Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 75

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 75

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Our subject was born in this county, December 12, 1854, and is the son of one of the foremost pioneers of Millbrook Township, who was very active in laying the foundation of its prosperity. Alexander and Elizabeth (McCabe) McDonnell, the parents of our subject, were both natives of Ireland. His father settled in this county sometime in the '40s and immediately entered a tract of land from the Government, comprising eighty acres, which now forms a part of our subject's homestead. HIe paid $1.25 an acre for it and subsequently pur- chased another eighty acres at §2.50 an acre, and still a third eighty-acre tract for which he paid $5

an aere. He and his wife were among the first to settle in Millbrook Township, and for a time lived in a sod house and he broke the first furrow on his land, which was in its natural state when he pur- chased it. He used to go to Chicago to sell his hogs after they were killed and dressed, and he had to go to Lacon to get his grist ground. There were practically no roads and when he first eame here deer were still numerous. He was diligent and persevering in the prosecution of his work and achieved complete success as a pioneer farmer of the Prairie State. He was well educated, a man of elear, cool intellect and was full of enterprise, these characteristics making him invaluable as a citizen. He took an active interest in the political matters of his time and was a true Democrat. He was an earnest and consistent member of the Roman Catholic Church, and was a man of unquestioned integrity in whom all reposed complete confidence. He died in February, 1864, his beloved wife hav- ing shortly before preceded him to the grave, her death occurring in August, 1863.

The parents of our subjeet had a family of eight children, of whom seven are living: Jane, wife of Daniel Jones. of Caldwell. Kan .; Alice, wife of John Higgins, of Peoria; Lizzie. wife of William Hanlon, of Canton; Catherine, wife of Thomas Kelley, of Lexington, Mo .; Alexander; Ignatius L. a resident of Kearney, Neb., and Agnes, wife of John Day, of this county. Henry is the name of the son who died.

Alexander T. McDonnell has been a life-long resident of this county, and for several years has been intimately associated with one of its leading industries. He received his education in the schools of the county, and as he was early left an orphan had to begin the struggle of life when nothing more than a mere boy. He began at the age of eleven years to work on the farm which was his birthplace, and has ever since carried on his farm- ing operations here. He is the proprietor of two hundred and forty acres of well-cultivated land, and many of the substantial improvements which make it one of the most desirable estates in this part of the township are the work of his own hands, and here he has a neat and commodious home re- plete with comfort.

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January 22, 1879, Mr. McDonnell and Miss Aliee McArdle were united in marriage, and theirs has been a pleasant wedded life. Mrs. McDonnell is a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Kearns) McArdle, of Millbrook Township. Mrs. McArdle is deceased. To her and our subject have come two children- Sarah, born July 13, 1881, and Alexander T., born September 3, 1883.

Mr. McDonnell is a man of good natural ability, which is reinforced by strong common sense, so that he manages his affairs sagaciously and well. lle is shrewd in his dealings, though never taking unfair advantage in a bargain, and is well worthy of the success that has followed his efforts. His desire to promote the prosperity of his township is strong, and when serving it in a public capacity he has been zealous and efficient in the discharge of his duties. He served one term as Township Collector and in 1888 and 1889 represented Millbrook Town- on the County Board of Supervisors. He is influen- tial in politics and works with the Democratic party. Ile is a Roman Catholic in religion and is true to the faith of his fathers.

EV. SMITH KETCHUM. Peoria County may well be pleased to number among her citizens a man so intelligent, npright and public spirited as the gentleman above named, who devotes much of his time and talent to the work of agriculture, to which he was bred. An ordained minister of the Old School Baptist Church, he formerly paid much attention to minis- terial work. and still preaches occasionally in churches located in this part of the State. He owns a splendid farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 30, Brimfield Township, which being well improved and controlled by a progressive man, affords a comfortable income.

In the paternal line Mr. Ketchum is undoubtedly of Welsh descent, while his maternal ancestors are probably English. Members of the Ketchum fam- ily settled on Long Island in an early day, a num- ber of them taking up arms against the British in the first great struggle for American Independence.

