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 72
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The married life of our subject and his wife has been one of happiness and has been greatly blest to them in the birth of their six children, two of whom died in infancy. Of the remainder the following is recorded: Lina, the eldest, is now Mrs. Brants and has five children ; Annie is the wife of Samnel McGluggage, the son of an Irish family, and they have two children, boys; Onteo married a Miss McGluggage, sister of S. MeGluggage, and they have one child; John L. is a resident of Logan Township where he has a farm of one hundred and fifty aeres purchased from his father. He was mar- ried to Miss MeElroy, February 5, 1888, and they have one child.
Mr. Johnson's honorable and upright course in all the affairs of life since he became a resident of this conntry, and his loyal discharge of the duties of citizenship in his adopted home, have won him universal respect. He has been identified with some of the movements to elevate the social, moral and material status of the community and is liberal in his support of all things that will in any way enhance the welfare of the township. He is prom- inent in religious affairs and when the Presbyterian Church was built, he took quite a prominent part in its erection and has since been one of its most devoted members and his wife and children are also connected with the church. He is Democratic
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Robert Garrison
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in his politieal beliefs and has held the office of Pathmaster and School Director of his township. IIe is now taking life easy as, having nearly reached his seventy-fourth year, he has wisely concluded to rest from his labors and enjoy the comforts so well earned.
R OBERT GARRISON. One of the largest landholders in all Peoria County is this gentleman, who has met with more success in the prosecution of his calling as farmer and stock man than usually fell to the lot of the pioncers of this section of the country. He is one of the wealthy and influential citizens of Millbrook Township, and has borne a prominent part in bringing it to its present condition as one of the finest agricultural regions in this part of the State. On the pages of this volume his portrait is pre- sented, and the principal events of his life are recorded.
Ohio is the native State of our subject, the place of his birth being in Clinton County, and the date thereof February 2, 1816. Lemuel and Mary Garri- son, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Kentucky, were his parents. Ilis paternal · grandfather, Lemuel Garrison, was a Revolutionary soldier. The father of our subject was born in 1788, and emigrated to Ohio about 1807. That part of the country was then almost entirely in a wild condition, less than a quarter of a century having elapsed since it was opened to settlement; the Indians still had hunting grounds there, and pitched their wigwams along its streams in its primeval forests. Mr. Garrison was for a short time a resident of Warren County, and then be- came an early pioneer of Clinton County, where he lived for over half a century, and reared his fam- ily; he finally died in this county in February, 1872, at a ripe old age.
Robert Garrison, of whom we write, grew up amid the pioneer surroundings of his early home, was reared to farming, and has all his life been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. When he was but four years old he had the misfortune to lose his
mother, and his boyhood and youth were passed with his brothers and sisters in his father's home. He assisted his father in clearing a farm, and has done much pioneer work both in Ohio and Illinois. He gleaned his education in the subscription schools of Ohio, and has extended it by reading good literature, so that he keeps well informed on topies of general interest.
In the month of September, 1837, our subject was married to Rebecca Batson. She is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in July, 1816, to Nathaniel and Mary Batson, early settlers of Clin- ton County, Ohio. By their union have been born eleven children, five of whom survive, as follows: Jane, wife of James Shockley, of Stark County, III. ; Mana, wife of W. L. Barnes, of Mill- brook Township; Lucinda, wife of Tobias Moats, who lives near Grafton, Neb .; Thomas B., a resi- dent of Peoria, is Deputy Sheriff in the Sheriff's office; Susan, wife of Milton Hart, of Millbrook Township.
In the fall of 1852 Mr. Garrison made a new departure in life, and determined to do as liis father had done, and seek a new location in a more recently settled part of the country, where land was cheap and the virgin soil yielded large har- vests to those who persevered in their labors. After his arrival in this State he remained in Knox County until the following spring, when he came to this county, and for one year resided on a farm at French Grove, and finally in 1855 settled on the farm which he now owns on section 15, Millbrook Township. There were but few improvements made on the place cither as to cultivation or in point of buildings. He toiled early and late to de- velop his land, and has met with remarkable snc- cess in his calling. Ile has a commodious residenee on section 15, and is to-day one of the most exten- sive landowners in this part of the State. He and his children together own about two thousand seven hundred and fifty acres of land, the most of it in Illinois, though some of it is in Missouri and Nebraska. Mr. Garrison, personally, owns and operates one thousand and eighty acres of land. which is highly improved and under the best of cultivation.
