Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 74

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

USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 74

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The family of which Mr. Wilder was a worthy member has an extended history in Vermont, and an illustrious name in New England annals. His father, Nathaniel Wilder, was reared and educated in the Green Mountain State, becoming a farmer. He married Polly Warner, who was of English ancestry and a native of Vermont, They contin- ued to reside in that State until after the birth of several children, when they removed to Oswego County, N. Y., settling on a farm at Sandy Creek. There they spent the remainder of their natural lives, the husband dying in middle life and the wife surviving until quite old. They were Pres- byterians in religious faith. They had three sons and two daughters, the only survivors being a son, Edson, a well-to-do farmer in Waldo Township, Livingston County, Ill., and a daughter, Mrs. Rufus Salisbury, of Sandy Creek, N. Y.

Loren Wilder was born in Windham County, Vt., November 11, 1813, and was but three years old when his parents removed to the Empire State. There he grew to manhood, learning and follow- ing the tanner's trade in Oswego County until he came to Illinois in 1836. Hle sojourned for a time in Peoria, there marrying Miss Mary Hanson, who was born in County Derry, Ireland, July 17, 1823. She is of pure Irish blood, a daughter of Thomas and Margarette (Hanson) Hanson, natives of the same county as herself, who emigrated to America after the birth of two sons and two daughters.

Mr. and Mrs. Ilanson left the Emerald Isle in the spring of 1839, crossing the channel to Liver- pool, there taking passage for America on a sailing- vessel, which landed at New York City in due time. They then crossed the Alleghany Mountains to Pittsburg, thence journeyed down the Ohio and up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to Peoria, which they reached three months after leaving their old home. They subsequently settled in Medina Township on an almost unbroken farm, which they improved and made their home during the remainder of their lives. Mr. Hanson died when eighty six years old, and his wife when sev- enty-five. They were identified with the Presby-

John note

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terian Church. The only surviving members of the family are: Mrs. Wilder, of this notice; and Mrs. Edward Wilder, of Radnor Township.

Mrs. Wilder was seventeen years old when her parents came to this country. ,She is a smart, in- telligent woman, having been carefully reared by her parents, and having had her education wisely looked after by her father, who was a merchant in his native land. She is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, her name being enrolled at Dunlap. She has had three children, but one of whom is now living. Margaret became the wife of Alexander Keady, a farmer in Medina Township, to whom she bore three daughters-Marion, Elea- nor and Maggie. She departed this life in Medina, April 9, 1883. The only son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilder was Thomas, who died when ten years oldl. The surviving child -- Polly F .-- an educated, refined woman, married D. M. Waite, a native of the Em- pire State, who came West after having served his country as a private soldier three years in the Third New York Cavalry, and returned from the war fairly sound. Ile now has the management of the Wilder farm. He and his wife have two living children-Linnie and Edward F .- and have lost two-Nellie and Loren W.

Mr. Wilder took a boy when seven years old, who has ever since made his home here. He has been carefully reared and educated by Mr. and Mrs. Wilder. His name is Fred E. Koyer.

OHN MOSS. No resident of Jubilee Town- Township is better known or more highly respected than this gentleman, whose biog- raphy and portrait we present on these pages. He is one of the oldest settlers of the township and has been an important factor in de- veloping its agricultural interests.

During the four-score years of the life of Mr. Moss he has been a witness of the many startling changes in the history of this county and the development of its resources. He was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., August 18, 1810. His father, hearing the same name as himself, was of English descent and was born in New Haven, 1

Conn. He was reared to farming pursuits, and in 1799, when a young man, removed to the primeval forests of Onondaga County, locating five miles from Syracuse. He cleared a farm on which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1816, when he was scarcely past the prime of life, at the age of forty-five years. He furnished a substitute during the War of 1812, thinking it dangerous to leave his family alone in that wild country, where Indians still remained. Ile was a devoted member of the Episcopal Church and was in every way a thoroughly good man.

