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 96
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38015 .-
POST OFFICE.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN M. FOSTER, SEC. 36., DALE TOWNSHIP.
RESIDENCE OF SMITH SAWYER, SEC . 19., TOWANDA TOWNSHIP ..
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McLEAN COUNTY.
Martin M., Peter M., George W., Jacob, Jane, who married David Arthur and who, with her husband, is deceased, and William, who died in infancy. The father of our subjeet received but a limited eduea- tion, and engaged in farming pursuits, while at the same time he officiated as a minister of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, being quite a revivalist, and never making any charge for his services. His sec- ond marriage was with Mrs. Esther (Stansberry) McMackin, and occurred in 1874. Hc departed this life in Saybrook, Dee. 22, 1883.
John Vreeland of our sketeh was married to Miss Abigail Wygand, who was born in Ulster County, N. Y., Aug. 18, 1824. She is the daugh- ter of Charles and Mary (Cavalry) Wygand; her father is now deceased. The mother is still living, having arrived at the advanced age of nearly eighty- five years, and resides in Columbus, Ohio. The parental household consisted of nine ehildren.
Mr. and Mrs. V. have no children. Our subjeet has held the various offices of his township, was Sehool Trustee seven years, and has been Overseer of Highways. He is Democratic in politics, but dur- ing the war was altogether in sympathy with the efforts for the preservation of the Union. Mrs. V. is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
8 MITH SAWYER. The thrilling scenes through which the pioneers passed in the settlement of this portion of the State must ever awaken emotions of the warmest re- gard for them. To pave the way for those who followed, to make their settlement in the West a pleasure, they stemmed the flood-tide wave of civilization, they endured all, they suffered all. But few of these noble spirits now survive; they have passed away full of years and honors, leaving their children and children's children, and stran- gers to sueeeed them and enjoy the fruits of their toil, privation and savings of their long and event- ful lives. With most of them we can say with the poet-
"Life with them is o'er, their labors all are done,
And others reap the harvest that they won."
Among the few pioneers remaining on this side of
the grave is Mr. Smith Sawyer, the subject of the following sketelı. Ile is passing his declining days on his farm on section 19, Towanda Township, in the enjoyment of a sufficiency of this world's goods. His father, William Sawyer, was born in Ireland and came to the United States when a boy. The mother of our subject, Elizabeth (Smith) Sawyer, was a native of Pennsylvania. After the parents' marriage they settled in Fayette Couuty, Ohio, where the father followed farming for a livelihood, and where both heads of the family continued to re- side until their death, the household in tlie mcan- time becoming enlarged by the birth of five sons and five daughters.
The subject of this notice was the sixth in order of birth of his parents' ten children, and drew his first breath in Fayette County, Ohio, Oct. 2, 1816. He was reared to farm labor and received his ed- ucation in the common sehools of his native county. Remaining under the home roof until twenty-one years of age he then began to work out by the month, farming and herding cattle, and was thus occupied for about five years. In the spring of 1844, Mr. Sawyer came to this State and took up his resi- dence in Livingston County where, however, he remained but two months, and then came to this county, where he has made his home ever sinee. He is the owner of 160 acres of well-improved and valuable land in Towanda Township, on which he has good buildings, and which property he has ac- quired through his own exertions. His residence and surroundings are shown in this connection as a representative farm home of this splendid county.
Mr. Sawyer was first married in Old Town Town- ship to Miss Eleanor Bunn, who bore him three chil- dren, all now deceased, and who departed this life in Martin Township. He was again married, to Miss Clarrissa Misner in 1849. She became the mother of two children-Albert and William. The former died in Kansas when twenty-two years of age, and the latter died in infancy. The mother of these children yielded up her life in Bloomington Town- ship. On the 11th of December, 1873, in Normal Township, this county, our subject formed a matri- monial alliance with Susan C., daughter of Harden and Deborah (Houghten) Bennett, and widow of William Witty, who had by her first marriage one
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McLEAN COUNTY.
son-William F. Of this latter marriage of Mr. Saw- yer two children have been born-Theodore and Millic. He has held the offices of Road Commis- sioner and School Director in his township, and is onc of her foremost citizens, actively interested in cvery project tending toward the general welfare of the people. Mrs. Sawyer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics our subject is a Republican.
