Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 94

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 94

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After selling his farm in Genesee County, N. Y., Mr. Soule came to Illinois and took up his resi- denee at Shirley, MeLean County. In the neigh- borhood of that place he engaged in farming, stoek-raising, and speeulating in real estate. He was a prominent figure in the business affairs of this section for ten years, during which time he met with financial suceess. In 1868 our subject sold his land in the neighborhood of Shirley, and moved to Bloomington. There he purchased about $16,000 worth of stoek in the Phoenix Bank, and became one of its directors. He also purchased other land in McLean County which he rented. He likewise became proprietor of a fine home on Market street, where he lived until about 1870, when he traded it for a farm of 120 acres in the neighborhood of Twin Grove, which he lived upon a short time, when he sold out and returned to Bloomington and purchased the home which he had previously owned, clearing by the transaction $2,500. Living in the house for about five years

he traded the property for another farm, and mov- ing upon it, made it his home for about seven years, when he once more returned to Bloomington and has made that city his place of residence since. Upon eoming to Bloomington the last time, Mr. Soule purchased property near the residenee of Judge David Davis, which, after oceupying about two years, he sold and purchased his present home. He superintends the stock-raising on his rented farms, and from this source realizes annually a handsome income.

Mr. Soule was married to Miss Eliza A. Maeom- ber, March 19, 1835. The wife of our subject was born Feb. 23, 1815, in Greenfield, Saratoga Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of Roger and Annie (Waterman) Macomber, natives of Rhode Island. Her parents had a family of cleven children, of whom she is the only one living, her last brother having died a few months ago. Mr. Macomber and wife both departed this life in Genesee County, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Soule have had 'no children of their own, but reared two: William H. Cutler, who became a member of the household when three years old, and is now deceased, and Annie Strick- land, whom they received into their arms when she was two weeks old. The parents of the latter, Bronson and Wealthy (Knight) Strickland, were numbered among the best families of Genesce County, N. Y. Annie received a good education and developed into womanhood while an inmate of Mr. Soule's household, and continued with them until her marriage. She is now the wife of Will- iam J. Steele, and the mother of one child-May Knight Steelc. They are living at No. 206 East Jefferson street, Bloomington.

Mr. Soule is a Republican in polities. He has never sought offiee, but was once elected Justice of the Peace contrary to his wish, and refused to qual- ify. He is one of those generous, whole-souled in- dividuals whom it is a pleasure to meet, and whose lateh-string always hangs on the outside of the door for the benefit of the needy and destitute. Mrs. Soule united with the Baptist Church when she was twenty-two years old, and has since been an active member of the same, contributing liberally to its support, and working conscientiously for the Master.

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During the late Civil War Mr. Soule was a stanel Union man, and did all in his power to aid in its preservation. Being too old to volunteer him- self, and desiring to be personally represented in the army, he hired a substitute, enjoining upon the latter to be true to the colors he was to fight under.

The portrait of Mr. Soule given in connection with this sketeh, is that of a gentleman entirely worthy to be elassed among the representative eiti- zens of one of the most prosperous counties in the State, and to whose progress he has given an im- petus by the mere foree of his example. As a fit- ting companion pieture we plaee beside that of the venerable subject of this sketeh, the portrait of his esteemed wife.

R EV. PLEASANT W. BISHOP, residing on section 29, Money Creek Township, was born in Carroll County, Ind., April 6, 1832. He is the son of William G. and Rebeeea Bishop. Our subjeet was four years old when he eame to MeLean County with his parents. He re- eeived his education in the common sehools and at Wesleyan University, Bloomington, Ill. In 1852 our subject was called upon to deliver the oration at the commencement at Wesleyan University, and ehose for his subject " The Future of the American Confederacy." It was an able oration, and he was told by one of the professors, just as he was about to begin its delivery, to throw his whole soul into it, as it was good. Mr. Bishop little thought at that time that in less than ten years he would be ealled upon to defend the very Government he then eulogized.

After he had attended the university for a year, at Bloomington, he was received as a candidate for the ministry, by the Mackinaw Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was en- gaged in farming in connection with his studies for two years after this, and then he attended the sem- inary at Le Roy under the charge of his Presby- tery for two years. At the expiration of that time he engaged in preaching and farming, at which he has continued until the present. He has filled

different appointments throughout MeLean and Tazewell Counties, and has done mueh to further the eause of the Master.

