Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 92

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 92

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Adaline married E. F. Foot, of Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y .; Abigail became the wife of David Whipple, of New York City; Robert is a resident of Los Angeles, Cal .; Henry C. resides in Bloom- ington, Ill., and Thomas A. died when quite young.

The subject of this history passed his childhood and youth in his native State, and first began busi- ness on his own aecount as elerk in a dry-goods store, being thus occupied until twenty years of age. He was then taken into partnership with his . employer, W. C. Field, and they operated together for five years following. Then Mr. Steere sold his interest to his partner, and purehasing another stoek of similar goods, established himself in business in Laurens, Otsego Co., N. Y. In the meantime 'his father was taken ill and died, and Elisha B. was called home to look after the estate. He remained there a period of four years, during which time he became Postmaster of Laurens, served as Justiee of the Peace, and carried on the manufacture of boots and shoes, in which his father had been engaged. To this he also added eoop- erage, and turned out. large numbers of butter fir- kins. He also manufactured steel hammers, and earried on these various interests until 1861, when he elosed up everything and started for the West.

Coming into Illinois our subjeet located in Bloomington, where he engaged in the dry-goods trade five years, then sold out and went into the jewelry business, which he followed for a like period. After this he took up the manufacture of metallie caskets, and after two years purchased an interest in some eoal lands at Rieh Hill, Bates Co., Mo., which he operated five days. then leased on a royalty, and was connected with this enterprise for five days following, then disposed of his interests in that quarter. Ile was one of the principal par- ties eoneerned in the hoisting of eoal at what was known as the North Shaft of the Bloomington Coal Mining Company, and was afterward eon- neeted with the Bloomington Chair Manufactory, which was subsequently merged into the Walton Flour Works, and of which he was one of the original stoekholders. He also beeame a stockholder in the People's Bank.

As is clearly indieated by the foregoing Mr. Steere beeame prominently known in this loeality

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as a man of great energy and good business talent. In 1876 he was elected Mayor, and re-elected in 1879. He also served as Alderman four years, represent- ing the First Ward. It was through his persever- auce that the present water system was established and kept in operation, and he has been concerned in almost every enterprise calculated to benefit the city since coming here.

The subject of our sketch was married, in 1844, to Miss Frances A. Bean, of Laurens, N. Y., where she was born, being the daughter of Erastus Bean, Esq., a prominent merchant of Otsego County. Of the union of our subject and wife there were born five children, as follows: Charles F. is deceased ; Clara became the wife of J. P. MeLean; Ella G. married J. P. Smith, of Bloomington; James died several years ago; Mary died when quite young. The only two now living are Mrs. McLean and Mrs. Smith. Mr. Steere in earlier days was an old- line Whig politieally, but since the abandonment of that party has cheerfully affiliated with the Re- publicans. He is a member in good standing of the Masonie fraternity, and belongs to Bloomington Lodge No. 43.

G EORGE P. BROWN, well known as one of the progressive farmers of Gridley Town- ship, owns a good farm on seetion 26, and as a useful member of the community is contribu- ting his full share toward its advancement and pros- perity. Onr subjeet comes of a good family, be- ing the son of Robert and Permelia (White) Brown, the father a native of the Blue Grass State, where it is supposed the mother was also born. After marriage the parents settled in Franklin County, Ky., where the mother died in 1832, of cholera, and whenee the father subsequently re- inoved to Morgan County, Ill. He followed black- smithing and farming in that county until 1846, when he came to this county and settled in Money Creek Township, where he died in 1879.

Robert Brown was twice marricd. After the death of the mother of our subject he was married in Frankfort, Ky., to Miss Sheridan MeGinnis, the date being 1834. She died in Money Creek Town-

ship, in 1875. Of the first marriage there were born five children, three sons and two daugh- ters. Our subject was the fourth in order of birth, and first opened his eyes to the light in Frankfort, Ky., Feb. 10, 1830. He was only two years old when his mother died, and two years later his father removed to Morgan County, Ill., where they remained until the son was sixteen. They then came into this county, settling in Money Creek Township.

The subject of this history received but a limited education, but as good probably as those days af -. forded. Ile was, however, an energetie lad, and when twenty-one years old started in business for himself, running a sawmill in Lexington, with the assistance of his partner, I. S. Mahon. This, the first sawmill of Lexington, our subject operated un- til 1869, and in connection with it also had one in Money Creek Township. At the date named he abandoned milling and took up farming, which he has sinee followed with highly gratifying results. His snug farm, although not very large, consisting of eighty aeres, is well improved, with a good resi- denee and all necessary out-buildings.

