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 23
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The first marriage of our subject, which took place in Alleghany County, Pa., in 1854, was with Miss Martha Irwin, a native of that county, and a daughter of Henry and Catherine Irwin. Her father was a farmer there until his death, while her mother died in the home of our subject, at the re- markable advanced age of ninety years. December 23, 1884, death crossed the threshold of the home of our subject, and removed the wife who had traveled by his side thirty years. Four children had been born of their marriage, namely : James, a prominent farmer here who is represented in this work; Margaret L., Mrs. VanPatten, a resident of this township; John, a clerk in Elmwood, and a child died in infancy.
The second marriage of our subject was to Miss Margaret Mewhirter, and was celebrated November 20, 1888, in his native county. Mrs. Buchanan
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was also born in Westmoreland County, near Con- gruity, her father, John Mewhirter, having been a prominent farmer there until his death in 1882. Ilis father came to this country from Ireland. Mrs. Buchanan's mother was Jane McChesney before her marriage, and she was a native of Westmoreland County and a daughter of William McChesney, who was also born in that county. His father came to this country from County Antrim, Ireland. The mother died in 1888, leaving four children: Mar- garet, Mrs. Buchanan, Mary L., Sarah J., and Anise, the latter three living in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Buchanan is a true gentleman in all respects. He is a deep thinker, is well informed, and is an interesting conversationalist, while his wife is a lady of culture and has a most loveable disposition. and both are very highly regarded by the entire community. He does not aspire to office, although he is a strong Republican and has taken an active part in politics as a delegate to county and State conventions. Ile has been Trustee of the Presby- terian Church at Farmington and is one of its most prominent members.
ILLIAM WYKOFF, of the firm of Wykoff & Graham, the leading merchants of Tri- voli, is a man of prominence and influence in this part of the county. Ile is one of the pioneers in the mercantile business in New Trivoli, open- ing here the first store, and putting in the first stock of goods that was ever sold here. He is a reprc- sentative veteran of the late war, in which he did and suffered much for his country.
Pete Wykoff, the father of our subject, was a na- tive of New Jersey, and was a son of Ruloff Wy- koff, who was also born in that State, and was of German extraction. He was among the early set- tlers of Highland County, Ohio, where he carried on farming until the time of his death.
The father of our subject was reared in the pio- neer home of his parents in Ohio, and early learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed for twenty-one years, the latter part of the time being a contractor and builder. In 1842 he too became
a pioneer, coming to this State with a team and wagon, bringing with him his family, and settling in the neighborhood of Springfield, Ill., where he had a farm which he managed, while at the same time he engaged in his business as contractor. In 1854 he removed to Peoria, where he ran a dairy farm. In 1858 he located on a farm in Logan Township. He subsequently bought a farm of eighty acres in Trivoli Township, and there estah- lished his home, and there his death occurred in 1860, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a stanch Democrat, and a follower of Douglas.
The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Eliza Fox, was born in Highland County, Ohio, and was of English descent. After his father's death, she sold the farm on which they then resided and bought one of eighty acres in Trivoli Town- ship, upon which she lived until her death in 1880, at the age of sixty-seven years. She was a consis- tent Christian woman of the Baptist faith. She was the second wife of the father of our subject. By his first marriage he had one child, Peter, who lives in Decatur. By his second marriage eight children were born, namely : Mary A., now Mrs. Graham, of Farmington; Sarah A., Mrs. E. Wykoff, of Deca- tur; William ; James, a resident of Decatur; Jacob. who lives on the old home farm in Trivoli Town- ship; Jennie, now Mrs. Eslinger, of Elmwood; Helen, now Mrs. Bergett, of Elmwood; Oscar, of Trivoli Township.
William Wykoff was born near Berlin, Ilighland County, Ohio, November 14, 1840. lle was eight years old when his parents brought him to this State, and for a few years lived on a farm near the city of Springfield, and had excellent district school advantages. In the fall of 1854 he came to Peo- ria, and engaged in work on a dairy farm on the west bluff, the present site of North Peoria. In 1858, he came here and worked on the farm, and remained at home with his mother until 1862.
