1812 the family all removed to Perry County, Ohio, where the parents passed the re- mainder of their life, the father dying when sixty- five years of age; the mnotlier died some years after- ward and was about the same age. They were people highly respected in their community, and members in good standing of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

Jacob Bishop remained on the homestead of his parents until his marriage, which occurred in Perry County, Ohio, May 10, 1820, the maiden of his choice being Miss Mary A. Weedman. She was born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 15, 1799, being the danghter of George and Charlotte (Huen) Weed- man, also natives of the Keystone State. They were of German parentage and descent, and re-' moved to Perry County, Ohio, when Mrs. B. was but a child. Afterward they came to Illinois and died in Randolph Township, this county, some years ago. They also belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bishop there were born thirteen children, all living, and of whom the

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record is as follows: Sarah became the wife of Phillip Hand, a farmer of De Witt County, Ill .; of George, the second child, there will be found a sketch elsewhere in this ALBUM; Ilannah married John Cusey, and lives with her husband in Farmer City, Ill .; Charity married W. Adams, now de- eeased, and lives in Downs Township; Jaeob mar- ried Mrs. Mary II. Little, who is now deceased, and he lives in Heyworth; Charlotte became the wife of Andrew J. Stringfield, who served as a Union soldier in the late war and contraeted the disease in the army from which he died at his home Aug. 30, 1861; Mrs. S. resides with her father; Lizzie is the wife of Abraham Fry (see sketeh) ; William Fleteher married Miss Margaret Walmsley, and is a farmer of Downs Tp .; Mary Emma became the wife of James Fulton (see sketeh) ; Harriett (Mrs. George Wilson) resides in Normal, her husband having retired from aetive labor; John St. Clair married Miss Harriett Ches- ney, and is a farmer in Randolph Township; Asbury M. owns and operates forty-six aeres of the old homestead; on the 15th of October, 1872, he lost his right arm by means of a threshing-machine, but has acquired such skill in the use of the left that he is still able to do the work of an ordinary man; Joseph A. married Jaue Ellsworth, and is farming near Heyworth. Mrs. Margaret .W. Bishop, the mother of these children, departed this life at her home in Randolph Township, Jan. 23, 1873. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and our subjeet has been connected with that denomination sinee a youth of nineteen years. Several of the children are also following the foot- steps of their parents in their religious faith. Mr. Bishop and his sons are all Republican in polities.

ICHAEL KINZINGER, a retired farmer of Montgomery Township, Woodford County, is one of its pioneer settlers, and a fine representative of the well-to-do and substantial German eitizen. His birth took place in Germany Oet. 10, 1814, and he emigrated to the United States in 1837, becoming a citizen of MeLean County the following year. His parents

were Daniel and Catherine (Swartztrober) Kinzin- ger, natives of the German Empire. Daniel K. was born in 1765, and Catherine, his wife, in 1771. He was a tailor by trade, which he followed until his death, which oeeurred in 1828, in his native land. The mother survived six years, dying in 1834. Their marriage took place in 1805, and they became the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter, as follows: Jacob married Miss Catherine Peachy; Daniel died when seventy-five years of age; Michael of our sketch was the third child; Peter married Catherine Kneage, and Anna became the wife of Henry Patton. The parents were members of the Mennonite Church ..

After the death of his father Michael Kinzinger was comparatively homeless. He went to live with a gentleman by the name of Gingve, near the town . of Morborg, where he remained for ten years fol- lowing. When sixteen years of age he eommeneed to learn the blacksmithi trade, at which he worked two years. He then abandoned this and engaged in distilling, being thus oeeupied fourteen years. After spending one year in Bavaria he set sail for the United States, first landing in New York City, whenee he went into Butler County, Ohio, and fol- lowed his former business as a distiller.

