Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 97

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 97

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).

W ILLIAM WILEY, an old and highly es- teemed resident of Colfax, this eounty, now retired from the active labors of life, is a native of Garrard County, Ky., and was born Ang. 24, 1813. His grandfather, William Wiley, Sr., a native of Maryland, was a farmer by oeeupa- tion and married Miss Sarah Royston. They em- igrated to Kentucky at an early day and thenee to Indiana. Among their children was a son, John, who became the father of our subjeet. He was born in Maryland, and being reared to agricultural pursuits, followed farming in a modest way all his life. The wife of his ehoiee was formerly Miss Hannah Sampson, whose family removed from Maryland to Kentucky in the early history of the latter State. They became the parents of five sons and five daughters, all of whom lived to beeome men and women, married, and had families of their own, exeept a son and daughter who died before reaching their majority.

William Wiley was the second ehild and eldest son of his parents and was about five years of age when they removed from his native State to Indi- ana. They located first in Switzerland County, and thence, in 1834, removed to MeLean County, Ill., first stopping in Martin, and a few years later removed to Money Creek Township. There they settled on a farm which remained the home of the parents until their deeease, the death of the mother oceurring previous to that of the father. After the

805

McLEAN COUNTY.

death of his mother, William Wiley, in the fall of 1841, was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Hopkins, a native of Indiana, and the daughter of Robert and Mila (Bartholomew) Hopkins. Mr. Wiley and his bride settled on a farm in Martin Township, this county, one mile west of what is now the town site of Colfax. Here they resided forty years, thence removing into the village of Col- fax, in February, 1882. They had a family of seven children, consisting of five sons and two daughters- John, Robert, Joseph, Willianı, James, Mila and Nancy. Three of the sons served as Union soldiers in the late war. Robert died at Vicksburg in 1863; John served three years, returned unharmed, and is now deceased; Joseph enlisted at the age of sixteen, and served cigliteen months, and is now farming in Nebraska; Mila, the eldest daughter, became the wife of S. Smith, and Nancy married L. Fincham; both live in Martin Township. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley are prominent members of the Methodist Church, Mrs. Wiley having been a member fifty-six years. Their son William is a minister of the Methodist Church, and is at present stationed at Lewistown, Fulton County, this State.

OHN FLETCHER, of Blue Mound Town- ship, is a native of the British Empire, and emigrated from his native England to the United States in 1851. He is the son of Michael and Mary (Johnson) Fletcher, also natives of England, in which country the father met with an accidental death. After coming to this country the mother made her home in Blooming- ton Township where she died within less than one year thereafter. The parental household included eleven children, nine of whom came to Ameriea.

The subject of this history was born Sept. 11, 1823, and from the time he was twenty-one years old until he started for America, two years later, was engaged in farming, aud burning and drawing coke. He reached New York City in the spring of 1851, and then went to Canada, but after a few weeks returned to the States and stopped at Youngs- town, Ohio. After a short stay there he went to Delaware, Ohio, where he remained nearly one year

and a half. From there he came to this county in the fall of 1853. making the trip from Delaware, Ohio, to Bloomington, Ill., with a horse team. Upon arriving in Bloomington, he had only about nine cents in cash, but his team was worth about $150. He employed himself for the first four months in chopping wood. The following spring he rented a farm in Bloomington Township, upon which he remained two years, then removed into the city and engaged in hauling wood and at other occupations where he could employ his team. Af- ter a while he took up his abode in Normal Town- ship whence he removed to Towanda Township, where he rented a farm which he operated for cight years following. In 1867 he purchased 200 acres of land in Blue Mound Township, on section 19, where he has since lived.

Mr. Fletcher is a striking example of the self- made man. Upon coming into this vicinity, as it has been seen, he was comparatively without means. His industry and energy, however, sccured him friends from the start, while his honesty and in- tegrity retained them. He has been prospercd rc- markably in his undertakings, and is now the pos- sessor of 350 acres of valuable land under a finc state of cultivation. Upon this he has a fine set of farm buildings and everything pertaining to a modern country estate. Himself and family are surrounded by all the comforts and enjoy many of the luxuries of life. They have a wide circle of warm friends, and in all respects may be reckoned among the best citizens of this wealthy and popu- lous county. Fletcher Station was named after our subject. He has proved himself a skillful and progressive farmer, and of late years, in addition to the raising of grain and other farm products, has turned his attention to the brecding of fine horses, his favorite being the Clydesdale.

