Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 90

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 90

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

One of tlic exciting events of that term was the "raising" of the first store building in Danvers (then Concord), and Mr. Rowell dismissed his school for three days to assist in the proceedings; the building still stands. The young pioneer was em- ployed in teaching until commencing operations with his brother, as we have stated.

The marriage of Richard Rowell and Miss Nancy Barnard took place Dcc. 15, 1853, and they be- came the parents of three children-Lois, Emma and Clark. Mr. Rowell was of fine physique, fully six feet in height, and his average weight about 180 pounds. His form indicated strength and ac- tivity; his head was well proportioned, and his eyes bright and expressive. He was polite and obliging in his manner and a man of decided views, fearless in the expression of his sentiments, while at the same time he was careful not to give offence. He was always interested in public improvements and encouraged every measure,calculated to in- crease the prosperity of his adopted county. He was Supervisor of-Dale Township for about nine years and one of the Commissioners at the time of the building of the court-house. It is hardly necessary to say that he possessed the entire confi- dence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, who at the time of his decease manifested their sentiments by the unusually large attendance at his funcral and the expressions of regret on every side that a good man had ceased from his labors whose place it would be most difficult to supply.

The accompanying portrait of Mr. Rowell in connection witlı this brief sketch will serve as a means of perpetuating the memory of one who at all times cast his influence on the side of truth and justicc.

C ALEB JOHNSON, well known as a prosper- ous farmer and land-owner of McLean County, and whose portrait is shown on an accompanying page, is the proprictor of 406 acres in Danvers Township, all improved and under a . good state of cultivation. While in the prime of life he was industriously engaged in all the duties appertaining to the farin, being especially noted as a breeder of fine stock, in which he gained quite a

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reputation. He is now retired from aetive labor and resides in Stanford, enjoying the competeney which he acquired by years of active industry and the exereise of good judgment.

Mr. Jolinson is a native of Monroe County, W. Va., born March 22, 1813. His school advant- ages were limited to a few months, and the tem- ple of learning was a log cabin eonstrueted after the most primitive fashion. After reaching man- hood he was married to Miss Louisa J. Beard, on the 27th of June, 1839. Mrs. J. was a native of the same county as her husband, and was born Dee. 11, 1813. After the birth of six ehildren, Caleb Johnson, acompanied by his family, with his household goods, and an outfit of eight horses and four wagons, started for the prairies of Illinois. His destination was Danvers Township, MeLean County, where the year previous lie had purchased 560 aeres of land, consisting of both prairie and timber. They eommeneed their journey on the 16th day of September, and reached the new farm October 13 following.

Mr. Johnson at onee set about the improvement and cultivation of his land, and in due time estab- lished one of the most comfortable homesteads in the West. He has become noted throughout this seetion for his industry and enterprise, and forms an important factor in the agricultural interests of MeLean County. His upright course in life, his promptness in meeting his obligations, and his ex- eellent personal qualities, have caused him to be regarded with universal respeet. He is Democratie in polities, and has assisted by his means and influ- enee in most of the enterprises which have brought this eounty to its present condition as one of the most prosperous seetions in the Prairie State.

To Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Johnson there were born six children, of whom the record is as follows: Ward P., born June 8, 1840, married Miss Eliza- beth Deal, and was a resident of Danvers Town- ship; they are both now deceased; Madora E., born Mareh 4, 1843, became the wife of George W. Holland, and lives in Missouri; Sarah R., born April 11, 1845, married Miles Brooks, Esq., of Stanford, Ill .; J. Wallace was born Aug. 23, 1847, married Miss Lois Rowell, and is a resident of Danvers Township; John A., born March 18, 1851, married

Miss Julia Lehman, and lives in New Mexico; Louise S., now Mrs. Frank P. Browning, of Mis- souri, was born March 7, 1855. These ehildren are all respected members of society, and have in- herited in a marked degree the excellent qualities of both parents.

AMES W. JOHNSON, one of the most ex- tensive farmers and stoek-raisers of MeLean County, has been a resident of the Prairie State sinee 1856, at that time loeating on the farm which he now owns and occupies and which is situated on seetion 34, Danvers Township. His homestead embraces 720 aeres of valuable land, which is liberally stoeked with 100 head of fine cattle, 20 head of horses and a flock of South Down sheep. The residence is a handsome and commodi- ous structure, and the large, well-built barn, with its adjacent out-buildings, is such as in every respeet meets the requirements of a first-class agriculturist. The whole constitutes one of the finest estates in . this section of Illinois, and is viewed by the pass- ing traveler with unmixed admiration.

