Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 88

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 88

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W INSLOW J. BARNES, a highly respected and prosperous farmer of Mt. Hope Town- ship, is pleasantly located on section 36, and is in possession of one of the finest homesteads in this region, a view of which is shown on another page. He came to Illinois in 1856, and has been a resident of this township since 1863, taking posses- sion of his present farm four years later. Besides general farming he is also engaged in dairying, and has a fine herd of Jersey cows. He sells his butter in Bloomington and St. Louis. Mr. Barnes was born in West Brookfield, Worcester Co., Mass., Dec. 27, 1837, being the sou of Jonas Barnes, who was born in Hampshire County, the same State, June 3, 1802. His grandfather, Zebulon Barnes, was a farmer by occupation, and spent the last years of his life in West Brookfield, Mass.

Jonas Barues removed from Hampshire to Frauk-

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lin County when a young man, and was there inar- ried to Miss Miranda Ried, who was a native of Charlemont, that eounty. They afterward removed to West Brookfield, where the father purchased a farın. He was a wheelwright by trade, and pursued this in eonneetion with his farming operations. He died in West Brookfield on the 1st of June, 1844. The mother now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Frank Shaekley. 'The parental family ineluded three sons and three daughters, all living, as follows: Eleeta lives with her sister, Mrs. Snow; Charles E. is in Pratt County, Kan .; IIarriet W., the widow of Charles H. Snow, resides in Mt. Hope Township; Albert II. is in Oxford, Sumner Co., Kan; Eliza- beth R., Mrs. Frank Shaekley, is in Hartford, Conn., and our subjeet.

Winslow J. Barnes was the fourth ehild and see- ond son of his parents, and was but seven years old when his father died. The latter was in debt for the farm which he oeeupied, but Mrs. Barnes proved an excellent manager, keeping her family together, paying the debt and purchasing additional land. The children all lived at home until they were able to eare for themselves. When our sub- jeet was thirteen years old he went to Charlemont and lived with an unele two years, and then became an apprentiee to learn the carpenter's trade. He followed this in Worcester until 1856, and in that year emigrated to Illinois, loeating in Kane Coun- ty, and followed his trade there until 1863, when he eame to MeLean and pursued the same until he took possession of his present farm, in 1867. This had no buildings when he purchased it, and he has industriously employed his time in making im- provements and enltivating his land. He now has a handsome and substantial frame dwelling, a good barn and all necessary out-buildings. The farm is just outside the corporation of MeLean and in- eludes ninety aeres, which are increasing in value eaeli year as the growth of the town advances.

Mr. Barnes was married in January, 1867, to , Miss Carrie Riee, who was born in Dayton, N. Y., and was the daughter of Hart and Eliza Riee. In 1881, on account of the failing health of his wife, Mr. Barnes went to California and spent nearly two years at San Rafael, and Santa Clara. Mrs. B. died in the latter place, in June, 1881. Our subjeet was

the second time married, in April, 1883, to Miss Mary Sands, who was born in Owen County, Ind., and is the daughter of David and Elizabeth (Fulk- erson) Sands, natives respectively of North'Carolina and Virginia. Mr. Barnes is Republiean in polities ; he holds fellowship with the Congregational Church, He has always taken an active part in all matters pertaining to the good of the township, and at pres- ent is serving his second term as Ilighway Com- missioner of Mt. Hope Township. IIis wife is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episeo- pal Church.

W ILLIAM ARNOLD, who is identified with the business interests of Chenoa, is at pres- ent earrying on a livery stable, and is ad- ministering to the comfort of the publie with profit to himself and satisfaction to all eoneerned. He is a native of Cineinnati, Ohio, born Nov. 3, 1853. His father, John C. Arnold, was born in Germany, and was married in his native eountry to Miss Caroline Tredbaugh. They emigrated to Ameriea in July, 1853, and loeating near. Cincinnati, Ohio. lived there four years. In the winter of 1857 they eame to Illinois, spent one year at Bloomington, then removed npon a farm two miles south of the eity, where they remained six years. Subsequently they took up their abode two miles north of Nor- mal, where they lived for four years and thenee re- moved to a farm in Yates Township, where the fa- ther of our subjeet engaged in agriculture until his death, which took place July 13, 1881. The mother died Oet. 23, 1876. The household eirele ~ ineluded nine children, six of whom lived until after the death of the parents; John F. subse- quently died in Kansas when in his twenty-seventh year; Mary B. died in Ohio in 1884; George J. is a resident of Yates Township; Maggie M. beeame the wife of Anthony Thayers, a farmer of Yates Tonnship: William of our sketeh was the next in order of birth; Minnie and Osear reside on the old homestead in Yates Township.

