Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 86

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 86

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

come inen and women, and of the second marriage there was born one child only-Martha Williams.

Samuel G. Woodmancy was the youngest child of the first marriage of his father. He remained un- der the parental roof and attended the public schools until fourteen years of age, when he learned to make cigars and thereby carned money enough to acquire some leisure to educate himself. He was a bright and studious youth, fond of his books and ambitious to excell. After two years he was taken ill, and in the following two years nearly all of his money went to pay the doctor, who did him but little good. During his illness, whenever able to read, he employed his time in the perusal of in- structive books, in the meantime reading with much interest a medical work of Dr. Buchannan of En- gland. As medicine had not succeeded in his own casc he left off taking it, and began a conrse of treatment in accordance with Dr. Bueliannan's theory, and speedily effected a curc. He then made a study of magnetic treatment and became a suc- cessful practitioner. Although he did not put him- self forward as an M. D., he was frequently called upon by his friends, whom he treated successfully, almost without exception. He was greatly in- terested in this branch of science and continued to investigate discasc, its cause and cure, and finally used hygienic treatinent, utilizing Nature's remedies -light, heat, water and electricity. During this time he made his home alternately in Warren and Providence, R. I., and in Fall River, Mass., working at his trade and practicing medicine.

In September, 1853, Mr. Woodmancy resolved to seek the Western country. and accordingly jour- neyed to the Prairie Statc. His friend, Mr. J. A. Pitts, had located in Mt. Hope Township, McLean County. and with him he spent the winter. In the meantime he purchased 240 acres of wild land on sections 16 and 17 of Mt. Hope Township, which is now included in the present homestead. He was still unmarried, and while carrying on the improve- , ment of his new farm he became an inmate of the family of Nathaniel Ewings, where he remained for a time and afterward kept "bachelor's hall" until lıis marriage. This latter event transpired in April, 1856, the maiden of his choice being Miss Caroline Trott, a New England lady, who was born

in the town of Hallowell, Mc., and the daughter of Capt. Isaac Trott, who followed the sea for a num- ber of years, engaged in merchant service. He re- moved to Illinois in 1855, and died at the home of his son in Nebraska on the 14th of August, 1886. He was married in early life to Miss Jane Smith, who died in Bath, Me.

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Woodmancy therc have been born four children: Walter was born in Mt. Hope Township, where he lias always lived, and was united in marriage with Miss Mary Johnson, a native of Wisconsin; Apphia E., the wife of Larken T. Mullins, is also a resident of Mt. Hope. The son .and son-in-law assist in car- rying on the home farm of Mr. Woodmancy ; Ella J. and Alice M. died while young.

Mr. Woodmancy has been a Republican since 1860, when he voted for Abraham Lincoln. He is a gentleman of more than ordinary ability, an ex- tensive reader, a deep thinker, and keenly observant of what is going on around him in the world. He is one of those who, when attempting anything, seldom abandons it, and whatever he does is done well. He is skillful as a farmer, is straightforward and methodical in his business transactions, and as a citizen is held in the highest respect by all who know him.

E DWARD WASHBURN, junior member of the enterprising young firm of Smith & Waslıburn, has been in business as a mem- ber of said firm since April 7, 1883. He was born in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., Mass., Dec. 11, 1847, and is the son of Rotheus and Mary (Hay- ward) Washburn, also natives of New England. The father of our subject was a skillful mechanic, and remained in his native State nearly all his life. The parental household included five children, of whom only two are living: William II., a resident of Tremont, Tazewell Co., Ill., and Edward, the subject of this sketch.

Edward Washburn resided in his native State until fifteen years of age, and then accompanied his brother, William H., to Illinois. They located in Tazewell County, and in 1864, during the prog- ress of the late war, our subject enlisted as a sol-

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McLEAN COUNTY.

dier of the Union in Co. A, 108th Ill. Vol. Inf., in which he served until the close of the war. Hav- ing enlisted late in the conflict, he was present at only one regular engagement, this being the battle of Spanish Fort, at Mobile, Ala. After retiring from the army he returned to Tazewell County, where he rented land and engaged in farming until 1871. He then purchased 160 acres of land in Vermilion County, this State, which lie operated until 1883, then sold out and removed to Cropsey, this county, where he engaged in his present business.

