USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 109
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Our subject made the trip from Chicago to Peoria with a team over corduroy roads, the best method of traveling in vogue at that time. IIe had a cousin living in Jubilee Township at the time who was a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church. and our subject worked on his farm when he first settled in the place. Later he bought a farm of eighty acres in Jubilee Township going in partnership with his brother George.
Mr. Radley at one time returned to England on a visit, embarking at New York on the ves- sel "Virginia." He remained abroad some two years then came back to America accompanied by his mother and most of tlie family. They sold their property in their native land and took up their abode with our subject on his farm in Peoria County. In addition to the mother, there were eight children in the group who boarded the staunch
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craft "Rozolin" at Plymouth to brave the terrors of the vasty deep. Owing to severe storms they were eight weeks on the way and were truly thankful when the good ship at length entered harbor. The services of a team was called into requisition to transport them to the city of Chicago and another one took them the rest of the way to their home with our subject as above stated.
Some years later, our subject sold his eighty acre farm and, in company with two of his broth- ers, bought the southeast quarter of section 36, one-fourth of it lying in Rosefield Township. He erected a house and moved on to the place and has made it his home from that time to the pres- ent. He and his brothers labored faithfully and in a reasonable time had the satisfaction of knowing they had as nice a place and as well improved as could be seen anywhere around. The brothers added to their original purchase as opportunity of- fered, and when they dissolved partnership our sub- ject's share was one hundred and twenty acres of land under good cultivation, finely improved and well stocked. His farm is well watered, having good springs and is underlaid with coal, some of the mines being five feet thick and eighteen feet from the surface to the top of the coal strata. Mr. Rad- ley has worked the mines in question for years and has found them profitable, his farm being situated only some three-fourths of a mile from Kickapoo where he finds a ready market for all his farm pro- duce as well as for the coal.
In addition to the usual products of a farm our subject raises large quantities of grain and deals extensively in fine stock. His cattle and hogs are of the best and his horses are fine, large, strong draft ones which are best suited to the needs of a farm. When our subject first settled in this county it was in a wild state, deer were plentiful and wolves ran past the door unterrified by the sight of man who, however, was soon to prove his right to do- minion by driving them from the State. Onr sub- ject has himself shot deer and wolves also, the large and fierce gray wolves from the door of his first cabin home.
Our subject is a strong Republican in politics and has been honored by his party with some im- portant offices. He is now serving his township as
Road Commissioner and as Director of Schools. Ilis cousin, Rev. Richard Radley, to whom allusion is made above, was a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church and was induced to come to America and take charge of the Jubilee congrega- tion, by the Bishop of the Diocese, who knew his worth in England and wished to secure his talent and executive ability in this new field of labor. Ile was mainly instrumental in buikling up the Protes- tant Episcopal Church in this county. He removed to Jubilee Township in 1829, and entered very much of the land in that section of the country.
G ILMAN W. AVERY, a member of the firm of Comstock, Avery & Co., dealers in fur- niture, has been doing business in Peoria since 1863. They now occupy one of the finest buildings in the city, comprising Nos. 210 and 212 South Adams Street, where they have elegant sales- rooms on three floors, with warerooms in the base- ment and the fourth story. They conduct the largest and finest furniture house in the city. The present building was put up in 1889, they removing into it in September. The former store building, built in 1863, had been destroyed by fire in March previously.
This firm manufactures parlor goods of all de- scriptions from costly to medium price, besides doing a general jobbing business in connection with the retail trade. The several members of the firm are energetic and experienced business men who have made for themselves a good record and in whom the community have entire confidence. Mr. Avery is a New Englander, having been born in Greenfield, N. H., March 14, 1835. Ile comes of excellent stock, being the son of Amos and Lydia (Evans) Avery, who were also natives of the Granite State and are now deceased.
