Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 78

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 78

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Mrs. Bunn was horn in Sangamon County, Ill., Aug. 11, 1831. Of her union with our suhjeet there were born eleven children, two of whom died in infaney : Minor K. married Miss Emma Davison, and resides in Livingston County, Ill. ; Franeis M. married Miss Mary C. Homan, and is a resident of Dakota; John L. married Miss Naney E. Paxton, Jerry I. married Miss Tillie C. Rieke, and Hugh W. married Miss Nellie M. Lane, all live in Martin Township; Eva J., Mary A. and Abraham M. are at home with their parents; Ge- nevra is the wife of Lewis Hetland, and resides in Dakota. Mr. Bunn is Republican in polities, and is a gentleman highly esteemed by the community.

RANK BARNARD, capitalist, of Blooming- ton, and ahstraet and loan broker, is a native of this county, and was horn in June, 1860; he is the seventh son of Amos and Averstia C. (Moulton) Barnard. The former was an Ohioan by birth, in which State he was reared and educated ' and spent his youth upon a farm. He came to Illi- nois in 1846, and located west of the city of Bloomington, whenee he afterward removed into the eity, in 1867. After leaving the farm our sub- jeet's father turned his attention to brokerage and loans, in which he was eminently sueeessful and ae- eumulated a fine property. He departed this life April 20, 1880, leaving to his family a large estate. The mother is still living. Their seven ehildren

ineluded four boys and three girls, all living, and of whom Frank, our subjeet, was the second in order of birth.

Mr. Barnard completed his studies at Normal University and upon leaving sehool, took a trip to California where he remained two years, then 're- turning to Bloomington engaged in abstraeting three years, and subsequently purchased the inter- est of J. W. Compton & Co., which he condueted with sueeess and profit. He now owns a half in- terest in the abstract books of the firm of Tillotson & Fell, from which business he derives a fine in- come. Considering that our subjeet is still a young man, he has already gained a good position in the business world. Socially lie is a member of Wade Barney Lodge, A. F. & A, M.

W ILLIAM M. FLESHER, a farmer residing on seetion 3, Money Creek Township, is the owner of 117 aeres of valuable and produetive land, on which he has good and sub- stantial improvements and where he is meeting with signal sueeess in the prosecution of his ehosen voeation. Mr. Flesher was born in Pendleton County, West Va., Oet. 19, 1827. He lived in his native eoanty until seven years old, when his par- ents emigrated to Fayette County, Ohio, taking William with them. There he made his home until he accompanied his parents to this eounty. Living here until 1857, engaged the while in farming, he went to Kansas and followed the same vocation in that State for three years. He then came back to this county and has made this liis home until the present time. Sinee living here he has spent a year and a half of his time in Lexington, and aside from that, lias always lived in Money Creck Town- ship.

Mr. Flesher, as stated, has a fine farm of 117. aeres on seetion 3, Money Creek Township, acquired mainly through his own exertions, economy and. good judgment. He was married in Money Creek Township, Dee. 29, 1880, to Rebecca A. Pirtle, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Jones) Pirtle. Her parents were married in Kentucky, and settling in

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that State, made that their home until their removal to Owen County, Ind., where they lived until the death of the mother. The father died in Greenc County, that Statc. Ten children were born of the parental union, six sons and four daughters, and Mrs. Flesher was the youngest. She was born in Owen County, Ind., Dcc. 14, 1831, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of cight children-Andrew M., John H., James A. S., Lizzic, Eddie L., Charles S., George E. and Benja- min F. Andrew married Miss Lucy Fultz and they are living in Gridley Township, this county ; John and Miss Amanda Henlinc became man and wife and are residents of Lexington Township, this county ; James married Miss Hattie Drury, and they are living in Woodford County; Lizzie is the wife of William Curry, a resident of Money Creek Township; Eddic and Miss Minnie Punke were united in marriage and live in Gridley Township; Charles, George and Benjamin are living at home.

Mr. Flesher has held the office of Township Assessor for two years and has been the incumbent of the office of Justice of the Peace about six years. His wife is a member of the Christian Church and in politics he is a stanch Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Flesher have had their trials and troubles in lifc, and sickness has often attended their household, but a kind providence has smiled upon and pre- served them a united and happy family, and now in the sunset of life, in their pleasant little home in Moncy Creek Township, they are enjoying the accumulations of an honorable past with no dark spots upon their record to trouble them.

