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 26
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116
Mr. Easton was a strong Republican, ever ready to serve his party, but never seeking office for him- self. lle, however. was made Justice of the Peace. and retained in that office for fifteen years. He was a Universalist in religion, and the fortunate possessor of a nature combining so many pleasing attributes that all who became acquainted with him regarded him with affection.
The first marriage of Mr. Easton was celebrated in Cleveland, Ohio, a short time before his removal to the Prairie State. The lady whom he won was
Miss Sophia Lake, who belonged to an excellent family in Ohio, and had grown to maturity under the charge of estimable parents. She died in 1838, two years after accompanying her husband to this county, being carried off in the prime of life by consumption. She left no offspring. The second wife of our subject was Miss Sarah Hicks, a native of New York, who came to Illinois with her par- ents when quite young. She was educated in Peo- ria County, fitted for usefulness, and bore well her part in life until called hence in 1872. She died at her home in Hallock Township, in middle life. leaving three sons-Stephen, William D., and Joel I.
Stephen Easton gave his life for his country's cause. being fatally wounded at the battle of Chick- asaw Mountain. He lies in a soldier's grave at Marietta, Ga. His brother William also devoted some years to the service of his country, and was finally discharged on account of disability, return- ing to his home, where he soon afterward died from disease contracted while in the army. Both these were unmarried. Joel is now living in Creston, Iowa, with his wife and family.
Our subject contracted a third matrimonial alli- ance in 1874, at LaPrairie, Marshall County. his bride being Miss Isabel M. Jones. This lady is a daughter of Edwin and Emily (Root) Jones, na- tives respectively of Uniontown, Pa., and Delaware County. N. Y. Mr. Jones was of Welsh parentage, while his wife was of English descent. They were married in the Buckeye State, and began their mar- ried life in Findlay, where Mr. Jones worked as a tanner. In 1831 he removed with his family to Peoria County, Ill., laboring among the pioneers until 1844. when he settled in Marshall County on a farm. He spent the remnant of his days there, dying in 1884, when seventy-nine years old. While in Peoria County, he carried on a small store, one of the first in Chillicothe, and as one of the first County Commissioners he helped to buy and lay out the city of Peoria. He was a prominent local politician in the ranks of the Republican party. In Marshall County he held the office of Justice of the Peace some years. He was a prominent mem- ber of the Christian Church. Mrs. Jones is still living. making her home with her daughter, Mrs.
Walter Stewart
263
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
Easton. She is now eighty-three years of age, is sightless, but her mental faculties are undimmed by the flight of years.
Mrs. Isabel (Jones) Easton, was born in Findlay, Ohio, June 30, 1831, and received the most care- ful home training from her good parents. Her education was acquired at Eureka, Ill., and in other places, her mind being thoroughly cultured, and her memory stored with knowledge. For some time she was engaged in teaching in Peoria and in Marshall County, gaining a high standing among the members of her profession. Her many accom- plishments and refined nature make her a leader in society, and she has long been known as one of the most influential and useful ladies in this commu- nity.
R OBERT A. STEWART, a native of this county, and a representative of an early pioneer family, is one of the foremost citi- zens of Logan Township, who, besides ac- tively aiding his fellow farmers in sustaining and extending the great agricultural interest of this lo- cality, is pre-eminent in its public and political life.
Our subject was born on the old homestead on section 5, Timber Township, April 20, 1856. He is a son of the late Walter and Nancy E. (Turbett) Stewart, who were natives respectively of Wash- ington County, N. Y., and Fairfield County, Ohio, the former born february 21, 1813, and the latter July 30, 1824. He was a son of James and Sarah (McCoy ) Stewart, who were born and reared in New York, where the father carried on farming. The grandfather of our subject was a son of Walter Stewart who came of an old Scotch family, and was born near Edinboro, Scotland. He emigrated to this country in Colonial days and settled among the pioneers of Salem, N. Y., where he spent the re- mainder of his life. He was a member of the first church of United Presbyterians organized in that town. Ile had three sons-George, Robert and James, all of whom married and reared families, and each named a son Walter, in his honor.
