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 59
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
same place until 1866, when he sold it. Services were held at his house by Bishop Chase, of Jubi- lee, as early as 1836, and were continued there for some years. Finally, a parish was organized, and in 1845 a fine stone church was erected within half a mile of Mr. Benson's home in Limestone. In 1843 our subjeet took a trip South for the health of his wife, and going to Baton Rouge, La., spent the ensuing five years there, and was there ordained to the ministry, he having previously studied with that end in view, Bishop Polk, of that State, pre- siding at his ordination. Coming home, he was put in charge of the stone church in 1852, and oeenpied its pulpit very acceptably until 1857, when he was called to Farmington to take charge of the church there. For twelve years he was engaged in that place. He then removed to this parish, and has been pastor of this church most of the time since.
The Rev. Mr. Benson was married to Miss Euphemia Clark, daughter of James Clark, of Limestone, in 1838. She was born in Huntington, England, and came from London to this country with her parents. By her death, in 1875, he was bereft of a devoted wife and congenial companion.
In 1865, as he was broken down in health and his wife was far from well, Mr. and Mrs. Benson crossed the Atlantic to England to reenperate amid the scenes of his youth, and ten months were passed very pleasantly among his old friends. In 1866 they returned to Peoria, and he organized the St. John's Mission, and had charge of it the ensuing five years. At the expiration of that time he had a call to Lewistown, the county seat of Fulton County, and became rector of St. James Church, which he had organizel some years before. After resigning his pastorate, which had been very suc- cessful, in that eity, he returned to Limestone, and resumed his old position as rector of the Episcopal Church in this place as before mentioned.
The condition of the country at the time when the Benson family settled here, and the wonderful change that has since taken place, is well illus- trated by the following account of their journey hither and subsequent events. In the fall of 1833 Mr. Jolin Benson, the father of our subjeet, rode on horseback over a good share of Canada. Mich- igan and Illinois, and while passing through Chi-
524
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
cago he prophetically remarked that that little trading-post was destined to be the great com- mercial center of the West. As he passed through Ft. Clark, he was enchanted with its site and sur- rounding scenery, and decided to locate in this vi- cinity. He returned for his family, whom he met in Cincinnati, and they proceeded down the river to Southern Illinois on the return journey, and he there fitted out his wagon with horses and two teams of oxen. Leaving the ox-teams at Vandalia afterward with the household goods, he traveled over the greater part of this State with his wife and children, driving from Canton to Lewistown, and from there to Merchant's settlement, which was the starting-point of Farmington. From there they drove straight east without any track of any kind over the wild prairies to answer as a guide.
A man by the name of Handayside was build- ing a log house near the dividing line between Lewistown and Logan Townships, and from there the Bensons could by close observation see a track, which led to a spring on a place where Jones had started a farm about six and one-half miles from the city, and this became a famous watering- place for travelers along the road between Peoria and Farmington, in the days when they carried produce to market.
-
L YMAN SEELYE. The sons of the pioneers of Peoria County.natives of the soil, who are so closely associated with its present pros- perous condition, are finely represented by this ac- tive and capable young farmer and stock-raiser, who is conducting his agricultural interests on a quarter of section 30, llallock Township, which is as rich a piece of farming land as can be found in this locality, and under his skillful management yields good returns in repayment of the care, time, and money expended upon its culture. It is well- stocked, is supplied with a set of good buildings, and excellent farming machinery, and everything about the place is well ordered.
Our subject is the son of a well-known pioneer of this county, Danford Seelye, who has borne a
conspicnous part in the development of this region, and is still actively engaged in looking after his extensive agricultural interests in Hallock Town- ship, with whose name and history his own will ever be associated. He and his wife are of stanch New England origin, his birthplace being amid the lovely rural scenery of Vermont, and hers among the beautiful Berkshire hills of Massachusetts, and from their ancestry they inherited those sturdy traits of character that have made them invaluable citizens of the Prairie State, and these they have transmitted in a large degree to their son, of whom we write.