OHN MATHER FOSTER, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Dale Township, owns and occupies a fine homestead in the village of Shirley, a view of which is shown in this work. Hc is the son of John Foster, of Cheshire County, N. H., and was born May 30, 1833. John Foster was born in the town of Stod- dard, on the 12th of November, 1806. His father, also named John Mather Foster, was likewise a na- tive of New England, and his grandfather, Daniel Foster, the great-grandfather of our subject, like thesc, his descendants, was also a native of the Old Granite State, and was born in Cheshire County; he was a minister of the Presbyterian Church. Hc died at Charleston, N. H., and his father, Isaac Foster, the great-grcat-grandfather of John M., was a native of Massachusetts, a Presbyterian prcacher, and after serving a period of cighty-two ycars in the ministry, died in Charleston, N. H., at the advanced age of one hundred and five years. He was an Englishman by birth and emigrated to the United States in 1722, settling in Connecticut. He was a near descendant of Sir Michael Foster, one of the most cminent jurists of England, and after coming to Connecticut was married to Miss Stanhope, a lady of Irish descent and belonging to one of the best families of New England.
The grandfather of our subject was quite liberal in his religious views and did not subscribe to the doctrine of election and reprobation but believed that every one would be punished or rewarded ac- cording to his decds in this life. It took a cour- ageous man in those days to defend these princi- ples, but John Mather Foster was equal to the emergency and sturdily maintained his views in
spite of opposition or derision. IIc was, however, held in the highest estecm and was accorded a re- spectful hearing whenever he chose to speak. John Mather Foster was a relative of Increase Mather, whose name is familiar as a celebrated divinc of the early days.
The grandfather of our subject, John Mather Foster, was born on the 12th of November, 1780, and was educated to the profession of law. He practiced in Lincoln, Vt., and Kecnc, N. H. In 1817 he emigrated from Southbridge, Mass., to In- diana, which had only been a State one year. The journey was made on foot and after arriving therc he located in Madison, Jefferson County, entered upon the practice of his profession and also taught school. While thus occupied in preparing a home for his family, his wife died in Massachusetts. John Mather Foster continued to live in Indiana until 1824. Hc then returned as far East as Ohio, locat- ing in Muskingum County, where he practiced his profession and taught school in that and Guernsey County until he came to the home of his son, John Foster, in Cumberland, Guernsey County, wherc his life terminated on the 20th of September, 1856.
The wife of John Mather Foster was the widow of Mr. Carlisle. Her maiden name was Alice West and she was the daughter of Timothy West, of Cheshire County, N. H. Her marriage with John M. Foster occurred on the 12th of November, 1805, and after having become the mother of two chil- dren she dicd in New Hampshire. The second born was Dan, who after arriving at years of man- hood settled in Licking County, Ohio, and success- fully engaged in farming. He mct his death by accident in 1866, leaving a wife and several children. The first son was John Foster, the father of the sub- ject of our sketch, and when but cleven years of age he started with his father for the West and walked the entire distance to Madison County, Ind., where they arrived in April, the journey consuming several weeks. In the meantime their money gave ont and they stopped by the way, where his father worked for a farmer until he had earned money enough to buy bread for the remainder of the trip.
After arriving in Indiana the father of the sub- ject of our sketch attended the school over which his father presided, and soon afterward commenced
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to earn his own living by chopping wood in that vicinity. He was thus occupied for nearly one year and then went to live with a farmer, with whom he continued two and one-half years, receiving his board, clothes and schooling. Thereafter he was to have $6 per month for the same period but was cheated out of this money, and at the age of eight- een years started on foot for Ohio without a cent in his pocket. His uncle assisted him on his way, his first work there being for the latter, who had loaned him $4.31 to assist in paying his expenses while on the journey. His next job was a month's work at clearing timber land, for which he was to receive fifty-five cents per day and take his pay in merchandise. After his job was completed he went to the store to get cloth for a suit of clothes. 'The best bargain he could secure was a piece of bed- ticking, and he accordingly purchased seven yards at 62} cents a yard and some buttons and thread. He quickly had the suit made up and the following Sunday appeared at church in a new suit of bed- ticking, of which he felt quite proud.