The subject of this biography is a native of Mon- roe County, W. Va., his birth occurring Aug. 27, 1847. His parents, Caleb and Louisa (Beard) Johnson, also natives of the Old Dominion, removed in early life to Illinois and are now residents of Stanford, this county. The father is one of the most respected citizens in that loeality, a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and promi- nent in all good works and every enterprise ealeu- lated to benefit his community, socially, morally and intellectually. The parental household ineluded six children, of whom the record is as follows: Pem- broke married Miss Elizabeth Deal, and both are now deceased; Edmonia, Mrs. George Holland, is a resident of Henry County, Mo .; Rebecca married Miles Brooks and lives in Stanford, this county ; John A. married Miss Lehman and lives in New Mexico; Louise, now Mrs. Frank Browning, is a resi- dent of Appleton, St. Clair Co., Mo. These ehil- dren received a good education, which in eonnee- tion with their natural talents constitutes then a

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family group of which the parents may well be proud.

The lady who presides over the home of our sub- jeet and who in her girlliood was Miss Lois Rowell, beeame the sliarer of his fortunes on the 7th of Feb- ruary, 1878. Mrs. Johnson is a native of this county, and was born Nov. 16, 1854, to Riehard and Naney (Barnard) Rowell, natives respectively of Grafton County, N. H., and Montgomery Coun- ty, Ohio. Richard Rowell, who was one of the honored pioneers of MeLean County, was born May 20, 1814, and after building up a good reeord as a husband, father, friend and eitizen, departed this life at his home in Dale Township, on the 16th of October, 1881. He was a gentleman of good education and followed the joint oeeupation of school teacher and earpenter in his early days, but during his later life turned his attention principally to farming. He was remarkably sueeessful as an agrieulturist, accumulated a fine property, and at- tained an enviable reputation as one of the most skill- ful farmers and stoek-raisers in the county. The mother of Mrs. Johnson was born Oet. 28, 1824, became the wife of Richard Rowell, Dee. 15, 1853, and to the household thius established there eame three children, namely, Lois, now the wife of our subjeet; Emma, who died Nov. 11, 1885, and Clark, who died in 1862, when but two years of age. The mother is still living, and resides on the old home- stead in Dale Township. As a lady having lived worthily and performed all the duties of life with cheerfulness and courage, setting a good example before her family and neighbors, Mrs. Rowell is held in the highest respeet by all who know her.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have an interesting family of three bright children, namely, Homer, born Nov. ' 13, 1878; Roy, April 11, 1884, and May, Sept. 24, 1885. Mr. Johnson has beeome promi- nently identified with the affairs of this seetion sinee becoming a resident here, and has materially aided in the advancement of its agricultural and business interests. Everything which he undertakes must be well done and complete in all its details. He will put up with no half measures, either in his business affairs or on the farm. The fenees and machinery are kept in the best of repair and he has no patienee with idleness or shiftlessness. He takes

a genuine interest in the prosperity and advanee- ment of his community, and is the encourager of every enterprise ealeulated to effeet these ends. The evidenees of his labor will remain years henee, whether he retires early or late, from the seenes of his activity. He is recognized as a man of undoubt- ed integrity, capable of forming his own opinions and resolutely adhering to them, and in both social and private life is a good neighbor, a kind husband and father, and possesses that to which he is most justly entitled, the esteem and confidenee of his neighbors and friends. Politieally, he affiliates with the Demoeratie party, and has served as Sehool Director in his distriet.

In this work will be found finely executed litho- graphie portraits of Caleb Johnson, the father of our subjeet, and Riehard Rowell, the father of Mrs. Johnson, together with a bird's-eye view of the homestead of James W. Johnson.

HOMAS TYSON. The gentleman whose name heads this biography owns and oeeu- pies a fine homestead in Mt. Hope Town- ship, on seetion 22. He is comfortably situated, and in possession of all the comforts of life and many of its luxuries. The worldly goods of which he is possessed have been accumulated solely by the exereise of his own industry, as he never re- ceived any legacy to assist him on the high road to prosperity. He has been a resident of the Prairie State for a period of thirty-six years, and during that time has established for himself a reputation as a thoroughly honest man and a good eitizen.