AMES LARKIN is one of the large land- owners of Money Creck Township, and a gentleman possessing considerable agricult- ural information, as his success in that voca- tion indicates. IIc is pleasantly located on his fine farm on section 36, where he is surrounded with all the comforts and pleasures of a farm life, together with a happy and contented family. Mr. Larkin was born in Ircland in 1835. Coming to the United States wlien twenty years of age, in 1855, he for six months made Cincinnati, Ohio, his homc. He

then came to Pontiac, Livingston Co., Ill., and hav - ing no means with which to engage in business or to purchase land, he worked out on a farm by the month for about a year and a half. After that he came to McLean County, where he continued to labor by the month at the same vocation for about two years. He then rented land of one Peter Hef- ner. in Money Creek Township, and for six years was engaged in farming in this manner.

The first purchase of our subject was eighty aeres of land in Money Crock Township, located on sec- tion 36. He has been a resident of that township since 1860, and has added to liis acrcage until he is at present the proprietor of 410 acres of valua- ble and productive land. Mr. Larkin was married in Chicago, Sept. 18, 1859, to Miss Julia Hogan, born in Ireland in 1837. Of this union seven chil- dren have been born who are yet living, viz., James M., Mary, John D., Margaret, Sarah, William and Julia. Michael and Edward A. died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Larkin are members of the Catholic Church. In politics our subject is independent.

ACOB I. MOATS, residing on section 29, Money Creek Township, has been a resident of McLean County since 1829, and has made his home continuously in the above township. His father, Jacob Moats, was born in Maryland, and when four years old was sent into Pennsylvania where he was reared to manhood on a farm. He was inarried to Miss Sarah Hinthorn, a native of West Virginia, and they took up their residence in Licking County, Ohio, whencc they came to this county in the fall of 1829, and were among the early settlers of Money Creck Township, locating on the same section on which our subject now is. The father continued to reside on that section, engaged in the prosecution of his vocation until his death, which took place Feb. 1, 1844. His good wife crossed the river to meet him on the other shore, July 16, 1873. They were blest by tlic birth of nine children-Henry, John, Margaret, William, Janc, Mary A., Rebecca P., Sarah P. and Jacob I. Henry and John arc fariners of Money Creek Township; Margaret is the widow of Albert

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

Phillipps and also lives in Money Crcek Township; William died in that township in September, 1840, and Jane died there in the fall of the same year, as likewise did Mary A. and Rebecca P .; Sarah de- parted this life in the fall of 1848.

Jacob I. Moats was the youngest of his parents' children and was born in Licking County. Ohio, April 14, 1828. When less than two years of age, in 1829, he accompanied his parents to this county. He was reared on a farm, the one on which he is living, and received his education in the common

. schools of that locality. He has devoted all his years to agriculture and has witnessed the growth, not only of Money Creek Township, but of Mc- Lean County, and the wonderful development it has made from 1829 until the present time. He is now the owner of 210 acres of good land, on which he has substantial improvements and is meet -. ing with more than ordinary success in his vocation.

Mr. Moats was married in Money Creek Town- ship, Nov. 3, 1850, to Miss Mary J., daughter of William M. and Martha (Kinnan) Dodson. Her father was born in Kentucky and her mother in New Jersey, and they came to this county in 1847, from Champaign County, Ohio, and settling in Money Creek Township, there lived until their death, his taking place March 27, 1863, and hers Dec. 21, 1880. Eleven children were born of their union, namely, Joseph K., Maryette, Jesse, Abner N., Mary J., Martha, William R., Elizabeth, Esther A., Daniel D. and Naomi E. 'Joseph K. is a far- mer and resides in Kansas; Maryette was the wife of William Hamilton and died in Towanda Town- ship in 1851 ; Jesse died in infancy; Abner N. is a resident of Money Creek Township; Martha is the wife of Lewis Sailor and they are living in Hudson Township; William R. is a farmer and lives in Kan- sas: Elizabeth is the wife of James Allen, and they live in Missouri; Esther A. married F. A. Bishop, a farmer of Money Creek Township; Daniel D. was a member of the 94tli Illinois Infantry and died in the hospital at New Orleans: Naomi and Rev. Yeakle were united in marriage and are living in Kansas. Mrs. Moats was born in Champaign County, Ohio, Feb. 10, 1830, and was about eighteen years old when she accompanied her parents to this county. By her union with our subject four children have

been born-John W., Martha J., Sarah O. and one died in infancy. John W. married Miss N. L. Rowe and they are living in Money Creek Town- ship; Martha is the wife of H. P. Sachs, a farmer of Money Creek Township, and Sarah O. lives at home. Mr. Moats has held the office of Road Commissioner for many years and also that of School Director. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church, and in politics he is a stanch Republican.