Young Avery remained in his native place until reaching manhood and then striking out on his own account, emigrated across the Mississippi to Greene County, Mo., where he engaged in teaching, and had charge of the Ebenezer High School. After a few years he began merchandising in Lebanon,
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Mo., but during the troublous times which followed lost his goods and property. He remained there until his pronounced Union sentiments made him obnoxious to the rebel element and deeming dis- cretion the better part of valor, he left that section and located next in Gridley, Ill., where he resumed merchandising for a short time, then in 1862, came to Peoria and was variously occupied during the first year. He then entered into a partnership with F. J. Comstock and they established a store on Main, between Water and Washington Streets, where they did business until about 1883.
The firm was then obliged to increase its facili - ties and they put up the first fine building in the block which they now occupy. Business has grown up around them until they are now centrally lo- cated among the retail trade. The first building was destroyed by fire in 1883, but was soon replaced by the larger and more complete structure. Mr. Avery forms the responsible part of the firm and has the chief management, his partner doing busi- in St. Louis.
Our subject was married in 1858 to Miss Ellen Haywood, also a native of New Hampshire and born in East Jaffrey, in the year 1838. Of the four children born of this union only two are living: Frank E., who is the assistant of his father, and Fred H., who is attending school. Mrs. Avery de- parted this life April 19, 1890, at the age of fifty- two years. She was a member in good standing of the First Baptist Church, to which Mr. Avery also belongs and in which he is a Trustee. He votes the straight Republiean ticket and has represented the Third Ward in the City Council.
ENRY VICARY. Cornwall is one of the fairest and richest counties of "merrie England" and has given many of her sons to aid in the development of the vast treasures contained in the soil or found in the mines of the New World. One of her brave sons who valiantly set out to try his fortunes in the New Country across the sca, is the one of whom we write in this brief biography. He was born in Cornwell,
England. May 23, 1832, and left home when eight- een to see what he could do in America. For twelve years after reaching this country he lived in Delaware County, Pa., where he was employed in a woolen mill.
Upon leaving Pennsylvania Mr. Vicary came to Peoria County and settled in Kickapoo Township, where he has since resided engaged in coal mining and farming. He has given his attention chiefly to the former occupation, carrying on operations in Peoria County. His farm comprises about two hun- dred and sixty acres of good land upon which he has erected a comfortable house and other good build- ings. His land lies close to Pottstown, on section 36, where he and his family live in comfortable in- dependence surrounded by all the conveniences and many of the luxuries of modern civilized life. A view of their fine estate is presented elsewhere in this volume.
The father of our subject was also named Henry Vicary and was a native of England, where he spent a large portion of his life. The mother was Ann (Gipps) Vicary, also a native of England. Henry Vicary, Sr., came to America in 1862, and after remaining three years returned to England, and died soon afterward. The mother came to Kickapoo Township, Peoria County, where she made her home with her son, our subject, until her death in 1871.
Henry Vicary, of whom we write, was united in the bonds of matrimony July 3, 1857, in Phila- delphia, Pa., to Miss Elizabeth Lonsdale. Mrs. Vicary is a native of Lancashire. England, where she was born in 1839. She is a daughter of John and Alice Lonsdale, and is an intelligent and pleas- ant lady, making friends everywhere. Of the chil- dren born to her and her husband seven are living, as follows: John, George W., Alice A., wife of Jacob Waite; Mary, wife of Edward Pepard; El- len, wife of F. Wolstienhole; Henry and William. Those deceased are: Jennie, who died when about two years of age; and four who died in infancy.
Our subject takes an active part in all matters connected with the well-being of the township and is favorably disposed toward all plans calculated to advance the prosperity of the members of the community in which he lives. In politics he is a
0
COALMINE. SEC.12.
RESIDENCE OF HENRY VICARY, SEC'S 36. KICKAPOO 1. LIMEST NEJ TPS PEORIA COUNTY, ILL.
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Republican and stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens of all political ereeds; he has been honored with the office of Highway Commissioner, in which position he gave unqualified satisfaction. Mr. Vicary is a genial, good-hearted man, ever ready to respond to the call of the needy and is beloved by not only the members of his own fam- ily, but also by the people with whom he is more or less intimately associated.
AMES II. FLANEGAN, is prominently iden- tified with the industrial interests of this county, as a skillful farmer, and as a pros- perous manufacturer of brick. He carries on his farming and manufacturing operations in Richwood Township, and is an important factor in the advancement of its growth and financial standing.