In the month of August, that year, Mr. Wykoff threw aside his work to take part in the great con- flict that was then going on between the North and the South, and enlisted in Company D, Eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry, which was mustercd in at Peoria, and sent to Louisville, Ky. Our subject and his comrades marched to Crab Orchard, and took an
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active part in the battle at that place, and subse- quently fought at Nashville. and were engaged in various skirmishes. He wintered there and was on provost duty, and the regiment was then ordered South to Brentwood, a fortified place. The men were afterward sent back to Nashville, and again faced the enemy in the battle at Murfreesboro. In the spring of 1864 Mr. Wykoff and his fellow sol- «liers started with Sherman on his Atlanta cam- paign, but he was soon taken sick with the measles, and was sent to the hospital. As soon as able he was placed on detached duty, and acted as guard in different places in Nashville, and was finally sent to Chicago in the fall of 1864, on detached service. So ably did he discharge the duties devolving upon him in every case and under all circumstances, that lie was promoted to be Sergeant soon after he was mustered in. and in Chicago had a position in the Quartermaster's department, as Commissary Ser- geant, which office be held until the elose of the war. He was mustered out with his regiment in Chicago, June 15. 1865, and was honorably dis- charged as Sergeant of Company D. He was in all respeets a true soldier, upon whom his superiors could place the utmost reliance. Ile experienced many privations and hardships, which resulted in the loss of his health, and thus gave up that which is almost dearer than life itself. for the sake of his country.
After his discharge from the army. our subject returned home and gave his attention to farming, renting a farm in Elmwood Township, one year, and then buying a farm on seetion 2, Trivoli Town- ship. comprising forty acres. This joined his mother's place, and he farmed them together, hav- ing the control of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he managed with excellent success un- til 1874. He then rented his place, which he kept in his possession until the spring of '90, when he sold it at a good price. He still has a residence and two acres of land at Old Trivoli, though he makes his home in New Trivoli. In 1874 he bought in with J. Johnson at Trivoli, and they ran a general store under the firm name of Johnson & Wykoff, domg a good business.
When the railroad was talked of, our subject was enthusiastically in favor of it, gave his influence
to aid in bringing it here, and canvassed the town- ship to get up a subscription, and gave all he could afford. The result was that the railroad came here in 1880, and he sold out his interest in the store in Old Trivoli to his partner, and moved to the new town to establish himself in the business here. He went into partnership with Mr. Robinson, put in a new stock of goods in the store he opened here, which he has siuce enlarged, and is prosperously conducting an extensive mercantile business, deal- ing in flour and carrying a large line of everything that is to be found in a general store. For the first four years he was interested in the implement busi- ness here, and also in the grain trade. His partner, Mr. Robinson, retired from business after the first year, and William Christy took his place, and the business was managed under the firm name of Wykoff & Christy until the spring of 1890, when Mr. Christy sold out to Mr. Graham.
Our subject was married in Kickapoo to Miss Thalia Carter, their marriage being solemnized Sep- tember 15. 1874. Mrs. Wykoff is a woman of in- telligeuce and education, and was a school teacher prior to her marriage. She is a native of Michigan and came here when a girl. The pleasant home circle of our subject and his wife is completed by their three children-Levar, Bernard, and Clifton.
Mr. Wykoff was appointed Postmaster of New Trivoli, and served until 1885. Ile has been School Director for years, and is a Grand Army man, be- longing to Daniel MeCook Post, in Elmwood. He is a true-blue Republican. is very prominent in the councils of his party, and has been a delegate to nearly every convention. and for eight years was a member of the Central Committee.
EVI B. PITNEY. residing on Adams Street, Peoria. is in the Revenue service here as storekeeper, and is a most efficient and trusty official. He was born in Licking County, Ohio. November 29, 1825. His parents, Samuel and Sarah (JJones) Pitney, were also natives of that State. The father came to Illinois, and was an honored resident of Hancock County until his
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death, which occurred in 1880 at the advanced age of eighty-one years. The mother of our subject had died in 1852.