Rev. Pleasant W. Bishop is the owner of 165 aeres of good land on which he resides and where he has ereeted a good residence. He was mar- ried in Towanda Township, this eounty, April 20, 1853, to Miss Amelia A., daughter of Henry B. and Celia (Briley) Timmons, natives of Ohio. Miss Timmons' parents emigrated to MeLean County in 1837, and settled in Towanda Township in 1849. They removed to Ford County, Ill., and there lived until the death of the father, which oeeurred July 19, 1885. The mother survives, and resides in Ford County; by her union with Mr. Timmons eight children were born-Amelia A., wife of our subjeet; Sarah E., John N., William, Fafayette, Catherine, Prudence, and one who died in infaney. Mrs. Bishop was born in Ohio, Ang. 1, 1832, and has borne our subjeet eiglit ehildren-Laura, Ellen, William H., Charles F., Beeea, .Mark D., Thorn- ton G. and Alvah J. Laura died when sixteen years old; Ellen is the wife of Benjamin F. Fineh- am, and they are living in this county; William H. married Miss Minnie Busick, and they are living in Dallas County, Iowa. The remaining children are living at home.

Rev. Bishop was a soldier in the late Civil War, and enlisted Aug. 20, 1862, in the 94th Illinois In- fantry. He was First Sergeant of Company D, and served in that regiment for something over a year, when he was promoted to Chaplain of the 37th Illi- nois Infantry, and transferred to that regiment. He held the latter position for about a year, when he resigned and returned home. He was highly thought of by the soldier boys, not only for his many good qualities but for his valor, and was presented by his friends in the regiment with a beautiful gold wateh. Our subjeet distinguished himself at the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark. While the battle raged hottest and men were falling on " all sides, a eaisson eame near falling into the hands of the enemy. When the Colonel of the regiment asked for volunteers in the name of God to regain the piece, Sergt. Bishop stepped in front of the regiment and ealled for men to follow him in this hazardous undertaking. Six responded, and with

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himself at the head they ent away the dead horses and regained the eaisson.

. Mrs. Bishop departed this life in Money Creek Township, July 19, 1886. She united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church when about twenty-four years old, and was a kind mother, a loving wife, a generous neighbor, and a true and consistent Christian lady. Our subjeet is a mem- ber of the G. A. R. and in polities a Demoerat, although he is strongly inelined to Prohibition.

ON. ARCHIBALD E. STEWART, M. D., for a period of over forty years has been elosely identified with the business interests and prosperity of this section. He repre- sented this eounty two terms in the Legislature. He was eonneeted with the various important eom- mittees of those sessions, ineluding that of Publie Instruetion, and was Chairman of the committee on State Geological Survey, which position he held until the work was completed, and the proper State appropriations were made. He was also a member of the committees on Mines and Mining, and Special Temperanee. He was the first to introduce the bill affeeting the appropriation of money for the Institute at Normal, and has aided greatly in its maintenance and sueeess. During the session of 1872, he was instrumental in having $8,000 refund- ed to the county, which had been illegally obtained by a mistake in the Anditor's Office of the State, by unjust assessment. Mr. Stewart also drew up the resolutions which gave to the Constitution of the State its peculiar powers in Inter-State Com- meree, which passed the House but not the Senate. Aside from his business transactions and his serviee as a publie man, he has always been interested in agriculture, and has one of the produetive farms in Randolph Township.

Dr. Stewart was born in Randolph Township, near his present home, Aug. 21, 1834. His father, Samuel Stewart, a farmer, was a native of West Virginia, and of Scottish parentage and deseent. The latter was married in his native State to Miss Jane Hanley, a native of his own State, and also of Seottish deseent and parentage. They arrived in this

State in the fall of 1831, and located upon the farm which is the present homestead of our subjeet. He is the youngest son, and the only one born after they came to Illinois. His father died when he was a lad of six years.

The land which the father of our subjeet had se-' eured was in an unimproved state, and after his death the mother sueceeded with the help of her children in earrying on the farm profitably, and reared her five sons and three daughters to years of ma- turity. She was a woman of great foree of ehar- aeter, strong and healthy in body and mind, and taught her children those principles of self-relianee, industry and honor which in after years eonstitu- ted them good eitizens and useful members of society. She lived to the advaneed age of eighty- four years, retaining her mental faculties to a re- markable degree, dying at her home in Randolph Township in 1875.