Our subject was united in marriage with Miss Caroline G. Sniffiu in 1871. Mrs. Washburn was born in Tazewell County, and was the daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Sniffin. Of the union of our subject there have been born two children, a son, who died in infancy, and George A. They occupy a pleasant and comfortable home, and en- joy the acquaintance of the best people in the town. Mr. Washburn is Republican in politics, and socially belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the G. A. R.

OHN LIVINGSTON, a pioneer settler of Padua Township, became a resident of this locality in December, 1847. During a pc- riod of over forty years he has devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he has been more than ordinarily successful. His farm estate consists of 180 acres of valuable land on sections 28 and 33, the family residence being on the former. This, with all its surroundings, in- dicate the exercise of a fine taste and ample means. Everything about the premises is kept in first- class order. The stock of the farm is in good con- dition and well cared for, and the agricultural im- plements arc of the latest and most approved pat- tern. Mr. Livingston, years ago was acknowl- edged one of the leading and progressive farmers of this section, and takes genuine pride in his work and the growth and prosperity of his county and township.

John Livingston was born in Dearborn County, Ind., Feb. 8, 1814. He is the son of Adam D. and Patsey (Livingston) Livingston, natives of Virginia, the father being reared in Kentucky. He

served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and after his retirement from the army, carried on his farm' in Dearborn County, Ind., until the death of the mother of our subject, which occurred when the latter was but two years of age. Adam Livingston was a second time married, to Miss Betsey Dur- ham, who was born and rcared in Delaware. Hc removed to Illinois from Dearborn County, Ind., in 1840, and to various places afterward, finally lo- cating in Waynesville, De Witt County, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-four and one- half years. The second wife dicd in Missouri.

The subject of this history was the younger of his mother's two children. His only sister died in this township in 1842, having been married to Phillip Miller, by whom she became the mother of three children. The carly life of John Livingston was spent in Dearborn County, Ind., where he worked with his father until his marriage. This cvent occurred on the 11th of March, 1844, the lady of his choice being Miss Cornelia Thomas, who was born in Orange County, N. C., in 1825. Her parents removed from her native State when she was but a child, and located in Dearborn County, Ind., where they passed the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Livingston was the fourth daugh- ter of six children, and remained with her parents until her marriage. Her father, Richard Thomas, was a native of Orange County, N. C., where he was reared, and was married to Miss Margaret Roney, a native of the same county and State.

Mr. and Mrs. Livingston became thic parents of one child, who died in infancy. They are both worthy members of the Baptist Church, and our subject politically casts his vote with the Repub- lican party.

Adolphus Dimmick, first husband of the aunt of our subject, Mrs. Esther (Livingston) Dimmick, was born in Tolland County, Conn., Jan. 13, 1791, and in 1816 came West to Ripley County, Ind. He was married on the 9th of October, 1832, to Miss Esther Livingston, and in November of that same year started for Illinois, making the journey overland with oxen and one horse, drawing a wagon. They landed in Old Town Township, this county, Nov. 25, 1832. Their house, built of logs, was one of the first in that locality. The fireplace

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McLEAN COUNTY.

was fashioned out of pounded clay, the chimney of sticks and mud, the floor was of puncheon, and the window-panes were of greased paper. The land upon which they located did not come into market until four years afterward, and it is unnee- essary to say it was in its. original condition, peo- pled generously with wild animals and birds, which were the only companions of the two who had started ont in life together, resolved to brave its misfortunes and share its prosperity. Mr. Dim- mick was eut down in the prime of life, dying on Christmas Day in 1845. The household circle had been blest by the birth of three children, all of whom are now deceased. In earlier years the fa- ther had been a teacher in both Ohio and this State. His widow afterward married Stephen Ireland, who died in the house which is now occupied by our subject, in the spring of 1851, the homestead hav- ing been owned by her. Mrs. Ireland departed this life July 28, 1879, after which her farm fell to her nephew, John Livingston, of our sketch. Mrs. Ireland was an excellent Christian lady, greatly beloved by all who knew her, for her kindness of heart and rare womanly virtues.

ON. FRANK Y. HAMILTON was elected to the General Assembly of Illinois in 1886, on the Republican tieket, and is considered one of the representative citizens of MeLean County. Although his residence in Bloomington has not been of many years' duration he lias fully established himself in the confidence of the people of this vicinity and his genius and talent arc fully recognized by those most competent to judge of merit and ability.