Mr. Pitney, of whom we write, passed his early life on a farm, assisting in its management and attending the public schools when they were in session. lIe continued to carry on farming until he went to California in 1859. Hle remained there until 1867, and then retraced his steps to Illinois, coming by way of the Isthmus. After his return he entered the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company for ten years, and then went in the em- ploy of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Rail- road, and was with them until 1889. In that year he was chosen as storekeeper in the United States Revenue service, and his commission for the office was dated in October of that year. He had been a resident of Peoria for some time, locating here in 1884.
Mr. Pitney and Miss Sarah Lewton, a native of Carroll County, Ohio, were united in marriage in the month of September, 1869. Of their three children-Blanch, Willie Arthur and Clyde Hersey -one is now deceased, Willie Arthur, who died in infancy.
Our subject has been a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows for nearly half a cen- tury. His religious views find expression in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a member. Since 1856 he has been a sturdy advocate of the policy of the Republican party. He is a man who is true to his convictions, is loyal in his friendships, and none know him but to accord him the respect due to his years and station.
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G EORGE G. GEIGER. This gentleman is President of the Peoria Pump & Implement Company, located on the corner of Chestnut and Water Streets. The manufactory covers 100x181 feet, now employs twenty-five men, and is fitted with power and first-class machinery. The capacity is now being enlarged, and within the year will be doubled, so that one hundred pumps per day, in addition to other work, will be turned out.
The twelve railroads which enter Peoria will be connected with the establishment by tracks on either side. Wood and chain pumps of all kinds. tubing, water pipes, veranda columns, farm wagon shoveling boards, and wheel-barrows are made, special attention being given to the first article named. The company sells to the jobbing trade from New England to the Coast, keeping men on the road whenever they can keep up with their orders. The pump works were established about twenty-five years ago, but have been under the present management two years, and were incor- porated January 1, 1889, with a capital stock of $30,000. The officers are: G. G. Geiger, Presi- dent; II. R. Geiger, Jr., Secretary and Treasurer.
The subject of this notice was born in Marion, Ohio, October 3, 1850, being a son of Daniel and Margaret (Halvorstott) Geiger. He grew to man- hood in his native place, acquiring an excellent education, after which he worked in a machine- shop at Cincinnati. In May, 1875, he came to Peoria to handle musical goods, and during the past five years has been handling real estate both in Peoria and the West, proving very successful in his operations. He has been a member of different stoek companies, and although still comparatively a young man, has displayed striking qualities as an organizer and controller of business affairs.
In September, 1877, Mr. Geiger received his commission as Captain of a military company. at the head of which he remained three years, being considered by Gov. Cullom one of his best officers. Ilis company was G, Seventh Illinois National Guards, which was of service during the labor troubles and strikes. Capt. Geiger look great in- terest in the organization and discipline of his command, feeling a just pride in their sollierly appearance and conduct. He remained with them a year after the expiration of the regular term of enlistment, when the pressure of private business caused him to resign.
October 2, 1878, the rites of wedlock were cele- brated between G. G. Geiger and Ida J. Bootz. The bride was born in Peoria. in which city her parents, Peter and Lydia Bootz, were early settlers. She received an excellent education, a good school- ing in housewifely arts, and has shown wisdom in
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the care of her household affairs and the training of the children who have come to her. The union has been blest by the birth of five sons and daugh- ters, four of whom survive. They are named re- spectively : Gilbert B., Hattie P., Garland V. and Grace I. Mr. Geiger is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, having taken thirty-two degrees, which are all that the rites bestow, except as an honorary degree to high officials of State or National repute. Mr. and Mrs. Geiger, it is per- haps needless to say, are highly respected and exert an influence which is felt far beyond their own home.
OSEPHI SHOLL. One of the most important industries of Limestone Township, is the de- velopment of coal mines, where veins of the imprisoned sunshine await the pick of the hardy men who bring to the upper world this great agent for heating purposes. The firm of A. Sholl & Sons is the best known in this region, the original member having been the pioneer in the coal busi- ness in the township. He established himself when the demand for coal was very small, enlarging the business as the demand increased, until now he and his sons are the sole proprietors of all the coal lands along the bluffs from Bartonville to Hollis, except a few isolated pieces. The sons-Henry S., James M .. Samuel V. and Joseph, now carry on the busi- ness, the father having retired from active partici- pation. They use the best of hoisting machinery and employ in the neighborhood of one hundred men, eighteen of whom are on regular salary. Their shipping facilities are of the best, as their coal fieldl is accessible to the Peoria & l'ekin Union Railroad, and also to the Toledo. Peoria & Warsaw Railroad.