The subject of this history was but four years of age when he came to this eounty with his parents. He was edueated in the common sehools and re- mained on the farm until his marriage, and then

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began farming on his own account. Mr. Arnold was married, Sept. 2, 1880, to Miss Mary E., young- est daughter of David Vanee, of Chenoa. The yonng eouple settled on a farm about three miles south of the town of Chenoa, where they lived un- til 1886, then removed to the village of the same name. Mr. A., however, still retains possession of his farm, which constitutes a most admirable aux- iliary to his present business. It consists of 160 aeres and is located on seetion 26. It is now op- erated by a tenant. The livery establishment of Mr. Arnold ineludes a goodly number of horses and the best deseription of vehieles.

Our subjeet and his wife have beeome the par- ents of one ehild, a son, Harry W. Mr. A. is a Republiean in politics, and in December, 1886, was appointed Deputy Sheriff under V. E. Howell.

F. HARWOOD. The subject of the follow- ing sketeh is one of the most highly ·re- speeted and honored eitizens of Blooming- ton. To rare executive ability and business taet he adds great kindness of heart, and universal sym- pathy with the adversities and misfortunes of life, which he strives to alleviate whenever he has opportunity. In short, the general verdiet as ap- plied to Mr. Harwood, is "Well done. good and faithful " eitizen. Our subjeet is a member of the firm of Harwood & Sons, lumber merehants, deal- ing extensively in sash, doors, blinds, eoal, ete., the business of which firm is located at No. 901 East Grove street. Mr. Harwood is a native of Orleans County, N. Y., and was born in 1838. He is the son of Chauneey and Lovisa (Bogue) Harwood, natives of Vermont.

Chauneey Harwood removed from his native State to New York before his marriage, traveling on foot from Chittenden, Vt., to where the eity of Rochester, N. Y., now stands, mueh of his road lying through the heavy timber. After reaching his destination, he purehased 100 aeres of land upon the present site of the eity of Rochester, and ereeted a woolen-mill just below the falls of the Genesee River. After this was completed and equipped he superintended its operation until

his health failed, when he abandoned it. He then went to Orleans County, that State, where he pur- ehased 146 aeres of timber land, ereeted another woolen faetory and built up a business which ex- tended from Rochester to Niagara Falls, people eoming from all directions on horseback with bundles of wool to be earded. He eleared his timbered traet and out of the wilderness opened up a valuable farm. After retiring from aetive busi- ness he removed to the village of Holley, where the mother died in 1858, and her husband three years later. Of their family of nine ehildren, six are now living, as follows: Jeffrey resides near Kala- mazoo, Mieh .; Dwight and Dan B. are in Bloom- ington; Hiland H. is in Clinton, Ill .; the next is our subjeet; Angusta, Mrs. B. F. Hoops, lives in Bloomington. Chauncy Harwood was a man of great energy and perseveranee and took a deep in- terest in the chief events of the day, although he steadily deelined to become an office-holder. He was a staneh adherent of the old Whig party and the friend of every measure ealeulated to benefit his fellow-men. To each of his children he gave a fine edueation, which he esteemed better than money to fit them for the various duties and emer- geneies of life. Both parents were eonneeted with the Presbyterian Chureh, in which the father of our subjeet was Deaeon and one of the chief pillars.

T. F. Harwood eame to Bloomington, Ill., when a young man twenty years of age. In 1858 he established himself in the hardware business on Center street, in which he was oeeupied until 1870, and then sold out to his brothers and engaged in his present business. He has prospered in his un- dertaking, his firm being now the most extensive operators in this department of trade in Bloom- ington.

The marriage of our subjeet and Miss Marietta Keys took place in Bloomington in 1862, at the home of the bride's parents. Mrs. H. is a native of Orleans County, N. Y., and the daughter of H. N. Keys, formerly of Conneetieut. By her union with our subjeet she has beeome the mother of three children-Willis S., in the lumber business with his father, and Clara and Harry B., at home. Their handsome and hospitable home is at No. 410 East Douglas street, where they enjoy the society

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and esteem of hosts of friends, Besides this prop- erty Mr. Harwood is a stockholder and Vice- President of the gas works and also has an interest in the Walton Plow Works and the Third National Bank. He owns several tenement houses in the city which yield him a fair income and has a valu- able store building on Front street. Hc has also operated in western lands some in Kansas, and is also connected with a syndicate in Arkansas. In politics our subject belongs to the Republican party ; he served one term as Alderman of the First Ward, and to whatever position he has been called has acquitted himself in a creditable and praise- worthy manner. Mr. Harwood may be classed as a good citizen in cvery sense that the term implies, and few name him but to praise.