The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Mary Esther C. Moss, bearing the name, al- though not being a relative of her husband. She was born in New Haven and at the time of her husband's death was left with several small chil- dren. She bravely took up the burden of rearing them to years of usefulness, and was an inmate of our subjeet's home until her death in 1852. Two of her children died in infancy, and five grew to maturity, as follows: Mary, who died in Jubilce Township; Caroline, Mrs. White, who died in Mo- line; Narcissa lives in Jubilee Township; Joseph resides in Coldwater, Mich .; John, our subject; William and Jessie died in 1816.

He, of whom we write, was reared on a farm, and was early put to work. He received the pre- liminaries of his education in the district school which was conducted on the subscription plan and completed it in the Onondaga Hollow Academy, which he attended for a year when he was eighteen years old, besides being a pupil there at different times for four years. He remained at home with his mother until twenty-one years of age and then began to utilize his excellent education by teach- ing in the district schools, and was thus engaged at various times for four years. Of a studious turn of mind and very ambitious to obtain more learn- ing, he studied Greek and Latin, and took several academie terms in mathematics under Profs. Wool- worth, Fairchild and Hendricks. During the four years in which he was engaged in teaching he taught in only two schools. In 1833 he attended the Episcopal Academy at Cheshire, Conn., where his studies were directed by the celebrated Rev. Dr. Judd.

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Our subject returned home when he had com- pleted his course in that institution, and attended the academy at Onondaga Hollow. In 1835 he resumed farming, but for three years in succession there was a general failure in crops, and he had but little in return for his labors. He paid cash for everything, and as he did not make money, his finances were at a low ebb, and becoming discoor- aged at the prospects in his native State, he deter- mined to come West. Accordingly, in the spring of 1838, he began his long journey, bringing his household with him, traveling by canal to Buffalo, then by steamboat on the lakes; severe storms arising, obliged the boat to stop at Cleveland, and our subject went by stage to Toledo, and thence by canal fifty miles, where his travels were stopped on account of a breakage in the canal. He then took the boat to Steubenville, on the Ohio River, and from there embarked on a steamboat for Cin- cinnati, and thenee went down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to St. Louis, and from there came to Peoria by water, landing here May 12, 1838, after passing a month on the way.

At the time of his arrival Mr. Moss found Peo- ria a small place of about fifteen hundred inbabi- tants, and giving few indications of its present culture and prosperity. He proceeded into the country as far as Mi. Holly, on a prospecting tour with his brother-in-law, Mr. White. Three weeks later he selected his present quarter-section, com- prising the northwest part of section 14. He "jumped" the claim, that awaited the claimant's return. and in the fall entered it at $1.25 per acre. It was wild prairie land with oak openings, and was a tract of military land. He located on it in a log house that bad no cover; this he roofed at first with split boards, living in it nine years. He split three thousand rails and built a Virginia rail fence the first winter, and enclosed thirty acres of bis land, having broken and worked three acres the first summer. lle worked out on the Kickapoo for a man, breaking three acres of land for him and raising buckwheat, on which he lived. He worked out that summer and winter, and the next year pro- enred a team, with which he farmed and raised a crop. Peoria was the nearest market, and he made one trip to Chicago with a load of pork, in 1844,

Mr. Moss was very fond of hunting, for which he had plenty of opportunities when the country was wild and unsettled; at one time he trapped forty-eight prairie chickens, and killed other wild game. He continued to break prairie, but being troubled with the ague the second year he was here, he could not work so much. In 1838 he en- tered eighty acres of land on section 22, and a short time afterward sold it at a good advance. In 1847 be built his present substantial residence, the brick being made in this township. His farm is supposed to have been hunting grounds of Black IJawk and his tribe, and to this day arrow heads and other relics are found here. Mrs. Moss, while at her home in the East, saw the noted Black Hawk, who was on his way to Washington. .