The father of our subject, Eddy Ketchum, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., and his mother. Harriet (Smith) Ketchum, in Tioga County, Pa. They were living in Crawford County, Obio, when. January 7, 1840, the son was born who is the sub- ject of this brief notice.

In 1852 the Ketehum family located in Peoria County. Ill., but after a short sojourn removed to Marshall County, where our subject was reared to manhood on a farm. Ile received his preliminary education in the early schools of Ohio and Marshall County, Ill., not having the advantages afforded young men of the present day. An active mind, a love for knowledge, and an ambition to keep abreast of the times, supplied the deficiences of school privileges, and he became well informed, mainly by personal efforts. In Henry County, where he resided for a period of about twenty years, Mr. Ketchum was ordained to the ministry in June, 1873. For years he gave himself almost exclusively to the work of preaching the Gospel. In 1883 he settled on the farm which is now his home, and the possession of which he owes to his individual efforts.

Mr. Ketchum possesses a considerable amount of inventive genius, which has recently been displayed in the modeling of a check-row corn planter. a combination machine which he has patented, and which promises to be a success. Ile takes an ac- tive interest in political issues, especially in the affairs of his township and county, and, approving the policy of the Democratic party, gives it his support. Although he has not been a resident of this county many years, he was known by reputa- tion, at least, to many of the citizens prior to com- ing hither, and his personal contact with the com- munity in which he lives has deepened their regard for him.

The estimable lady who for a quarter of a cen- tury has had charge of the household affairs at the home of our subject was formerly Miss Martha A. Clement. She was born in Hamilton, Canada, to Margaret and Robert (Jones) Clement, both of whom are now deceased. Iler marriage rites were celebrated October 12, 1865, since which time she has conscientiously discharged her duties as a wise and affectionate wife and mother. Mr. and Mrs.

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Ketchum have seven children, one of whom, their first-born son, awaits them beyond the river of death. The survivors are: Mary S., Milo S., Dan- iel C., George S., Chauncey C. and Harold V. The deceased bore the name of Robert E.

W ILLIAM SCHROEDER. This gentleman is the senior member of the firm of William Schroeder & Co., contractors and builders, and is the oldest prominent contractor in the city of Peoria. For thirty-three years he has been car- rying on business here as William Schroeder & Co .. for the past nine years having the same partners. These are his son, Frederick Schroeder, and Mr. Henry Wichman. The abundant means of Mr. Schroeder have been accumulated by his own en- ergy and ability, and the beautiful home on Seventh Street, in which he has lived for many years, is a standing monument to the results of persistent ap- plication and good workmanship.

Until he was sixteen years old Mr. Schroeder lived in Hanover, Germany, where he was born March 12, 1826. Ilis parents then emigrated to the United States, settling in Cincinnati. Ohio, where our subject grew to manhood and learned the trade of a carpenter. During the second year of the Mexican War he enlisted and served under Gen. Scott a year. He escaped wounds and capture and was able to render efficient service, being al- ways on duty. He is now one of the few residents of Peoria drawing a pension as a soldier of that war.

For a short time after his apprenticeship, Mr. Schroeder followed his trade in Cincinnati. but in May, 1852, removed to Peoria, where he was occu- pied in the same manner for three or four years. He then began contracting, among the early jobs which he undertook being the erection of the King. man warehouse, the Calvary Presbyterian Church, and the First Methodist Episcopal Church. He now has the contract for the new Young Men's Christian Association building, which when com- pleted will cost 8125,000. During the long years of his labors here his reputation has become thor-

oughly established for reliability and strictly hon- orable dealing. At an early period in its existence he was connected with the People's Loan & Home- stead Association, of which he was a Director, but he was more particularly engaged in real-estate transactions.

For half a century Mr. Schroeder has been iden- tified with a religious body, his name now being included in the list of members of the Plymouth Congregational Church, in which he holds the of- fice of Deacon. His wife, formerly Miss Margaret Thielbar, was born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, and when a child came to Cincinnati, Ohio, in which she developed the character which gained the regard of onr subject and led him to desire her companionship in life. They were mar- ried in the Buckeye metropolis and have lived happily together for many years. To them came two children, one of whom, a son, Fred, is still living. He has for several years been associated with his father in business. He married Miss Louisa Vonbehren and has eight children.