Our subjeet was married, in 1837, to Miss Mag- dalena Naffziger, in Butler County, and in 1838 eame with his family to McLean County. They ·remained in Bloomington for a short time, and Mr. K. rented a traet of land and was occupied in its cultivation for six years following. In 1844 he , purchased eighty aeres and soon afterward doubled this amount. He soon afterward erected a log house, 16x18 feet in area. This he divided into" two rooms, and their floor was the ground in its na- tive state. In this humble abode there were born the twelve children of Mr. and Mrs. K., namely : Catherine became the wife of Joseph Fry, of Stout's Grove; Peter was first married to Miss Naffzinger; his second wife was' Miss Pauline Rust; Daniel was first married to Miss Mary Sehiek; his see- ond wife was Miss Mary Blank; Jacob married Miss Magdalena Keen; Christian married Miss Lena Strubar; Barbara became the wife of David Zook; Magdalena married Jacob Grundy ; Anna be- eame Mrs. Peter Schantz; Phebe, Mrs. Joseph Stru-

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bar; Caroline, Mrs. George Kireliner; Kileon and August are unmarried. All are living at this writ- ing, March, 1887.

In due time the log cabin was replaced by a handsome frame dwelling, a good barn and all nec- essary and convenient out-buildings. The land has been finely cultivated and everything about the premises denotes the supervision of a thorough and intelligent business man. Mr. Kinzinger spent year after year industriously and economically, and now, resting from his toils, is passing his last years in the comfort and quiet which he has so fairly carned.

Mrs. Kinzinger is the daughter of Peter and Bar- bara (Beck) Naffzinger, natives of Bavaria, where they were married and became the parents of eleven children, as follows: Elizabeth, Jacob, John, Magdalena, Barbara, Phebe, Peter, Valentine, Catherine, Christian and John (2d). Mr. K. is Re- publican in politics, and both he and his wife are members in good standing of the Mennonite Church, in which Mr. K. has been a minister for twenty-three years.

G EORGE S. JOHNSTON, who has been a resident of McLean County since the 24th of March, 1856, eame to this State from Harrison County, Ohio, where he was born July . 12, 1832. His parents were Andrew and Margaret (Humphreys) Johnston, who are still living, and reside in Harrison County, Ohio, having attained an advanced age. Their family consists of four sons and four daughters, of whom George S. was the cldest. The subject of this history remained under the home roof and pursued his studies in the common sehools until seventeen years old. He then entered Mt. Union Seminary, in Stark County, Ohio, and after completing his studies there, en- gaged in teaching for five years following. After coming into Illinois he taught one year in Pike County, and then took up his residenee in Bloom- ington, where he engaged in operating a ditching machine. He removed from Bloomington to Dela- van. Ill., where he cultivated rented land for six years and then moved to Yates Township, this

county, where lic remained twelve years. In 1878 Mr. Johnston purchased 160 aeres of land in Lawn- dale Township, where he has since lived. This is all improved, with a fine residence, a barn to cor- respond, and all the other requirements of a first- class modern agriculturist. He is engaged mostly in stock-raising and exhibits some very fine speei- mens of eattle and horses.

Mr. Johnston was married in his native county in the Buekeye State, March 20, 1860. to Miss Mary McFadden, also a native of Harrison County, Ohio, born in 1836. Of this union there were born three sons-William, Oscar and James. Mrs. Mary John- ton departed this life in Lawndale Township, Aug. 31, 1866. The second marriage of our subject also took place in Ilarrison County, Ohio, March 24, 1868, when he was united with Miss Belle Birney, a native of that State and eounty. The result of this marriage was eight children, of whom five are living-Maggie, Rosa, Lizzie, Ada, and Rosco. Those deceased are Birney, Jane and one who died unnamed in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically our subject is a stanch Republiean. He has held the offices of Township Assessor and Road . Com- missioner, and takes a genuine interest in the wel- fare of his community.