This county is greatly indebted for its wonder-
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ful growth and present high financial standing to the men of intelligence, far-reaching enterprise and action who came here in pioneer times, and have in various ways sought to push forward its inter- ests. Robert Garrison is a fine representative of this class of men, is a time honored resident of this part of the State, and is widely known and revered. Many warm friends have been drawn to him by his honorable conduet in all the affairs of life, as well as by his frankness and genuine eour- tesy. He is strongly interested in politics, and ac- tively uses his influence in favor of the Democratie party. His publie spirit is an important factor in carrying out all schemes for the benefit of township or county, toward which he gives with a liberal hand. He and his venerable wife are now past the age of three-score years and ten, and are enjoying the fruits of their early labors in a home where comfort and hospitality abound.
6 HEODORE DAWSON. This gentleman, who is numbered among the younger farm- ers of Rosefield Township, was reared to the pursuit which he is now following with a degreee of success highly satisfactory. He was born near Oak Hill, August 30, 1853, being a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Stahl) Dawson. He acquired a good education in the common sehools and keeps himself well informed regarding current events and general topies of interest. He was married Angust 20, 1882, to Miss Rebecca Rynear- son, who has borne him two bright children- Reuben and Minnie Belle. The estate npon which Mr. Dawson lives consists of one hundred and fifty-three acres belonging to his wife, being her portion of the estate of her deceased father.
Mrs. Dawson was born April 1, 1865, to Ephraim C. and Keziah (Luse) Rynearson, by whom she was carefully reared, acquiring a good education, much useful domestie knowledge, and the habits and traits of character which fit her to discharge the duties devolving upon her as wife, mother and member of society. She is one of a family of twelve children, of whom we note the
following: Mary J. is now Mrs. Keys, of El Paso; Harriet Ann died when five years old; Sarah is now Mrs. Shut, of Ford County; Mrs. Elizabeth Seigel lives in this township; Robert J. is a resi- dent of Elmwood; Maria died when seventeen years old; Deminicus lives in Clay County, Neb. ; Alice is the wife of Lafayette Smith, of this town- ship; Keziah died when five years old; Charles died at the age of seven months; Isabella, Mrs. Holt, lives in this township; Rebecca is the wife of Theodore Dawson, our subject.
The father of Mrs. Dawson was born in Hamil- ton County, Ohio, March 2, 1814, reared on a farm and received a common-school education. He came to Peoria County, Ill., settling on section 28, Rosefield Township, then going to Franklin County, Ind., was married December 5, 1836, to a native of that county, and bringing his bride to the Prairie State spent the remainder of his life here. In 1862 he raised a company, of which he was appointed Captain, but after serving three months in the Union Army. siekness compelled his resignation. Ile served as Township Supervisor ten years and Justice of the Peace twenty-two years. At the time of his death, November 29, 1877, he owned fourteen hundred acres of land, and was occupying the homestead on which his father had settled in 1833.
The parents of Ephraim C. Rynearson were Min- ney and Sarah (Carl) Rynearson, natives of Penn- sylvania and New Jersey respectively. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812. On removing from Hamilton County, Ohio, to Peoria County, Ill .. Mr. Rynearson took up a large tract of land and built a brick residence, which was one of the first erected in this section and one of the finest of the period. He served as Justice of the Peace many years, being gathered to his fathers in April, 1865, his wife dying some two years later. Of the fourteen children born to them, Maria, Ephraim, John, Elizabeth, Sarah, Thomas, Martha .J. and Rebecca A. grew to years of maturity, all rear- ing families except Maria, Jane and Thomas.