The subject of this biographical review was born on the parental homestead, August 28, 1857, and here he was carefully trained by his parents to the useful and honorable carcer that he has since adopted as his life work. He has lived on his present farm and successfully operated it for the past five years. This attractive estate was the birthplace of his wife, lie having purchased it of her father.
Mr. Seelye was married at the home of Elder Hick. in this township, to Miss Sarah N. Green, in February, 1885. She was born on this farm, her birth occurring January 6. 1865. She is the daugh- ter of Jefferson and Mary ( Nelson) Green, natives of New York and Peoria County, III., respectively, They were married in the township of Medina, and later came to this township and bought the home- stead now owned by our subject, and this remained their home until they retired from farming, and in 1886 went to Dunlap to reside. There Mrs. Green died in 1887, at the age of forty years. She was a most excellent woman, and a kind and loving mother. Mr. Green is still an honored resident of Dunlap, and is now upwards of fifty years old. Mrs. Seelye is one of the youngest of four children, three of whom are yet living, and all married and settled in life. She was reared and educated in this township, and is in all respects a woman of re- fined character and attributes. Iler happy wedded life with our subject, has been productive to them of one daughter, Josephine.
Mr. Seelye is a practical, energetic, thrifty young man, whose excellent capacity for well directed la- bor has already placed him among the substantial men of the township, and we may well say that he
J. At, Chase
527
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
is a credit to his birthplace. He and his wife are sensible, well-informed people, are popular in so- ciety, and they understand well how to make their hospitable home attractive to their friends, of whom they have many, or to the stranger who may chance to eross its threshold. Mr. Seelye has never been an office sceker, but takes sufficient interest in poli- ties to support the Democratic party.
HILANDER II. CHASE. Peoria County numbers among its best citizens many who are "native and to the manner born," and we have a fine representative of these in the person of Philander HI. Chase, who is conduct- ing extensive agricultural interests in Akron Township, the place of his birth. with the rare judgment, keen intelligence and marked skill that places him among the foremost farmers and stock- raisers of this locality.
The parents. of our subject, Simon P. and Ann II. (Ilouston) Chase, were among the old settlers of this county, coming from New Hampshire in 1842, making the entire journey from their New England home to the wild prairies of this section of the county in a wagon. They located in Akron Township, in 1845, and during their lives occupied an important position amongst its pioneers. In the comfortable home that they built up here the fa- ther died January 9, 1870. The mother passed from earth in Warren County, January 13, 1875. They had three children of whom our subject was the third in order of birth.
September 18, 1846, was the date of the birth of our subject, in the pioneer home of his parents in Akron Township. Here the years of his boyhood and youth were passed, and in the local schools he laid the foundation of a substantial education which was completed by a course of study in Princeville Academy. He has always made his home in Akron Township, and having been bred to agrienltural pursuits, he adopted farming as his life work, and now owns a farm of three hundred acres on sections 5. 16, 17 and 21. It is replete with valuable improvements, and is supplied with
buildings of a substantial order; Mr. Chase is just erecting a commodious house, which, when it is completed, will be one of the most attractive homes in the vicinity.
Mr. Chase was married in Princeville, III., Sep- tomber 14, 1871, to Miss Nannie Calvin, a native of Pennsylvania. She bore him one child who died in infaney, and their happy but brief wedded life was brought to a close by her death November 1,1872.
Our subject contracted a second marriage April 8, 1875, taking as his wife Miss Rachael Smith, who was born in Princeville Township. Their pleasant home cirele is completed by their two children- Carrie B. and Forest M.
Mr. Chase is a man of high principles, is well endowed mentally and physically, and possesses in a full degree those characteristics so essential to success in any walk in life. He stands high in the citizenship of his native county, and to his ae- tive publie spirit and the intelligent interest he has always manifested in the welfare of Akron Town- ship, it owes much of its present prosperity. He has held the offices of Highway Commissioner and Township Assessor, discharging their duties with characteristic fidelity and lionesty. In politics the Republican party has his entire allegiance. Ile and his wife are active workers in the Presbyterian Church and contribute most generously to its sup- port.