ETER HOIERMAN, a fair representative of the grocery trade in Bloomington, is lo- cated at No. 107 East Front street, where he is operating profitably and suecessfully. Mr. Hoierman is a native of Germany, and was born July 24, 1853. He received his education partly in the schools of Oldenburg, and later attended the University of Leipzic, where he completed his stud- ies when sixteen years of age. He began his mer- cantile experience as a clerk for a firm in Bremen, where he served until 1870 and then enlisted in the German army. He served as a soldier fifteen months, then received his honorable discharge, re- turned home, and in October of the following ycar set sail for the New World on the steamer Maine. After arriving in New York City he securcd a

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clerkship in the tea store of Phillip Stiner & Co., with whom he remained until the spring of 1872. He then went as a coffee sampler to Rio Janeiro, S. A., where he spent three years, returning to New York City in May, 1876. Soon afterward hc started West, and arriving in Bloomington, Ill., was soon engaged as book-keeper for Reinhold Graff, in which capacity he served acceptably for a period of nine years. He then became associated in partnership with E. Meyer, and they have oper- ated under the name and style of Hoierman & Meyer sinee December, 1884. They have a good trade, and the house is supplied with every article required in their linc.

The subject of our sketch was married, Nov. 4, 1886, to Miss Minnie Balke, of Bloomington, and they occupy a pleasant home at No. 608 West Washington strect, where they are surrounded by many warm friends. When Mr. H. began life on his own account in Bloomington he had bnt $1.75 in cash. He learned book-keeping, both the Ger- man and English system, of the American Consul in Oldenburg, and soon acquired a good knowl- edge of the English language. He is thorough and methodical in his business transactions, and in all respects is considered a good business man and a useful member of the community. Socially he be- longs to Mozart Lodge No. 656, I. O. O. F., Uh- land Lodge No. 305, and the Turners Society, of which he is Financial Secretary and teacher of gym- nasties. He is also Secretary of the Illinois Dis- trict of Turner Societies, and occupies the same po- sition in Mozart and Uhland Lodges. He is also Treasurer of the German Benevolent Socicty. After this record it is scarcely necessary to say that he enjoys in a marked degree the confidenee of his fellow-townsmcn.

ENRY G. REEVES, attorney at law, Bloom- ington, is a native of the Keystone State, having been born in Pittsburgh, Pa., June 13, 1845. His father, Barnes C. Reeves, a farmer by occupation, was a native of New Jersey, and his mother, before her marriage, was Miss Mary M. Gray. After their marriage they settled

in Pennsylvania, where they lived until the fall of 1855, when they started for the West, and coming into Illinois, settled in Old Town Township, this county, where Mr. Reeves dicd the following year. His widow, the mother of our subjcet, was thus left with several children, of whom Henry G., our subjeet, was the oldest. The mother died in 1884, upon the farm where they first settled. Two brothers still reside in Old Town Township.

The subject of this history was reared on the farm, and received his carly rudimentary cducation in the log-cabin school-houses, this being princi- pally in the winter season, the boy's assistance be- ing required ou the farm during the summer. He was fond of his books, and made the most of his opportunities, in the nieantime keeping his cycs open to what was going on around him in the world. In the fall of 1861 he entered Wesleyan University, fron which he graduated in 1866, in the meantime having done service in the army. In June, 1862, the war being then in progress, many of his fellow students enlisted in the Union service, our subject among them, becoming a member of Co. G, 68th Ill. Vol. Inf., and serving six months. The regi- ment was first sent to Washington, thencc to Alex- andria, where our subject assisted in provost duty. He was mustered out in the fall of 1862. After his retirement from the army, Mr. Reeves returned to Bloomington and completed his college course. He commenced reading law under the instruction of Judge Reeves of Bloomington, and was admitted to practice in this eity in 1867, where he has since been engaged with fair success.

. The subject of our sketch was married in Bloom- ington, Dec. 25, 1866, to Miss Hattie Niecolls, and in the spring they went to housekeeping on North Main street, where they reside to-day. They have one daughter-Lettic N. The family residence is the abode of peace and plenty, and its inmates are surrounded by all the comforts of life, and among those whom they most valnc have hosts of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Recves have been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Bloomington since its organization, and have contributed to its sup- port liberally of their means. Mr. Reeves has been a member of the Board of Trustees for six years, and has served as Sunday-school Superintendent

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for seven years. Socially he is a member of the G. A. R., belonging to Bloomington Lodge No. 43. Mr. Reeves is in possession of the commission which was issued to Abner Reeves when a soldier in the Revolutionary War, who was the great-great- grandfather of our subject. In politics Mr. Reeves is a stanch'Republican.