ONATHAN K. COOPER was born in Cum - berland County, Pa., November 9, 1814, and died in Peoria, November 22. 1884, carry- ing with him to his grave as nearly univer- sal respect as it is possible for man to secure. He was a son of John Cooper, who was a famous classi- cal scholar of his day, and grandson of the Rev. Robert Cooper, an eminent divine and Revolution- ary patriot. Our subject inherited the fine mental traits of his ancestors, and early gave promise of great ability. He was educated by his father, who conducted a classical school, and was graduated from Jefferson College in 1835, being the young- est member of a class of forty-three, and sharing the second honors.

After his graduation, Mr. Cooper taught the classics for a brief term, then turned his attention to the law, and was admitted to the bar in 1839. Coming to Peoria the same year. he at once began the brilliant career which continued forty. five years, by which he reached the eminence of professional

ARobbins

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honor. He brought to the law the kern acumen and trained capabilities that by heritage and culti- vation enabled him to grasp its intricate questions with ease and readiness. IIis chief legal triumphs were in the higher eourts, and many keen battles proved his title to greatness in his profession. The only office of political nature that he ever held was that of Mayor of Peoria.

Mr. Cooper was an intensely religious man, be- lieving in the Bible literally. For eighteen years he was an Elder in the First Presbyterian Churel. A persistent and systematic Bible reader, he for twenty years taught a Bible class. Amid the du- ties of his profession he found time to read his favorite authors thoroughly, and so became a man of wide and varied culture. At a meeting of the members of the bar after his decease, Judges Hop- kins, Puterbaugh, and others, pronounced enlogies upon him, not only as a lawyer, but as a citizen, a companion, and a Christian friend.

OHN W. ROBBINS is an old settler of this county, and an early pioneer of Timber Township, with whose interests he has been variously and prominently connected for many years. He is now one of its leading farmers and has here a large and valuable farm. Ilis portrait will be noticed on the opposite page.

Our subject comes of sturdy New England an- cestry, and is himself a native of that section of the country, born October 9, 1818, in the town of Acton, county of Middlesex, Mass .; his parents, Bennah and Mary (Lampson) Robbins, were also natives of that town. Ilis father was a son of Densmore Robbins, who was killed while teaming lumber from New Hampshire; he left a widow and the following children : Densmore, Joseph, Albe. John, Bennah, 2d., Lucy and Eunice, all of whom married and reared families. The great-grandfather of our subject came from England and the Lamp- son family came from Scotland. To Bennah and Mary Robbins were born eight children, one of whom died in infancy, the others grew to maturity, and of them the following is recorded : Francis is

a resident of Massachusetts; Hannah, Mrs. Hill, lives in Peoria; Mary is deceased; l'riah died in or near Pella, Iowa, leaving a family of two sons and three daughters; Lucy died in infancy; John W. is the subject of this notice; Joseph was killed in a cotton factory in Lowell. Mass .; Horace, a resident of Quincy Point, Mass., is an inventor. Their parents, who were people of exceedingly great worth and high character, died in their New England home in Massachusetts. They were faith- ful members of the Congregational Church.

He of whom we write passed the early years of his life on a farm in his native place and was thor- oughly drilled in the best methods of carrying on agriculture and gained an excellent education in the common schools. He was ambitious to try life in the West and in the month of May, 1838, started on the eventful journey from Boston, coming by the way of Philadelphia to Pittsburg, Pa., thence by river to Alton, Ill. For eighteen months he worked at the trade of a cooper in that city, and on the 22d of June came to Lancaster, Timber Township, from Pekin. He worked as a cooper there for several years and then engaged in the mercantile business for some eighteen years. In the meantime lie prudently saved his money and invested it judiciously and had acquired considera- ble property, when in the month of November, 1865, he located on the farm in Timber Township, which he had purchased before, and where he now resides. It comprises two hundred and forty acres of very fertile land, which he has placed under ex- cellent improvement ; he owns besides two hundred and eighty acres in Fulton County; and a forty- acre tract in Timber Township, all of which is cleared and under first-class cultivation, with the exception of about twenty-seven acres. Our sub- jeet has experienced many ups and downs in the acquirement of his property. When in Peoria he lost $14,000 in the hay business in 1865, and lost all of his possessions excepting the place on which he now lives. When he first came to the State he landed at Alton with but $5 in his pocket. He has increased that until he is now numbered amongst the moneyed men of Timber Township, by the exercise of those faculties that mark him as a shrewd, keen siglited, capable man of business.