James Stewart, removed with his family from his native State in 1837, to this county, the fami-
lies of Christian Schnyder and Joseph Hunt ac- companying him. He made his home in Timber Township from that time until his death September 2, 1854, at the age of sixty-four years, when a use- ful pioneer was removed from the community. Ilis wife survived him until 1858, when she too died. The following is the record of the ten children that they reared: George, born March 5, 1810; Agnes, June 24, 1811 ; Walter, February 21, 1813; Wil- liam, September 6, 1815; James, October 17, 1817; Eunice, February 17, 1820; Isabelle, December 4, 1821 ; Esther, June 22, 1825; Sarah, December 4, 1827; Jane, November 1, 1831 ; all of whom reared families excepting William, and all settled in Peoria County. Their parents were members of the Uni- ted Presbyterian Church and were stanch adherents of that faith.
The mother of our subject was a daughter of Jolin and Nancy (Beaty) Turbett, who were natives of Juniata County, Pa. He was a son of Col. Thomas and Jane (Wilson) Turbett, natives re- spectively of Ireland and Scotland. They were the parents of the following children : John, James, Thomas. George, Stewart, William, Nancy, Mary, Esther and Priscilla. John was the only one who ever came to Illinois. When he was a young man, he left his native State and went to Ohio, where he was married. He was one of the pioneers of the State, going there as early as 1812. Sometime after marriage, he and his family settled in Fayette County, Ohio, about 1828, and in the fall of 1840, came from there to Logan Township. He was a tanner by occupation. ITis death occurred here in the month of January, 1847, at the age of sixty- four. He and his wife reared a family of ten chil- dren.
Walter Stewart, the father of our subject. came to Illinois with his parents in the month of July, 1837. He entered one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 5, Timber Township, developed it into a farm, and made it his home until his death of paralysis December 20, 1878. He accumulated valuable property, and at the time of his demise. owned five hundred and eight acres of land which was divided into three fine farms. When he came here, he had only his team and $100 in money. IIe was a conspicuous figure in the publie life of town-
264
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM
ship and county, and served six years as Collector, and for several terms. represented the township on the County Board of Supervisors. In politics he was a stalwart Democrat. while in religion. he was a Presbyterian, he and his wife belonging to the United Presbyterian Church and liberally contrib- uting to its support. They reared five sons, named as follows: James H., John T .. Robert A., George B. and William W.
Robert Stewart, grew to man's estate on the pa- rental homestead and gleaned his education in the local schools. When he arrived at the years of dis- cretion. he adopted the calling of a farmer and continued to live with his mother, and with his youngest brother actively carried on the home farm. 1n 1881, he removed to his present home on section 23, of Logan Township, and here he has a farm of one hundred and twenty-eight acres that is in an admirable condition, he has a set of commodi- ous, well-fitted up buildings, and the soil is well tilled.
A young man of sound understanding and pro- gressive spirit, our subject is not permitted by his fellow-citizens to devote his whole time to his pri- vate interests but is often called upon to take a prominent part in the management of public affairs. In the spring of 1887-1888, he was elected Super- visor. and so well did he represent the township on the County Board, he was re elected to that posi- tion in 1890. In politics he is an ardent Democrat and his popularity is very well shown when it is noted that he was the first Democrat in this town- ship elected to the important office of Supervisor for thirty years, and notwithstanding the fact that the opposing party was stronger by seventy, he was elected by a majority of nineteen.
ARK M. AIKEN. This gentleman bears the distinction of being one of the oldest residents of Peoria now living. having set- tled here October 28, 1833. and here he has since made his home, comprising a residence for the long period of fifty-seven years. lle has watched the growth of the city with unalloyed sat- isfaction, and has contributed as he was able in ad- vancing its prosperity.
The Aiken family is of New England antece- dents, and the subject of this notice was born June 21, 1808, in the town of Deering, Hillsboro County, N. H. Ile is thus approaching the eighty-third year of his age, and forms one of the old land- marks of Peoria, whose name will be held in kindly remembrance long after he has been gathered to his fathers. His parents were Nathaniel and Su- sannah ( Morrill) Aiken, the former of whom was a farmer by occupation, and died 1833; the mother died October 29. 1829. The parental family con- sisted of four children, two of whom are living, our subject, and Mrs. Childs, of Evanston, Ill.