The mother of Mrs. Dawson was born January 9, 1817, and is a daughter of Robert and Mary (Jones) Luse, both of whom were natives of Penn- sylvania. They removed to Indiana at an early
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day, spending the remainder of their lives in Franklin County, where Mr. Luse died about 1825, his widow surviving him forty years and reaching the age of eighty-four years. Ten children were born to them, two of whom died young and five in later life. Those now living are: Dr. Alexan- der Lusc. of Ohio; Hiram, in Indiana; and Mrs. Keziah Rynearson. The latter holds two hundred and ten acres of the Rynearson homestead, upon , it being a brick house which was built in 1851. The Luse family is of Dutch origin, and its members have long been identified with the Bap. tist Church.
LFRED G. MILES is of the third genera- tion of the family in Ehnwood Township. and an excellent representative of the pio- neer stock to whose efforts the present high civilization and development of this section of the Mississippi Valley is due. The surround- ings of his early years and the manner of life of his progenitors, will acquaint the reader with the school in which his sturdy virtues were developed and physical hardihood acquired.
Joseph Miles, the grandfather of our subject, came to Illinois in 1837, walking all the way from Connecticut, and carrying with him a set of car- penter's tools. He put up the first mill in this township, which was located on section 15, where a part of the old frame is yet to be seen. He died in 1851. leaving to his descendants the heritage of a good reputation. His son. Freeman, who was born in Litchfield County, Conn., and married Ruth Emma Woodward, of the same county, lived in the Empire State for a time, working at the trade of a carpenter. In 1838 he came to Illinois, his first home being in the upper floor of the mill which his father had built, and which he afterward operated.
The country was then but very thinly settled, Brimfield was a hamlet of three log houses, South- port contained two, and Elmwood was not even dreamed of. Of the settlers here at that time none survive except Avery Dalton, John Taylor
and H. S. Harkness. The country was timbered open- ings, wherein wild animals and snakes abounded. Freeman Miles helped to organize the township of Elmwood, of which he acted as Clerk for several years, and was elected Justice of the Peace, al- though he did not serve. He was a strong Aboli- tionist and before the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation was interested in the work of the underground railroad. He was a believer in wo- man suffrage. He became prominent in this see- tion, well respected for the vigor, hospitality and kindliness which marked his life. He died March 8, 1890, at the ripe age of eighty-eight years.
The mother of our subject is still living in Elm- wood, suffering from some of the infirmities of age, being now eighty-three years old. She and her husband belonged to the Congregational Church during the earlier years of their lives, but after- ward became identified with the Presbyterian Church, the faith of which cheers her declining years.
The parental family consisted of five children, three of whom are living. They are: Amelia J. wife of Cyrus H. Brooks, of Galva; Alfred G., of whom we write; and Rosa V., wife of Joseph Wheeler, of Elmwood.
The subject of this notice was born in Connecti- cut, JJune 25. 1834, and was a child of about four years when brought to Illinois. Ilis education was mainly acquired in the district schools, al- though he had the advantage of instruction in the academy at Brimfield one season. Ile resided with his parents until twenty-four years of age, engaged in various occupations. He operated the mill, ran an engine, did carpenter work for about six years, and also did house painting. In 1860 he set up his own home, having won as his companion Miss Angeline Lawrence. This lady was born in Co- shocton County, Ohio, March 21, 1838, her parents, George P. and Phebe (Butler) Lawrence, remov- ing to Illinois in 1855. She is a sister of Erastus M. Lawrence, of Elmwood Township. Both her parents are deceased.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Miles consists of six living children and they mourn the loss of two. The oldest of those who survive is Frank, whose home is in the same township as his parents, and
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who married Emma Parsely, and is the father of one child. The other members of the household band are George, Edward, William, Earl and Archie, all still single. The entire family have received good educations in the common schools, are well bred and of good character. No finer family of boys can be found in a day's journey. The mother might well be taken as a type of a perfeet house- wife and devoted mother, as she looks well to the ways of her household, making home a place of the most perfeet order and watching carefully over the welfare of her loved ones.