The subject of this history is a native of Loek- port, Niagara Co., N. Y., and was born on the 13th of August, 1836. He is the youngest son of Will- iam and Mary J. Tyson, and was only two years old when deprived of a father's eare by death. He remained with his mother until he was ten years old, and then eommeneed in earnest the struggle of life. His first regular employment was in a cooper shop, and the following year he went to live with an old English farmer of Niagara County, with whom he remained one year, and was then em- ployed by a Quaker in the same neighborhood,

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with whom he remained a little over a year there- after! The first year he received $4 per month, and the second, $6. He was thoughtful beyond his years, and resolved to better his eondition if possi- ble, and pave the way to become a man among men.

In 1850 Thomas Tyson determined to emigrate West, and aeeordingly, in company with his mother and stepfather, set his face toward the prairies of Illinois. They first went to Tazewell County and located in Delavan, and there our subjeet was em- ployed by Allen Perrin, to work upon a farm at $10 a month. While with Mr. Perrin he used to get np at 4 o'eloek in the morning and milk six or eight eows, then aecompany his employer ten miles to the timber, and they split 100 rails before night. Wolves were plenty then in that seetion, and often followed the twain after they had left their work to go home at night. These duties were alternated with an oeeasional trip to Pekin, eighteen miles dis- tant, where he hanled the produee of the farm and disposed of it in exehange for a moderate amount of eash or the necessaries required for use around the liomestead and in the household.

Young Tyson subsequently returned to his motli- er's home, where he remained for one year, and then went baek to Mr. Perrin. He was faithifnl and industrious, and eould always find plenty of work although the wages were small. He lived econom- ieally, however, and saved every penny that he eould, and in the course of a few years found him- self possessed of sufficient means to engage in farm- ing on his own aeeount. He purchased eighty aeres of wild land in Tazewell County, and in eom- pany with his brother William, improved and eulti- vated the land, keeping " bachelor's hall," and as time passed on pureliased additional aeres.

The brothers worked together in harmony, im- proving and eultivating their land, having now a quarter seetion beside the first purchase, and in 1855 added 320 aeres to the area which they al- ready held, the latter being located on seetion 22, Mt. Ilope Township, which constitutes the present homestead of our subjeet. John and William Ty- son farmed together for several years, and then di- vided their possessions, sinee which time Mr. T. has farmed sueeessfully and independently alone. The

home estate now consists of 261 aeres, finely eulti- vated and improved, with a commodious and eom- fortable farm residenee, and all neeessary out- buildings for the shelter of stoek and the storing of grain. He has valuable farm implements and ma- ehinery, and earries on his agricultural operations after the most modern and improved methods.

The subject of our sketeh was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Bell, at the home of the bride's parents, on the 15th of May, 1855. Mrs. Tyson is the daughter of James and Susan (Allgood) Bell, and was orphaned hy the death of botlı parents when a young child. She was reared by her grand- parents until thirteen years of age, and was then received into the home of her aunt, Mary Holmes, of Delavan. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Tyson there have been born five children, as follows: Fannie G. married Martin Altberry, of Logan County, Ill .; Amanda Ellen heeame the wife of Charles Tallon, and lives in Mt. Hope Township; Thomas II., Charles R. and Alhert are at home with their parents. Mr. Tyson is a Republican in poli- ties, and uniformly votes in the interests of the prin- eiples of this party. A fine lithographie view of the residenee and ont-buildings of Mr. Tyson is shown elsewhere in this work.

C YRUS HI. BENSON, a prominent farmer of Lawndale Township, is the son of James Benson, of Kentucky, who in carly man- hood married Miss Ann Hinshaw, of Tennessee. They were married in Blooming Grove, and then permanently located in White Oak Township, this eounty, being among its earliest settlers. The fa- ther of our subjeet was a farmer by oeeupation, which ealling he pursued in Bloomington Township until 1830, then removed to White Oak Township, where he resided until his death, which oeeurred Sept. 8, 1883. The mother had passed to the land · of the hereafter in August, 1868. Of their four- teen ehildren twelve lived to mature years and two died in infaney. The latter were Maria C. and George W., the first of whom was fatally injured by falling into a tub of sealding water when two years old, and George was drowned at the same

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age. The others were William, Elizabeth D., Naney, Cyrus II., Sarah J., Jesse M., Susannah II., James R., John F., Emily W., Edward C. and Horaee M. John F. died in his eighteenth year.