. When first settling upon the new farm, the father and his sons put up the first briek house in MeLean County, all the work being done by themselves. They made the necessary tools for the manufacture of briek, eonstrueted their own kiln and burnt with- in it the lime which they hanled from a quarry at Old Town. They were their own masons and hod- earriers, and it well may be imagined with what satisfaction they marked the progress of their own work when the walls of their home began to rise. The house oeeupied an area of 24x48 feet, and it stands to-day, and is still owned by our subjeet. It was used for all publie gatherings, for publie sehool purposes and for preaching and was thus kept open for many years, a generous donation for the use of the people of that locality. The father had seeured a traet of land comprising 1,600 aeres, about one-third of which was timber. Most of the land is yet in possession of the various members of the family. '

Arehibald E. Stewart pursued his primary stud- ies in the pioneer sehools of. this loeality, assisted and encouraged by his mother at home. He be- eame a member of the first elass of the Wesleyan University, Bloomington, under Prof. Andrus, the first professor, and he there completed. his eduea- tion four years later. He was the only student in the Sophomore Class of 1851-52. After leaving

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this institution he went East and studied music in Boston for several months, having great love and a talent for this art. After his return to Illinois in 1856, he took up the study of medicine under the instruction of Hon. H. Noble, of Heyworth, and one year later entered Rush Medical College at Chicago. From there he went to Philadelphia, and entered Jefferson College, from which he graduated in 1858. Whatever branch of study he took up was pursued thoroughly and closely until he be- came the master of it, and he was now abundantly qualified for the practice of this profession.

The marriage of Archibald E. Stewart and Miss Emily, daughter of John R. and Lydia (Gantz) Stewart, was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents at Fairmont, W. Va., on the 10th of May, 1859. The parents of Mrs. S. were natives of West Virginia, and of Scotch and German descent. John Stewart was a millwright, and came West in 1861. He was a strong Union man, and found it to his advantage to leave the Old Dominion about that time. He located in Randolphi Township, and resided there until 1884, when he removed to Los Angeles, Cal., where he and his wife are living, re- tired from the active labors of life.

Mrs. Emily S. Stewart was educated in a select school in her native State, and remained with her parents until her marriage. . Of her union with our subject there were born five children, as follows: Bruce A. is engaged in the lumber business in Cal- ifornia; Clark E. is a musician, and also employed as clerk in a music store at Chicago; Adelaide was educated at Valparaiso, Ind., and is a teacher of music; Hugh A. is attending school, and with his sister Lucy lives at home with his parents.

After his marriage, Dr. Stewart located in Ran- dolph Township, and began the practice of his pro- fession, which he continued until after the outbreak of the late war. He then enlisted in the army, in August, 1862, as a private, and was connected with the Army of the Frontier, in the 94th Illinois Infantry. He was then appointed Regimental Sur- geon, which position he occupied for three years, and at the close of the war received his honorable discharge at Galveston, Tex. The regiment fought at Prairie Grove, Ark., where he saw much blood- shed, and was with his command at the siege and

surrender of Vicksburg, Miss., also at Brownsville, Tex., where a special order was issued by Maj. Gen. Herron, for his management of the Post Hos- pital, and upon which occasion our subjeet received the high approval of the General and many compli- ments concerning his judgment and skill.

After his retirement from the army, Dr. Stewart abandoned the practice of medicine, and turned his entire attention to his farming interests, which were more agreeable to his tastes and which he has sinee followed successfully. He is now the posses- sor of 300 acres of valuable land in Randolphi Township, and is also interested in real estate in Kansas and Nebraska. Of late years he has given considerable attention to the breeding of high- grade cattle and Norman horses, with which the home farmn is finely stocked.

In politics he has always been a stanch Repub- lican, and has uniformly cast his vote in support of the principles of his party. He was Chief Deputy Circuit Clerk for a period of eight years, and has held other important offices in the county. In 1881 he went to Europe, and has visited most parts of the United States, having been in nearly every State of the Union. · Mrs. Stewart is an amiable and excellent Christian lady, and a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Churchi.