Mr. Hamilton is a native of Richwood, Union Co., Ohio, and was born Dec. 27, 1852. He is the son of Samuel and Naney' (MeMorris) Hamilton, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia, who after their marriage, settled first in Muskingum County, Ohio, whencc they removed to Licking and then to Union County, the father being en- gaged in farming pursuits. The father purchased forty acres of heavy timber land in the latter county and built a log house, two stories high,

doing all the work himself. He ocenpied this with his family until his land was cleared and under a good state of enltivation.

'The grandfather of our subjeet, William Hamil- ton, was a local Protestant Methodist preacher and one of the founders of that denomination in Ohio. He accompanied his son Samuel npon the journey to Ohio and purchased 1,000 acres of land, which was partially cleared, and which he occupied until his death in 1865, after having arrived at the ad- vanced age of eighty-three years. Samuel Hamil- ton finally sold his farm in Ohio and emigrated to Illinois overland with his family, in 1854. They settled in Marshall County upon a farm of 180 acres, and the father afterward purchased twenty aeres of timber. He followed farming and stock- raising for some years and here the mother died in 1866. The year following the death of his wife Samuel Hamilton sold out and removed to Wenona, Marshall County, in this State, and is now living on a small farm therc. He is a man of decided views, is Republican in polities, and a member in good standing of the Protestant Methodist Church.

The parents of Frank Hamilton had a family of nine children, one of whom, John M., became Governor of Illinois, and six are now living. The subject of this biography remained on the farm with his parents until seventeen years of age and received a fair education in the schools of Wenona. He then attended Wesleyan University at Bloom- ington for one year and subsequently engaged in teaching near Wenona. In the fall of 1871, he took a course in Adrian College, Indiana, from which he graduated in 1874. The money necessary for carrying on his studies was furnished by his unele, William M. Hamilton, which was paid back by our subjeet after he commenced teaching. Hc was married in Angust, 1875, to Miss Emma Cone, of Fulton County, Ohio, and they have become the parents of two children: Ethel R., born in 1882, and Clair O., in 1885.

Soon after his marriage Mr. Hamilton became Principal of the graded school at Sheridan, La Salle County, Ill., in which Mrs. Hamilton was as- sistant, and where they remained for the following six years. In 1881 they removed to Bloomington where our subject eommeneed the study of law with

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McLEAN COUNTY.

the firm of Rowell & Hamilton, and was admitted to praetiee two years later. He continued in Bloomington, meeting with success, and in 1886 was eleetcd to the Legislature, having received the nomination after a spirited contest, over the former representative, Hon. I. H. Pikc. He is also attor. ney for the I. B. & W. R. R. and general attorney for the Security Live Stock Insurance Company of Bloomington. Besides his residenee at No. 701 East Douglas street, he owns a farm in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the Second Presbyterian Church, of which our subject has been Superin- tendent of the Sabbath-sehool since 1883. He is identified with the Republican party, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity as a member of Bloom- ington Lodge No. 43, and Royal Arcanum Couneil in this city. So far he has made for himself a good record and there is a prospeet for him of better things to come.

R RANK KRAFT. Germany has contributed her quota, not only to the upbuilding of Me- Lean Connty, but a goodly portion of the United States, and within the boundary lines of this county we find a large number of that class of eiti- zens. Prominent among this number is the gentle- man of whom we write, and who is pleasantly lo- cated on his fine and productive farm on section 17, Towanda Township. Mr. Kraft is a son of Jo- seph and Mary A. Kraft, natives of Germany, in which country they both died.

Our subjeet was the oldest son of his parents' children, and was born in Baden, Germany, June 7, 1829. He lived in the "Faderland" until the fall of 1855, when he emigrated to the United States. When sixteen years old our subject learned the trade of soap-making, and followed that oecu- pation until he came to this country, with the ex- eeption of the time he was compelled to serve in the army. The laws of his native country required him to serve six years in the army, but two years before the expiration of his time he, desiring to emigrate to the United States, hired a substitute to take his place for the unexpired time, paying there- for tlc sum of $200.

