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 66
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To Mrs. and Ewalt one daughter and one son have been born. The natal day of Forence was November 14, 1883, and of William Fountain, November 16, 1885. Their interesting ways and growing intelligence afford great pleasure to their parents, more particularly to the mother, at whose side they are so constantly found, and who is al- ready teaching them courteous manners and the kindliness which is a part of her own worthy char- acter. Mr. Ewalt is a member of the Masonic or- der at Elmwood and votes the Democratic tieket. He and his estimable wife are respected by those about them, and as might be expected of represen- tatives of worthy ancestors, both are much inter- ested in every movement which pertains to the goud of the community.
OHN G. KENDALL. On the fourth day of the month of May, in the year 1845, the pioneers of this county received a valuable acquisition in the person of this gentleman, who has since been no unimportant factor in ad- vancing the material prosperity of this section of Illinois, and has greatly aided its development from its original wild state. During these forty-five years his attention has been given to farming and stock-raising, and on section 30, of Hallock Town- ship, he has built up a home in which comfort reigns supreme. llere he has a farm comparing in cultivation and improvement with the best in the neighborhood, and which formerly comprised two hundred acres of land, but he has recently reduced its acreage by giving some of it to bis children.
Our subject was born in Columbia County, Pa., January 3, 1814, to Andrea and Cornelia T. ( Wag- ner) Kindler. The family name, as we see, was Kindler, instead of Kendall, but in the case of our subject it was accidentally changed by the man who made out his shipping papers, and the error being
noted too late for the name to be altered, from that time he has been John G. Kendall. Andrea Kindler was born among the beautiful hills of Switzerland, of a worthy Swiss ancestry, and there he was reared to marhood, and married his wife who was a native of the same part of Switzerland as himself. After the birth of two or three of their children, they emigrated to the I'nited States .in 1809 and settled among the pioneers of Columbia County, Pa., passing their remaining years on a farm in that county. Their deaths occurred when they were a little past middle life. They had not a very large family of children, and our subject is the only one now living.
Mr. Kendall left home at an early age and un- fortunately never again saw his parents, as he did not revisit his early home until after death had re- moved them. The early years of his life were passed in Columbia County, and at the early age of fourteen years, the bright active lad left the pa- rental home to carry out his inordinate desire for a seafaring life, he being of a roving disposition, and for many years his life was passed principally on the ocean; he visited many countries and saw a great deal of the world. Commeneing as a cabin hoy he soon proved that he had not mistaken bis calling, and from time to time was promoted until he became first mate; he served with great skill and credit on merchant vessels, and for three years lie was in the United States Navy, entering the service of this Government, in 1837. Ile circumnavigated the globe in the United States frigate, "Columbia," Commodore George C. Read commanding. The vessel sailed from Hampton Roads May 16, 1838, and arrived at Boston, Mass., June 20, 1840, after a voyage of twenty-six months. While in the navy our subject was for three months on the receiving ship "Java," and during the trip he saw many im- portant places, touching Africa at several different - points, and doubled the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn. He also served three years on the I'nited States ship "Pennsylvania," the largest man-of-war in the world. It was on his last voy- age on the bark "Oceola," sailing from Rio De Ja- neiro to New Orleans that he wrote the following beautiful lines:
These lines are respectfully dedicated to my dear
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devoted children. Written at sea, on board the bark "Oceola," of Philadelphia, on a passage from Rio De Janeiro to New Orleans, March, 1845.
JonN G. KENDALL,
Southampton, Peoria County Ill.
THE LAST CRUISE.
Along with pleasant breezes our ship sails o'er the main
With every prospeet pleasing our native shore to gain, I walked the deek in silence, the playful clouds did view;
Beheld the glorious planets, in their orbits as they flew.
My watchmates sleeping stretched upon the deck The helmsman keeping the ship upon her track
The watch below reposing in pleasant dreams of home
Of sweethearts, love, and duty, and many joys un- known.
My heart involved in sadness, I walked the deek alone
And thought of days in childhood, and many sports at home
When all was joy and gladness, my fancy then would soar
To hills, and vales oft' traveled in happy days of yore.