James Flanegan, the father of our subject, was born in New Jersey, and his mother, whose maiden name was Rachael Wells, was also a native of that State. She is now deceased. His father is a pros- perous farmer. Twelve children were born of his marriage, of whom our subject was the second in order of birth. The paternal grandfather of our subjeet was James Flanegan, and he was a farmer and mechanic in New Jersey, his native State. Hc spent the most of his life in Salem County, and died there about 1865. Mr. Flanegan's maternal grandfather was John Wells, who was also a native of New Jersey, of which he was a resident until his death. He gave his attention entirely to farming and was quite an extensive landowner. He was a devout Christian, and was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Our subject was born in Salem County, N. J., on the 26th of January, 1839, and grew to man's estate in the place of his birth, living there until he was twenty-two years old. He continued to be a resident of New Jersey until 1865, being engaged in farming. In that year he came to Peoria, and resided three years in that city, engaging in differ- ent occupations. He then bought a farm in Rich- wood Township, and gave his attention exclusively
to farming. for some years. In 1878 he began the manufacture of brick, and turns off eleven hundred thousand annually, the bricks being of a fine qual- ity, commanding a ready market. Ile has a good and highly productive little farm of thirty acres on section 32, which he is constantly improving. He has provided it with an excellent set of commodious buildings, and has the land under excellent tillage, and from its rich harvests derives a good income.
Since coming to Richwood Mr. Flanegan has taken unto himself a wife in the person of Miss Sarah Jane Mckinney, daughter of John McKinney, of this township, of which Mrs. Flanegan is a na- tive. They have three children. Rachael M., Maude E. and James B.
Mr. Flanegan is a man of character himself, and has a good understanding of human nature in gen- eral, and is gifted with the tact to deal with it, so as to gain his ends without infringing on the rights of others. His decision, power of discrimination and clear practical judgment have led him to pros- perity and these traits, guided by his publie spirit, have made him a most desirable citizen, as he be- stirs himself to forward all plans that will enhance the welfare of township and county. He has held the office of School Director, and has been an in- fluence in securing good educational facilities for the children of the township. In his political views he is independent, being bound by no party ties. Religiously, he and his wife and children are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
- AMES S. COE. We take pleasure in repre- senting this enterprising, intelligent and suc- cessful farmer and stock-raiser of Brimfield Township, in this BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, IIe is a veteran of the late Civil War, and as a faith- ful and capable soldier won a honorable military record, of which he is justly proud.
Mr. Coe is a native of Monroe County, Ohio, and was born August 15, 1844. He is a son of David G. and Lucinda (Baldwin) Coe, with whom, in 1858, he came to Illinois. His father cast in his lot at first with the pioncers of this township,
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locating in the northern part, where he live:l a short time. He then removed with his family to Knox County, and resided there some three years. He finally went to Iowa, and there the closing years of his useful and honorable life were passed. Of his large family of children but four survive, viz: William S. and James S., of Peoria County ; Sarah J .. wife of W. M. Lueas, of Hutchinson, Kan., and David G., of Mercer County, Ill.
James Coe was carefully trained hy worthy par- ents to an npright, sturdy manhood. He was edu- eated in the public sehools and adopted the calling of a farmer, to which he had been bred. August 22, 1862, our subject patriotically threw aside his work and all his personal ambitions, to take part in the great war that was then waging between the North and South. He became a member of Com- pany A, Seventy-Seventh Illinois Infantry, and from that time took part in various skirmishes, campaigns and battles, until the war was brought to a close. Ife was present in the first attack on Vicksburg, and subsequently fought at Arkansas Post. He then returned to take further part in the siege of Vieksburg, and remained at the spot until its fall. From there his regiment was sent to New Orleans, and for a time was under Gen. Banks, and accompanied him upon the Red River Expedition, At Sabine Cross Roads, in Louisiana, our sub- jeet was captured by the Confederates and suffered imprisonment for over thirteen months at Tyler, Tex. At the expiration of that time he was ex- ehanged, and .June 3, 1865, was honorably dis- charged.