On arriving in the United States our subject first located near Dayton, Ohio, where he lived about one year, working out by the month on a farm. In the fall of 1856 he came to McLean County and worked at farming by the month until his marriage. He then rented a farm, and for four years continued to eultivate rented land. At the expiration of this time he had accumulated enough to enable him to purchase eighty acres in Towanda Township, and which was located on scetion 17. On this traet he settled, and has there lived until the present time. By strict economy and energy he has been enabled to add to his original purchase, and is now the owner of 320 acres of good and valuable land, on which he has the best of improvements, and where he is meeting with more than ordinary sucecss.

Mr. Kraft was married at Bloomington, Ill., March 13, 1859, to Paulina Fiebig, daughter of Gotlieb and Banety Fiebig, natives of Germany, and in which country they both died. Mrs. Kraft was born March 25, 1836, in Germany, and eame to this country when twenty years of age. The re- sult of her union with our subject has been two children : Oscar W. and Lewis H .; the former inar- ried Miss Alice Phillipps, and they are living in Towanda Township; Lewis H. resides at home, and assists his father in the cultivation of the farm. Mr. Kraft has been School Director, and in politics is Republican. A fine lithographic view of the handsome residenee of Mr. Kraft is shown on an- other page of this work.

E LIJAH SMITH, of Belleflower Township, owns and oeeupies a comfortable homestead on section 1. He is a native of the Prairie State, born June 29, 1840, and the youngest child of William and Sarah (Clinc) Smith. (See sketch of E. R. Smith.) Elijah Smith was rearcd upon his father's farm and took advantage of the opportuni- ties afforded to secure an education in the distriet schools, where he applied himself industriously and acquired a fund of useful information. He made his home with his parents some time after reaching manhood, and later operated on rented land which belonged to his father. In 1865 he purchased a

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traet of timber land six or seven iniles west of Bushnell, upon which he worked for three years following and then eoming to MeLean County pur- chased eighty aeres of wild prairie on seetion 1, Belleflower Township. In addition to this he rented an eighty-aere traet of which he afterward broke forty aeres, and in 1873 built a part of the house which he now oeeupies. All of his land is im- proved and he has a good set of frame buildings.

The first marriage of our subjeet oeeurred Oet. · 26, 1863, the maiden of his ehoiee being Miss Rachel A. Wright, who died in September, 1869, aged twenty-five years. His second wife was Miss Maggie Carey, to whom he was married Sept. 7, 1873. By the first marriage there were three ehil- dren, two now living-Mary A. and Wesley W. Of the seeund marriage there were -born, Lena, Oradell, Florence and Carl L.

Mrs. Smith is a member of the Christian Church and our subjeet belongs to Mansfield Lodge No. 773, A. F. & A. M. He is Democratie in politics and in all respeets a worthy and useful eitizen. The father of Mrs. Maggie Smith, the wife of our subjeet, was Dawson . Carey, a native of Ohio, whenee he removed to Illinois in about 1846, and located in Scott County, where he spent the re- mainder of his life. Her mother, formerly Miss Mary Six, who was also born in Ohio, is now living in Seott County.

W ILLIAM THOMPSON, a farmer and stoek - raiser of Randolph Township, owns one of the finest farm homesteads in MeLean County. It comprises 392 aeres, and oeeupies a part of seetions 11, 12, 14 and 22, the residenee being on seetion 11. The family history of our subjeet is as follows: His father, George K. Thompson, was one of the older sons of William .Thompson, Sr., and the father of the latter was a eitizen of Virginia. The family is supposed to have come from Seottish aneestry. The great- grandfather of our snbjeet and his sons were well- to-do farmers and slave-holders, who had been taught to believe in the reetitude of the peeuliar institution. . The grandfather lived and died in

Monroe County, W. Va., having been a poor man, but an honest, law-abiding eitizen. His wife was formerly Miss Elizabeth King, also a native of West Virginia, who spent her entire life in her na- tive State. Of their six children, George K., the father of our subjeet, was the eldest son and third ehild. His boyhood and youth were spent upon his father's farın, and after reaching years of manhood he was united in marriage with Miss Anstis Collison, who was born and reared in Greenbrier Connty, W. Va., where her marriage took place. After the birth of a son, whom they named Franklin, they eame to Butler County, Ohio, being among the earliest settlers of that region, making their home in the timber. In the fall of 1831, the little family having in the meantime been inereased in size by the birth of our subjeet and Mary O., the parents with their three young children left Ohio and eame to Illinois, making their first settlement in Peoria County. The following year, after the birth of a daughter, Elizabeth, they eame to Randolph Town- ship and settled near a grove of the same name, and on the farm which is now owned by our subjeet, William Thompson. They arrived here on the 5th of July, and on the 27th of August they met with a sore affliction in the death of the husband and father, leaving the mother with four small children . dependent upon her. Of these all are now living, married, and comfortably settled in homes of their own.

