Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 25

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1014

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 25

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G EORGE V. YATES is the son of a pioneer farmer of this connty, and since attaining manhood has become connected with its interests as a farmer and stock-raiser, owning and occupying a productive, well tilled farm on sec- tion 34, Akron Township. His parents, John and Eleanor ( Miller) Yates, were natives of West Vir- · ginia, the former born in Ohio County. They spent the early part of their married life in that county, and from there emigrated to this county in 1849, and settled among the pioneers of Rad- nor Township. There they lived some twenty years and then removed to Akron Township, where the father's earthly career was brought to a close in the month of March, 1879. The mother still survives at a venerable age. To that worthy couple six children were born, all of whom lived to years of maturity.

The subject of this biographical review was the youngest child in the parental family, and he was born on the 13th of March, 1844, in Ohio County, W. Va., when that State still formed a part of the Old Dominion. He was but five years of age when his parents came to Peoria County, therefore the most of his life has been passed within its bounds, and he was reared under its institutions and edu- cated in its schools. He was bred to the honorable calling of a farmer, and has made that vocation his life work. llis agricultural interests are cen- tered in Akron Township, and he is managing them judiciously and with good success.

In the upbuilding of a home onr subject is greatly aided by his wife, formerly Hattie M. Dun- lap, daughter of Napoleon Dunlap, of Radnor 'Township. of whom see sketch on another page of this work. She was born in Radnor Township, October 15, 1852. and was carefully trained and edueated by her parents. Her marriage with our subject was duly solemnized December 18, 1873,

towns July paris Deal

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and to them have come four children, as follows: Myrtie M., who died when eight months old; Charles C .. Alma R. and Ernest E.

Mr. Yates .s a fair-minded, honorable man, steady and industrious in his habits, and in him and his good wife the Presbyterian Church finds two of its most worthy members. who delight to aid in its every good work.

AMES DEAL. Perhaps no name is better known in Peoria than that which initiates this sketch, and which is held by a general contractor and builder, whose portrait ap- pears on the opposite page, and who is also a member of the firm of James Deal & Co., builders of grain elevators here. Many of the finest build- ings in the city were designed and constructed by Mr. Deal, although his work has been by no means confined to this city, but includes public buildings in various localities. He is a native of Vermont, born in Burlington, Wednesday, October 11, 1848, and is the eldest son of Adam and Elizabeth (Hlogan ) Deal. natives of Canada and the North of Ireland respectively. The father was a contractor, and he of whom we write inherits mechanical and architectural skill which he has developed by care- ful training. Ilis parents removed to Vermont, in which State they were living when called to join the silent majority.

The subject of this notice drifted west to An- rora. Ill., in boyhood, and there passed his school days. On reaching his sixteenth year he began to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of three years. After comple- ting his time he traveled and worked at his trade as an employe a short time, and then, associating himself with Stephen Parry, began contracting. In 1865 he located in Peoria, where his reputation as a skillful artisan and an able designer has led to his having the contracts for the best buildings here during the last decade.

Among the edifices which have been put up by Mr. Deal are the National Hotel, the Watson Block, the Paddock Block, the County Insane

Asylum, and all of the costly buildings which have been erected on the State Fair Grounds at Peoria. Many wholesale business houses and elegant resi- dences are monuments to his skill, the most impo- sing of all being the Woolner Block, now being pushed to completion, which is expected to be the finest in the city. Mr. Deal was also interested in building the State I'niversity at Carbondale. the County Poorhouse, ,and the Insane Asylum at Carthage.

In September, 1869, Mr. Deal was united in mar- riage with Miss Fanny Benson, of Peoria, who was killed in the Chatsworth disaster in 1887, leaving three children-William, Frank and Belle. Ile contracted a second matrimonial alliance April 5, 1888, on which occasion his bride was Miss Nellie Harsch, likewise of Peoria. This lady is a favorite in society, and in her own home exhibits the character and skill of the true home-keeper.

It will readily be seen that Mr. Deal possesses a benevolent spirit and social nature, when the fact is stated that he belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Modern Woodmen, Royal Le- gion and various Masonic lodges. He is enrolled in Temple Lodge, No. 46, F. & A. M., and also in the Chapter, Commandery and Consistory. For six years he served as a member of the School Board. He owns and occupies a pleasant resi- dence at No. 400 North Adams Street, where his many friends are cordially welcomed by himself and his charming wife.