A lithographie portrait of Mr. Chase will be no- tieed on another page of this volume.
OUIN D. PHARES. This gentleman is a son of a pioneer of this county, and is a worthy member of its farming community, the proprietor of a good farm on seetion 29, Brimfield Township, where he is prosperously en- gaged in raising grain and stock. He is a native of Butler County, Ohio, born January 3, 1843, to Granderson R., and Eliza A. (Snyder) Phares, his mother now being deceased.
When our subject was a lad of thirteen years his
528
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
parents emigrated from their home in Ohio, to this county, the family coming by rail with the excep- tion of John, who came by horseback and assisted in bringing eleven horses to Illinois. His father settled in Brimfield Township, and after residing in various places finally located on seetion 22, where he made a permanent settlement. Though he was not the original settler on that place it was still in a wild condition. It was a part of the open prairie and he ereeted a board shanty that was of good dimensions, and was eut into four rooms, and in this the family made their home for a number of years. Mr. Phares was a pioneer of the town- ship, and did well in his farming operations, and became a respected ertizen of the community. lle was the father of a large family of children, of whom the following survive: Joseph, John D., Susan, now Mrs. Jackson; Henry ; Eliza A., wife of Martin Smith; Ellen, wife of George Roth; Amy A., wife of George Carr,of Cass County, Iowa; and Katie, wife of Sampson Murnan of Nebraska.
John Phares was reared to a stalwart, sturdy manhood in this county amid the scenes of pioneer life, and was early called upon to assist his father in the pioneer labors of developing a farm, and while so doing acquired a good practical knowl- edge of farming in its various branches. He re- mained actively engaged with his father till he was twenty-five years old, having received in the mean- time a moderate education in the local schools. The advantages offered him were not such as the boy of to-day enjoys, but he paid careful atten- tion to his books when he had an opportunity to go to school, and since then has aimed to keep posted in all matters of general importance. The good improvements on his farm, which comprises one hundred and twenty aeres of highly fertile land under excellent tillage, have all been made by himself, and he may well feel satisfied with what he has accomplished, as from his place he derives a good ineome and is enabled to support his family in comfort.
Mr. Phares has not been unassisted in his labors, hut by his marriage in 1858, to Jennie Snyder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Snyder, both now deceased, he seeured the active co-operation of a inost excellent helpmate. Their pleasant married
life has been blessed to them by the birth of one son, Phillip H., who was born August 23, 1870.
The perusal of this brief sketch recording the life of one of Brimfield's most worthy citizens, will show that all our subjeet has and is, is due to his own exertions, that he is, in fact, one of our self made men, and he has performed a ereditable part in building np the township, while he has been ae- quiring his property. With commendable public spirit he favors all things to advance the welfare of the community and has been particularly active in educational matters, serving zealously as School Director. Politically he is a Democrat, and a firm supporter by voice and vote of the policy of his party.
OHN WASSON. Millbrook Township's cx- tensive agricultural interests are well repre- sented by this gentleman who is one of its most active and progressive farmers and stoek-raisers. Though not an early .settler of this place he may well be accorded an honorable posi- tion among its pioneers, as he has done much work in developing its resources.
lle is a native of Caynga County, N. Y., born May 29, 1833, his parents being George and Sarah (Brewster) Wasson, natives of New York. Ilis father's oldest brother, John Wasson, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and our subjeet's paternal grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. Our sub- ject grew to a vigorous manhood in his native county, and early adopted farming as his life work. In his youth he had but little chance to secure an education, but attended school all that he could, and is mainly self-educated. In 1854 he came to this county, and spent nearly a year west of Chilli- cothe, and for a time was located in Elmwood and in Brimfield Townships. In the latter place, one of the most important events of his life took place, and that was his marrirge November 13, 1856, with Betsey C. Aldrieh, a native of Missouri.