Mr. Brown was married in Lexington Township, June 22, 1854, to Miss Elsie J., daughter of John and.Elsie (Kirkendall) Haner, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. They came to Illinois from Fayette County, Ohio, and settled in Lexington Township, this county, in the fall of 1828, where they passed the remainder of their lives. The father died Nov. 20, 1852, and the mother Nov. 14, 1878. Their eight children included four boys and four girls, of whom Mrs. Brown was the fifth child. She was born in Lex- ington Township, Jan. 4, 1832. Of, her union with our subjeet there have been born five children- John W., Charles P., Edward C., Della J. and Sarah A. John married Miss Annette Janes, and they live in Normal; they have one child, a son, Clar- ence H.

Mr. Brown has taken a genuine interest in the affairs of his community, and has been promi- nent in its councils, having held the offices of Road Commissioner, Justice of the Peace, and other po- sitions of trust. He is a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church at Lexington, and his

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McLEAN COUNTY.

wife is connected with the United Brethren Church. Politieally Mr. Brown is an earnest supporter of the Republican party.

AMILTON SPENCER, one of the oldest and most reliable attorneys of Bloomington, now retired from practice, is a native of Madison County, N. Y., and was born April 18, 1815. His father, Joshua A. Spencer, also counselor at law, stood in the front ranks of his profession in the Empire State, and was a de- seendant of Samuel Spencer, who emigrated from Sheffield, England, at an early day in the history of this country, and landed in Salem, Mass., in July, 1633, and who soon afterward settled in Salisbury, Conn. There he spent the balance of his days, and there liis descendants for several generations con- tinued to reside. Joshua A. Speneer, the father of our subject, was born in Great Barrington, Mass., whenee he removed to New York when a young man, and there married Miss Clarissa, daughter of Jacob Phelps, who died in early life.

Hamilton Speneer was born in Madison County, N. Y., and when a child removed with his father to Utiea, that State, in which place he grew to man- hood. He pursued his primary studies in the eom- mon sehools, and later entered the Methodist Seminary at Cazenovia, N. Y., where he fitted him- self for college, and supplemented this course by attendance at Utica Academy. He entered Ham- ilton College in 1830, from which he graduated four years later, and soon afterward engaged in the study of law in the office of his father, with whom he formed a partnership on the day he was twenty- one years of age, in 1836, although not admitted to the bar until the following year. He continued with his father and Senator Franeis Kernan for a period of twelve years, and then on account of failing health withdrew to engage in more active pursuits than his office duties permitted. He sub- sequently became Director of the American Ex- press Company, and in June, 1854, eame to Illinois as Vice President and General Manager of what is now the Chieago & Alton Railroad, with which he continued until the ehange brought about by the

foreclosure of a mortgage, which plaeed it in the hands of other parties. He then resumed the prac- tice of his profession, which he has continued until recently.

Mr. Spencer was married at Saekett's Harbor, N. Y., in 1840, to Miss Mary F., daughter of Elisha Camp, who was born in Saekett's Harbor, June 9, 1819. Of this union there were six ehildren, four sons and two daughters, the record of whom is as follows: James D. is deceased; Catharine became the wife of James S. Ewing, of Bloomington; Cla- rissa married John C. Seoville of Chicago; Hamilton is deceased; Henry Dwight is an attorney at Bloomington, and John Seymour a resident of Texas. The subject of our sketch for many years oceupied a position at the head of the Bloomington - bar, and although now retired from active practice, is often consulted upon important cases and intri- cate points of law. Mr. Spencer was originally a Whig, but on the dissolution of that party became a Democrat. He and his wife are both members of the Presbyterian Chureh. .

G EORGE COONEY. The stock-raising far- mers of Chenoa Township constitute an im- portant element in its business interests, and among these the subject of the following sketeh occupies a prominent position. He is pleasantly located on section 33, 'where he has eighty aeres of finely improved land, with a good residence, barn and out-buildings. These improvements he has effected by his own enterprise. The land is well drained by 750 rods of tile and there is not an aere of waste land in the whole estate. The greater part of the stoek consists of good eattle. He is eminently skill- ful as a farmer and business man, and is highly res- pected for his integrity, his promptness in meeting his obligations, and his worth as a eitizen and law- abiding member of the community.