OHN L CLARK. Too great honor cannot be given to those who develop the mind and train the heart of the young, and it affords us pleasure to assist in preserving the record of this gentleman, whose highest claim to future remembrance rests upon his long years of pedagog- ical labor. Many of his former pupils exchanged his instructions for a place at the head of schools where they, in turn, transmitted the truths of sci- ence and morality to the boys and girls in whom the hope of the nation lies, thus giving rise to the familiar name of "Teacher of Teachers" by which

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our subject is known to many. His present home is on a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sections 26 and 36, Trivoli Township, although he has retired from hard labor of body and mind, finding great delight in the care of his garden and otherwise enjoying the ease and comfort due after years well spent.

Mr. Clark was born in Argyle, Washington Connty, N. Y., April 6, 1815, was three years old when his parents removed to Livingston County, where they lived until 1821, then journeyed by team to Buffalo. thence by boat to Monroe County, Mich., remaining there until the father was called hence two years later. The widow with her family then went to Lenawee County, bought one hundred and ten acres of land in the dense forest, where our subject labored at clearing and other home duties so long as his strength would permit. He had been ill before his father died, and the ague kept a hold upon him until he hecame too reduced to endure hard work, and developed into serious complaints. The timber on the farm was black walnut of the finest kind and the Raisin River afforded a con- venient means of transportation for the logs that floated down to the sawmills.

Being unable to aid upon the farm, Mr. Clark went to Caledonia, N. Y., to a brother and sister, and attended the village school for a while, then, having heard of an old physician in West Avon from whom it was thought he might derive some benefit, he went there, making his home with the doctor while taking treatment and at the same time pursuing his studies in the academy. Ilis treat- ment had almost effected a cure, although he never wholly recovered from the effects of his early ill- health. When twenty years old he began teaching, his first school being a winter one at Leroy. At its close he returned to Michigan, and secured a school at Dundee, but in the fall took the position of book-keeper and commissary for his brothers, who had a contract of sixteen miles of the Michigan Southern Railroad, and wished his services.

After working for them two years, Mr. Clark re- turned to the Empire State, drawn thither by the charms of Miss Rachel Rogers, whom he won for his wife, their wedding taking place in Livingston County, June 3, 1840, the ceremony being performed

by the Rev. Mr. Fisher, a Covenanter minister. The bride was born in Washington County, her fa- ther, David Rogers, being a descendant of the John Rogers who was persecuted and burned at the stake for his principles in the days when Mary, Queen of Scots, upheld Catholicism by force. The mother of the bride was Mary Mills, who bore her husband a large family, most of the male portion of whom moved West and became farmers in Wisconsin.

Mr. and Mrs. Clark came to Michigan, where, not long after, the wife was left while our subject visited Illinois. He crossed the lake to Cleveland, Ohio, went by stage to Columbus, and started on the canal to Sparta, Randolph County, Ill. The boat traveled so slowly that he and a nephew struck out on foot for Peoria, four hundred and forty miles distant. During the winter he taught in the village of Trivoli. then went after his wife, and also brought with him on his return, a brother, Ben- jamin, making the trip by wagon. He settled in Smithville, teaching there three years and a half when politics became a source of excitement, and a Democrat was put in charge of the school, our sub- ject being a strong Whig.

Our subject bought forty acres of raw land near the village, built a dwelling and undertook other improvements. The patrons of the school desired him to resume charge after his successor had held the place one term, and he accordingly returned to his former position, and continued his labors until the death of his companion, August 13, 1845. Leaving the place then, Mr. Clark taught in Mercer County, then in Greenfield, Greene County, and after some time went to Michigan, where August 1,1848, be contracted a second matrimonial alliance, wedding Miss Laura M. McManus. This lady was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., and receiving an invitation came to the home of a sister in Mich- igan, filling a position as a teacher in both Lenawee and Monroe Counties; she was also a successful teacher in the neighborhood of her uncle in Ohio. After his second marriage Mr. Clark came back to this county, continuing his pedagogical labors in various districts for divers periods, giving the sum- mers, for a few years, to work upon a farm he had hought, and at last tired of the continual change from farm labor to school turned bis entire atten-

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tion to farming. In 1853, he secured by trade eighty acres of his present farm, afterward buying another tract of one hundred and sixty, but sold half of it, leaving in his possession a quarter sec- tion. His wife had charge of this until he aban- doned the profession in which he had labored so long and so well. He operated it until the death of his wife, December 22, 1882, when he left it and for some time afterward made his home with his children in Missouri, Iowa and in Livingston County, Ill.