Thoughts of home eome fondly, as friendless now I roam
To grieve is only sadness, the heart still holds it own
The pleasures blighted, the friends since dead and gone
The love so warmly plighted, but now I'm left alone.
As sailing o'er the ocean, in foreign climes, to 10am Where all is new and pleasing, but find no place like home,
Soon my cruising will be ended, time leaves changes on my face.
O, ye stars above, shine oh my resting place!
Ye winds and waves around me, O, waft me to the shore,
In truth, and love abounding, and friends will part no more!
To sail no more the ocean, where storms, and break- ers roar
And think no more of dangers past, or days that are no more. .
September 23, 1882.
After his arrival in port at New Orleans, La., from a long ocean voyage, Mr. Kendall decided to try life on land and having heard many favorable accounts of the beauties of the Prairie State and its wonderful agricultural resources, he decided to locate here and came to this county, as before men- tioned, and has since devoted himself to farming.
Ile was married in this county and township to Miss Amelia Merrill, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, September 22, 1822. She came West when six years of age with her parents, Samuel and Nancy (Houston) Merrill. They located on a farm two miles north of Chillicothe, in this county, and there she grew to womanhood. Her parents were early settlers, and being farmers by occupation, im- proved an excellent farm and here rounded out their lives at a good old age.
Mr. and Mrs. Kendall have five children living, as follows: Helena M., wife of Joe Brown. a farmer in Nemaha County, Kan .; Kent K., a resident of Ne- maha County, Kan., and who married Lizzie Har- rington; Reubie K., who married Lucy Wilcox and is a farmer of this township; Eugena M., wife of George Cramer, a farmer of Dunlap, this county; Edward E., a farmer of this township, who married Alice M. Cline.
Mr. Kendall possesses a clear mind, and quick powers of observation, and as we have seen, has decided literary talent, and a keen appreciation of the beautiful. His wide experience has given him a large outlook on life, and an extensive fund of in- formation and has broadened his ideas. Independ- ent, sagacious, and liberal in his views, political and religious, he is generously high-minded in his dealings with all with whom he comes in contact. He is a prominent member of the National Liberal League, of Philadelphia, Pa.
In connection with this review of the principal events in the life of Mr. Kendall we present a por- trait of him on another page.
MRI W. CASE. Medina Township contains no better illustration of the ample reward which can be obtained by determination, steady habits and well-directed efforts, than in the person of the gentleman above named, who by his own ex- ertions has accumulated a large amount of worldly goods. Ile occupies a fine, well-improved farm on section 30, owning also several other estates, all of which are well equipped with the best of build- ings, stock and machinery. His landed estate in
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Illinois consists of upward of fifteen hundred aeres of improved land; be also owns two-thirds of the town site of Alta. Ilis personal character is that of an upright, educated and genial gentleman, and his reputation is in keeping with his merits. He has served as Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, etc. His political adherence is given to the Democratic party, and his religious faith is that of a Univer- salist.
The history of the Case family in this country begins with two brothers who came from England to Connecticut prior to the Revolution. Through several generations they were closely connected with the history of New England, being numbered among the prominent men of the communities in which they lived. The father of our subject was Imri Case, who was reared to the business of a farmer, and was first married in Connecticut, the wife dying in New York State after the birth of two children, a son and a daughter, both of whom are now deceased, but who lived to rear families. The son, Albert, was a prominent Universalist minister in Massachusetts and other New England States, and was likewise prominently identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The daugh- ter, Phebe, married Lucius Cole, of the Empire State, wherein she died.
Prior to the death of his first wife, Imri Case with his family removed to the Empire State. In Os- wego County he was married the second time, his wife being Mrs. Chloe A. Whitesides, nee llawley. She belonged to an old New England family, her parents and herself being natives of the Green Mountain State, wherein she grew to maturity, and married Peter Whitesides. The young couple later removed to Oswego County, N. Y., where Mr. Whitesides died leaving three children, all of whom are now deceased. A few years after his decease the widow married Imri Case, and made her home on a farm at Sandy Creek until the death of her second husband, which occurred October 24, 1830. Mr. Case was then in his fifty-second year, having been born January 22, 1779.