WEN C. RUTLEDGE. This gentleman is widely and favorably known throughout Mc- Lean County and was the first man who bought grain at Heyworth. His transactions in this line began in 1855, and he lias since been act- ively engaged in the trade. Two years later he became the partner of Isaac Vanordstrand and they have operated together, with the exception of five years, since that time. In the interim Mr. Rut- ledge embarked in the dry-goods business, but finally abandoned it and returned to the grain trade. He began business here in a very modest manner and weighed his grain on a small movable scale, carrying it on his shoulders in sacks to the cars. This was kept up for some time and until the first elevator was built, in 1861.

Mr. Rutledge has been closely identified with the

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interests of this seetion sinee eoming here, being one of its most energetie and useful eitizens. He now owns a fine property and his wife is the pos- sessor of considerable real estate in Randolph Township. Mr. R. was born on seetion 34, where the village of Heyworth now stands, his birthi oe- eurring on the 19th of October, 1831. He was reared in this eounty and completed his education at Danvers and at the college of Lebanon, T'en. He also studied in the Presbyterian sehool at that place.

The subject of this history is the oldest native born eitizen of Randolph Township now living. When about twenty-one years of age he began teaching a subseription sehool in Randolph Town- ship at a small salary. He built his own fires, swept his own sehool-room and received the munifi- eent salary of $18 per month. He was thus oe- eupied for three years, the last year receiving his pay from the publie sehool fund.

The marriage of Mr. Rutledge and Miss Sarah Elder took place in Heyworth on the 8th of June, 1858. Mrs. R. was the sister of J. C. Elder. She was born near Crawfordsville, Ind., June 8, 1838, and eame to this county with her parents when a ehild. She completed her edneation in the city of Bloomington and taught sehool for some time be- fore her marriage. Of this union there was born one child, a daughter-Fannie, the wife of Howard Galey, who now lives in Emporia, Kan .; Mr. G. is in the employ of the Santa Fe Railroad Company at that place. Mrs. Sarah Rutledge departed this life at her home in Heyworth, July 8, 1865. She was from ehildhood a member of the Presbyterian Church. She was a most amiable and excellent Christian lady, greatly beloved by her family and mourned by a large cirele of friends.

Mr. R. was a second time married, in Defianee County, Ohio, Dee. 24, 1866, to Miss Letitia A. Battershell, who was born in Holmes County, Ohio, Oet. 21, 1842. She was reared and educated in Defianee County, and there her father is still living at the age of seventy-two years. The mother, whose maiden name was Catharine Marquis, died when fifty-six years of age, in 1874. The present Mrs. Rutledge was also a teaelier in her native eounty before her marriage. Of her union with

our subjeet there were born three children, one of whom, Oakley A., died when one year old; Lettie B. is at home, having graduated from the sehools in Heyworth; Lyndon M., aged thirteen years, is still pursuing his. studies in the village sehools. The family residenee is a pleasant and attractive one and its inmates enjoy the friendship of the best people in the village.

Mr. Rutledge has been a member of the County Board of Supervisors and has held the various of- fiees in the village. For many years he has been connected with the Presbyterian Chureh, in which he has been Elder five years. His wife and daughters are also members of the same.'

W ILLIAM M. HENLINE is one of the fore- most farmers and merchants of Money Creek Township, and a resident on seetion 10. The father of our subjeet, George Henline, was born in Kentucky, and his wife, Margaret (Rayburn) Henline, was also born in that State. After their marriage they settled in their native State, where the father was engaged in farming until he eame to this eounty. In his younger days George Henline learned the trade of a blacksmith, but followed it only a short time, preferring farm- ing. He was among the early settlers of this eoun- ty, and at the time of his loeation in Lawndale Township there were few inhabitants there other than the Indians. He made that township his home for five years, and removing to Money Creek Township lived there for some years, when he moved to and made Lexington his home. They continued to reside at Lexington for about ten years, when they again moved on the farm in Money Creek Township, and there lived until their death, his demise occurring Mareh 3, 1855, and, hers April 13, 1872. They had ten ehildren- Perry, Almarine, Zarilda J., Sabra, George, John, Mary A., Lonisa S., Matilda J. and William M.

The subject of this notice was born in Money Creek Township, July 3, 1838. He received a good education in the pioneer log sehool-honse of this eounty, and was reared to manhood on the farm, and has continued to reside in Money Creek

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Township from the date of his birth until the pres- ent time. He is the owner of 240 aeres of land, about seventy of which is in timber and the re- inainder under an advanced state of eultivation. He has erected a good residence on his farm, and has met with sueeess in the prosecution of a voea- tion which he has followed sinee ehildhood, together with merchandising.