Mr. Fletcher was married in the county of Dur- ham, England, May 1, 1848, to Miss Ruth, daugh- ter of George and Elizabeth (Taylor) Robson, na- tives of England. Mrs. Fletcher was born in Dur- ham County, England, March 17, 1832, and of her union with our subject there have been born twelve children, seven of whom are living. The record is as follows: Elizabeth, the eldest, became the wife of Charles Krause, and resides in Bloomington, Ill. ;

806

McLEAN COUNTY.

William married Miss Laura Shuek, and John, who married Miss Ellen Maxwell, resides in Dakota; Mary, Mrs. Maywood Bid lle, is a resident of Money Creek Township; George F. married Miss Aliee Lambert, and is farming in Blue Mound Township; David married Miss Edna Biddle, and lives in Normal Township; Howard is at home with his parents. With one exception, those deeeased died in infaney ; Michael died in Blue Mound Township when twenty years of age. Mr. Fletcher is an earnest supporter of the Republican party, and has filled with eredit the minor offices of the township.

R USHI WIRT, tile manufacturer and eoal dealer at Saybrook, this county, was born in Highland County, Ohio, in 1848. He is the son of James and Margaret (Newman) Wirt, natives of Virginia, the former born in 1792, and the latter in 1807. They were married in 1822. James Wirt followed the joint vocations of lawyer, bricklayer and farmer, in all of which he was profieient. The young people remained in Virginia after their marriage about six years, and thenee removed into Ilighiland County, Ohio, where the father of our subjeet followed brieklay- ing and farming, and in due time beeame owner of 100 aeres of land, which he eultivated, with the as- sistance of his sons, until it became quite valuable. lle remained in Ohio until 1850, then desiring to remove still further westward, came into the Prai- rie State, loeating in Bloomington, this county, for a short time, and then purchased 280 acres of land. To this he subsequently added until at the time of his death, in 1868, he was the owner of 400 aeres. The mother died one month after the deeease of her husband. Included in the property of James Wirt was the Dawson farm, upon which was made one of the first settlements in MeLean County, and which in early days was frequently used by the Indians as a camping-ground.

The parental family of our subjeet ineluded nine children, the record of whom is as follows: Will- iam married Ella Reid; Mary is deceased; John

married Miss Almarinda Minton, of Padua Town- ship, and still resides there; Catherine, the wife of W. S. Vandervoort, is a resident of Padua Town- ship; Ellen married John M. Stipp, of Arrowsmith Township; James B. married Miss Hettie Howell; Addie A. became the wife of Austin M. Kimler; Rush, of our sketeh, was the seventh child; Flor- enee, Mrs. William Clarke, is a resident of Ne- braska. Mr. Wirt was a good eitizen in all that the term implies, having held the office of Supervisor and varions other positions within the gift of his townsmen. He was a straightforward Republican, and both parents were members in good standing of the Methodist Church.

Rush Wirt remained under the home roof until he attained his majority, reared to farming pursuits and edueated in the common sehools. He afterward operated for himself on the old homestead, finally purchasing 100 aeres, upon which he farmed for five years, and then engaged in the manufacture of drain tile in Saybrook for nine years following. In the meantime he also handled considerable coal, and has been uniformly sueeessful in his business trans- aetions. Besides being interested in the manufaet- ure of drain tile, Mr. Wirt owns a handsome resi- denee, situated on State street, and also has 480 acres of land in Kansas. 1

The marriage of Mr. Wirt with Miss Arminta Hoshaw took place at the home of the bride's par- ents in 1878. Mrs. Wirt is the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Day) Hoshaw, of Ohio, whenee they afterward removed to Illinois and then to Iowa. After a few years spent in the Hawkeye State Mrs. Hoshaw returned to Ohio on a visit, and there died in 1869. Mr. II. still survives, and is now a resi- dent of Iowa. They were the parents of four ehil- dren -- Ameriea, Arminta, Matilda and Martha. Mr. Hoshaw was married the second time, to Mrs. Evaline Gregory, the issue being one ehild, a son, James.

Rush Wirt and wife are both prominently con- neeted with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Saybrook, to which they contribute liberally and cheerfully. Mr. Wirt belongs to the Masonie fra- ternity and the K. of P. He assisted in organizing Arrowsmith Lodge No. 737, of which he was See- retary for eighteen months, and held all the of-

807

MCLEAN COUNTY.

fiees in his lodge until his removal from Arrow- smith. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wirt are as follows: Lelia E., born Nov. 9, 1879; Herman C., in 1881, and Ethel, T., June 19, 1883.