After his hard experience of life on Southern battlefields and in Confederate prisons, our sub- jeet returned to the Prairie State, and quietly re- sumed farming, and has ever since been a useful citizen of Peoria County. Ile owns a farm of eighty aeres on section 30, Brimfield Township. on which he located in the spring of 1877, and by as- siduous toil he has brought it to a fine state of cultivation, and has provided it with all the nec- essary buildings and with good machinery, every- thing about the place betokening eare and thrifty management on the part of the owner.
Mr. Coe and Miss Sarah J. Reid united their lives and fortunes February 16, 1870, and the marriage
then solemnized has proved of mutual benefit. Mrs. Coe is a daughter of George and Gatry M. Reid, highly respected residents of Peoria. Five chil- dren have born to Mr. and Mrs. Coe, namely: Herman. deceased; Frank E., Fred L., Hollis B. and James R. Our subject started out in life with no other capital than a clear brain, a willingness to work, and strong museles, but they have sufficed to make him what he is to-day, and to bring to him a comfortable competence. His square deal- ings in all his transactions. his probity and gen- uine worth, have won for him the reputation of which he is justly proud, and placed him among the most desirable citizens of the township. He favors all things that will in any way elevate the community, socially, morally, or materially, and is one of the valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is also his wife. He is active in educational matters, being one of the Sehool Di- rectors of his distriet. Politically, he is a firm ad- voeate of the principles of the Republican party.
S AMUEL SEABURY, proprietor of the Peoria Shirt Manufactory located in the Masonie Temple. is eondueting an excel- lent business that he established here a quarter of a century ago, and by his shrewd man- agement has made it one of the stable industries of the city, and has placed himself among its sub- stantial citizens.
Mr. Seabury is a native of Illinois, born at Tre- mont, December 9, 1842. He is descended from an old English family that traees its lineage baek to Edward I. He is a son of R. F. and Catherine (Russell) Seabury. His father was born in London, Conn., in the same house that was the birthplace of Bishop Seabury, from whom he is descended. When a young man he went to New York, and was there married, and in 1836 eame to Tremont, Ill., and was one of the pioneer settlers of that town, He engaged in a commercial business there and subsequently opened a store in Kickapoo, and was afterward the first Postmaster of that town. He
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held that position for eighteen years, and at the end of that time received a voluminous report from the Government, covering the whole period of the incumbency of that office, showing that the Government owed him two cents, which was re- mitted to him. He was very prominent in the public life of Kickapoo, and was Supervisor for many years. Ile is a member of the Episcopal Church. He came to Peoria several years ago, and he and his good wife arc honored residents of this city. He has a family of eight children, four of whom are living in this city. The family cirele has never been broken by death.
The subject of this sketch was four years old when his parents came to this county and located in Kickapoo, and the remainder of his life has been passed in this part of Illinois. He received his education in the public schools of this county, and at the age of sixteen began life for himself, leaving the parental home, and worked one year on a farm. His seventeenth year was spent in a store in South- port, this county; after this he worked for three years at the carpenter's trade, then clerked one year in a store in this city, and then, in 1864, engaged in business with his brother in the sale of Yankee notions, running wagons through the country, con- tinuing in that line until 1868. Between the time he worked at the carpenter's trade and elerking he was for one year in the sutler's department of the Fourteenth Cavalry. In 1869 our subject opened a ladies' and gentlemen's furnishing goods store at No. 309 Main Street, opposite the Court House, carrying on that business there successfully for many years. This was the first large store of this kind in the city, and our subject had many things in stock that had not previously been kept in such a store. Having been unfortunate in selecting clerks he failed in 1873. About twenty-five years ago Mr. Seabury started a shirt manufactory and gradually abandoned other branches of business and finally gave his entire attention to manufact- uring shirts. He has greatly increased the capacity . of his manufactory, which is the only one in the city, to meet the demands of a large patronage, having shipped shirts to seventeen States this last year.