The main object of Mr. Moss in coming here was to build up a home, and not to enrich himself, and he has succeeded in acquiring the modest compc- tence that he desired. He has been engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and has his farm well stocked with cattle and hogs of good grades. His estate of one hundred and sixty acres is all improved and is supplied with the necessary buildings. He has but fifty-six aeres now under his control, having divided the rest between two sons. Possessing a good physique, keen intellect and a well-trained mind, be is remarkably well pre- served for his age. His face shows benevolence in every line, and he is revered and beloved by all who know him. His name will always be indisso- lubly linked with that of Jubilee Township, as one its earliest settlers, and his valuable work as a pio- neer will never be forgotten. In all enterprises that pertain to the social, religions, political and civic life of township and county, he has been preeminent. Ile represented the town- ship on the County Board of Supervisors for three years, was Collector for one year, and has been Commissioner of Highways. Politically, he has always been a Democrat, though by no means offensively partisan; during the Rebellion he sided with the Government as a War Democrat, and was a recruiting officer. The money that was collected to provide for the widows and orphans of the sol- diers was placed in his care for disbursement, and could have been put in no better hands, He has

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been delegate to county and State conventions. Religiously, he is identified with the Episcopal Church, having been connected with it from in- fancy and holding membership in .Jubilee Chapel, of which he is a Vestryman. Ile assisted in quar- rying some of the stone for the chapel, and was present at the laying of the corner stone of Jubilee College in 1839. He has been Superintendent of Sunday-school for years, and though his advanced age will not permit of his taking as active part in it as he would like, he is always ready to assist in any way that he can.

To the faithful and devoted companion who has walked by his side for more than fifty years, who has shared his work and strengthened and cheered him in his labors, our subject was united in mar- riage May 4, 1837. They are now the oldest con- ple in the vicinity. Mrs. Moss' maiden name was Julia A. Warner, and she was born in the town of Skaneateles, Onondaga County, July 24, 1813. Her father, Mark Warner, a native of Massachusetts, was of Welsh-English descent, and received a good education in the old Bay State. In early manhood he became a pioneer of Onondaga County, where he engaged in farming and where he died in the '40s. He was a stalwart Whig in politics. The maiden name of his wife.was Anna Bolles, who was born in Massachusetts, and reared in Coldbrook, Conn. She went from there to New York, and after her husband's death came to Illinois to live with her daughter and our subject, and her death occurred at their home February 20, 1862. She was a truly religious woman, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She was the mother of four children: one who died in infancy ; Morris, who died in 1876, in Detroit, Mich .; Julia A .; Rumina, Mrs. Rev. Parker, was in the Treasury Department of Washington, D. C., and died in 1859.

Mrs. Moss had very good educational advant- ages in seleet schools, and at the early age of six- teen years engaged in teaching. and followed that vocation until her marriage. Of her wedded life with our subject six children have come: Julia N. married the Rev. James S. McGowan, an Episco- palian missionary residing in Monterey County, Cal., on a farm; Cecil C., who is farming on the

home farm: John M. died at the age of thirty years; Joseph C. is a Ph. G. of Ann Arbor, and has practiced the profession some, but is now in Washington : Francis E. assists in the management of the home farm. One child died in infancy. Mrs. MeGowan is a practicing physician in Cali- fornia. She was graduated from the Chicago Women's Medical College, and practiced in that city very successfully until her marriage; Cecil C. attended the academy at l'rineeville, and completed his education in Jubilee College. He is prominent in public affairs, is and has been Assessor for ten years. John was educated for the profession of teacher at the Normal School, and was engaged in that vocation for several years. He was a natural artist, and acquiring the art of photography, prac- ticed it for some time. Ile was a young man of great promise. Francis is a graduate of the In- dianapolis Commercial College, was a teacher here at one time, and has traveled quite extensively in Kansas and Texas.

R' EV. SAMUEL S. KEMP is the son of an honored pioneer family of Brimfield Township, and since attaining manhood he has been classed among the leading farm- ers and stock-raisers, having on section 31, one of the choicest and best improved farms in this sec- tion. HIe has not only been active in the promo- tion of the material welfare of the township, but he has been very prominent in all that pertains to its religious, educational and social prosperity. Ile has recently been licensed to preach in the United Brethren ministry, is a power in the church, and is an influence for much good in the community.