Mr. Aiken remained with his parents until a youth of sixteen years, then went to New York City to live with his uncle, Elisha Morrill. Not long afterward he entered the employ of J. & J. Harper, the original of the great firm of Harper Bros., and entered upon an apprenticeship in the book publishing business. Some years after this was completed, however. he was seized with the desire to push on further westward, and we next find him in Peoria. Soon after locating here in 1833. lie formed a partnership with George C. Bestor, and they engaged in a general land office business.
Mr. Aiken bad purchased land prior to coming here, when Peoria was a little straggling town com- prised of a few rude structures along the river. He was prospered in his business enterprise, and after dissolving partnership with Mr. Bestor, associated himself with his cousin. Elisha Morrill, of New Hampshire. and they prosecuted a successful busi- ness for some years until his death in 1881.
Mr. Aiken has been a liberal-minded and pro- gressive citizen, taking a prominent part in poli- tics, and giving his support to the Republican party. He served as Assessor, and as a member of the Board of Health, and identified himself with the Congregational Church, because it was anti- slavery from the beginning. During war times he was a stanch Abolitionist, promulgating his princi- ples at every opportunity, and was one of the most active supporters of Abraham Lincoln and the Union. Ile has cause for a reasonable amount of sat- isfaction in his declining years as he may properly feel that his labors and influence in behalf of truth and the right have by no means been in vain.
1
De S. anderson
267
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
b ORACE G. ANDERSON. A visitor to Peoria, in noting the fine buildings which adorn its residence streets, will find at No. 210, Moss Avenue, an elegant home whose pre eminenee consists in the wide and beautiful view which it commands. The entire city of Peoria, the town of l'ekin, and a diversified landscape ex. tending far into Tazewell County, are to be seen from one side, while another view includes the steamers plying on the river for a distance of five miles; from the porch in the rear a beautiful view is given of the fertile region whose beauties of field and forest, lake and stream, make this section of the Prairie State a veritable paradise.
The substantial residence has been the home of Horace G. Anderson for a quarter of a century and during this time the place has taken on the charac- ter of its occupants, as will be noticed in all homes worthy of the name. Its walls have resounded to the many tones of childish voices, to the sounds which betoken the recreations and pursuits of youth, and to all which goes to make up the enjoyment of cultured manhood and womanhood. For some years it has been known as a center from which refine- ment and culture spread and elevating influences are shed abroad. The owner of this place has re- tired from active business pursuits after years of enterprise during which he was prominently identi- fied with various educational and social elements of the city, as well as with more than one line of its financial interests.
The natal day of Mr. Anderson was September 13, 1822, and his birthplace Chautauqua County, N. Y. His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Taylor) Anderson, came to what is now Will County, III., when the lad was ten years old, their home being made five miles north of Joliet. After sojourning there seven years they removed to DuPage County, where our subject completed the years of youth and attained his majority. He then left home to engage in teaching, afterward becoming a clerk in Aurora, Chicago, Lockport, and Sheboygan, Wis.
In June, 1848, Mr. Anderson came to Peoria, establishing himself on Water Street, in the lumber business and continuing in that line until 1861. IIe then sold out and took hold of the Peoria Pot- tery which he carried on for two years, then buy-
ing the City Foundry & Machine Shop, conducted it successfully six years. llis next business enter- prise was a jobbing trade in hats and caps in which he embarked in 1872. He was engaged in that business when the Governor appointed him Canal Commissioner, and he devoted himself to the duties of his office four years. During that time the Copperas Creek lock and dam was well started, the lock being three hundred and fifty feet long and fifty feet in width of cut stone. The next public appointment of Mr. Anderson was as United States Ganger, in which he served seven years. Since the expiration of his term of office he has not been engaged in any business enterprise, but busies bim- self with the care of his estate and the enjoyment of home and social life.
