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 77
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Twice has Mr. McAlister been married. First he was wedded December 15, 1838. to Elizabeth M .. daughter of Joseph and Jane ( Mathews) Proetor. who came from Kentucky to Hamilton County. Ill., and thence to Logan Township, in 1835. He died here, while his wife passed away in Iowa. Mrs. MeAlister was a native of Hamilton County, and bore our subject ten children: George II., who died at the age of seventeen; Mary, who died young; Rachael, deceased, was the wife of John Williamson, of Trivoli Township; Thomas, who died at the age of twenty four; John Martin, at the age of nineteen ; William, at the age of twenty- one; Joseph Enos, at the age of thirteen: Sarah; Elizabeth, who is the wife of George W. DuMars; James Franklin ; Eliza Ellen, deceased, was the wife of John Moyer, and left a son and daughter, of whom the latter only is living. January 9, 1863, the shadow of death crossed the threshold of our subject, and removed his wife at the age of forty-two years. She was a woman of high princi- ple, and was a member in good standing of the Methodist Church.
Mr. McAlister was married to his present most estimable wife October 29, 1875. She is a native of this township, and her maiden name was Sarah J. Proctor, she being a daughter of Reuben and Sarah (Mathews) Proctor.
The parents of our subject experienced many of the vicissitudes of pioneer life, and were obliged to live in the most primitive style. When his mother was a girl there was a severe earthquake, whose effects were felt in many parts of the coun- try. She was preparing cornmeal to bake, when the tray, which was made of sassafras wood and was about two feet long, began to rock very vio- lently, and she became greatly terrified, thinking the day of judgment was come.
Our subject has been going in and out among the people of this community for more than half a
century, and in all that long period of time he has so conducted himself in all the relations of life and in the management of his business affairs, as to win the thorough respect of all who know him. Hle and his wife are among the leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their kindness and benevolence are well known. In politics, Mr. McAlister was a Democrat prior to 1860, and being then more in sympathy with the course of the Republican party, he joined its ranks. casting his first Presidential vote after he became a Republican for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, and has ever since firmly stood by the party.
OHN HARDY is managing his farming in- lerests in Millbrook Township with the sound discretion, energy and ability that has characterized his whole course as an ag- rieulturist, and his practical skill has placed him among the substantial, well-to-do citizens in this vicinity.
Mr. Hardy is a native of Yorkshire, England, and was there born in the month of October, 1823. His parents were William and Dinab Hardy. and they were also of English birth. His boyhood and youth were passed in his native shire, where he had practically no school advantages, as there were no public schools and his father having a large family of children was unable to pay for his tuition. At the unusually early age of eight years he had to start out in life on his own account, and until he was nearly ten years old worked for his board. After that time he was paid so much a year and was thus employed until he emigrated to America. Ile was very desirous of improving his financial condition and determined to come to this country where he would be enabled to build up a home for himself. Accordingly in the spring of 1852, with his wife and three children, he took passage on a vessel at Liverpool and in six weeks landed in New Orleans. Two weeks later he arrived at St. Louis, and from there crossed the river and went into Scott County, this State. He found employ- ment there, was engaged principally as a farmi hand
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some six years, and then for a number of years he farmed as a renter in Morgan County, and finally bought one hundred and thirty acres of land there near the Scott County line. Helived thereon sev- eral years, actively engaged in agricultural pur- suits. In the fall of 1872, he came to this county and has ever since made his home in Millbrook Township. His diligent application to his work and his business like manner of carrying it on have been productive of good results. When he first came to Illinois and began life in Scott County, he had but $1 left and now he has a valuable piece of property in the finely improved farm on section - 16, of which he is the proprietor. It comprises two hundred and thirty aeres of land that is mostly under a good state of cultivation, and the build- ings on it are of a substantial order and everything about the place betokens the presence of one who understands well how to carry on agriculture to the - best advantage,
Mr. Hardy was married in England in the month of June, 1846, to Miss Ellen Woodall, a native of England. Their wedded life was brought to a elose by her death February 16, 1882. She was a wo- man of many excellent qualities, of a kind and gen- erous nature, and left behind her a wealth of love and affection and many warm friends, who united with her husband and children in mourning her cleath.
By this marriage our subject became the father of twelve children, of whom the following six are living: Hannah, wife of Nathan Henderson, of Millbrook Township; John, in Laura, Ill .; George II., a resident of Millbrook Township; Robert, of Millbrook Township; James, a graduate of the Valparaiso (Ind.) Normal School; Ella, wife of David Porter, of Millbrook Township. Mr. Hardy has also reared one grandchild-Myrtle-a daugh- ter of his son George H. Hardy. The names of his children who are deceased are: William, Sarah, Jonathan, Ella and John, and one child who died in infancy unnamed.