M II. NEWTON, County Recorder, is a resi- dent of Bloomington, where he enjoys the esteem and confidenec of his fellow-citizens. Ile was born in Hancock County, this State, on the 23d of May, 1838, being the son of Henry and Martha (Haggard) Newton, natives re- speetively of Virginia and Kentucky. They were inarricd in the latter State, and came to Illinois in 1836, locating in Haneock County, where they en- gaged in farming and lived until the fall of 1844. They then came into this eounty, and the father took up eighty acres of land in Dale Township. He ereeted a large log house, planted fruit and shade trees, and broke the prairie sod, remaining there until the fall of 1857. Then, selling out, he purchased property in Bloomington, where the par- ents took up their abode, and the father retired from active labor. The latter years of their lives were spent with their children in Dale Township. The mother died in 1871, when seventy-six years old, and the father, in 1875, aged eiglity-five. Both were members of the Baptist Church, in which Henry Newton was a Deacon for a number of years. Their three children were Dæson and Louise. twins, and the subject of this sketeh.

. Mr. Newton of this biography was reared on his father's farm, took up his first studies in the distriet school, and in the winter of 1857-58, attended the High School in Bloomington. For two winters after that he taught school in MeLean County, and when 'not teaching was engaged in farming until the spring of 1876. Ile then engaged as a traveling salesman for the nurseryman, W. H. Mann, of Gilman, Ill., but abandoned the road in a short time on aeeount of sickness in his family. Jan. 1, 1877, he beeame Assistant Circuit Clerk for J. C.

McFarland, which position he oceupied four years, and in 1880 was elected County Recorder, being re-elected in 1884. Mr. Newton was married, in 1862, to Miss Martha A. Hoover, who is a native of Ohio, and the daughter of Samuel J. and Christie A. Hoover, natives respectively of Ohio and Seot- land. Of this union there have been born four children, William D. being the only one now liv- ing, and is Deputy Clerk and Reeorder, having been connected with the office sinee 1882. The family residence is located at No. 309 West Market street. Mr. Newton is Republiean in polities, and with his wife and son is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he holds the office of Steward. Before coming to Bloomington he was Justice of the Peace, Township Trustec and Sehool Director.

SAAC K. BUNN, of Blue Mound Township, who was born in Fayette County, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1832. eame to this eounty with his parents when a lad of seven years, and has sinec made his home within its boundaries. He moved to Blue Mound Township in the spring of 1884 and loeated upon his fine farm of 160 aeres, where he also has a handsome and substantial residenee, good barn and all other necessary out-buildings. His entire property consists of 720 aeres, part of which is sit- uated in Martin Township.

The subject of this history is the son of Henry C. and Mary E. (Moser) Bunn, natives of Pennsyl- vania, and of exeellent German ancestry. They lived in Pennsylvania a few years after their mar- riage, then removed to Ohio, and made their home in Fayette until 1839. Thenee they came to Illinois, and locating in Empire Township, this county, there passed the remainder of their days. Their children, eleven in number, ineluded five sons and six daughters, of whom our subject was the eighth.

Isaae Bunn was less than twenty years old when he started out for himself, and was employed as a farm laborer for one year. He afterward rented land in Empire and Blue Mound Townships for six years, and then purchased forty acres in Martin

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McLEAN COUNTY.

Township, where he lived with his family until the spring of 1884, when he became a permanent resi- dent of Blue Mound Township, as hefore stated.

The marriage of Isaae K. Bunn and Miss Ruth A. Waldon took place in Empire Township, Dee. 28, 1851. Mrs. B. is the daughter of Edward .

Thomas and Charity (Blue) Waldon, natives re- speetively of Virginia and Ohio; the mother was of Irish deseent. After their marriage they settled in Sangamon County, Ill .. whenee, in 1835, they removed to Empire Township. this county, where the father died in 1847. The mother still survives, and is at present in Martin Township. Of their ten children six lived to mature years.

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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 77

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