W ILLIAM J. MURPIIY, who is comfortably situated on section 31, Allin Township, is a native of this county, having been born in Mt. Ilope Township, Aug. 8, 1838. His parents werc Samuel and Nancy (Goodwin) Murphy, na- tives of Virginia, the father born in 1799, and the mother in 1805. The parents of each removed to Ohio, where the young people were married in Muskingum County, near Zanesville, in 1829. They came directly to Illinois, where Samuel Mur- phy purchased in this county 214 acres of land on which he located, and carried on its improvement and cultivation until 1857. Ile then removed to Caldwell County, Mo., and settled there upon a tract of land which he occupied until his death in 1866. The mother died ten years later in 1876. Of their children the record is as follows: Wil- liam J. of our sketch was the eldest born; Eliza J. became the wife of George M. Stubblefield, of Mt. Hope Township; George W. and John T., twins, are now deceased; the former lived to man- hood and married Miss Mary Williams, of Missouri ; James M. is a resident of Montana; Harrison died when nearly four years of age; Isaac married Miss Alice Gildersleeve, and is now deceased; Samuel married Mrs. Emina Bozarth; Mary became the wife of E. Jones; Jeremiah served as a Union sol-

dier in the late war, and died in the army ; Charles, the youngest, is now a resident of Kansas.

Mr. Murphy received a fair cducation in the common schools, and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. In 1853 he was married to Miss Frances Stubblefield, daugh- ter of Robert Stubblefield, and then purchased 160 acres of land, which he improved and cultivated, and to which he subsequently added until he is now the owner of 1,000 acres. The family residence is a handsome and commodious brick structure 37x63 feet in arca, and two stories in height. This was erected in 1875. The barns and out-buildings in all respects correspond to the requirements of a first-class agriculturist. In addition to general farming, Mr. Murphy is extensively engaged as a stock-dealer, in which he has had an experience of twenty-five years. Besides being a genial and val- ued citizen, he has been active in every enterprise calculated to forward its development and advance- ment, and has fulfilled all the obligations incident to his position as a gentleman of means and influ- encc. He has been a member of the Masonic fra- ternity for the last ten years, holding the office of Tyler.

The wife of our subject was the daughter of Robert and Dorothy Stubblefield, uatives respect ively of Virginia and Kentucky. They were mar- ried in 1822, near Columbus, Fayette Co., Ohio, and came to the Prairie State in 1824, locating upon a farm in McLean County, which remained their home until their decease, that of the father occurring in 1870, and the mother in 1879. The household circle included thirteen children, four by the first wife of Mr. Stubblefield, and nine by the last. These werc, Absalom, Nancy, John, Mary, Adam, George M., Jessie, Frances, Edward, Isaac, Eva, William and Charles W. Mrs. Murphy is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is a straightforward Republican in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for John C. Free- mont.

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy there were born seven children: Lizzic D. married William T. Jeffrey ; George T. married Miss Jennic Hirony- mus; James married Miss Sadie Camp, and resides in Hittle Township, Tazewell County; Charles was

RESIDENCE OF WM. J. MURPHY, SEC. 31. ALLIN TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF ESAU GROVES , SEC. 3.,MT. HOPE TOWNSHIP.

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the fourth ehild; Mary B. became the wife of Elmer Ewing; Frauk and Peter are single and reside at home.

Mr. Murphy has been one of the most industri- ous and enterprising eitizens of this loeality, and a progressive farmer in every sense of the word. IIe eonstrueted the kiln upon his farm in which was manufactured the briek for his family residence, which eost about $10,000, and is about one of the finest struetures of its kind in the eounty. .

A view of the residenee and surroundings is shown on another page of this work.