In the spring of 1868 Mr. Wasson came to Mill- brook Township, having been favorably impressed with the many advantages its riel soil offered to a practical, enlightened farmer. He selected a site
529
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIICAL ALBUM.
on section 14, and has here built up a commodious home replete with every desirable comfort. Ile has here a large farm of three hundred acres of finely-cultivated land, well supplied with improve- ments of a substantial order. In the acquisition of this valuable property Mr. Wasson has successfully demonstrated what a man can accomplish if he works with a determined will, bringing sound, round-about common sense and cool calculation to his labors.
By their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wasson have become the parents of a large family of children, of whom the following survive: George, living in Princeville Township; Ella : Samuel; Lillie, wife of Jewett Haines, of Stafford County, Kan .; Nettie, wife of William Davis, of Duncan ; William, May, Clifford, Della and Glenn. Louisa F. and Bertha L. are deccased.
For more than thirty-three years Mr. Wasson has lived among the people of this county, who have ever found him to be a man of the highest moral conduct, who carries on his business affairs with undeviating honesty, and one who has due regard for his word. That he holds the con- fivience of his fellow-citizens, is shown by the fact that they have elected him to public offices, and he has served faithfully as Township School Director a number of years, was Road Commissioner one term, and also has been Director of his district, and he is never backward in his generous help in for- warding all schemes for the betterment of the town- ship. In politics he is a decided Republican. His wife is a devoted member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church and they are both active members of the society and do much good work.
G USTAV CORNELIUS. This worthy Ger- man-American citizen of Limestone Town- ship, is as well acquainted with the condition of affairs in this county during its early settlement as any man now living. As will be seen by a pc- rusal of these brief paragraphs, he and his family bore their part amid the toils shared by all families upon the frontier, and lived in the manner common
to the settlers before the building of good highway's and the introduction of what we look upon as the comforts of civilization. He has been fairly success- ful in a financial sense and has secured what is bet- ter than riches, the thorough respect of those amid whom his life has been spent for many years and who recognize the sterling worth of his character.
Mr. Cornelius was born in the Fatherland, April 30, 1822, and after having acquired an excellent education, learned the trade of a miller. Ile was a schoolmate of Prince Bismarck, whose power has been felt not only in Germany, but far beyond the borders of the country in which he so long held an exalted position. Mr. Cornelius had not been long in America before he had become a fair reader and writer of English, and so well armed for contact with American citizens. He has been a great reader and year by year has stored up knowledge on vari- ous topics, until he has become one of the best in- formed men one could meet in a day's journey.
When twenty-six years of age Mr. Cornelius bade adieu to his native land, sailed to Quebec, thence to Buffalo, Milwaukee, and via Peoria to St. Louis, Mo. In that city he remained about six months, when, having been pleased with the appearance of Peoria County as he passed through it on the boat, he returned hither. In his journey to the Missis- sippi Valley, the only railroad on which he had rid- den was one on which horses were used to pull the cars. lle was privileged to enjoy a view of the wonderful falls of Niagara, also. After coming to l'eoria, he secured employment in the mill at Blue- town, two miles across the river in Tazewell County and after working there a year rented the mill. The owners asked him for security for the rent, but told him that if he would get married be would not need to give any. He was not averse to this means of advancing his welfare, and winning the consent of Miss Angusta Springborn, a native of his own land, did as he had been advised and set up a home of his own.
Mr. Cornelius bought eighty acres of land on which stood a little log shanty, covered with clap- boards, and having a rude chimney and fire-place. The first night he slept therein a storm arose and he was soon thoroughly wet by the descending rain. He made up his mind to go to Peoria and secure
-
530
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
the services of a Mr. Plum to build a house, and going to the door he was greeted with the sight of a drove of seven deer close to his house. There were neither fences or yards in that early time and only a few people had stables. The few there were were constructed of poles covered with straw and the owners were considered very high-toned. Horses were tied to the rear of wagons to be fed and stood out the year around. The housekeepers were not troubled with carpet moths, such a luxury as a car- being unknown as a covering for the floors, which were of mother earth. A broom and shovel were used to clean these rude floors.