L EONARD REDDICK, a prominent grain- buyer of Saybrook, is a native of Musking- um County, Ohio, born June 19, 1822, and the son of Phillip and Mary (Bartlett) Reddick, thic former a native of Maryland and the latter of Vermont. Phillip Reddick was born in December, 1796, and departed this life in Ohio in 1873. The mother, born in 1806, died at her home in 1871. Both parents were members of the Lutheran Church. Their twelve children were Leonard, Mary A., Elijah, Elizabeth, Samuel, Eliza J., Margaret, John, George, Abraham, Amanda and Clara.

, Our subject was the eldest member of his father's family and remained under the home roof receiv- ing careful training and a common-school educa- tion. After reaching manhood he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Moore, June 12, 1849. This lady was born in Ohio in 1824, and was the daughter of Benjamin and Elizabethı (Claypole) Moore, who are both deceased. They were most worthy and excellent people and members in good standing of the Baptist Church. Their children 1 were Mary, Harriet, Sarah, John, Jane, Eliza, Mason, Daniel, Catherine and Joseph. By this marriage Mr. Reddick became the father of two children- Mary J. and Harriet. Mrs. Sarah M. Reddick de- parted this life on the 12th of April, 1852, after their removal to Hamilton County, Ind. She was a highly respected. lady and a worthy and consist- cnt member of the Baptist Church.

The second wife of our subject, to whom he was married in 1854, was Miss Rebecca Galloway, a na- tive of Indiana. Of this union there were born four children-Sanford, Alvin, Fremont and Jos-

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epli G., all living. Mrs. Rebeeea G. Reddiek died Sept. 12, 1864. The following year our subjeet eame to Illinois, arriving in this county on the 2d of November. In early life he had learned the earpenter's trade, which he followed for a period -

of thirty-two years, and superintended thie erection of some of the most prominent buildings, including several large churches in and around Saybrook. He abandoned lis trade in 1875, to engage in grain-buying, in which he has been remarkably successful, being the leader in this business at Say- brook. In 1873 he eommeneed dealing in lumber, but sold out to engage in his present business.

Prior to the outbreak of the Rebellion Mr. Red- dick was a stanch Demoerat, but the first gun that was fired upon Ft. Sumter also knocked the demoe- raey out of him and he went over without delay to the Republican party, whose principles sinee that time lie has vigorously supported. He has been prominent in the affairs of his township, holding its various offices and also being prominent in the local affairs of Saybrook. Religiously he is eon- neeted with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been Steward and Trustee and greatly interested in Sunday-school work, to which he has contributed generously of his time and means.

E LI BARNARD, who has always been oeen- pied in agricultural pursuits and is at pres- ent engaged in that vocation on his fine farm on section 21, Money Creek Township, is a son of Melman N. Barnard, whose sketch is given in eon- neetion with that of S. F. Barnard in another por- tion of this work. Our subjeet was a twin brother of Levi Barnard and was born in Money Creek Township, Sept. 1, 1843. Ile was reared to man- hood on his father's farm and received his eduea- tion in the pioneer log school-house of this county. All his years thus far in life, with the exception of about three months, have been spent in the bound- aries of the township in which he was born.

Mr. Barnard is at present the owner of a fine farm consisting of 240 aeres, and located on seetions 20 and 21, Money Creek Township. Ile thoroughly understands the vocation at which he labors and is

meeting with sueeess in the condueting of his place. Our subjeet was married in Champaign County, Ill., Jan. 1, 1867, to Miss Sarilda, daughter of Joseph and Eleanor G. (Beaty) Shaw. Joseph Shaw was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and his wife was a native of the same eonnty. They were married and settled in that county, whenee they removed to Piekaway County, same State, and then, in 1862, eame to this county and located in Money Creek Township. 1Ic died there Feb. 4, 1868. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shaw and Mrs. Barnard was the fourth iu order of birth. She was born in Piekaway County, Ohio, Jan. 15, 1843, and by her union with our subjeet seven children have been born-Nettie, Sinia, Josie, Leslie, Anna, Grace and Alta. Nettie died when three years old. Socially Mr. Barnard is a member of the Masonie fraternity. He and his wife hold fellowship with the Christian Church, and in polities he is a staneh Republican.