HOMAS ARNOLD, one of the substantial and progressive farmers of Blue Mound Township, eomes of exeellent German and Irisli aneestry, and is the son of Joseph and Elisa- betlı (Sloan) Arnold, natives of Virginia, where the father followed farming and merchandising. The old folk remained in the Old Dominion and there spent the greater part of their lives, both dying there, at an advanced age. Their six children were Zacharialı, Thomas, Richard, George, Ann and Peter.

Thomas Arnold was born in what is now known as Mineral County, W. Va., May 24, 1829. He was reared on his father's farm and remained under the parental roof until 1855. In February of the year named he set his face toward the great West, and came into this eounty, and purchasing 160 aeres of land on seetion 27; Blue Mound Township, set about the establishment of a homestead for himself. For two years, in company with his brother Zachariah, he kept bachelor's hall, and then deeided to obtain a housekeeper, who would be both a companion and helpmeet. He was aceord- ingly married on the 12th of November, 1857, to Miss Sarah J. R. Smith, who was born in Boone County, Ky., Aug. 16, 1833, and was the daugh- ter of Nathan and Fannie (Kendriek) Smitlı, na- tives of Kentucky. Nathan Smith died in liis native State, when seventy-four years of age. The mother having arrived at the advaneed age of ninety-three years, makes her home with our sub- ject. Mrs. Arnold was abont twenty-three years old when she came to this county. Of lier mar- riage with our subjeet there were born eight chil- dren. Joseph, the eldest, married Miss Mary E. Wilhoite, and resides in Lexington Township; Christian S. married Miss Maggie Williams and is farming in Blue Mound Township. The others are Elisabeth, William, Richard V., George B., Thomas, Jr., and Fannie M.

The homestead of Mr. Arnold ineludes 240 aeres of finely improved land, with a good set of farm buildings. Of late years he has been chiefly en- gaged in stoek-raising, turning his attention mostly to Durham cattle. Of the former he keeps about twenty-five head and his stables contain about ten head of horses and eolts.

When Mr. Arnold first came to this county, there were few settlers within sight of his home; wolves were plenty and he often got up in the night to set his dogs upon the mischievous prowlers. He is thoroughly acquainted with the trials and priva- tions of pioneer life, and lias contributed his full share to the development and prosperity of this seetion. He is held in great respeet by his fellow- citizens and has been the ineumbent of various offices in his township, serving as Justiee of the Peace four years. Mr. and Mrs. A. are worthy members of the Christian Church, and our subject in polities is independent.

ARTIN SHEPHERD, Justiee of the Peaee at Chenoa, was born on a farın in Otsego County, N. Y., on the 27th of July, 1833. He is the son of William and Taey (Bird- sall) Shepherd, natives of New York State. The grandfather of our subjeet, Henry Shepherd, who of was of Irish parentage and ancestry, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. William, his son, the father of our subject, was reared to farming pursuits, and spent his early years in his native eounty. The household eirele consisted of five sons and two daughters; two of the sons are deeeased.

Martin Shepherd, who was the youngest but one of his parents' family, spent his childhood and youth on his father's farm, and received a practical eduea- tion. When seventeen years of age he coinmeneed teaching, and was thus employed during the winter season for fifteen years, while he worked on the farm during the summers. Ile came to Illinois in 1860 and located in Chenoa, where he first en- gaged in teaching, and afterward in the real-estate business. In 1865 he was elected Justice of the Peace, which position he has sinee held.

During the late war Mr. Shepherd enlisted as a

808

MCLEAN COUNTY.

Union soldier, in Co. C, 72d Ill. Vol. Inf., whence he was soon afterward transferred to Co. C, 33d Ill. Vol. Inf. He took part in the engagement at Spanish Fort, Ft. Blakesley and Mobile, and various minor engagements and skirmishes. He performed his part bravely and faithfully as a soldier, and re- ceived his honorable discharge at the close of the war, being mustered out in 1865. Soon afterward he returned to Chenoa, and a few months later was eleeted to his present office. He has also served as Notary Publie for the past twenty years.

Mr. Shepherd was married on the 3d of Septem- ber. 1861, to Miss M. F. McMahan, of Chenoa, who was born in Kentucky, Aug. 15, 1841. Of this un- ion there were born two children-Howard Logan and Frank Birdsall. Mr. Shepherd owns a pleasant home in the village, and is universally esteenred wherever known.