At Peoria, March 4, 1889, Mr. Clark was again married, winning as his wife Mrs. Mary J. (Mc- Clelland) Davis. This lady was born in the North of Ireland, reared there and highly educated. When a young woman she came to America with a sister, becoming matron of an institution for the education of negro children in New York City, in which her sister also taught. For twenty five years she held her place at the head of this institution, then mar- ried her first husband, who had at one time been principal of the institute and whose acquaintance she had made there. He had resigned and moved to Michigan, and losing the companion of his early years, some years after her death married Miss Mc- Clelland. They went to England where he died two years later, when the widow returned to New York and was offered the position she had held prior to her marriage. Illness prevented her as- suming its duties and she came West to visit a sister, coming to the home of her nephew, W. A. Huston, in this county, where she met the subject of our sketch when he was looking after his farm property here.

By his first marriage Mr. Clark became the fa- ther of three children. Isabella is now living in Adair County, Iowa; she married George Walford, who was drowned. Martha E., formerly a teacher in this State and Missouri, now 'lives in the latter, being the wife of I. J. Bitler a farmer. Rachel R. died in infancy in 1845. The second marriage of our subject was productive to him of two children. Sarah C. attended Monmouth College, married Simeon Wright and died in Texas leaving an in- fant son who still survives. Homer J. lives in Liv- ingston County, being editor and joint proprietor of the Pontiac Sentinel; he also attended Mon-

mouth College, was a teacher and was performing the duties of Principal of Gibson City High School when the editor of the Gibson City Courier desired him to manage the sheet a week while he took a vacation; he did so and sometime after the return of the owner formed a partnership with him in buying out the Pontiac Sentinel and running it un- der the style of Lowry & Clark.

Our subject joined the Presbyterian Church when fifteen years old and has been Ruling Elder since 1843. He has also been Superintendent of the Sunday-school, and is now teaching the Bible Class at Pennsylvania Ridge, In politics he has been a true blue Republican since the disintegration of the old Whig party. Ilis farm is well improved, having two dwellings, adequate outbuildings of various kinds, fences, trees, etc., to mark it as a home of plenty. In manners and conversational powers Mr. Clark is pleasing, intelligent-in fact quite cul- tured, and cordial, making it a great pleasure to converse with him.

The father of our subject was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, May 10, 1764. He came to New York with his parents in 1771, receiving a good education, in common with his brother and sisters, and studied medicine. IIe graduated from an allopathic school in the Empire State, engaged in the practice of medicine in Argyle, N. Y. Going into speculation he lost all his property, more than once, but after each reverse would resume his profession with suc- cessful results. He prospected for gold also, spend- ing much money in that way. After living for some years in Livingston County, he located in Michi- gan, first spending a year in Monroe and then practicing in Raisinville until his death in 1823. He and his brother Robert were both Presbyterian in religion, and belonged to the Free and Accepted Masons.

The mother of our subject was Isabella Camp- bell, a native of Argyle, N. Y .; she died in Michi- gan, near Deerfield. She was the mother of fifteen children, whose record is as follows: Eleanor died in New York July 21, 1820 aged twenty-nine years; Margaret was thrown from a horse, having her neck broken, in Blissfield, Mich .; Robert died in Randolph County. Ill., in 1842; James R. died in Minnesota in 1882, aged eiglity-six years; Cather .