Mr. Anderson has held the position of Alder- man, representing both the Fourth and Seventh Wards. He has also been County Supervisor and it was during his term of office that the present courthouse was planned and begun. A building committee, of which he was a member, had been appointed to submit a plan to the Board and the ontline plan of the building which is now one of the prides of Peoria, was drawn and submitted by him. The court house is a model of convenience and artistic beauty, being well lighted, roomy and appropriately adorned. Although not an archi- tect, Mr. Anderson had made plans for other build- ings, among them the Second Ward school and Donglas school, for which his designs were accepted as the best placed before the committee.
For a number of years Mr. Anderson served on the School Board, during that time being instru- mental in the erection of the first High School build- ing. Ile was a Director of the First National Bank at its organization and for some years thereafter. Ile has been connected with other corporations, but not as a Director. For many years he has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd-Fel- lows. He served in the Grand Lodge of Illinois for five or six terms, was Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of the United States, from the Grand Encampment of Illinois, two years, and for an equal length of time was Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment of Illinois. For a few years past he has not been particularly active in the or
268
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
der. He purchased his present residence property in 1852, owning it until the location of the college near him, when he sold, but only to purchase it back again in a short time.
Mr. Anderson was fortunate in securing for his wife a woman of fine character, brilliant mind and pleasing domestic qualities. She was born in Erie County. N. Y., June 12, 1829, bore the maiden name of Melinda Arnold, and became the wife of our subject September 20, 1852. To this union have come eight children, seven of whom are living. They are Samuel A., now engaged in the rolling mill at Kewanee, Ill .; Emeline, wife of J. E. Hol- comb of Rockefeller, Lake County ; Iloraee G., a physician in South Chicago; Zoa F. at home; Eliza- beth I). also at home; Robert W. in the planing mill business in Peoria, and Sophia M. who is still with her parents. All have been given fine edu- cational advantages, among the means taken by their father having been that of keeping a German teacher in the house for eleven years. Miss Zoa having evinced an especial talent for music, was sent to Germany to complete her studies in that artistic branch and remained abroad two years. She is the finest musician in Peoria, whose citizens are proud of her ability, deeming her skill a credit to their city.
The reader will be pleased to notice, in connec- tion with this sketch, a lithographie portrait of Mr. Anderson, whose lineaments are familiar to all the citizens of Peoria.
UGUSTUS STOWELL was but a boy when his parents brought him to this State. The family first settled in Hancock County, and resided about two years. In 1846 they removed to Knox County and lived in Truro Township for a time, and then left that county, some members of the family going to Utah and others going to Kan- sas, where Mrs. Laura Baker, the sister of our sub- ject, was killed in a cyelone.
Mı. Stowell was reared to the life of a farmer and remained on a farm until his twentieth year, at which time he began to learn the harness-making
trade in Pekin. He served an apprenticeship of less than two years and acquired an excellent prac- tical knowledge of his calling. In 1850 our subject opened a harness-shop in Rochester, without means but good credit, and successfully carried on a busi- ness there for some six years and cleared, above all expenses, $1,000, bnt owing to the confinement undermining his health he concluded to again de- vote himself to the calling to which he had been bred, and, accordingly, went to St. Croix County, Wis., where he was steadily engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1869. In that year he made another move and selected Rochester as his place of abode. In the following spring of 1870 he came to Mill- brook Township, and located on his present farm. Ile owns two hundred and sixty acres of land, two hundred and forty acres lying in a body in Mill- brook Township, and twenty acres in Princeville Township. He has virtually made his farm what it is to-day, and by the hard work that he bestowed upon it has placed it among the best class of farms in this vicinity.
Mr. Stowell was married, in the month of Octo- ber, 1850, to Amy J. Ilull, a daughter of Isaac and Calista (Knight) Hull. Mr. and Mrs. Stowell have had seven children, of whom the following six are living: Nathan A., in Wilson County, Kan. ; Will- iam W., in David City, Neb .; Isaac M., in Mill- brook Township; Elvira J., at home; Maria, wife of Albert Miller, of Princeville Township; Alice, wife of Joseph 11. Miller, of David City, Neb. One child died early in life.