Our subjeet is a native of Ohio, born in Butler County, December 31, 1843, and a son of the late David and Sarah (Snyder) Kemp. They were na- tives of Ohio, and came from the Buckeye State to Illinois in 1853, and were among the early settlers of Brimfield Township, the father selecting a tract of land that had been partly cultivated, lying on section 29. Ile was a man of singularly indus-

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trions and persevering habits, and in the years of labor that followed, despite the struggles and sacri- fices of a pioneer life, improved a farm. that is to- day one of the most valuable in this part of the county. He became a man of prominence in local, public and religious affairs, was a Democrat in politics, and served wisely as Justice of the Peace for many years, and was one of the founders of the United Brethren Church, known as Paradise Chapel, in Brimfield Township, and was ever after active in its interests, being a local preacher for about fifteen years. He was liberal not only in the support of the church, but in forwarding all things that would in any way enhance the welfare of the community. June 26, 1880, this Christian man entered into his reward, leaving behind the mem- ory of an upright life that is cherished in the hearts of his family and many friends that he had gath- ered about him. In his death the county lost one of its best citizens, who had been a public spirited pioneer. His wife, who was in every way worthy of him, now lives in Elmwood, and is quite an aged lady. They were the parents of three chil- dren, as follows : Maria C. married Henry Schenck, and is now deceased; Samuel S. and Squire D.

Samuel S. Kemp was but a boy when his parents brought him to their home on the wild prairies of this county, and here he was reared under the in- fluences of pioneer life, receiving good instruction in the best modes of farming, and in the home was. carefully trained in the highest moral principles. He received the rudiments of his education in the public sehools of Brimfield Township, and for a time attended Elmwood High School. In his twenty-first year he entered Lombard University at Galesburg, and was a diligent student there for one year, making rapid progress in his studies and pursuing an excellent course. Thus equipped for the battle of life, he entered upon the work of a farmer, in which he has met with excellent success, and has here a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, whose finely cultivated fields yield him large har .. vests, and here he has one of the loveliest homes in the township.

May 21, 1867, Mr. Kemp and Miss Nellie Barca- low were united in a marriage that has proved one of singular felicity, Mrs. Kemp is, like her hus.

band, a native of Ohio, and is a daughter of Derrick and Temperance Barcalow. She is the mother of three children, of whom the following is the rec- ord: Clarence H. was born January 27, 1870; William B., March 16, 1877; and David E., Jan- uary 10, 1881.

The Rev. Mr. Kemp is a thoroughly good man, and holds a high place in the estimation of his fel- low-citizens. His is a true Christian nature, deeply religious, and he has an earnest, pleasant manner in expressing his views that gains him a favorable hearing, and often carries conviction to the minds of his hearers, and that augers happy results in his ministry. He has long been an active member of the United Brethren Church, and in February, 1890, was licensed to preach. For several years he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Brethren College at Westfield. He has served efficiently as School Director. He interests himself in politics, and uses his influence in favor of the Democratic party.

HAUNCEY GALLUP is the owner and oc- cupant of a farm on section 18, Ilallock Township, at which place he has lived since 1865. He has made considerable improvement upon the estate since taking possession of it, and every- where upon the one hundred and sixty acres of good land one sees the evidence of New England thrift and enterprise.

Mr. Gallup came to this county from Connecti- cut, having been born in that State, in Windham County, October 4, 1838. He comes of an old New England family. his father, Nathaniel Gallup, hav- ing been a native and life-long resident of Windham County, Conn. He lived to the age of three-score and ten years, leaving behind him the record of a prominent local politician in the Democratic party and a citizen of unimpeachable integrity. His wife, formerly Miss Sally Barber, was born in Rhode Island and died in Windham County, Conn., when past three-score and ten years of age. Our subject is the youngest son of a large family born to his parents. He grew to manhood in his native

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county amid the scenes of a farm life and has al- ways devoted himself to the cultivation of the soil.

At the home of the bride's father, Ezekiel Sher- man, in 1860, in Windham County, Conn., he of whom we write, was united in marriage with Miss Abbie Sherman. She comes of a good family, of which numerous representatives have held high standing in Rhode Island and in other States, to which later generations have scattered. She was born in South Kingstown in 1845,in"Little Rhody," but was quite young when her parents removed to Connecticut. There she grew to maturity, joined her fortunes to those of our subject, and began the wedded life which is passing so prosperously and happily. She is the mother of two children, a son and a daughter. Hattie is the wife of William Ryon, their home being in North Chillicothe, where they carry on the Midland Hotel; Frank, who operates a part of his father's farm, married Daisy Sweetman and has two children-Frankie and Ma- bel.