The subject of this sketch was born in White Oak Township, MeLean County, Sept. 16, 1835. He was reared to farming pursuits, his primary studies in the meantime being carried on in the common schools. When twenty-one years of age he entered eollege at Eureka, Ill., where he studied three years, and in September, 1860, entered the, junior class of Bethany College, W. Va., and there- after took a course at Antioch College, Ohio. There he passed his examination in September, 1861, and entered the senior elass of the college. The outbreak of the Rebellion, however, having necessitated a call for more troops he laid aside his personal interests and wishes and enlisted as a sol- dier in the Union eause. During his college course he had been under the guidanee of such men as Elder Campbell, who was President of Bethany, and Dr. Hill, President of Antioch, and who after- ward held the same offiee in Harvard University, at Cambridge, Mass.

Young Benson was .mustered into the Union serviee Sept. 16, 1861, on his twenty-sixth birthday, as a member of Co. G, 17th Ill. Vol. Inf., with which he served three years. IIe enlisted as a private and was soon promoted Corporal. At the battle of Shiloh he was wounded in the baek while on the retreat. He was not disabled, however, but kept up with his regiment. He participated with his comrades in the battles of Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, the siege and eapture of Vicksburg and many other minor engagements and skirmishes. The last year he was on detached service, having charge of the United States Sanitary Commission at Vieksburg. At the elose of the war he received an honorable diselarge, being mustered out at Cairo, Ill .. whenee he returned home to this county. He afterward engaged in teaching sehool and farming alternately, his home having always been in MeLean County.

The marriage of Cyrus H. Benson and Miss Luey A. Rowell was celebrated in White Oak Township, June 8, 1864. Of this union there were born two children-Edward M., now a student at Champaign University, and Luey A., engaged in

teaching. The mother of these children departed this life in White Oak Township, May 23. 1867. The second marriage of Mr. Benson also took place in White Oak Township, March 16, 1871, when he was united to Miss Mary E. Denman, who was born in that township in 1845. Their six children were named as follows: Arthur D., May, James R., Roy H., Lloyd C. and Dot. Lloyd died when nine months old.

Mr. Benson was a resident of White Oak Town- ship until the spring of 1867, when he purchased eighty aeres of land on seetion 22, Lawndale Town- ship, where he has sinee lived. He has now .160 aeres finely improved, with a good residence and barn, and all the other conveniences required by the modern and progressive farmer. His property and stoek are well cared for and in first-elass eondi- tion. Mr. Benson is more than ordinarily intelli- gent and keeps himself well posted upon eurrent events. Ile is highly esteemed by his fellow-eiti- zens, who have conferred upon him the offiees of Supervisor, Assessor and other important trusts. Politieally he is a stanch Republiean. He has been eonneeted with the Christian Church sinee 1857, and Mrs. Benson is a member and regular attend- ant of the Methodist Church. Socially our sub- jeet belongs to the G.A. R.

C HARLES M. HELLER, residing on seetion 9, Towanda Township, where he has 120 aeres of valuable and productive land, together with good and substantial improve- ments, is the son of Elias and Eliza (Braunsetter) Heller, natives of Pennsylvania. After their mar- riage the parents removed to Ohio, and settled in Clarke County, near Springfield. The father was a blacksmith by oeeupation, and followed his trade in Ohio, together with farming, until 1852, when, with his family, he moved to Delaware County, Ind., and settled on a farm near Yorktown. Liv- ing there for about two years engaged the while in farming, he then returned to Clarke County, and in 1856 eame here and made settlement in Towan- da Township. In the spring of 1884 the old folk moved to Towanda Village, where they are at pres-

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ent residing in retirement, having aequired a suffi- eieney to enable them to pass the sunset of life in peace and quiet. They have eight children, four sons and four daughters, and Charles M. is the third in order of birth. Ile first saw light in Clarke County, Ohio, Oet. 2, 1839, and received his edu- eation in the common sehools, in the meantime as- sisting his father in the blacksmith-shop. Charles M. lived with his parents until he was about twenty- one years of age, when he bought a farm in To- wanda Township, the same being that on which he now lives, and sinee that time has been continu- ously oeeupied with its improvement.

Mr. Heller was married, Nov. 28, 1861, in To- wanda Township, to Miss Angeline, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Wilkinson) Fling, natives of Virginia. They came to MeLean County, from Columbus, Ohio, in 1836, and settling in Towanda Township they there lived and labored until their death. They became the parents of four children, and Mrs. Heller was the third in order of birth. She first saw light in McLean County, Ill., March 3, 1841, and of her union with our subjeet ten children have been born-Fannie M., Minnie A., Charles T., Clara A., Nettie G., Edward E., Della L., Ethel C., Lelia M. and Imogene. Fannie is the wife of B. W. Stover, and they are living in Money Creek Township. Mr. Heller has held the office of School Director for several years. His good wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in polities he is a Jaeksonian Demoerat.