The first house occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Cor- nelius had not a nail used in its construction, bolts being the only articles used aside from the native wood. The door was fastened by a bolt that could be used from the outside or inside, and no lock was thought of. A broom set against the door from the outside was an indication that the family was away from home. In those days hogs were allowed to run in the woods, each pioneer having his own mark by which to distinguish the animals belong- ing to him. In the fall the hogs were killed, taken to Peoria and sold to a Mr. Varis, who, when asked what he would give for hogs was accustomed to re- ply "seventy-five cents apiece." If told they were extra large he would simply answer "a hog is a hog." The head and feet together with the ribs would be thrown away. At that time a little log bridge over the Kickapoo was the connection be- tween the home of our subject and Peoria.
The wife of our subject proved a most capable helpmate and devoted mother, and to her judicious management of the household affairs was due not only the comfort of the home life, but much of the financial success and increased prosperity of the family. She lived to see her children grown to maturity, fitted for usefulness in society, and many of them inmates of homes of their own, ere she ex- changed time for eternity. She breathed her last in October, 1887, leaving many friends to mourn her departure. She and her husband had long been identified with the Lutheran Church and in that faith instructed their offspring. Mr. Cornelius is Democratic in political views and practices, and has served in official stations, to which he has been
nominated by his party associates. During a period of nine years he served as Commissioner of High- ways, being also Treasurer of the Board.
The family of our subject consists of eleven chil- dren whose record is as follows: Henry, who died at the age of twenty-two years, left a wife and one child; Julius died unmarried at the age of thirty- three; Huldah, wife of Sebastian Eiberger, lives in Missouri; John is married, has two sons and one daughter, and lives a half mile east of his father; William, with his wife and daughter, occupies a farm in Kingman County, Kan. ; Francis, also of of Kingman County, has one son and one daugh- ter; Anna is the wife of August Oehmke of Ne- maha County, Kan., their family comprising two daughters; Paul, with his wife and son, hves in Kingman County, Kan .; Minnie is the wife of Ubbo Frerichs and the mother of two daughters -- Katie and Louisa; Fred is unmarried and now in Kansas, but intends to return to Peoria County in the fall; Katie is the wife of George J. Deiter, of Gentry County, Mo. The Frerichs have charge of the old homestead of our subject who makes his home with them. The three sons who are living in Kingman County, Kan., each own one hundred and sixty aeres there.
M ERRITT REED. The recently deceased Merritt Reed was an almost life-long resi- dent of Medina Township, where he had made many friends by his industrious hab- its, companionable manner and fine moral character. Hle was an active member of the Baptist Church in which he long held the office of Deacon. He never sought office, finding sufficient to occupy him in the duties pertaining to his private life and good citizenship, but was ever ready to deposit his vote in behalf of Democratic principles in which he firmly believed. The agricultural work to which he devoted his life proved successful, and when called hence he left an estate of more than three hundred acres, the exceedingly comfortable home being now occupied by his widow.
Thomas B. Reed, the father of our subject, was
531
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., November 27, 1799, and ahout 1819 removed to Ohio with his parents. There he married Franees Wilkinson and after a few years of wedded life determined to remove to the frontier. With their small family Mr. and Mrs. Reed settled on unbroken land in this county in the latter part of the '20s, when few white people were living in the northeastern part and Peoria was known as Ft. Clark. They began their work here under conditions known only to the early pioneers, having already endured a tedi- ous and dangerous journey hither. They lived to see the country developed into beautiful homes and to themselves accumulate a large fortune. During the Black Hawk War Mr. Reed shared the experi- ences of those who traveled far on horseback and underwent privations in fighting savage foes, but escaped injury except that resulting from exposure.
The worthy couple occupied their homestead on section 3, Medina Township, until they became quite advanced in years, Mrs. Reed dying July 5, 1869, and Mr. Reed March 22, 1875. They were highly respected as representative pioneers and prominent members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Reed was a Deaeon for years. He held township offices, among them that of Justice of the Peace for many years. The family of the good couple consisted of two sons and four daughters.
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.