Mr. and Mrs. Gallup are members of the Meth- odist Church at Lawn Ridge. Mr. Gallup votes the straight Democratie ticket. As a peaceable and law-abiding citizen, an intelligent and frugal farmer and a man of social nature, he finds many friends throughout the section which he is aiding to de- velop.

OHIN L. OSWALT. On the opposite page is presented a portrait of this gentleman, who has been a member of the revenue force of Peoria for several years, holding the po- sition of storekeeper, and such has been his record as an honest and capable official, that though the Government has passed from the bands of the Re- publicans to the Democrats and from the Demo- crats has again come under Republican rule, he has held his place through all the changes during three administrations.

Our subject was born January 23, 1847, in Wet- zel County, W. Va., which then formed a part of the Old Dominion. His parents, Tobias and Sarah (Archer) Oswalt, were natives of Virginia. The father, a mechanical engineer by occupation, moved

from his native State to Ohio in 1852, and estab- lished his home in the town of Akron, Summit County, and there both he and his wife died in the fall of 1865. They were the parents of ten chil- dren, the two eldest of whom were patriotic soldiers in the Union army during the late war.

He of whom we write was only five years old when his parents took him to Ohio, and there his boyhood was passed in attendance at the public schools where he laid the foundation of a liberal education. He was of a studious, thoughtful char- acter, and gladly availed himself of the opportunity to attend college. For one year he was a student at Alliance College in Alliance, Ohio, and subse- quently pursued a fine course of study in Parkman College for one year.

Our subject watched with intense interest the course of events that led to the breaking out of the Rebellion and earnestly longed to take part in the great conflict. On the 12th of August, 1863, al- thoughi he was but sixteen years of age, he enlisted in Company F, Fifth Ohio Infantry, which formed a part of llancock's Corps. He accompanied Sher- man on his famous march to the sea, and was in every battle that was fought on that momentous campaign. Though so young, he was called upon to endure and suffer much, as at North Edisto River he lost an arm while bravely fighting with the enemy. Ile still continued, however, with his command until the regiment arrived at Fayette- ville, N. C., and from there he was taken to Wil- mington, in the same State, thence to New York, where he was placed in the hospital at Willets Point. Later he was sent to Camp Dennison. Olio, where he was honorably discharged, June 29, 1865, having shown true soldierly qualities during his long period of service and behaving under all cir- cumstances with the valor and coolness of a vet- eran.

Mr. Oswalt had left his education incomplete when he went fortli to his country's call to aid in saving the Stars and Stripes, and after his return to his home in Ohio he endeavored to make up for lost time. The season of 1868-69 he went to Ot- tawa, Canada, where he studied telegraphy, and in 1870 he accepted an agency on the Pittsburg & Ft. Wayne Railroad, and was in the employ of the

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Big Four Railroad Company for fourteen years. Ile at length resigned his position as agent at Smithfield in 1884 to accept the office of a store- keeper under the Government, and was assigned to duty in Peoria, where he has since been in contin- uous service.

Mr. Oswalt and Miss Mary A. Mitchell, a native of Indiana, were welded September 1, 1872, and to them have come six children. They have a happy home where hospitality and comfort abound. Mr. Oswalt is a methodical, scrupulous, fair-minded man, exercising excellent judgment in business affairs, and has kept his life record unblemished. He is prominent in Grand Army circles, a member of Bryner Post, and no one is more thoroughly interested in the organization than he. He insti- tuted the first Grand Army Post in Smithfield, this State, and his fellow comrades find in him a warm and true friend. He belongs to the Order of Rail- way Telegraphers, and is connected with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Ile is a Methodist in his religious faith.

LEXANDER T. McDONNELL is a native of Peoria County, and his career as an in- dependent, progressive and energetic farmer and stock-raiser has been such as to reflect great credit on the place of his birth. His position among the enlightened agriculturists of Millbrook Town- ship is a high one, and he is influential in its public, religious and social life.

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Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 74

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

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