Mrs. Chloe Case finally came to Illinois with her children, dying October 14, 1853, in Medina Town- ship, Peoria County. Her natal day was April 13, 1784, Like her husband she was a firm believer
in the doctrines promulgated by the Universalist Church, and was of sterling worth of character. They had two sons and three daughters, our subject being the eldest son and second child. The oldest daughter is now deceased; she was the wife of N. Howe, who now lives in Peoria, and to whom she bore two children. The other sons and daughters are married and living in this county. The father responded to his country's call in 1812, and fought bravely to defeat British tyranny. He won the promotion from private to captain. He several times narrowly escaped being killed or captured.
Our subjeet was fourteen years of age when his father died, after which time he remained with his mother until her demise. He was nineteen years old when he landed in the Prairie State. Wanting better schooling, he hoarded his resources, attended school and secured a practical education. Having decided that two heads are better than one, he re- turned to his native county in New York when about twenty-nine years old, and there married Miss Salina Howe, who, coming with him to the West, helped him to make a good home. She spent her last days on the farm where Mr. Case now lives, being ent down in the prime of a promising life when but twenty-eight years of age. She left two children, who still live to honor her memory. The first-born, Ensley J., married Georgie Edgett, wlio died leaving three children-Morris, Willard and Flossy; he afterward married Nettie Waugh and is now living in Peoria, engaged in the whole- sale drug trade. He also owns the plating works, and was Supervisor of Medina Township. The second son of our subject and his wife is Clarence E., a groceryinan in Alta, and for some time Post- master, agent of the station, telegraph operator, and Township Treasurer of that place. Ile married Julia Schnebley, and they have two children, Harry and Georgie.
Mrs. Salina Case was born in Sandy Creek Town- ship, Oswego County, N. Y., December 4, 1827. She was the recipient of good home and educational advantages. ller father, Newell Ilowe, a native of Connecticut, was a farmer and brickmaker; he died in the Empire State when quite old. His wife, formerly Jane Snyder, was a native of New York. and of German parentage. Her death took place
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in Oswego County, N. Y., at a goodly age. Mrs. Salina Case died in October 1851, mourned by the family and community.
Mr. Case is and has been President of the Grange Insurance Company of this county for the past ten years, and has proved a success,
RANCIS M. BEALL, occupies no unim- portant place among the native born citi- zens of Peoria County, who are active in advancing its every interest. Ile is a prominent member of the farming community of Jubilee Township, and this place has no citizen of public spirit who takes a more earnest interest in its wel- fare, or would do more for its good.
Asa Beall, the father of our subject, was born and reared in Kentucky, growing up on a farm,and in early manhood served in the War of 1812. In 1833, he left his native State. and came by boat to this county, and for a time was engaged in farm- ing near Mossville, on the Illinois River, where he bought a place. As he was among the early set- tlers, he found the county but little improved, and the nearest market was Chicago, where he hauled his grain to sell. Ile did not live in that locality very long on account of malaria and mosquitoes, and considering this region more favorable for car- rying on his operations. he removed to near Kicka- poo. on what is now section 36, Jubilee Township. At that time he knew every man in the county, and was well-known himself, and he took an active part in its development. He and his son took wheat to Chicago, and on their return trip brought lumber for the purpose of erecting buildings on his land, he having purchased a quarter-section from the Government. Ile had but little means, and had to work hard to make his improvements. Ile carried on that place until 1851, and then sold and bought one hundred and sixty acres of raw land, which is now included in our subject's farm. He leveloped and operated about sixty acres of it, and subsequently retired from farming, he having in the meantime acquired land until his farm com- prised two hundred and forty acres. At his death
in 1876, at the venerable age of eighty-one years, Jubilee Township lost an honored pioneer. Ile was quite a politician in his day, and was identified with the Democratic party. He was a well-read and well-informed man, and was religiously in- clined, leaning toward the Methodist faith. The maiden name of his wife, who was born in Mary- land, was Mary Coyle. She went thence to Ken- tucky, where her marriage took place, and subse- quently accompanied her family to this place, and here died. She was the mother of eight children, as follows: Susan married James Vanarsdale, and died in Kickapoo Township; Thomas lives in Alma, Neb .; Maria is dead; Harriet, now Mrs. Rogers, lives in Wyoming, Stark County, Ill .; John is de- ceased; William lives in Essex Township, Stark County; our subject is next in order of birth; Jo- sephine is the wife of William Lawrence, of Jubilee Township. William Beall was a soldier in the late war, a member of the Seventy-seventh Illinois In- fantry, which was afterward consolidated with the Forty-seventh. Ile enlisted in 1862, and served three years. and was promoted to the ranks of Cor- poral.