W ILLIAM WIRT RANDOLPH is one of the merehants of Towanda. The ancestry of the Randolph family in the United States dates back to an early day. Edward Fitz Randolph and Elizabeth Blossom eame with their parents from Northampton, England, to eseape religious perseeu- tion in that country. Miss Blossom eamne in the Mayflower in 1620, and Edward arrived here in 1630. They were married in this country, May 10, 1646, and settled at Barnstable, Barnstable Co., Mass., and became the parents of eight children. Joseph, the fifth ehild, was born in 1656, married Sarah Congdon in 1687, and they had twelve ehil- dren; Joseph, the second of these, was born in 1690, married, and became the father of twelve children. Joseph, the fifth of these, was born in 1722, mar- ried Esther Broderiek, and they had eleven ehil- dren ; John, their sixth ehild, was born in 1752, mar- ried Phebe Steele by whom he had eight children, and died in 1826. Steele, the sixth son of John and Phebe (Steele) Randolph, and father of our sub- ject, was born at Piscataway, N. J .. Oet. 22, 1786, and was married Jan. 25, 1810, to Harriett Runyon, of French extraction. She was born in Middlesex County, N. J., Jan. 14, 1793. They first settled

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in Somerset County, N. J., after their marriage, where he followed the occupation of a miller and which vocation he continued until his death. He died Mareh 6, 1855, in Somerset County, after a · residence there of upward of forty-five years. After his death his wife eame to Bloomington, Ill., where she lived for some eight years and then, re- turning to New Jersey, departed this life at Bound- brook, Somerset County, Nov. 25, 1874. They had seven children-Esther R., John S., Phebe A., Reune R., Asa R., William Wirt and one who died in infaney. Esther became the wife of Peter Kline and departed this life in Maeon County, Ill., Oet. 4, 1865; John S. is living at Boundbrook, N. J .; Phebe A. was the second wife of Peter Kline and died at Bloomington, Ill., July 10, 1868; Reune R. is living at Bloomington, Ill., and Asa is a resident of Summit, N. J.

William Wirt Randolph was born in Somerset County, N. J., Jan. 8, 1834, and lived at home until he was of age. He received his edueation in the Quaker schools and upon the death of his father came west to Chicago, where he worked at tlie earpenter's trade about six montlis. He then went to Decatur, Ill., and there worked at the same trade for something over a year, when he came to Bloomington, this eounty. Arriving here in 1856, he began working at his trade and was thus oeeu- pied for about sixteen years. During that time, however, he became infatuated with the idea of be- coming suddenly rich and the novelty of digging a fortune out of the ground, and went to Pike's Peak, in the spring of 1860. He soon satisfied himself that the precious metal was not to be had in such an abundanee as to make him a Crœsus, and in Jan- uary of the following year he returned to this coun- ty, having made the journey overland. In 1871 our subject traded for a farm in Blue Mound Town- ship, on which he moved and lived for two years engaged the while in its eultivation. He then sold it, and in 1873 moved to Towanda and worked at his trade for two or three years, after which he opened a restaurant and gradually merged it into a mercantile business. In May, 1878. our subject bought the stoek of goods owned by Morrison and Moats of Towanda, and embarking in that business has thus been engaged until the present time. Of

eourse, he inereased his stoek as the requirements of his patrons demanded, and by honest and fair deal- ing built up a good and lucrative trade. He now ear- ries a general assortment of all kinds of goods. The dry-goods department of his business is under the immediate charge of Mrs. Randolph. In ad- dition to his mereantile interests, Mr. Randolph is the owner of valuable village property in Towanda, and has succeeded in life by following the dietates of his own judgment and bringing to bear that en- ergy and perseveranee with which he is so happily endowed.

Mr. Randolph was married in Boundbrook, N. J., Oet. 18, 1856, to Miss Angeline B., daughter of Andrew and Hannah (Dunham) Drake, natives of New Jersey. Her father died in Dunellen, Mid- dlesex County, that State, Jan. 14, 1873. Ilis widow, the mother of Mrs. Randolph, survives and is at present residing in New Jersey. They had three children who lived to attain the age of maturity : Jonathan, a resident of Wisconsin ; Ange- line B., wife of our subjeet, and Barzilla, who is en- gaged in mereantile pursuits at Baltimore. Mrs. Randolph was born in New Market, Middlesex Co., N. J., Aug. 17, 1835, and has borne our subjeet six ehildren-Lillie H., Emma D., Etta D., Asa R., Ella D. and Hattie B. Lillie H. died May 11. 1864; Emma departed this life Oet. 6, 1859; Etta died April 23, 1864; Asa R. is Station Agent at Ster- ling, Col .; Ella B. died in March, 1870; and Hattie B. is living at home.