Mr. Cooney was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., near Edwards' Furnace, on the 16th of October, 1840. His father, Henry Cooney, was born in Ship- pensburg, Pa., in August, 1812. His grandfather, Peter Cooney, was of German parentage and anees- try. The mother of our subjeet before her mar-

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riage was Miss Elizabeth Clemens, also a native of Huntingdon County, and of German deseent, her father being George Clemens. Henry Cooney re- moved with his family to Fulton County, Ill., in the spring of 1856, where they continued to reside until after the elose of the war. In 1868 they re- moved to MeLean County, Ill., and after a resi- dence here of five years returned to Fulton Coun- ty, where the father of our subjeet still resides. The mother died in 1875. The five children of the parental family included three sons and two daugh- ters, of whom one is deeeased.

George Cooney was sixteen years old when his parents beeame residents of Fulton County, Ill:, where he received the greater part of his education. Ilis father followed the trade of a blacksmith and young George assisted him in the shop until tlie outbreak of the Civil War. He then enlisted in Co. HI, 28th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served three years as a Union soldier. In the meantime he took part in the battles of Ft. Henry, Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, and the engagement at Hatehes' River. At the latter plaee he was shot in the head by a minie ball, ear- ried to the rear and supposed to be dead. The ball, hovever, did not penetrate the skull, but entered the scalp at the forehead, eireled the skull about three inches and passed off. After returning to eon- seiousness he was sent to the hospital at Bolivar, . Tenn., where he remained thirty days and then joined his regiment, ready for duty. He was after- ward at the siege of Vieksburg and at the battle of Jackson, Miss. At the latter place he was captured by the rebels and taken to Belle Island, where he spent three months as a prisoner. From there he was sent to St. Louis, Mo., and after being exchanged joined his regiment at Natehez, Miss., and served out the term of his enlistment, being mustered out on the 18th of September, 1864, at Springfield, Ill., when he returned to Fulton County, Ill., where he was veeupied in farming. Soon after his return from the army he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Hannum of Fulton County, but whose na- tive place was Terre Haute, Ind.

After his marriage Mr. Cooney and his young wife located on a rented farm in Fulton County, Ill., where they remained four years. In 1868 they eame to this eounty, loeating first in Blue Mound

Township, where they lived for about thirteen years. Their next residence was in the village of Lexing- ton, and in 1881 Mr. Cooney purchased his present farm in Chenoa Township. The children of this marriage are Henry G., Mary E. and Carrie L. Mr. and Mrs. C. and one daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, attending Olivet Chapel in Chenoa Township. Politieally Mr. C. is a stanelı Republiean.

OHN L. SHORTHOSE, prominently and favorably known in Dry Grove Township as a skillful agrieulturist and sueeessful breeder of fine horses and eattle, is pleas- antly located on section 30. Here he possesses a valuable farm estate, and for his diligenee and en- terprise has been rielily rewarded.

The subject of our history is a native of Stafford- shire, England, and was born June 25, 1827. He is the son of Thomas and Eliza (Hartshorn) Short- hose, who were of pure English aneestry and born in Derbyshire, England. Thomas Shorthose was born in 1797, and died in 1847; the mother was born in about 1797, and survived her husband six- teen years, dying in 1863. They became the par- ents of seven ehildren, as follows: Sarah, who was the eldest of the family; Bessie, who married William Henderson, and both are now deceased; Thomas II. married Miss Rosanna Frazier; Eliza is deeeased; Herbert married Miss Harriet Llewel- lyn; William T. is married and is living alter- nately in Paris and London; our subjeet was the youngest of the family.

John L. Shorthose, in company with two broth- ers, emigrated from England to the United States in 1849, landing in New York City. They at onee proceeded to Zanesville, Ohio, where our subjeet remained for two years, then came to MeLean County, Ill., and engaged in the milling business in Danvers. In 1853 he secured possession of the farm which he now oeeupies, which consists of 480 aeres, comprising a traet of the most valuable land in MeLean County. Two years later he turned his attention to the raising of fine stoek, in which

. L. Shorthouse

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lie has become more than ordinarily skillful and unusually successful. One Short-horn steer, which he raised from a calf until it was four years old, he sold to John B. Sherman, of Chicago, for $250. The animal weighed 2,400 pounds, was a model of symmetry and beauty, and the quality of his flesh denoted his excellent style of keeping. The herd of Mr. Shortliose usually averages about sixty head. His stables contain fine specimens of the Bright and Costillo breeds, descendants of Old Volunteer, owned by Alden Goldsmith, of New York, and have made excellent records. Mr. S. has one imported English draft horsc, Sampson of Flawborough, seven years old and weighs 1,850 pounds. He is also breeding cighteen mares, and during 1886 raised thirteen colts. His swine is of the Poland-China breed. In addition to his home farm and his stock, Mr. S. is also the owner of a half section of land within five miles of Welling- ton, Kan.