It will be seen in the perusal of this sketch that our subject is a prominent member of the farming community of this county, that is doing so much to sustain and extend the material prosperity of this part of the State of Illinois. Ile is very skill- ful in his calling, bringing a elear brain and a thoughtful mind to bear upon the problems that confront the farmer who would till the soil after the most approved methods, and his extensive practical knowledge of his calling, his sagacious management of his affairs, and his active enterprise have gained him a substantial place among the well- to-do citizens of this vieinity. For fourteen years he served as School Director, being well qualified for that position, and has always interested himself
269
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
in educational and other public matters, contribut- ing generously to all such things. He has sound views on the political questions of the day and is a true Democrat, giving faithful support to his party. İle served as Justice of the Peace four years in Millbrook Township, having also held that office for a period of six years while in Wisconsin. After the expiration of his term here, he was re-elected to that office, so well pleased had his constituents been by his just and impartial discharge of the duties of his position, but he declined to qualify. While a resident of St. Croix County, Wis., he served with ability as Supervisor of Rush River Township.
ILLIAM WASHINGTON MOTT, the son of a pioneer, and one who has performed some pioneer labors himself and has thus assisted in developing the agricultural resources of Peoria County, has a well improved farm on sec- tion 34, Princeville Township, where he devotes himself to farming and bee culture.
Our subject is a son of Dr. Oscar F. Mott, who was born near Kinderhook, near Wayne Falls, Erie County, N. Y. Ile was a medical practicioner of the Thompsonian School, and also followed farm- ing. Ile disliked the medical profession, although he was well versed in the Thompsonian methods. and abandoning his practice he came here in the spring of 1837, with his family, to devote himself to agricultural pursuits more exclusively. He at first rented land and cultivated it to advantage, but finally bought a small farm of fifteen acres, on which he spent the remainder of his life. His death in 1863, was caused by an accidental discharge of a gun which a man was examining in a grocery store in Princeville, the shot taking effect in his neck, and after a great deal of suffering he died in a few days. He was the first mail carrier here, carrying the mail on horseback to Peoria from Jubilee for years, taking three days to make the trip in cold weather. He was a man of sterling worth and was a Universalist in his religious faith. Politically he was a follower of the Democratic party. The maiden name of his wife was Deidamia Bump, and
she was born in Cazenovia, N. Y. Iler father, Jon - athan Bump, was a native of New England and was one of the first settlers of that township, making his home among the Indians of Red Jacket's tribe. Ile cleared two farms and followed agriculture until his demise. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was near there at the burning of Buffalo. The mother of our subject was an inmate of his home until her death, and he looked tenderly after her comfort. She was a Baptist in religion and was ever true to the faith. She died December 31, 1875.
Three of the children of the parents of our sub- ject grew to maturity : Richard F., who died in Santa Clara, Cal .; our subject, and Josephine E. Two of their children died young-Oscar Philander and Eugene. Josephine Mott, who was educated for a teacher and has engaged in that profession, makes her home with her brother.
The subject of this biographical sketch was born in Boston Township, N. Y., August 19, 1830, and there passed the first seven years of his life. In 1837 he accompanied his father to Buffalo, where they embarked on a steamer for Chicago, and from the latter place took a team for Peoria County and Princeville Township. He grew to a sturdy vigor- ous manhood under the pioneer influences that he * obtained here in early times, growing up with the county, as it were. It was, when he came here, wild and sparsely settled, and there was much wild game roaming over the prairies and uplands and through the timber, and as he grew older he took great de- light in the hunt which has always been his hobby. and became very expert in the use of the rifle, often killing as many as two deer a day, which supplied the table with meat. He resided on the fifteen-acre place that his father had purchased nn- til 1868, and then bought a farm of forty acres on section 27, on which he located and entered upon its improvement. He built a substantial house, drawing the lumber for it from Chillicothe and doing the carpenter work himself with an assistant. HIe engaged in that trade somewhat besides tilling the soil. In 1876 he sold that place and bought his present farm of eighty acres on section 34, which was covered with timber, and in the groves still standing wolves are found to this day. Mr. Mott set busily about its improvement, put up a com-
270
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
fortable dwelling, has fenced in three large fields, which he devotes to raising corn and cats, and also has a fine grapery and an apiary comprising twenty-seven hives of bees, the honey which he se- cures being a profitable source of income. His place is supplied with good outbuildings, excellent ma- chinery, and is always kept in good order.
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.