L ASALLE STOOPS, senior member of the firm of Stoops & Ellington, manufacturers of tile at Colfax, is a native of the Prairie State, and was born in Ipava, Fulton County, Sept. 19, 1858. He is the son of Samuel A. and Ellen (Clannon) Stoops. Samuel Stoops was a native of Kentucky, but removed with his parents, when but four years of age, to Indiana, settling near Indian- apolis. The mother was a native of Ohio. The father of our subjeet came into Illinois while a sin- gle man and located in Fulton County, where he married and lived until 1867. In that year he came to MeLean Conuty and took up his residence in Blue Mound Township, where he now resides. The parental household ineluded two sons and three daughters, of whom LaSalle of our sketeh was the second child. He was eight years of age when he came to this county with his parents.

In the spring of 1880 Mr. Stoops of this notice located in Colfax, and since that time has been eon- neeted with the tile works here. He first entered into partnership with W. G. Anderson, Sr., with whom he continued for eighteen months when Mr. Anderson disposed of his interest to Edward F. Pochel. Subsequently Mr. Pochel withdrew and the brother-in-law of our subjeet, Henry W. Elling-

ton, assumed the place which he had occupied in the firm. The factory proper covers an area of 32×120 feet, two stories in height, besides a dry house 20x80 feet, also with two floors. Both mem- bers of the firm are straightforward, energetie busi- ness men. and their manufactory has become an important institution among the industrial interests of this section.

The subject of our sketeh was married, in 1878, to Miss Libbie Brown, of Old Town Township, and the daughter of A. C. Brown, who is now a resi- dent of Berlin, Wis. Mrs. Stoops departed this life on the 9th of October, 1886. She was a lady greatly esteemed by all who knew her, for her many amiable traits of character. They had no ehildren.

W ILLIE VANORDSTRAND, of Randolph 'Township, engaged in farming and stock- raising, owns and oeeupies a fine homestead of 160 aeres on seetion 6, township 21 north, range 2 west, his land being finely improved and under a good state of cultivation. He has all the aceesso-

ries of a first-elass farm . estate. The residenee is substantial and tasteful, a model of comfort and convenience. His barns are well built and shapely and especially arranged for the care and shelter of stoek and the storing of grain. His farming im- plements and machinery are after the most ap- proved plans. It is evident that our subject takes pride in his business from the thrifty appearance of his fine farm.

Mr. Vanordstrand was born on his father's home- stead in Randolph Township, Nov. 20, 1855; a sketch of his father's family will be found in an- other part of this work. Willie was reared at home and pursued his early studies in the district schools of Randolph Township, and afterward attended the university at Lincoln, Ill. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred Nov. 22, 1876, at the residence of the bride's parents in Heyworth, the maiden of his ehoree being Miss Nannie M., the daughter of Joseph K. and Malvira (Hampton) Noble, natives of Ohio, whence Mr. N. eame to this State and was afterward married in McLean County. Hle may be properly elassed as

809

McLEAN COUNTY.

one of the pioneer settlers, having come to this county in 1831, and which has remained his home since that time. He is still living, and makes his home with his son, Dr. C. M. Noble, and also spends considerable time with his daughter, the wife of our subject. He is now quite aged.

Mrs. Vanordstrand was born in Randolph Town- ship, this county, Dec. 26, 1858, and was here reared and educated, remaining with her parents until her marriage. Of her union with our subjeet there have been boru five ehildren-Charles V., Carl N., Dora, Floy and Fay. Mr. and Mrs. V. removed to their present home shortly after their marriage, and our subject has greatly improved its condition sinee he came into possession of it. Mrs. V. is a member in good standing of the Presby- terian Church. Our subject is Demoeratic in poli- tics, and a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 483, of Heyworth.

R. WHITE, of Bloomington, is at preseut eonduetiug a prosperous trade in stoves and tinware at No. 606 North Main street, and . as one of the business men of that city is con- tributing his share toward maintaining its progress and reputation. Mr. White is a native of Pitts- burgh, Pa., and was born Sept. 8, 1842. His parents were James M. and Elinore (Browu) White, also natives of the Keystone State. His father was a wholesale dealer in elothing and died in 1854. The mother is living in Kansas with her daughter Mary, now Mrs. Wallace. The parental family consists of four children, viz: John B. of Bloomington, James M., Mary, and Margaret, Mrs Colwell, of Kansas. James M. White was a Class-leader of the Method- ist Church for many years, and a useful and highly respected member of the community where he lived.