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ine in Randolph County, Ill., in 1837; Jane in Deerfield, Mich., in 1836, aged thirty-four years; William C., January 28. 1849. aged forty-four; Elizabeth in infaney; Benjamin in Michigan in 1869, aged sixty-two years; Daniel in Michigan ; Ebene- zer, in Washington County, N. Y., aged two years ; Eliza, in Caledonia, N. Y., in 1840; Sally Maria in Missouri in 1879; Martha G. in Caledonia, N. Y., aged twenty-nine years. Robert was in the War of 1812, and Daniel in the Black Hawk War. Robert was a physician, finally becoming quite rich and prominent, and died near Sparta, Randolph County, Ill. Robert, brother of our subject's fa- ther was elected to Congress about the year 1817, where he as early in the history of our country as this, by his fearless utteranees on the subject of slavery as the destined curse of our land, proves himself to have been a strong abolitionist. After his term of service in Congress expired he was ap- pointed Government Land Agent, and by his wise trading soon became quite rich and prominent. He died near Monroe. Mieh .. leaving a large family in opulent circumstances.

LBERTUS Y. BARTHOLEMEW. Peoria County has but few more able, talented men of business connected with its im- mense farming and stoek-growing inter- ests, than this genthinan. Elmwood Township, the scene of his agricultural enterprises and va- rious pursuits has in him a valuable citizen whose liberal, progressive public spirit has placed him among the foremost in pushing forward every en- terprise for its advancement, and no one has done more in plaeing it in the front rank of its sister townships than he. Ile owns a large farm, which is considered one of the finest in this locality, but it does not suffice him for his extensive business, as a raiser of cattle, hogs, horses and mules, and he leases five hundred aeres besides.

Our subject is a fine representative of a native- born citizen of this county and township, Febru- ary 26, 1838, being the date of his birth. He came of fine old New England parentage. Ilis

father, Luzerne Bartholemew, was a native of Connecticut, and emigrated from there to Illinois in 1837, eoming all the way in a covered wagon. He settled on a farm on seetion 6, building a log house to shelter his family. He bought three eighties, and later erected substantial buildings on his place, among them a comfortable residence, treadmill. windmill and woolen mill. He was a man of in- finite resources and equally expert in various eall- ings. Besides being a skillful farmer he was a fine machinist, a successful boot and shoe mer- chant, and also butehered eattle, shipping the pre- pared meat in barrels to New Orleans on flat boats. In 1848 he crossed the plains to Califor- nia with a company of emigrants. Ile was made the Captain of this band, driven thither by the gold fever. While in California he captured a grizzly bear, weighing about two thousand pounds. After coming home he exhibited the bear through- out the United States, in East and Southern Canada, and in the fall of 1856 made a trip to Europe, ex- hibiting the bear in all the leading eities.

During all these travels our subjeet was his father's companion, being thus enabled to gain a fair knowledge of the world. Upon their return home they disposed of the bear in Brandon, Vt., for the sum of $10,000. Subsequently, while on a visit to Connecticut in 1866 the father died. lle was twiee married. His first wife was the mother of our subject, and, like his father, was a native of Connecticut. Her maiden name was Betsey Yale, and she was a descendant of the fa- mons Yale family of that State. She was a highly educated woman, possessing great literary talent and writing both prose and poetry with facility. She had three children, of whom our subjeet is the only survivor. John B. was a soldier in the Eighth Missouri Infantry, and after a service of nearly three years bravely yielded up his life in the service of his country at the siege of Vieks- burg. Sarah Helen died at the age of eighteen years.

Our subject gained the preliminaries of his edu- eation in the district school. and subsequently pur- sued an excellent course of study in the Galesburg Academy, never attending sehool but six months after he was sixteen years old. He began life for

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himself by working for his unele in a hardware store at $10 per month, his salary being raised to $50 per month in 1859. He subsequently clerked in a dry-goods store for Cone & Wilcox for one season. Hle then returned to his uncle and was engaged in putting up lightinng rods, etc., for one season. After that he was variously employed in farming, shelling corn and threshing, and also in raising stock.

Mr. Bartholomew began his farming operations with an eighty-acre tract of half improved land, and has done so well in its cultivation that he has been enabled to buy more and now he has three hundred and sixty-eight acres of land under good tillage and highly improved in every respect, so that it is justly considered the most desirable stock in the township. As before mentioned he is largely engaged in raising stock and has acquired wealth in his dealings. At one time he sold six car loads of cattle which averaged over $80 per head.