The subject of this history was married to Miss Elinore Frazier, in Ohio, on the 12th of October, 1851. Mrs. S. was born in Belinont County, Ohio, on the 16th of October, 1831, and is the daughter of Andrew and Emily (McCoy) Frazier, both na- tives of Virginia. Andrew Frazier was born in 1804, and late in life removed to Missouri, where he died in 1880. His wife Emily was born in 1808, removed to Missouri with her husband, and died there the year following his deccase. She was a inember of the old-school Presbyterian Church. The parental family consisted of thirteen children, seven of whom are still living. The record is as follows: Janc, Rosanna, Elinore and Hanna are married and established in comfortable homes; Samuel died when seven years of age; then fol- lowed Martha A., William, John A. and Robinson, the latter of whom died in 1862; Francis is de- ceased; next was another son, also named Samuel; Maggie and Emma are deceased; four boys of the family served as soldiers in the Union army in Ohio regiments.

To John L. and Mrs. Shorthose there were born eight children, five sons and three daughters, as follows: Alice, Mrs. J. M. Dickinson, wlio was born June 3, 1852; Andrew R., born May 15, 1854, married Miss Zerelda Munsell; Joanna was born

Oct. 21, 1856, and was first married to Thomas Sheridan, who was accidentally killed in Danvers; her second husband is Jolin T. Gilbert; John Lloyd was born July 3, 1859, and was drowned in the Mackinaw River, this county, in 1876; Thomas H. was born May 16, 1861; Isabella, born May 11, 1863, died in 1883; Frank E. was born March 29, 1865, and William T., July 29, 1867.

Mr. Shorthosc obtained a fair education during his boyhood and youth, and since a resident of this county has been prominently identified with its growth and welfare. He has held the office of School Director for thirteen years, has been High- way Commissioner and intrusted with various other important positions by his townsmen. He is strongly Republican in politics, and a member in · good standing of the Congregational Church of Danvers.

A portrait of Mr. Shorthose is shown on another page of this volume.

HOMAS H. SHORTHOSE. Many of the most thrifty and intelligent agriculturists of this section of Illinois were born and reared on the other side of the Atlantic, and to England especially is McLean County indebted for some of .her most enterprising and prosperous citizens. Prominent among these is Thomas H. Shorthose, of Danvers Township, and of whom a portrait is given in conjunction with this brief outline of liis life. His fine homestead is situated on section 21.

Mr. Shorthose was born in Derbyshire, England, on the 15th of October, 1818, and is the son of Thomas and Eliza (Hartshorn) Shorthose, natives of the same shire, where the father was born in 1797, and died in 1847, when fifty years of age. The mother of our subject was born about the year 1797, and died in England in 1863, sixteen years after her husband's death. Both were members of the Episcopal Church, and occupied a high position in their community. The parental household con- sisted of seven children: Sarah; Bessie became the wife of William Henderson; Thomas H., our sub- ject; Eliza died at the age of twelve; Herbert, William T. and John L.

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The suhjeet of our sketch emigrated from his na- tive England to America in 1849, in company with two brothers, first stopping at Zanesville, Ohio. There Thomas II. worked out hy the month for one year and then rented a tract of land, which he eul- tivated for the following two seasons. On the 12th of April, 1853, he was united in marriage with Miss Rosanna Frazer, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, who was born in that State Sept. 29, 1828. That same year they came to Illinois and located on a part of the farm which he now owns and oeenpies. His first purchase consisted of 124 aeres, to which he has added until he is now the owner of 450 acres, all finely improved and under a good state of eultiva- tion. In the course of time the little household was enlarged hy the birth of three girls and one boy, namely: Annie E., who died in 1875 at the . age of twenty-one; Betsey J., who died in 1878, when a maiden of seventeen; William married Laura Bunn, and assists his father in carrying on the home farm; and Emily F., living at home. The mother of these children died in this county on the 6th of October, 1875.