The subject of this biography left the pareutal roof at eleven years of age, and going to Kansas was variously employed for a number of years, and then went to learn the tinner's trade, at which he served three years. The war then coming on, he enlisted as a soldier of the Union, in Co. A, 12th Kan. Vol. Inf., became First Sergeant and served

three years. He was in the battles at Red River, Pine Bluff, Wilson Creek, Memphis and Columbia, Tenn., and received his honorable discharge at the elose of the war. He then returned to Kansas and after working a year at his trade engaged in busi- ness in the southern part of the State. In 1868 he eame to Bloomington, worked at his trade until 1886, and then established his present business.

In 1872, Mr. White was married to Miss Harriet, the daughter of George and Maria (Johnson) Fogle, natives respectively of Maryland and Ohio. She was born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1852. Her father removed from Maryland to Ohio when a young man, and after his marriage located in Old Town Township, MeLean Co., Ill., where he engaged in farming. Their household eircle was completed by the birth of nine ehildren, of whom six are still liv- ing : Mary A., now Mrs. Williams, and Isaae are in this State; William, a Methodist minister, is in Missouri; Louisa, Mrs. Rodman, and Jeremiah are in Illinois; Harriet; Mrs. White, is the wife of our subjeet. The mother died in 1859, in Old Town Township, and the father in 1884, in Le Roy. They were worthy and excellent people and mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Fogle was Class-leader and Superintendent of the Sabbath-school for sixty years.

Mr. and Mrs. White are the parents of one ehild, a son, George II., who was born in 1874. Mr. White is a staneh Republiean, and belongs to the G. A. R. and the A. O. U. W.

W ILLIAM D. MOORE, who is well known throughout McLean County as one of her foremost citizens and sucessful agrieult- urists, has his residence on section 5, of Towanda Township. His parents were Thomas and Martha (Dodson) Moore, natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky respectively. Prior to this union the elder Moore had been married in Pennsylvania to a Miss MeCorkle. They moved to Ohio, where she died. The removal of Thomas Moore to Ohio was during the early settlement of that State, and taking up his residenee in Champaign County, he at once entered upon the duties of an active farm

810

McLEAN COUNTY.

life. These he continued to discharge with his usual energy until in April, 1828, when, returning home from a trip to Cineinnati, where he had taken a load of flour, which had been ground at Spring- field having first taken the wheat therc, he was seized with fatal illness and died on the 24th of the month, before reaching his family. His widow subsequently eame to this county, and after sur- viving her husband for over forty years, died Dee. 22, 1870, in the village of Towanda.

The father of our subjeet was a Major in the State militia at the breaking out of the War of 1812, and held his commission in that conflict un- der the command of Gen. Hull. He was taken a prisoner, together with the entire command, at De- troit, Mich., and transported to Canada. He was afterward paroled and returned home, but had de- termined to re-enlist, and was upon the point of so doing when the war closed. The parents of our subject had six children, three sons and three daughters, William D. of our sketch being the third in order of birth.

Mr. Moore was born in Champaign County, Ohio, Dec. 27, 1821. He was reared on a farm, and for some years during his early life engaged in milling. When about seventeen years of age he left the old homestead, and after working out for a short time and obtaining a little money he at- tended school. In faet he took the first money he ever earned for himself and used it for the purpose of obtaining an education, and consequently he elaims to-day that he still has the first money he ever made stored away in his mind. After attend- ing school for a time, he made sueh good progress that he was engaged as a teacher, and continued to perform the duties of a pedagogue for about three years. Judging from his life history, it is obvious that he must have always fully availed himself of all privileges of instruction to which he found ae- eess, and a distinguishing characteristie of his is the possession of quiekness of mind and talent.

Mr. Moore eame to this county from Champaign County, Ohio, in the fall of 1851, and settled in Money Creek Township, where for one year he worked rented land. In the winter of 1852, he purehased eighty acres of land on section 5, To- wanda Township, where he has since made his

home. He is the owner of blocks 3, 4, 5 and 6, Towanda Village, and also 240 acres two and one- half miles west of Gilman, Ill., in Iroquois County. He has good improvements on his farms and has the satisfaction of knowing that there has never been a mortgage upon his property or a judgment against him.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 97

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