Mr. Foster continued to reside in Ohio, working by the day and month and also engaged in cultivat- ing rented land until 1832. . Notwithstanding his meager wages and the small amount received for his farm produce, at the expiration of this time he found himself the proud possessor of money and property amounting to $1,884. Before his marriage he purchased a tract of land in Meigs Township, Muskingum County, and after he had secured his partner he settled upon this and was engaged in general farming the following eight years. He then sold out and removed to Guernsey County, where
he opened a general store in the little town of Cum- berland. He purchased his goods in the city of New York, visiting that city and making his purchases in person, and continued in trade for three years enjoy- ing good success .. His health failed, however, and he disposed of his stock and located upon a farm near Cumberland, Guernsey County. In 1859, leaving his son in charge of the farm, he embarked in the grain business, buying and shipping to Chi- cago. He followed this for a year when he re- turned to Ohio, from which in 1866 he removed to McLean County, Ill. He owns a farm of 940 acres in Drummond Grove Township, Ford Co., which
he personally superintends, spending most of his summers at the latter placc.
John Foster was united in marriage with Miss Celia A. Ballou on the 9th of August, 1832. Mrs. Foster is a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, and was born June 27, 1812. Her father, Welcome Ballou, was a native of Smithfield, R. I. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. F. there have been born the following children-John Mather and Eliza J. The latter is the wife of Joshua R. McClelland, of Champaign County, Ill. Mrs. Foster is connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She is a most estimable lady and in character and dis- position is well fitted to be the life partner of such a man as her husband. John Foster is what may properly be styled a self-made man. He pos- sessed in early manhood great natural ability and genius and to these he added as the years went by, the qualities of resolution and courage and method and system in his business transactions. Of these he kept a running account with great exactness and at the end of each year had determined his income and outlay and the value of the property which he possessed. At the end of his journey from Indiana to Ohio which he had pursued on foot as we have related, his entire property consisted of one suit of clothes valued at $1 and his indebtedness was $4.31. In January, 1838, his property inventoried at $15,000.84; on the 1st of January, 1847, $28,- 664; in 1858, $73,682; in 1868, $122,900. Mr. Foster, now eighty years old, is still hale and hearty, transacting his business with the same sys- tematic care and correctness as ever and increasing each year the sum total of his wealth.
The son of the gentleman of whom we have been writing, John Mather Foster, was reared in Guern- sey County, Ohio, educated in the district schools, and at the age of twenty years commenced teach- ing, which he followed for a brief time and then en- gaged in farming pursuits. He remained with his father until his marriage and the latter presented him with 150 acres of land in Licking County, Ohio. This latter he rented out and remained with his father until 1866, when they removed to Illi- nois. He is now the possessor of 800 acres of land, all finely improved and cultivated, supplied with a good brick residence and all necessary out-build-
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McLEAN COUNTY.
ings for the storing of grain and the shelter of stock. To the raising of the latter he has given much time and careful attention and exhibits some of the finest animals in this section of the Prairic State.
The subject of this history was married on the 15th of January, 1861, in Ohio, to Miss Electa B. Moore, a native of Morgan County, that State. She became the mother of one child, Charles M., and departed this life on the 20th of June, 1864.
The second marriage of Mr. Foster was with Miss Aliee King and took place on the 1st of April, 1868. William King, the father of the present Mrs. Foster, was a native of Pennsylvania and eame to McLean County, Ill., at an early day, set- tling in Bloomington Township, where he improved a farm and remained the balance of his lifetime. His wife was Miss Ann Van Nostin, of Ohio, and born in Hamilton County. She still lives on the old homestead in Bloomington Township. Mrs. Aliee Foster was born in MeLean County, Ill., and of this union there have been born four children- John S., Loren K., Ivan V. and Alice B. Mr. Fos- ter is Republican in polities and in all respects is fulfilling the duties and obligations of a good citi- zen.