The maiden name of the wife of our subject was
Isabella F. Woodward. She is a native of Ohio, but at the time of her marriage was living in Normal. She is a descendant of English and Irish families, the former of Norman extraction that claims William the Conqueror as one of its ancestors. Mrs. Sea- bury is a daughter of W. E. Woodward, who was an carly settler of Peoria, coming to this county from Southern Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Seabury have six children-Edward F., William S., Charlotte 1., Fannie M., Catherine E. and Bertha M. All have attained manhood and womanhood and have been given fine educational advantages.
By strictly honorable methods, Mr. Seabury has conducted his business to a successful issne, and his name stands high in the financial circles of the city. Ile is a man of prominence in social and religious affairs; is connected with the Masonic order, of which he has been a member twenty-eight years and is a member of the Episcopal Church.
ILLIAM H. MEEKER, one of the most prominent men in Trivoli Township, has passed through a varied experience, his life including a trip across the country in the days when travel to the Pacific Coast was beset with danger and privation, an experience of some years in the California mines, and the usual incidents of farm life in the Mississippi Valley. Through all his experience he has preserved the sterling quali- ties of honesty, temperance and true manliness, together with the agreeable manners and pleasing conversational powers which prepossess strangers in his favor, and, standing the test of closer com- panionship, secure many warm friends. He is now located on an excellent estate, comprising one hundred and twenty acres on section 16, where many first-class improvements will be found, in- cluding good buildings, neat fences, orchards and groves.
The Meeker family is of English descent, belong- ing to that class which, having settled in America during Colonial days, took up arms against British tyranny. The grandfather of our subject was a Revolutionary soldier, and his son, David, took up
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arms in the second struggle for release from British encroachment. The latter patriot was born in New Jersey, and learned the trades of a brickmaker and mason. In the early days of settlement along the Ohio River he removed to Cincinnati by teams, and after living a short time near Springdale made Dayton his place of abode. After having worked at the mason's trade for a time he bought one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Darke County, and engaged in farming and brickmaking, adding to his real-estate until he owned over two hundred acres, which he cleared with the aid of his sons. There he died in 1852, at the age of sixty-two years. He was a member of the Democrat party. and of the Universalist Church.
David Meeker married Nancy Ann Miller, a na- tive of the Keystone State and daughter of Mathew Miller, who was of German descent. Mrs. Meeker died in Greenville, Ohio, cheered by the faith of the United Brethren Church. She was the mother of thirteen children, of whom the subject of this notice is the seventh in order of birth. The rec- ord of the others is as follows: Cyrus died in 1889 : Nathaniel and Miller J. are deceased; Carlotta is living in Indiana; Talitha died in this county : Emeline lives in Greenville, Ohio; David is County Judge in Darke County, Ohio; Michael died in Iowa; Francis was killed by a horse near St. Louis, Mo .; Rufus is deceased ; James, who was a Probate Judge in Ohio, died on the same day that President Garfield breathed his last; John is living in Green- ville. Rufus belonged to an Ohio regiment dur- ing the Civil War, and died soon after his return from the front, having been in ill health for a pe- riod prior to his discharge.
Our subject was born near Springdale, Ohio, June 4, 1825, and taken to Dayton in his baby- hood, remaining there until he was seven years old. Hle then accompanied his parents to the vicin- ity of New Madison. Darke County, where he was carly set to work on a farm in the elm swamps, helping to clear the land and taking advantage of what educational privileges the district schools afforded. The temple of learning in which he pur- sned bis studies was built of logs, with puncheon floor, slab benches, a loug writing bench and a fireplace; the instruction therein was obtained
under the subscription method. When twenty-one years old young Meeker left his home and engaged in teaching as a temporary expedient a year. after which he entered Froman's Select School at Mid- dleton, leaving it at harvest time to swing a cradle and bind sheaves through harvest.
We next find Mr. Meeker engaged in brickmak- ing and bricklaying in Castine, learning the trades with his brother. In the fall of 1847 he came to Illinois, journeying by stage to Cincinnati, thence by boat to St. Louis, and on the steamer to Coppe- ras Landing, Fulton County, near Pekin. Coming thence to Trivoli Township, he remained until spring, when he made a kiln of brick at Farming- ton, laying a part of them in buildings at various points. The next year he made a kiln for a Mr. Rude in Trivoli Township, and then built several brick houses.
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