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Mr. Robbins: and Miss Charlotte A. Falenstock were united in the happy bonds of wedlock, Septem- ber 3, 1846, and in her our subject has found one who fills the perfect measure of wife, mother and friend. Mrs. Robbins is a native of Adams County. Pa., and is a daughter of Jacob and Maria (Ilar- mon) Fabenstock. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins have had six children born to them, namely: Bennah, who served in the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry during the late war; Louis A., Clarence A .; Abbie L., wife of Leman Rice; Maria, wife of Orra Chamberlin ; and John W., who died in infancy.

Mr. Robbins holds a high place in the estimation of his fellow-citizens, as he possesses those attri- butes of character that command the confidence and regard of all who come in contact with him either in a business or social way. Those traits of character that have brought him prosperity also make him useful as a public official and he has served with distinction as a member of the County Board of Supervisors and as Justice of the Town- ship. For several years he was Postmaster of Lan- caster, and was very popular in that capacity. Ile is a sturdy adherent of the Democratic party and possesses shrewd and intelligent opinions on all political questions.

C ASTER PATTERSON, ex-Mayor of Elm- wood City, and one of its leading citizens, is a well-to-do retired farmer, living in one of the many pleasant homes of this place. He has a well-improved farm in Elba Township, Knox County, and its rental is a source of a good income. He is a veteran of the late Civil War, in which he did noble service, sacrificing much for his country, and won an honorable military record, of which he and his may well be proud.

Mr. Patterson was born in Preble County, Ohio, January 1, 1841. His father, John Patterson, belonged to an old Virginia family, and he was hin- self a native of the Old Dominion, his birthplace be- ing in Rockbridge County. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah McCorkle, was a native of the same connty as himself. They were there married,

and afterward moved to Ohio in the early days of the settlement of that State. Many years of their life were passed there, and they then took up their abode in Indiana, whence they came, three years later, to Illinois, and settled in this vicinity. They were people of genuine goodness of character, and were thought very highly of by their neighbors. They were for many years members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, but he finally became a Presbyterian and died in that faith. Thirty-five years ago the good mother passed away, and in a few years the father folded his busy hands in death, his life record being closed twenty-nine years ago.

Our subject is one of a family of ten children, of whom but six are now living. He came to Illi- nois about forty years ago, when he was a young lad, and received his education in the local common schools. At the early age of sixteen years he be- came entirely self supporting, going out to labor as a farm-hand, and was thus employed until he was twenty years of age. He had not attained his majority when the war broke out, and he watched its course with intense, patriotic interest, and at his earliest opportunity offered his services to the Government to fight or die for the old flag. In Angust, 1861, his name was enrolled among the brave volunteers that composed the rank and file of Company C, Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry, which was recruited in a Peoria camp, and the regiment was also organized at that place, and from there was dispatched to St. Louis, where they received their uniforms and other equipments. Our subject and his comrades were then sent to Jefferson City, Mo., and thence to Ottersville, Mo., where they wintered. In the spring of 1862 they marched back to St. Louis, from there to New Madrid, on to Cairo and to Pittsburgh Landing. They ope- rated around Corinth and through Alabama, and skirmished all over that section of the country. October 3, 1862, Mr. Patterson was severely injured by a gunshot wound in the right leg, be- low the knee, while he was bravely fighting at the front in the battle of Corinth. The bullet struck the small bone of the leg and was nearly split against it, shattering the bone in two places and cutting the cords and sinews in two places. In the

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subsequent operation performed at the general hospital in Corinth a piece of the bone nearly four inches in length was removed from his leg, and our subject still retains possession of it and of the split bullet as memorials of what he did and suf- fered for the Union cause. This serious injury put an end to Mr. Patterson's career as a soldier. He remained but a few days in the hospital, however, and was then discharged from the army on account of disability, and arrived at home weak and suffer- ing from his injured limb. He remained almost helpless until May, 1863, and was then able to get around a little and do some work. After that his health greatly improved until about 1881, when the old wound began to trouble him, and in 1883 he was obliged to have his leg amputated six inches above the knee, the operation being performed by Dr. Concoran, of Brimfield, now deceased, assisted by Dr. Stewart, of Peoria, and now an artificial leg does duty in place of the original limb, and enables him to walk.