Our subject is Superintendent of the incline shaft, which has a capacity of fifteen flat cars, or about seventy-five hundred bushels per day, that being the largest output from any mine in the vi- cinity of Peoria. This will be increased as the de- mands require. as their fields contain other exeel- lent veins beside that which they are now working. They are at present taking out from vein No. 4,
which is four feet six inches thick, without a clay seam. Under this lies vein No. 6. and still lower they have one hundred and fifty feet, thirty-eight inches thick, which furnishes coal of a superior quality and is underlaid by a stratum of excellent pottery clay. It is the intention of the firm to open two more mines in the vicinity in the near future.
A market for the most of the produce of A. Sholl & Sons is found in the city of Peoria, they having a yard on South Washington Street, with a clerk and book-keeper constantly in attendance. James Sholl, who has charge of the financial part of the business, is considered one of the best and shrewd- est salesmen in the State. He resides at No. 1001 North Jefferson Street.
Adam Sholl, the father of our subjeet, is a native of Prussia, whence he emigrated to the United States in 1834. He landed at New Orleans, reach- ing Peoria in 1836, near which place he carried on a farm for several years. He also made a business of shipping coal. and a quarter of a century ago es- tablished the business which has grown to such proportions as to employ the best faculties of sev- eral of his descendants, together with quite a large force of employes. He was married in Peoria to Miss Charlotte, daughter of James Monroe, whose history is found elsewhere in this ALBUM. For a number of years Mr. and Mrs. Sholl resided on Jef- ferson Street, then selling out they purchased land in Limestone Township, and took up their abode there. They now have about sixteen hundred acres of farm and mineral lands there, together with a fine property in Pekin, where they now re- side. They have had seven sons and two daughters. five of the family still living.
The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch was reared in Peoria and on the farm in Limestone Township, receiving his early education in the Peo- ria schools and finishing with two and a half years of study in Hedding College. Abingdon. From his youth he has made coal dealing his business and is expert in handling that important article of com- merce.
After his marriage he built a house near the mines on the bluff. afterward moved to the county seat. but finally returned to the country and is now occupying the old homestead on which he has built
yours Truly J.A.Wilkinson
Trucha JE Wilkerson
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a fine residence. He is regarded with much respect by his many acquaintances on account of his high degree of business ability, his excellent education, and above all, for the sterling traits of his char- acter. Hle is liberal in politics, interested in the advancement of education and everything which will tend to the personal welfare and material pros- perity of the citizens of the great commonwealth. HIe and his family support the Baptist Church.
The beautiful home of our subject is presided over by an educated and most estimable lady who was formerly known as Miss Mary E. Jenkins. She is a daughter of George Jenkins, a pioncer of Hollis Township, who for twenty years was a Supervisor and for a long time Chairman of the Board. Miss Jenkins became the wife of our subject December 5, 1861. Their family consists of five sons and one daughter. The oldest son, Raymond P., a young man of excellent education, is now weighmaster at the mines. The second son, Joseph D., is en- gineer of the mines near which he lives with his wife and one child. The third son. Robert Lee, has charge of the farm, in operating which he is as- sisted by his younger brothers, James N. and Arch- ibald E.
D R. JUSTIN H. WILKINSON. Among the retired men of Peoria, who, as old age comes creeping on, can cease from undue anxiety regarding the daily bread, and eu- joy all of the comforts, and many of the luxuries of life in an elegant home, is Dr. Wilkinson, whose portrait with that of his estimable wife is presented on the opposite page. He now has large property interests, having made fortunate investments, and having, in addition to his practice, exercised his financial ability to some extent in other pursuits which added to his means. For thirty years he was engaged in serving humanity through his knowl- edge of medical science. winning a reputation for practical skill in the application of the theories with which his mind is stored, and ever endeavoring to keep abreast of the times in his knowledge regard-
ing all that pertains to the profession which he had chosen.