The mother of our subjeet remained a widow for two and one-half years, and then beeame the wife of Mathew Coverdale. The mother and stepfather are both living, and make their home with our sub- jeet. The former, who is now seventy-seven years of age, received a severe fall two years ago, which has rendered her a eripple sinee that time. Mr. Cov- erdale is a native of New Jersey, whenee he removed to Ohio and from there to Illinois, having also lived for some years in the State of Indiana.

William Thompson was only about two and one- half years old when his father died. He afterward made his home with his mother and stepfather until he attained his majority. He then engaged in farming on his own account, and three years later. was married, in Randolph Township, to Miss Cas- sandra Freneh, who was born at Athens, Belmont

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McLEAN COUNTY.

Co., Ohio, March 16, 1836. She eame with her par- ents to Illinois in her girlhood, and remained with them in this township until her marriage. A few weeks after this event the father siekened and died, the mother having died when Cassandra was five years old. Of this marriage of our subject there were born two children : Oliver C. married Miss Mary Gard, and they live in Ida County, Iowa; he has been County Surveyor several terms and is now a land agent. Minerva became the wife of Henry Talbert, and they reside on a farm in Morrison County, Kan. Mrs. Cassandra Thompson departed this life at the home of her husband in Story Coun- ty, Iowa, in 1856.

Mr. Thompson was the second time married, in Boone County, Iowa, Mareh 4, 1858, to Miss Mary M. Jones. This lady is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born Aug. 31, 1835. Her parents were Thomas and Jane (Culbertson) Jones, natives re- speetively of Fayette and Westmoreland Counties, Pa. The father was of Welsh deseent and reared in Pennsylvania, and the mother was of Irish an- eestry. They were married in Wayne County, Ohio, where they lived for many years and reared their family. In 1855 'they emigrated to Story County, Iowa, where the parents passed the re- mainder of their days, the father living to the ripe old age of eighty-two years, and the mother dying when fifty-six. Mrs. Thompson was the first daugh- ter and fourth ehild of the family, and was twenty years old when her parents removed to Iowa. By her marriage with our subjeet she has become the mother of nine children, two now deceased. The reeord is as follows: Anstis married William H. Stewart, a farmer of Randolph Township; Mary J. became the wife of J. C. Wakefield, and they live on a farm near Heyworth; Martha E., Mrs. James L. Pumphrey, lives in Bloomington City, and her husband is now a student at Wesleyan University; George K. is attending the Evergreen City Busi- ness College; Daniel W., Ed .. Edith and Nellie are living with their parents at home.

Mrs. Thompson is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politieally our subject is a Democrat. He has served two terms as a Justice of the Peace, one in Iowa, and for one term has been Clerk of the Cireuit Court in Iowa.

After eoming West Mr. Thompson resided in Story County, Iowa, for a period of fifteen years, during whieli time his first wife died, and he was the second time married. He returned to his present home in 1866, which plaee has sinee been his perma- nent abode.

R M. EMERSON, one of the prominent eiti- zens of Bloomington Township, is oeeupy- ing a pleasant and comfortable homestead on seetion 6, where he is engaged in the nursery business, and is surrounded by all the comforts of life. He is also interested in a coal mine, but which is not operated at the present time. Mr. Ein- erson eame to MeLean County a poor man, in 1851, and his present possessions are the result of his own industry and energy. He was born in Clark County, Ky., Sept. 30, 1819, being the youngest son and sixth ehild of William and Polly (Tuggle) Emerson, natives of Virginia. William Emerson was born Aug. 11, 1787, and when a young man removed to Kentucky, where he was married, in Clark County. The mother was born April 25, 1790. After their marriage the parents located on a farm in Clark County, Ky., where the father was killed by a eolored man in liis employ. The mother afterward married a brother of her first husband, and of this union there were born five children. The second husband died in about 1865; the mother survived him several years, and remained in Clark County until her death, in the eightieth year of her age.

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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 86

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