E SAU GROVES, a highly respected resident of Mt. Hope Township, is a native of Wash- ington County, Ind., and was born Nov. 7, 1818. His father, Peter Groves, was of German birth and parentage and was left an orphan at an early age. When twelve years of age he aceom- panied his two older brothers to Ameriea, and they located in South Carolina, where young Peter eom- meneed the battle of life, working by the day and month at whatever' his hands eould find to do. After a few years he went into North Carolina, and afterward, when a young man, to Kentucky, where he married, and thenee, with his bride, removed to the Territory of Indiana and was one of the pio- neers of Washington County. There he purehased a traet of timber land, built a log house, and eom- meneed to open up a farm. In 1833 he sold out and removed to Clinton County, where he improved another farm which was originally part timber and part prairie. Upon his arrival there, Indians were still numerous and white inen few. After five years he removed overland to Western Missouri, the jour- ney being made with ox-teams. He was aeeom- panied by his wife and five children, and they ear- ried their household goods and eooking utensils, and lived after the manner of the early emigrants. He then located in Livingston County, upon a traet of wild land eight miles from any settlement, and followed the same routine which he had experi- eneed in Washington and Clinton Counties, Ind. Upon this latter farm he lived until 1846, and then, selling out, removed to the eastern part of Missouri,

where he spent the remainder of his days. After the death of Peter Groves, his widow, with her two sons, one daughter and a granddaughter, started aeross the plains to Oregon. One son, Elijah, and the granddaughter were the only ones who lived to reach their destination. The re- mainder died and were buried on the plains.

The mother of our subjeet, before her marriage, was Miss Naney Humphreys, and she was a native of Germany. She became the mother of twelve ehildren, of whom Esau of this sketch is the only one known to be living. He spent the first fifteen years of his life in his native eounty and aeeom- panied his parents in their subsequent removals. In July, 1840, he came into MeLean County, poor in poeket and without friends and aequaintanees. He employed himself at whatever his hands eould find to do, and by a straightforward and honest life soon found friends and became prosperous in his labors and undertakings. The farm which he now owns and oeeupies and whiel he obtained by his own industry was entered for him at the land sales at Springfield in June, 1852, and he took posses- sion of it in August of the same year. The first improvement was a small frame building in which the family lived for a few years. In 1875 he ereeted his present eoinfortable and convenient dwelling, and now has the entire quarter seetion under a good state of eultivation, with a good barn and all necessary out-buildings. Mr. and Mrs. G. together own 240 aeres, all improved and valuable.

Mr. Groves was married in this eounty, Feb. 8, 1848, to Miss Mary Stubblefield. Mrs. G. is a na- tive of Fayette County, Ohio, born Dee. 24, 1818, and is the second daughter of Robert and Sarah (Funk) Stubblefield. (See sketch of John Stubble- field). They have one ehild only, a daughter, Sarah Franees, who is now the wife of John Reidle, and lives on the old homestead. Our subjeet and his wife beeame eonneeted with the Methodist Episeo- pal Church in their youth, with whieh faith they still hold fellowship, and by their upright lives have adorned their profession and secured the esteem and confidenee of a large eirele of friends.

A lithographie view of the handsome farm resi- dence of Mr. Groves is to be found on another page of this work.

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McLEAN COUNTY.

G EORGE W. BRICKNER, junior member of the firm of Seiberns & Briekner, merchants of Gridley, is, with his partner, engaged in a good trade, carrying a stock of general mnerehan- dise suited to the wants of the household and farm. Mr. Brickner is still a young man, having entered upon his business eareer in 1884. His parents were Charles and Elizabeth (Wertzburger) Brickner, na- tives of Germany, who emigrated to 'America in 1852, and settling in Hilton, Tazewell County, this State, engaged in merchandising, and there the fa- ther died, in January, 1883. The mother died in Hilton in 1873. Of their three children, George W. is the eldest. The others were Charles and Elizabeth.

The subject of this history received a common- school education, and while yet a boy commeneed to assist his father in the store. His present busi- ness was established in 1884, at which time he forined a partnership with Walter H. Sieberns, and they have operated together sinee that time.

Mr. Briekner was married. Nov. 6, 1884, to Miss Mary R. Sieberns, who was born in Woodford County, Ill., Sept. 22, 1860, and is the daughter of II. E. and Caroline (Niergarth) Sieberns. [See sketeh of J. W. II. Sieberns. ] Mrs. Brickner re- mained with her parents until her marriage, receiv- ing careful home training and a good common- school education. Our subject and his wife occupy a pleasant and comfortable home, and enjoy the society of the best people in Gridley. Mr. Briek- ner is Republican in polities, and in all respeets is a valued eitizen and worthy member of the com- munity.