Francis M. Beall was born in Kickapoo Town- ship, one and one-half miles from Kickapoo, Feb- ruary 18, 1840. Ile was reared in the place of his birth until he was eleven years old, and laid the foundation of his education in the little log school- house of his district. He was early set to work on the farm, and used to have to han! grain to Peoria. In 1851 he came here, and he helped to break prai- rie with five yoke of oxen. Wishing to improve his education, he attended school two winters at Wyoming and at this place, and by hard study and under excellent tuition, gained a good fund of knowledge. Mr. Beall remained an inmate of the parental household until he was twenty-one years old. At that age he took charge of the farm, and had the management of the whole thing,and contin- ued to carry on the place until within a short time of his father's death. In 1868 he bought the one hun- dred and sixty-five acres comprising the farm, and has since greatly added to its value by the many improvements he has placed upon it. He subse- quently purchased forty acres on section 3, and a while after bought eighty acres more in Wyoming.
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PORTRAIT. AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
Later he sold that and bought one hundred and eighty acres adjoining his original purchase. This is all under fine cultivation, and is finely improved with the exception of eighty acres used as pastur- age. The farm is especially well adapted to stock- raising purposes, as there are ever flowing springs on the place, which is all inclosed, the farm as a whole being as good as any in the county. In 1879 he built a commodious house, and in 1889, a con- veniently arranged barn, both of the latest modern style. Ile rents some of his land, reserving one hundred and sixty acres for his own use, and here he raises stock of a high grade, has thirteen head of fine draft horses, and he has three teams in constant use. He has full blooded hogs of the Poland-China breed, and is quite successful in raising them, and ships a number every year. IIe raises quite a quantity of grain, corn and oats, a good deal of which he feeds to stock.
Mr. Beall was married in Jubilee Township, March 17, 1865, to Miss Mary, daughter of Remem- brance Curl, formerly a well-known farmer here. lle subsequently removed to Washington, lowa, in 1885, where he still resides. Mrs. Beall is a Penn- sylvanian by birth, and came here with her parents. Her pleasant wedded life with our subject has been blessed to them by the birth of seven children: Charles, Josephine, Emma (deceased), Hattie, Ol- ive, Thomas, and Francis, Jr. All are at home, and are receiving good educational advantages, Charles and Josephine being students in the Prince- ville High School.
Mr. Beall was born in this county while it was yet in the hands of the pioneers, and he can re- member well the primitive condition of the coun- try during his early life, before the wild animals had fled from the approaching civilization, and he recollects having seen deer, as many as thirty at a time, and also prairie wolves and other wild ani- mals. He grew with the growth of the county, and has proved to be a good citizen. He is in every sense a steadfast reliable man, one who never be- trays a trust, and who is at all times and on all oe casions found to be a careful and ready helper by those needing assistance, and his neighbors who consult him in regard to personal matters, find him a wise and safe counselor, as he is discriminating
and just in his judgments, possesses much discern- ment, and is cool headed. These attributes have made him available for office, and he has been called upon to do lis share in the management of public affairs. For fifteen years he acted as Constable un- til he resigned and would not accept the office again. For fourteen years he was Commissioner of Highways, and for eighteen years was School Di - rector. Ile is a prominent member of the Detec- tive Thief and Mutual Benefit Association, in which he is Third Lieutenant. In his political views he is a sound Democrat. He lias served both in the Grand and Petit Juries.
R OBERT WILL. Some one has said, "It is not difficult to write a biography; the great difficulty is to live a life worth writ- ing." No resident in Peoria County is more worthy of representation in this volume than the late Robert Will, a well-known old settler. llis life was spent in usefulness, his labors not ex- pended for himself alone, but for the benefit of those among whom his lot was cast and in whose welfare he was ever deeply interested. He had one ' of those noble natures which win respect from every acquaintance and retain the deep esteem of all who come to know the possessor well.