By his marriage to Miss Mary Ennis, which was solemnized May 15, 1862, Mr. Bartholemew secured a wife who is devoted to his interests and has greatly aided him in the procurement of his prop- erty. She is a daughter of John and Sarah (Loomis) Ennis. natives respectively of New York and Connecticut.

Mr. and Mrs. Bartholemew's congenial married life has been blest to them by the birth of six children: John B., a manufacturer, of Des Moines. Iowa, who married Louella Moore, of Os- . kaloosa, and they have two children; Orie Y., a graduate of Knox College, and poet of the class of 1888, now book-keeper for the Peoria Planter Works. making his home in Des Moines; Lura HI., also a graduate of Knox College, and class histo- rian, is now assistant Principal of the Elmwood High School; Charles A., a young business man of Elmwood, is a manufacturer of peanut and coffee roasters and also has a brass foundry; Carrie Maud and Bessie Alice.

Mr. Bartholemew is a noble-spirited, high- minded, generous-hearted man of exemplary habits whose course both in public and private life is be- yond reproach, and he and his wife and their fam- ily stand high in the social circles of the county,

their hospitality, their kindness and cordiality ren- (lering their charming home in the town of Elm- wood very attractive to all who enter within its gates. For the past four years our subject has represented Elmwood Township on the County Board of Supervisors, and has been otherwise con- nected with the local government as member of the City Council, and on the School Board and as Road Commissioner. As an incumbent of the im- portant office of Supervisor, he has looked care- fully after the interests of his township, and his rare capacity for business has been well illustrated by the masterly manner in which he conducted the case of the bondholders vs. the township, in the snit brought by the owners of the bonds issued by the township to build the Hannibal, Peoria & Dixon Railroad. The amount of money involved in the litigation was $170,000, and after a great deal of controversy in the courts our subject was instrumental in bringing the suit to a close by effecting a settlement of the claim for $115,000, and on the issue of new bonds he placed them on the market at a premium. Mr. Bartholemew is a strong Republican and takes a deep interest in politics. ITe and his wife and their three eldest children are among the prominent members of the Congregational Church, of which he is a Trustee, and Mrs. Bartholemew has been active in the sun- day-school work as a teacher.

ILLIAM EASTON. Among the residents of Chillicothe, who have laid down the bur- dens of life after extended and successful labors, is numbered William Easton, who breathed his last March 7, 1890. For some years prior to his death, he had been quietly enjoying the fruits of his former industry, rejoicing in the good will of a large circle of acquaintances, and filling up the measure of his days with good works. lle was eighty-two years and ten months old when called hence, having been born in Newark, N. J., May 7. 1807.

The father of our subject was William Easton. Sr., a man of English birth and descent, who came

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to America when a young man. He made his home in New Jersey, but continued the seafaring life in which he had previously expended his energies. He was killed by falling from some part of the vessel on which he sailed, when in the prime of life, and when our subject was but two years of age. lle had married an American lady-Mrs. Elizabeth Slaght nee Drake-who was reared in New Jersey. Her first husband Cornelius Slaght, died in the prime of life, leaving four sons and one daughter, all of whom are now deceased. Some of their de- scendants were early settlers in Cleveland, Ohio, and there became rich and prominent. The mother of our subject lived to be ninety years old, dying in Newark, N. J., which had been her home for many long years.

William Easton, Jr .. remained with his mother until he was ten years old, then became an inmate of the household of his half-brother, Abraham Slaght, in Cleveland, Ohio. When old enough to do so, he went to work in the carpenter and ship yards, learning the use of tools. In 1836 he came to Illinois, having but $1 in his pocket, his pre- vious accumulations having been lost to him by going security for friends in Ohio. Peoria County was but sparsely settled, much of the land being yet unbroken, but here Mr. Easton set himself to work to make a home. He secured a tract of un- broken land in Hallock Township, and surrounded by a wild waste of territory, he established himself and began the labors which resulted in securing a large property. For some years he worked at his trade, hoarding his resources, and gradually im- proving and adding to his landed estate. A part of the fine property which he accumulated is now owned by his widow.

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Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 25

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1014

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1014