In 1878, Mr. HIenline opened the store which he still eonduets, and earries a general stoek of mer- chandise, and by fair and honest dealing has built up a good trade. In July, 1880, he was appointed Postmaster and still holds that offiee.

Mr. Henline was first married at Bloomington, Ill., Aug. 26, 1858, Miss Sarah C. Steward' being the other contraeting party. She was a daughter of William and Elizabeth Steward, and bore our subjeet two children. Stephen A. D. and William A. R. Mrs. IIenline departed this life April 10, 1872, and our subjeet was again married in Money Creek Township, Dee. 5, 1872, Miss Eliza A. Grif- fith beeoming his wife. Miss Griffith was a daugh- ter of George W. and Catherine (Archibald) Grif- fith, natives of Pennsylvania. Her parents had one son and three daughters, and Mrs. Henline was the eldest. She was born in Fayette County, Pa., Feb. 1, 1841. Of this latter union two children have been bolli. One died in infaney, and the other, Noah O. A., is living at home.

Mr. Henline has been Township Collector, and has also been Supervisor of the township one year. In polities he is a Demoerat, and socially is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., holding fellowship with a lodge at Lexington; he also belongs to the Encamp- uient at Lexington.

W ILLIAM SWETZEL, proprieter of a snug little farm of 160 aeres located on seetion 28, Towanda Township, and a gentle- inan respected for his sterling worth and integrity, eomes of that elass of citizens noted for their en- ergy and determination to get on in the world. Ile was born in Baden, Germany, Jan. 11, 1837, and emigrated to the United States in 1858. Ar- riving in this country Mr. Swetzel spent the first

year in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and from there he went to Ohio, coming to Bloomington, Ill., in 1861. He has sinee been a resident of the county and now owns 160 aeres of good land lo- eated as stated, on which he has a large fine resi- denee, and is meeting with more than ordinary finaneial sueeess. In addition to farming he de- votes his attention to raising stock.

Mr. Swetzel was married in the land of his na- tivity to Miss Mary Koeh, who departed this life in this eounty ; her death took place in December, 1871. She bore him five children-John, Charles, William, Carrie and Luther. Mr. Swetzel was mar- ried a second time, in Iludson Township, Miss Mary Blum being the other contracting party. The marriage took place in February, 1873, and of this latter union two children have been born, one of whom is deceased. The surviving child is Mary K. Mrs. Swetzel departed this life in Blooming- ton, Ill .. in July, 1886. She was a member of the Evangelieal denomination, and a kind-hearted neighbor, devoted wife and loving mother. In polities Mr. Swetzel is Republiean. Mr. Swetzel married his third and present wife, Minnie Wag- ner, on the 19thi of January, 1887. A view of his fine residenee and surroundings is given elsewhere in this work.

W ILLIAM E. STEVENS, a gentleman in the prime of life, and a highly respected resi- dent of Bloomington, is now employed as foreman for J. M. Fordiee in the lumber business, with which he has been connected sinee his return from the army in 1864. Mr. Stevens was born in Maeon County, this State, on the 3d of August, 1842, and is the son of James B. and Letitia (Saterfield) Stevens, the father a native of the State of New York, and the mother of Whiteside County, Ill. James B. Stevens eame to Maeon County, Ill., when a lad of seven years, with his father, Joseph, who was a native of New York, and engaged in farming pursuits. The family of Jo- seph Stevens consisted of nine children, of whom James B., the father of our subjeet, was the young- est. He was reared on his father's farm and learned

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the carpenter's trade, following the two pursuits through life, and latterly engaged as a contractor and builder. He removed from Macon to McLean County in 1844, and located in Bloomington, where he passed the balance of his days, his death oceur- ring in 1871. The mother of our subject had pre- eeded her husband to the better land three years before, in 1868. 'Their family of six children were, William E., our subjeet; Harriet, Mrs. Chester Smith, of Bloomington; Luey, Mrs. Owens, of Woodford County : Charles, of Springfield, Ill .; Lconard, of Palestine, Tex., and Walter, of Deni- son, Tex.

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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 94

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