Mr. Will was of Scotch lineage, being a son of Robert Will, Sr., and his good wife Margaret (Law- son ) Will. Both were born and reared in Dundee, Scotland, and resided there a few years after their marriage. When their oldest child, Ellen, was two years of age, they left their native shores for America which they reached after a stormy voyage of eight weeks. They sojourned in Philadelphia, Pa., four years, the husband following his trade of a stone-cutter. During that period two sons- William and Jolin-were born to them. They then removed to Tioga County, where their family cir- cle was added to by the advent of four sons-Alex- ander, George, Robert, Jr., and James.
In 1830, the family removed to Illinois. making their journey from the Keystone State with teams which were afterward used in improving a claim of
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Government land. The father and sons eventually secured several hundred acres of valuable land which they converted into comfortable homes and which became known as a settlement of fine people. The entire family endured the usual experiences of pioneer life, reaping a reward in the respect which was bestowed upon them as well as in their worldly prosperity. On the place where they originally settled, Robert Will, Sr., and his wife passed away, the former when about sixty-eight years of age and the latter at the ripe age of eighty-two years. Mr. Will was chorister in the Presbyterian Church in Dundee, Scotland, but after coming to America both himself and wife united with the Baptist So- ciety. They possessed all the sterling integrity of the "canny Scot" and their children were reared with firm principles and useful habits.
The subject of this sketch was born in Tioga County, Pa., April 15, 1822. lle was fifteen years old when his parents removed to this county and here he applied himself to study and work, reading extensively and developing the faculties of a natur- ally bright mind. He became a successful farmer and stock-raiser in Hallock Township and an active member of society, prominent in social, benevolent and religious work. He served his township as Justice of the Peace for twenty years and had filled almost every township office before he was elected County Surveyor. He was discharging the duties of the latter office when stricken by his last illness which terminated in his death February 14, 1876. Ile was a prominent member of the Masonic order, identified with lodges at Lawn Ridge and Chilli- cothe, and a leading spirit in both. In politics he was a sound Republican. The Methodist Episcopal Church was the religious body with which he was identified and in which he had an official station many years. Of the parental family to which he belonged but three members now survive-the daughter and two sons.
Mr. Will was fortunate in his choice of a com- panion, winning a lady of great intelligence and noble character. This was Miss Mary Robinson, who was born in Broome County, N. Y., March 19, 1823, and came to Illinois with her parents when ten years old. She grew to maturity under the home roof, being a useful member of the family
circle until her marriage, which took place at her home in Hallock Township. Her parents, Lyman and Olive (Stowell) Robinson, natives of the Em- pire State, were married in Broome County, where the father followed the trade of a shoemaker a number of years. He finally sold out all his inter- ests there and removed with his family overland to the Prairie State, locating on new land in Hallock Township, this county. He, however, continued to follow his trade but made the farm his home nn- til his death when seventy-six years old. His wife had died at a goodly age some years prior to his own deceasc. The worthy couple are now repre- sented by four sons and two daughters.
The family of our subject and his estimable wife included six children, two of whom are yet living. William and Helen died when quite young ; John W., in the flower of his youth when nineteen years old, and bidding fair to have a useful and honor- able career; Annie, wife of S. L. Van l'atton, now of Peabody. Kan., died a few years after her mar- riage. The survivors-Minnie and Lottie-are accomplished young ladies and with their mother belong to the Reformed Episcopal Church. The elder is an expert stenographer, doing business in in Minneapolis. Minn. The younger remains with her mother in Chillicothe.
OLOMON S. CORNWELL. The name of this gentleman will ever be associated with the history of Peoria County as the founder of Monica. In 1871 he platted the town on one part of his extensive landed pos- sessions and gave it his own name, but that is so near like that of Cromwell, a town on the other road, that it was changed to its present cognomen. Our subject was an carly settler of this county and has been foremost among the intelligent. energetic and enterprising pioncer farmers and stock-raisers, who have been so largely instrumental in develop- ing and building up this part of the State, mak- ing it cne of the finest improved and richest agri- cultural centers in this portion of the Mississippi Valley. Ile is a man of wealth and his money
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