Mr. Patterson was married in August, 1866, to Kesiah Esslinger, and they removed from the old homestead in Elba Township to their present resi- dence, in Elmwood City, four years ago. Mrs. Patterson was born in Butler County, Ohio, Au- gust 11, 1847, to Alexander and Salome (Snyder) Esslinger, who were likewise natives of Ohio, and there were engaged in farming. The father died in 1851, leaving a widow and seven children, of whom Mrs. Patterson is the fifth in order of birth, and all are still living. The mother married again, l'ecoming the wife of John Maher, and they live in Brimfield Township.

Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have two children-Harry and Zella, both of whom have been well educated in the public schools, and Harry has taught school, beginning at the youthful age of seventeen years. He married Miss Jennie Clingan, and resides in Elmwood City, and is successfully managing a bakery which he has established here.

Mr. Patterson is held in high personal consider- ation, as he is in every sense a manly, straightfor- ward man, in whom his fellow-citizens can place implicit trust, and that they do so was denoted by their electing him to the highest municipal office within their gift-that of Mayor -- and during his

incumbency of that position, in 1889, local public interests did not suffer from neglect, but were carefully guarded by him, and were promoted wherever opportunity offered. He has been a prominent figure in local polities, giving strong support to the Republican party, and he has inter- ested himself greatly in educational matters. He and his entire family are members in high standing of the Presbyterian Church, and all are active workers in the Sunday-school, of which he is As- sistant Superintendent; his children are both teaeh- ers in the school, and he has served the church as Elder for the past seven years.

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E NOCH PASSMORE SLOAN, Clerk of the United States Courts at Peoria, was ap- pointed to this office at the establishment of the courts by aet of Congress, March 28, 1887, and has held it continuously since that time. The pre- siding officer is Judge W. Q. Gresham, Judge of the United States Circuit Court, and Judge Ilenry W. Blodgett, of the District Court, for the Northern District of Illinois.

The subject of this notice was born in Cambridge, Dorchester County, Md., January 27, 1822, and is a son of Enoch and Mary (Sulner) Sloan. When eighteen years old he came with his sister to Peo- ria, having lost both parents before he was five years old, when he went to live with his brother-in- law, and at eleven years of age, began learning the trade of a printer, in the employ of his brother-in- law, John S. Zeiber, who, upon removal here, es- tablished the Peoria Democratic Press, the first number of which was issued February 22, 1840. This was the third paper successfully established in Illinois, and in 1846, Mr. Sloan became one of the proprietors, having worked his way up from office boy to that position.

Mr. Sloan remained with this paper until 1848. when it was bought by Thomas Phillips, for whom Mr. Sloan worked until 1850, when it was sold to Washington Cockle. The latter conducted the pa- per one year, then sold it to Mr. Sloan, who issued it as a weekly until 1853. He then instituted a

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semi-weekly edition. and after twelve months en- larged it and began publishing a daily. Ile con- ducted the weekly and daily until December 1856. when the Democracy whom he had faithfully served, made him the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Peoria County.

The above-mentioned office was held by Mr. Sloan for eight years. During the progress of the Civil War, he became convinced that his party was in er- ror, and he accordingly bravely wheeled into the Republican ranks. The county, however, remained intensely Democratic, and he was defeated during the third election to the office. After the close of the war he went to Springfield and applied for ad- mission to the bar, passing a successful examina- tion, and being regularly licensed to practice law, which profession he followed for two years. Find- ing, however, that the labor involved exceeded his power of endurance, mentally and physically, he re- tired from the profession, and turned his attention to the abstract business. For this he was amply prepared, having written in his own hand sixty vol- umes of abstract of titles, which comprises a com- plete history of real-estate transfers for the city and township of Peoria. and is invaluable.

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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 75

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