On the 17th of November, 1880, Mr. Shorthose for his second wife married Miss Luzenia Paul, who was born in Montgomery County, Pa., June 17, 1847. Her parents were Morgan E. and Re- hecea (Nichols) Panl, natives of the Keystone State. . The mother was born in 1812, and the fa_ ther some years later. Of this marriage of our subjeet there is one child, a daughter, Reheeea P., who was born Feb. 21, 1884. Mr. Shorthose, in company with his son William; is giving much at- tention to the breeding of fine stoek, making a spe- eialty of high-grade Short-horn and Jersey cattle and Hambletonian horses.

William Shorthose was born in Danvers Town- ship, Feb. 24, 1857, and possesses the energy and enterprise of his father in a marked degree. He remained on the homestead until he attained to years of manhood and was then, Nov. 15, 1879, married to Miss Laura E. Bunn. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Smith, of the Methodist Epis- eopal Church, of Denver, Col., the wedding taking place in that city. The acquaintance of the young lady was formed while William was upon a visit to that State with the hope of improving his health.

The visit had the desired effeet upon his health as well as proving a blessing in a social way. After their marriage the young conple eame to. Illi- nois and remained for about eight months, when they returned to Colorado and lived for six years. To William S. and his wife there were born four children, only one of whom is living-Charles R., who was horn Jan. 26, 1886. Clifford, Howard and a hahe are deceased. Mrs. Laura Shorthose was born in Maeomh, Ill. She is a lady highly re- speeted in the community, and a member of the Pres- hyterian Church. William Shorthose is Republiean in polities, and a straightforward, thorough-going young business man, destined to make his mark in the business element of this seetion.

Thomas H. Shorthose has held the various offiees of his township, is Republican in polities, and prominently connected with the Congrgational Church at Danvers. In this congregation he has heen Trustee for a number of years, and has eon- tributed liberally and cheerfully of his means for its maintenance and progress. lIe has in all re- speets fulfilled the obligations of a good eitizen, and is one of the important factors of the agrieult- ural and husiness elements of his community. His present possessions are the result of his own indus- try and enterprise, and he is now enjoying the well-earned reward which is so pre-eminently liis due.

W F. BISHOP, an old settler of this county, having made it his home for upward of fifty years, is residing on seetion 31, Money Creek Township. He is the son of William G. and Rebecca (Briggs) Bishop, the former of Seoteh and the latter of English aneestry. The parents were married and settled in Madison County, Ala., thenee emigrated to Wayne County, Ind. The father early in life was apprenticed to learn the cabinet-maker's trade, and worked at the same for seven years. While living in the South he spent much of his time in making cotton-gins, which at that time were in great demand in the Southern States. He was strongly imhued with Southern principles, hut not heing satisfied with bringing up his family in the locality where slavery existed, he came North and

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MCLEAN COUNTY.

settled as stated, in Indiana. On locating in that State he purchased forty acres of land, but de- pended mainly on liis children to cultivate and im- prove it, while he labored at his trade and in work- ing at wood-work. He went to Indiana in 1823, and about 1829 removed to Carroll County, that State, where he purchased a large tract of land, which his boys took charge of, and he still contin- ued to work at his trade. The family continued to reside in Carroll County until the spring of 1836, when they canc to this county, and the father pur- chased 450 acres of land in Money Creek Town- ship, and the following spring he located upon it with his family. He there lived and continued to labor at his trade, together with farming, until his death, in April, 1861. His good wife crossed the river to meet him on the other shore twenty years later, in 1881.

Ten children were born to our subject's parents who lived to attain the age of man and womanhood. The record is as follows: Walker H. is a farmer in Washington Territory; Anderson S. died in Ver- milion County, Ill., in June, 1883; Harriett became the wife of Isaac Wilson, and departed this life in Missouri, in 1879; William R. is working in a woolen-mill at Portland, Ore .; Thornton is a lum- berman in the woods of Minnesota; James is a farmer of Washington County, Iowa; Sanders is a farmer, and living in Iowa; Pleasant W. follows farming as a calling, and is also a preacher of the Word, his home being located in Money Creek Township; Mary is the wife of George Buckles, and they are residents of this county, and W. F.

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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 92

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