ENRY F. FREED, who has been a resident of Gridley Township, since the spring of 1856, first made his advent into this county on horseback, in which inanner he had trav- eled from the place of his birth, in Fayette County, Pa. He is the son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Fleming) Freed, natives of Berks and Fayette Counties, P'a., respectively, in which State they were married and settled in the first-named county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Abraham Freed was a farmer by oceupation, and

the parental household ineluded eight children, three sons and five daughters, of whom our subjeet was the seventh. His birth occurred on the 3d of March, 1827. He was reared to farming pursuits and remained under the home roof until he attained his majority, in the meantime having received a more than ordinarily good eomnon-sehool eduea- tion. He then began teaching school, which occupa- tion he followed thirteen years in his native county, and for two years after coming to Gridley Town- ship.

Mr. Freed left his native county in the spring of 1856 in the manner we have described, and was twenty-one days making the trip. Hc brought with him four brood mares, and first purchased eighty acres of land on section 16 in Gridley Township. Upon this he located and eominenced its improvement and cultivation, and in due time purchased another eighty acres, so that he now has a fine homestead including a quarter seetion of land, which is all under a good state of cultivation. He has a shapely and substantial farm dwelling, a good barn, all necessary outhouses and the latest im- proved farm machinery. . Everything is kept in good repair and his stoek and crops indicate the supervision of an intelligent and progressive agri- culturist.

Mr. Freed was first married, in his native county, to Miss Mary Lobinger, a native of Pennsylvania. They had one child, a daughter, Mary E., who is now the wife of William Bailey, and resides in Kansas. Mrs. F. departed this life in Fayette County, Pa. Feb. 8, 1852. After coming West Mr. Freed was again married, in Gridley Town- ship, Sept. 29, 1857, to Miss Amanda Gilmore, a native of this county. Her parents were James and Mary (Bradley) Gilinore, natives of Ohio. Their ten children ineluded five sons and five daughters, of whom Mrs. F. was the seventh child. She was born Feb. 8, 1841.

Mr. and Mrs. Freed became the parents of nine children, four boys and five girls; James A., Lulu B., Mary E., Jennie N., Orville G., Sarah M., Henry S., Charles E. and Josic A. James A. mar- ried Miss Ida Barnes, and resides in Washburn, Ill .; Mary E. is the wife of Arthur Kent, of Livingston County ; Henry S. died in infancy ; the others are

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at home with their parents. Mr. F. served as Treasurer of Gridley Township for ten years and also held the offices of Supervisor and Sehool Di- rector. IIe is Demoeratie in polities, and belongs to the Congregational Church. Mrs. Freed is a member of the Christian Church.

ILLIAM HOTSENPILLER. The subjeet of the following biography, one of the worthiest farmer residents of Chenoa Township, is a native of Shenandoah County, Va., and was born Feb. 23, 1838. His father, Jacob Hotsenpiller, a native of the same eounty, in early manhood married Miss Eliza Ramey, also a na- tive of the Old Dominion. The grandfather of our subject, Abraham Hotsenpiller, was of German parentage and descent, and after coming to this eountry served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died in Pennsylvania. His son Jaeob left his native State with his family in about 1879. He is still living and makes his home with his ehil- dren in this county. , The mother of our subject died Sept. 26, 1883, in Pettis County, Mo. The parental household included seven children, six sons ' and one daughter, of whom our subject was the eldest. His boyhood and youth were passed in his native State and after reaching his twenty-first year he started out for himself, eoming to Illinois and locating in this eounty in 1860. He was a resident of Lexington two years and while living there was engaged in farming.

, April 4, 1861, Mr. Hotsenpiller was married to Miss Frances Durham, born in Virginia, and who was the daughter of George Durham, who spent the greatest part of his life in the Old Dominion and died there in 1844. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. H. located on a rented farm south of Lexington, where they remained four years and then took possession of their present homestead on section 33, Chenoa Township. The farm consists of eighty acres of valuable land, and with the ex- eeption of the dwelling, Mr. H. has effeeted all the improvements on the place. The farm is all en- elosed with good fenees and is stoeked with good grades of domestic animals., The household eirele

was completed by the birth of eight children : Virginia is the wife of Charles Dawson, who lives in Chenoa Township; Mary E., Annie G., William M., Charles E., James M. and Bessie E. are at home with their parents; Lulu B. died in infaney.

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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 88

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