C APT. A. C. SWEETSER, ex-Deputy Col- lector of Internal Revenue, having his resi- denee in Bloomington, has been a resident of this section since 1859, and has built for him- self a record as an honest man and a good citizen. He is a native of Cumberland County, Me., where he was born in 1836, and is the son of A. P. and Mary (Cox) Sweetser, also natives of that State. The subject of this history eame to Bloomington when sixteen years of age, and engaged to learn the trade of a miller, at which he continued until the outbreak of the late Rebellion. He was among the first to offer his services to preserve the Un- ion, enlisting in April, 1861, in Co. C, 8th Ill. Vol. Inf., it being the first compauy raised in McLean County. After serving his first term of enlistment he re-enlisted, and remained in the army until the elose of the war, being a member of Co. B, 39th 111. Vol. Inf. He entered the army as a private,
but in 1864 received a Captain's commission. At the battle of Wier Bottom Church, near Petersburg, Va., on June 2, 1864. he lost his left leg by a gun- shot wound.
At the elose of the war he returned to Blooming- ton, and in 1874 was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue, the duties of which he per- formed in a ereditable and satisfactory manner un- til the change of administration. Mr. Sweetser is Republican in politics, is Department Commander of the G. A. R. of. Illinois, and a member of the I. O. O. F., the K. of P., the Red Men and the Seven Wise Men.
S. DUNING. The homestead of this sue- cessful farmer and stock-grower is beauti- fully located in Padua Township, which oceupies a position in the second tier from the south line of McLean County. Here he has 240 acres of finely cultivated land, provided with handsome and substantial farm buildings, and indi- cating in all its appointments the exercise of eulti- vated taste and ample means. He took possession of it in 1864, his first purchase being 160 aeres, to which he has added since that time, and has now one of the finest farm estates in this part of the county.
Mr. Duning was born in Mouroe County, Ind., Nov. 28, 1833, and is the son of John M. and Sallie (Wampler) Duning. The father was of Kentucky stoek, and born in the Blue Grass regions. He went to Indiana while yet a young man, before his marriage. The mother of our subject was a native of Virginia. After their marriage John Duning and his wife removed to Illinois, and made their home in Padua Township until their death. The par- ental household included eight children, two sons and six daughters.
Mr. Duning of this sketeh was the sixth child of his parents, and received his education in his native county. He was married on the 3d of December, 1885, in Monroc County, Ind., to Mrs. Caroline (Whisnan) Parks, who was born near Bloomington, Ind., March 16, 1851, and was the youngest ehild of William C. and Elizabeth (Wolfe) Whisnau, ua-
Harrison Houser
Eliza Hbo. Houser
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McLEAN COUNTY.
tives respectively of Virginia and Tennessee. They were married and shortly afterward located in Monroe County, Ind., where the mother died in 1873, aged sixty-five years. The father is still liv- ing on the old homestead, being now eighty years of age. Mrs. Duning was reared and educated in her native county, and by her first marriage, with Joseph Parks, became the mother of two children -Walter and Cora A. Mr. Parks was born in Monroe County, Ind., and died there Nov. 11, 1883, having been a snceessful farmer and busi- ness man. Mr. Duning, by a former marriage, be- came the father of three children, one of whom, Sallie, is deceased. Those living are Mollie B., the wife of Mathew Richardson, a prosperons farmer of Padua Township, and Lewis, who is at home. Mr. Duning is a staneh adherent of the Democratic party, and an important faetor in the business and agricultural interests of his township.
ARRISON HOUSER, wbo for the last thirty-five years has been an honored resi- dent of McLean County, and inost of the time successfully engaged in farming and stoek-raising, is located on section 16, Randolph Township. His fine homestead comprises 260 acres of valuable land, splendidly improved, well sup- plied with water and adapted to the growth of all the eereals known to this elimate. It is located on the road leading from Heyworth to Bloomington, and invariably attracts the eye of the traveler through this seetion. The family residence is a fine strueture, and the barns and out-buildings are in keeping with a first-elass farm estate.
When Mr. Houser eame to this eounty, which was in the year 1852, and took possession of this place, it was only partly improved, and its present high condition of cultivation bas been brought about by tbe exereise of persevering industry, and the rare good judgment with which our subjeet is gifted. He has been unusually fortunate in bis business transactions and by his straightforward metbods and courteous manner in all bis dealings has gained the good-will of his fellow-eitizens and associates.