OSEPH E. SPRINGER, a prominent eitizen and farmer of Stanford, and at present serv- ing his second term as Justice of the Peace, is a native of fair Franee, being born in the Province of Lorraine, Dee. 24, 1824. His parents were Christian and Magdalena (Engel) Springer, natives of the same Provinee, the father born Sept. 15, 1792, and the mother Feb. 2, 1796. Christian Springer was engaged in milling and farming eom- bined, in his own country, and was there married in 1823. In 1830 he set sail with his family for the United States, and they landed iu New Orleans on the 12th of June. Thenee they immediately

proceeded to Butler County, Ohio, where the father of our subjeet purchased 206 aeres of land, where he resided for sixteen years. In 1854 he came into MeLean County and purchased two houses and lots in Danvers, which he oeeupied with his family for two years and then removed to the farm. Both parents lived with their sons until they de- parted this life. The mother died on the 30th of September, 1870, and the father, Oet. 3, 1879. Of their ten children the record is as follows: Joseph E. of our sketeh was the eldest born; Catherine died in infancy; Peter D. married Miss Eliza Brenaman; Christian W. married Miss Elizabeth S. Stalter; Magdalena became the wife of Nicholas Risser; John married Miss Susan Sherbine; Kate became the wife of Peter Schertz; Andrew J. mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Schlabach; Mary beeame Mrs. Daniel Habeeker; George died in infaney. Both parents were members of the Mennonite Church.

Joseph E. Springer remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, in the mean- time receiving a common-school education. He was inarried, July 21, 1852, to Miss Catherine Kinzin- ger, but the young wife lived only about eight months, dying on the 4th of April, 1853. Mr. Springer was the second time married, Nov. 11, 1869, to Miss Kate Reser. This lady is the daugh- ter of Nicholas and Magdalena (Kemp) Reser, who were natives of the same Provinee as our subjeet, and emigrated from France to the United States in 1858. They located first in Woodford County, Ill., whenee they removed five years afterward to Tazewell County, and in 1871 came to MeLean County, where the mother died Feb. 18, 1884; the father is still living, and is now a resident of Stan- ford, this eounty. Their family consisted of eight children, three sons and five daughters-Andrew, Joseph, Mary, Ann, Peter, Kate, Maggie and Vie- toria. They also were members of the Mennonite Church. To our subject and his present wife there were born seven children-Amelia M., Vietoria M., « Louisa M., one who died in infaney unnamed, Lil- lie M., Frank A. and Orion D.

Mr. S. was on the ocean sixty-two days when eom- ing to this country. Sinee becoming a resident of this eounty he has identified himself with its inter- ests, and has proved a worthy addition to the eom-

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munity. In polities he is strongly Democratie, and has held the office of Supervisor in Allin Township for three years.

Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the Mennonite Church.

R ICHARD BREESE, a prominent and wealthy citizen of Gridley, eame to this seetion in 1857, and by his energy and enterprise es- tablished himself in a short time as one of its most progressive and valuable pioneers. He is descended from substantial English aneestry, his parents having been John and Ann (Gunton) Breese, who were born in Huntingdonshire, En- gland, where they married and settled, and where their children were born, and there the old folk passed their lives. Of the household eirele, which included four sons and three daughters, the subject of this sketeh was the fourth in order of birth.

Richard Breese was born in Cambridgeshire, En- gland, Aug. 20, 1824. His father died when he was but seven years old, and he was then obliged to look out for himself. This, however, was a good school, teaching him self-reliance, and doubtless contributed greatly to bring about his later sue- eess. He commeneed by working on a farm, and continued in his native England until he was twen- ty-eight years of age. In the meantime he had been married, and at the age mentioned started . with his wife and child for the United States. They landed in New York City, and thenee soon pro- eeeded to Butler County, Ohio. There our subjeet worked out by the month, farming, for two years, and uutil the fall of 1854. He then rented land until the spring of 1857, and at this time decided to try his fortunes in the farther West. After completing his preparatious he came into Illinois and settled first in Waldo Township, Livingston County, where he purchased 160 acres of land, and entering upon its cultivation continued to live there until the spring of 1869.

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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 90

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