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The land owned and occupied by Mr. Miles comprises two hundred and ninety acres on section 10. and is devoted to general farming and the raising of standard grades of stock. The comfort- able dwelling, full line of farm buildings which ac- companies it, and other improvements have been made by himself, and together with the thoroughly cultivated fields, make up a splendid looking estate. Mr. Miles has been a School Director for several years, and has also served as Road Commissioner in the township six years. He keeps well informed regarding political matters, voting the Republican ticket, and does not neglect other topics of inter- est. Success has crowned his labors and left him free from anxiety regarding the future. He is liberal in the use of the means which he has ac- quired, honest in his dealings with his fellow-men, and in social and domestic relations a man among men.
P ATRICK HARMON, a native of the Einer- ald Isle, is numbered among the pioneer citizens of Peoria. in which he made his ad- vent November 15, 1837. He was born in County Louth, Ireland, May 12. 1812. his parents being Dennis and Mary (Callan) Ilarmon. He learned the trade of a harness-maker, following the same until 1837, when he bade adieu to his native land, believing that better opportunities for per- sonal preferment were to be found in America. HIe landed in New York, June 7. but found it im- possible to find employment in the city, where,
owing to the failure of the United States Bank, a financial crisis was at hand.
Mr. Harmon obtained employment at Newburg for a short time, then going into the country en- gaged with a farmer to reap, which he did with a siekle. He next set up a shop in Newburg for the manufacture of horse collars, but in the fall turned his footsteps westward. Finding nothing to do at his trade in Peoria, he turned his hand to other employment, being willing to do any honest labor by which he could gain a sustenance. The story of his early experiences is an interesting one, particularly when he tells of his efforts to split rails and chop cord wood, a business in which he engaged during the fall, and which he learned by hard knocks. His first attempt at rail-making was to split them out one by one with wedges. A passing farmer came to his aid and gave him a les- son from which he profited.
During the winter following his arrival in the Prairie State, Mr. Harmon went with others to Iowa to look for Government land, but finding none to suit him returned to Peoria, ready as be fore to adopt any employment he could find. He broke prairie for Mr. Underhill, at $2.50 per acre. breaking in all about five hundred aeres. The pioneers well understand what an arduous task this was, although those unacquainted with farm life or accustomed only to seeing plowing done on old ground, will have little comprehension of it.
The next enterprise of Mr. Harmon was to begin farming for himself, which he continued three years, after which he again came to the city. For seven years he was occupied in hauling, after which he opened a grocery store, and began a bus- iness life which has been prosecuted for over thirty years. Having met his early reverses bravely. he has received prosperity in an apprecia- tive spirit, using it as a means of additional com- fort in the home life, better advantages for his family and an opportunity of assisting those in need. He is a communicant of the Catholic Church, as are the various members of his family, and is respected by a large eirele of acquaintances in business and social life.
The wife of Mr. Harmon bore the maiden name
July yours from Actual
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of Mary Boyle. Their marriage rites were cele- brated February 21, 1841, and the union has been productive to them of thirteen children. Of this large family six are now living. They are: Ann, widow of Augustus Mykins; Peter, a cigar manu- facturer and dealer, of Peoria; Kate; Agnes, a pub- lic school teacher; Dennis lives in Peoria; and Jolin, a resident of Providence, R. I. Peter is de- voting his attention thoroughly to a business in which he gives employment to eight hands, his transactions covering about $20,000 per annum. Politically Mr. Harmon is a Democrat.
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G EORGE W. SCHNEBLY, JR. The general intelligence, high moral character and busi- ness ability of the local freight agent in Peoria, of the Terre Haute & Peoria Railroad, are such as to entitle him to the respect of the entire community and the deeper esteem of those who know him well. Mr. Schnebly has been a freight agent here for several years, having begun his la- bors during the days of the old Illinois Midland line and retained his position after the change in the road. For seven years he has had entire charge of the local business, having secured the confidence of his superiors in his honor and efficiency.
Mr. Schnebly is a native of Spring Bay, Wood- ford County, Ill., where his eyes opened to the light January 16, 1855. His parents, George W. and Margaret M. (Cox) Schnehly, were formerly resi- dents of Peoria. They removed to Mossville when our subject was a babe,and when he was about eight- cen years old to Alta. He received his education in the schools of this county, after which he turned his attention to pedagogy for some time. At length, however, he abandoned that honorable field of la- bor for one in which he thought the opportunities for personal aggrandizement were more favorable. and which would afford a field for the exercise of the business qualities of his mind.