Harrison Houser was born in Jessamine County,
Ky., Sept. 15, 1830. His father, Peter Houser, was also a Kentuckian by birth, but of German ances- try. His grandfather, Abraham Houser, came di- reetly from Rhenish Germany, and located in Maryland, where it is supposed he was married. He also officiated there as a Dunkard minister for some years, and lived there until after all his children were born, and then removed with his family to Kentucky and settled in Jessamine County. This removal occurred about the beginning of the pres- ent century. There Abraham Howser, Sr., lived for many years and was engaged as a miller, ereet- ing a mill in Jessamine County as early as 1807. While on a visit to Clermont County, Ohio, lie de-, parted this life at a ripe old age. He was a man of great foree of character, and was held in high re- speet by those who knew him. His son Abraham went to Kentucky with his parents, and was there married to Miss Elizabeth Trisler, who was of Ger- man parentage. They remained in Jessamine County for a number of years, this son also being engaged as a miller. He followed his trade there until 1835, and then with his family eame to Illi- nois and located on Sugar Creek in Logan County. They lived there until the death of Abrabam, Jr., and his wife Elizabeth, at an advanced age. They were prominent and useful members of the commu- nity, and reared their children to those principles of bonor and bonesty which they had made tbe rule of their own lives. Of these there were nine in number, all born in Kentucky, and bave the fol- lowing names-Naney, Peter, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Susan, Katie, John, Abraham and Mary A. All lived to mature years and all were married, but only one is now living, the youngest of the family, who became the wife of William Longworth and resides in Bloomington.
Peter Houser, the second ehild of the aforesaid family and the father of our subjeet, like his father before him also beeame a miller. Later he became a manufacturer of rope and bagging and other articles, in the making of which hemp was utilized. After abandoning this he engaged in farming. He eame to McLean County in March, 1853, which re- mained his home until his death, which occurred ten years later. He lived np to the training given bim by his excellent parents, and like them enjoyed
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MCLEAN COUNTY.
the confidence and respect of all who knew him. He was a Whig politieally in early life, but later beeame a staneh adherent of the Republican party. He was a member in good standing of the Method- ist Episcopal Church for many years. Ilis wife, formerly Miss Sarah Hornie, of Jessamine County, Ky., was of German ancestry and born Aug. 9, 1808. She is a lady of great foree of eharaeter, who has taken good care of her physical heathh. and at the age of seventy-nine years retains her faeulties to a remarkable degree. She now makes her home with her son,, our subjeet. For many years she has been a worthy member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. The parental household ineluded five children, all living, namely : Margaret lives with her brother, our subjeet; Mary J. was the wife of R. J. Smith, a farmer of Jessamine County, Ky., but now deceased ; Harrison was the third ehild; Malinda married William Rayburn, of Kansas City, Mo., who operates a stockyard at that place; Peter married Miss Emeline Gault, who died in February, 1874.
Mr. Houser, whose name heads this sketeh, was reared in his native eonnty, and remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age. He eame to this eounty in 1852, and has sinee made this his home. He was married, Oet. 1, 1857, to Miss Eliza Hoover, at the home of the bride's parents in Felieity, Clerinont Co., Ohio. She was born in that county, Oet. 16, 1835, and is the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Houser) Hoover. The father was a native of Maryland, the mother of Jessa- mine County, Ky. After their marriage they set- tled in Ohio, but the father spent his last days with his daughter, Mrs. Houser, in this eounty, where he died in 1884, aged eighty-seven years. She re- eeived eareful home training by most exeellent parents, and remained with thiem until 1854, when she came to MeLean County and was engaged as a teacher for some time before her marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Houser have beeome the parents of five children, as follows: Flora married Mr. F. E. Orendorff, of this eounty. and they are living on a farm in Bloomington Township; Agnes be- came the wife of F. O. Lash, also a farmer of said township; Anna, Eva and Melvin are at home. Mrs. H. and her daughter Agnes are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subjeet is Republiean in polities, and was Justiee of the Peaee for a number of years. He has in all respeets ful- filled the duties of a good eitizen and reeeives his reward in the respeet and esteem of his neighbors and associates. That he has made life a sueeess is due to his untiring energy and application, eom- bined with careful management of his affairs. IFis is an hospitable home where is always found an abundance of the best, and at his board friends and acquaintances are always welcome. The ae- companying portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Houser rep- resent the features of one of the most highly es- teemed eouples in this eounty.
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