Dr. Wilkinson is the oldest of ten children born to Joseph and Eliza (IIarlan) Wilkinson, who were natives of Virginia and North Carolina respect- ively. He comes of sturdy stock, the paternal line being English and Welsh, and the maternal ancestors a few generations back having accon panied Penn to America. Of the parental family four daughters and two sons are now living. The birthplace of Dr. Wilkinson was Warren County, Ohio. and his natal day July 20, 1823. At the age of five years he became a resident of Parke County, Ind., where he lived until twenty-five years old. He obtained an excellent education, completing a literary course at Asbury University, Greencastle, Ind., in the Class of '45. He studied medicine with Drs. Allen & Weaver, in Rockville, Ind., at- tended lectures at Louisville, (Ky.,) Medical Col- lege, and after becoming a full fledged physician, in 1848 came to Peoria County, Ill., and estab- lished himself for practice.
Among the pursuits to which Dr. Wilkinson de- voted his attention more especially after retiring from practice in 1879, and in which he invested his capital, were those of farming, merchandising, min- ing, etc. He owns a thousand acres of land, on much of which, in this county, coal mines have been worked for fifteen years. In 1889 Dr. Wilk- inson retired from active life, feeling that his pro- fessional labors of over a quarter of a century had fairly entitled him to rest, to say nothing of the other occupations of long and busy years.
In choosing a life companion, Dr. Wilkinson made a fortunate selection, and for forty years his home has been presided over by a lady of great worth. She bore the maiden name of Isadore E. Edwards, and is a daughter of Thomas and Eleanor (Scott) Edwards. The father of the former was a cousin of Gov. Ninian Edwards, so prominently connected with the history of the Prairie State. Her father was born in a fort at Cold Stream, Hampshire County, Va., where he lived until he came to Illi- nois. He carried on a woolen factory. Ilis death occurred in this State in 1854. The Edwards fam- ily is of English stock, while the maternal grand- father of Mrs. Wilkinson, Samuel Scott by name,
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came from Scotland. The marriage of Doctor and Mrs. Wilkinson took place January 29, 1850, and of this union were born four children, all deceased.
Although released from business cares, Dr. Wilk- inson is by no means an idle man. He finds suffi- cient to occupy him in the literature of the day, in the interests of humanity, and particularly in Sun- day school work, in which he has long been an ac- tive participant. For seven years he was President of the County Sunday-school Association, and he has repeatedly served as a delegate to State Sunday- school Conventions. He and his wife are devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His political views accord with those expressed by the platform of the Republican party, with which he · always casto his vote, although he is not a politi- cian in the ordinary acceptation of that term.
ILLIAM McCORMICK, a successful, en- terprising farmer and public-spirited citi- zen of Trivoli Township, is the fortunate owner of three hundred and twenty-three acres of good farming land here, and several city lots in Peoria. His home farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres on section 20, all tillable, well- fenced, supplied with a good honse, three barns, a windmill, and other necessary buildings, and bean- tified with orchard and groves. The other farm, also well improved and furnished with good build- ings, comprises one hundred and sixty-three acres on sections 32 and 33.
Mr. McCormick is descended from the sturdy Scotch, who found a refuge in County Antrim. Ire- land.during religious persecutions in their own land. His grandfather and his father who bore the same given name, Alexander, were natives of the Emer- ald Isle, and farmers in the vicinity of Carlyles. His father was also a weaver by trade, doing cus- tom work. He sold his farm, and in 1865 emi- grated to America, locating in Central Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his life, breathing his last in 1880. Following the example and teach- ings of his forefathers, he was a stanch member of the Presbyterian Church. Ilis wife, formerly Jane
McGugen, a native of the same county as himself, was of English and Scotch descent. She survived until 1884. when she too crossed the river of death.
The parental family consisted of eight children, our subject being the first-born. James, the sec- ond son and child, died in Philadelphia; Mrs. Rose Taggart died in Knox County, this State, September 27,1884; Mrs. Martha McKenney resides in Phil- adelphia; Mrs. Mary Clark is living in Nebraska; Catherine lives in Philadelphia; Mrs. Rachel Ray is a resident of Nebraska; Mrs. Maggie Housholder lives in Iowa.
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