Mr. Schnebly therefore connected himself with railroad work on the line of the Missouri Pacific Road, cceupving positions at Kansas City and In- dependence, Mo., two years. Ile then returned to
his native State, and at Peoria resumed the duties of clerk for the Peoria & Pekin Union and Illinois Midland jointly. His later career has already been noted. He manifests a considerable degree of in- terest in the social and benevolent orders and has become a member of the Royal Arcanum, Uni- formed Rank of the Knights of Pythias, and Mod- ern Woodmen of America. Ile also belongs to the First Presbyterian Church, as does his estimable wife.
Our subject has built for himself a fine residence on East Bluff Street, whose general adornments and air of refinement prove that it is presided over by a lady whose aim is to make her home the most attractive spot on carth to hushand and children. This lady was known in her maidenhood as Miss Lillie S. Saul, and is a native of Peoria, in whose schools she obtained a good education. She is a daughter of Wesley 11. Saul, an early resident and commission produce man who removed bither from Cleveland, Ohio. Her mother, formerly Harriett Secor, is now deceased.
The union of Mr. Schnebly and his amiable wife was celebrated November 25. 1880, and to them have been born five children named, respectively, Erwin J., Lillie M., Robert S., William G. and Hat- tie B. They had the misfortune to lose their son, William G., a bright child of four years, with that dread disease, scarlet fever. The children form a bright and interesting group, and are receiving the benefit of a good education. The family are highly respected socially, and beartily endorse every measure calculated to advance the interests of the community.
On another page of this volume we present a lithographic portrait of Mr. Schnebly.
EROME C. HAWLEY is the owner and occupant of a good farm on section 2, Akron Township, consisting of two hundred and eighty acres of productive land. which has been placed under good improvement in every part, is supplied with a complete line of necessary buildings, sufficiently commodious for their vari-
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ous purposes and conveniently located. The owner of the estate is a man of intelligence, who, having received a good practical education, has regarded the same as a foundation upon which to build greater knowledge through reading and observa- tion. Ile is courteous in his dealings with his fel- low-men, has a reputable character, and while devoting liis chief attention to his private affairs, has been useful in several of the local offices.
Mr. Hawley is the younger of the two children born to Nathan and Chloe A. ( Whiteside) Haw- ley, whose first home after their marriage was in Sandy Creek, Oswego County, N. Y. The mother was a native of the Empire State, but the father was born in Vermont. In the fall of 1835 they came West, and in LaSalle County, this State, the father breathed his last October 24, 1836. The widow removed to this county, settling in Medina Township, but subsequently locating in Radnor Township. She died at the residence of our sub- ject in Akron Township, October 20, 1879.
The birthplace of him of whom we write was Sandy Creek, Oswego County, N. Y., and his na- tal day June 9, 1832. He was in his fourth year when he came to the Prairie State with his parents, and still but a little lad when he accompanied his mother to this county. For eighteen years his home was in Medina Township, after which he lived in Radnor Township until 1866. He then settled on section 2. Akron Township, continuing the farm work, in which he has been engaged from his youth, prospering in his occupation, and attaining a position among the solid men of this section.
Mr. Hawley was fortunate in securing for his companion a lady of genuine worth of character, cultured mind and thrifty ways. This was Miss Saralı Wilkinson, who was born in Philadelphia, Pa., July 15, 1840, and whom he led to the hy- meneal altar in Peoria, June 11, 1863. The happy union has been blest by the birth of four children -Alvin J., Clarence E., Nettie and Charles N., who have been as thoroughly equipped for useful careers as the comfortable circumstances and ardent desires of their parents would permit.
The parents of Mrs. Hawley were John and Sophia (Barden) Wilkinson, the former a native of England and the latter of New Jersey. They
settled in Philadelphia, where the wife died Octo- ber 12, 1850. In the spring of 1853 Mr. Wilkin- son came to Peoria County with his children, locating in the county seat, where they lived three years. IIe then removed to Woodford County, where he departed this life May 30, 1861. The family consisted of five sons and two daughters, Mrs. Hawley being the third child and eldest daughter.
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