In polities Mr. R. is a staneh Republican and east his first vote for John C. Fremont, in 1856, and has voted for every Republican nominee for Presi- dent since that time with the exception of Abraham Lineoln first time, when he was absent from the State. Mr. Randolph became a member of the Baptist Church in Mareh, 1854, in his native State. He has been connected with the First Baptist Church of Chicago, First Baptist Church of Decatur, Ill., and First Baptist Church of Bloomington, Ill., and sinee becoming a citizen of "Towanda, has held fel- lowship with the First Baptist Church of that plaee. He has been a constant worker in the Sunday- school sinee 1857. Ile was instrumental in organiz- ing a eolored Baptist Church and was the first Superintendent of the Baptist South Mission at

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Bloomington. He was also the first Superintendent of the Baptist West Mission, now the German Church. Sinee leaving Bloomington, he has helped to organize, and was the first Superintendent of the first Baptist Sunday-sehool at Lexington. In 1871 he organized a Baptist Sunday-school at Towanda and has been its Superintendent until the present time. His entire family are earnest workers in the Church and Sunday-school. When the contrabands first came to Bloomington, Mr. Randolph and his sister, Mrs. Phebe A. Kline, with others, got them together and organized a night school, for Mr. Randolph elaimed that while the question of suffer- age was being agitated the colored man should be taught to read and write that he might know how to vote. Mrs. Phebe A. Kline was a lady of con- siderable attainments, and for ten years taught a private school at Bloomington with marked sueeess.

W ILLIAM H. BRIGGS, EsQ., a prominent and influential farmer of Yates Township, is the proprietor of a beautiful homestead on seetion 4, where he has resided sinee 1868. He was born in Troy Grove, La Salle Co., Ill., April 17, 1841, being the son of Phillip Briggs, a native of New York., The latter grew to manhood in his native State, whenee he journeyed westward and coming into Illinois, loeated first near Peoria. There he made the acquaintance of Miss Hannah Smith, who was born in Pennsylvania, and in due time selected her as liis life companion. After marriage they settled in Troy Grove, La Salle County. and occupied a prominent position among the pioneers of that seetion. Mr. Briggs, although a earpenter by trade, purchased a traet of land and engaged in farming, employing himself at his trade whenever time and opportunity afforded. Many of the early dwellings and other buildings in that seetion were the result of his handiwork. After a time le re- moved within the eity limits of La Salle, where he lived about two years and until the cholera eom- meneed its ravages in that portion of the State. He then returned East with his family and resided in his native State for five or six years following. Thenee they removed to Huron County, Ohio,

where Phillip Briggs departed this life in about 1855, at the age of forty-seven years. He was a man of great foree of character, a stanch supporter of the Whig party, and a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Briggs after the death of her husband resided in Ohio until 1861. then returned to Illinois. She is still living and makes her home with her daughter in Winona, Ill., having arrived at the advanced age of seventy years. The parental household ineluded eight children, six of whom are yet living-William H., Daniel B., James Franklin, Junius .J., Marilla A. and Elnora.

The subject of our sketeh received a common- school education and being the eldest of the family, after the death of his father, was the chief supporter and advisor of his widowed mother. The elder Briggs had met with reverses and lost his health and property at about the same time. The family were thus left in straightened eireumstanees and it required the utmost care and good judgment on he part of the mother and son to keep the ehildren together and minister to their necessities. William H. remained with his mother until he was twenty- six years old and until his brothers and sisters had grown to be of an age when they could take care of . themselves. In the fall of 1867, he purchased eighty-nine aeres of his present farm which was then uneultivated prairie. He set about its improve- ment industriously and energetieally and in time re- eeived the reward of his labors. He now has a good homestead of 160 aeres under exeellent eulti- vation, supplied with a shapely and convenient set of frame buildings. Besides the homestead he also has.120 aeres in Iroquois County, and devotes his time and attention to mixed husbandry.

On the 6th of February, 1872, Mr. Briggs was united in marriage with Miss Rebeeea Eekert, who was also a native of La Salle County, Ill., and born Nov. 11, 1848. She is the daughter of Jonas and Naney (Erb) Eekert, who were natives of Pennsyl- vania. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. B. there were " born four children, of whom the record is as follows : The eldest, a son, Jay Henry, born June 15, 1874, died Aug. 20, 1874; Those living are, Stella H., who was born March 4, 1876; Josie Perl, June 1, 1878, and Viola N., Dee. 14, 1880. Mr. and Mrs.

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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 78

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