Mr. Hardy is endowed with the persistence, steadiness, discretion, and natural ability, so char- acteristic of the English people, and since coming here has managed not only to hold his own, but to get ahead in the world, and is a credit to the cit-
izenship of his adopted country. He has served six years as School Director of District No. 5, and has done what he could to better the schools of the township. He is a Democrat in politics and serves his party faithfully whenever opportunity offers.
C OL. ISAAC TAYLOR. In the desperate struggle that threatened the life of our na- tion, many, who had before led the quiet lives of private citizens, developed the qualities of heroism and even martyrdom, and offered their services in behalf of their country. Among these who responded to the country's call, was Col. Tay- ler. who, in those times that tried men's souls, was one of the foremost in the field of battle, and whose standard of duty, zeal, and personal effort was of the highest. llis patient performance of duty inspired the soldiers with him, and by his per- sonal character and individual energy, he was an important factor in the success of his army. He enlisted as a private in Company H, Third Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, October 2. 1861-was com- missioned Second Lieutenant October 28, 1861, commissioned First Lieutenant February 18,1864, and Captain April 15, 1864.
Coming of worthy ancestors, Col. Taylor was born in Saratoga, N. Y., April 22, 1836. ITis par- ents, Isaac P. and Martha C. (Schidmore) Taylor, were natives of Saratoga, N. Y., and the father followed the occupation of a farmer. In 1836, they came west, locating in Canton, Ill., where they resided two years. Thence they removed to Trivoli, Peoria County, Ill., and there the father died in 1853. The mother survived many years, and passed away in 1886 in Yates City, Knox County, 111. They were honored among the pioneers of Peoria County, and were highly esteemed among a large circle of acquaintances. In the develop- ment of the resources of the country the father bore a conspicuous part, and was one of the fore- most men in his section of the county.
In Trivoli our subject grew to a stalwart man- hood, attending the public schools of the district and assisting in the farm work, At the age of
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twenty-one years he went to the Jonesville (New York) Academy, and there completed a good ed- ucation. Returning to Illinois he engaged in farm ing until 1861, when for a short time he sojourned to Minnesota, where he went on account of his health. Soon after the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted at Ft. Snelling, Minnesota, and his regiment was immediately ordered to Kentucky. After the fall of Ft. llenry his regiment was sent to Ft. Heiman. He was placed in command of Ft. Henry, and with his company engaged in scouting and had many skirmishes with the enemy.
Later his regiment was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., where they were on duty about four months. Murfreesboro, Tenn., was their next camping ground, and there on the 23rd of July, 1862, they engaged in a skirmish with Gen. Forrest. The reg- iment was captured by the Forrest Brigade, and all taken prisoners. However, Lieut. Taylor and Lieut. Eustrum of the Third Minnesota, escaped and returned to Nashville, where Lieut. Taylor was put in command of the Convalescent Camp of six hundred soldiers. He continued in command through the first siege and engaged in a number of skirmishes with the enemy during the siege. The regiment was paroled and sent to Minnesota, where they were detailed to fight the Indians. The Colonel, however, remained in Tennessee on duty and the regiment being exchanged came to Co- lumbus, Ky., where he joined them in 1863 and was assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps.
The Third Minnesota Regiment was assigned to Col. Wood's Brigade and was ordered to Vicks- burg, and the regiment took an active part in re- ducing that stronghold. After the surrender of Vicksburg Col. Taylor was ordered with his regi- ment to Helena, Ark., where an expedition was formed under Gen. Steele to move on to Little Rock, Ark., then held by the rebel General Price. The Third Minnesota took a prominent part in the capture of Little Rock, under Gen. Steele.
Until the close of the war our subject was kept in Arkansas, engaging in several battles, the most important of which was at Cash River. During their sojourn in Arkansas the army suffered much from the climate. While at Pine Bluff in October 1864, the Colonel's term of enlistment expired, but
he immediately re-enlisted with a veteran fur- lough of thirty days. He was so debilitated by constant exposure that he was carried on a stretcher, unconscious, to the steamer and thence taken home.
At the expiration of thirty days Col. Taylor, partially recovered, returned to Pine Bluff, and his regiment was then ordered to Duvall's Bluff on the White River. There a raid was organized to go to Cash River and other posts. Until the close of the war he continued in raid service, but upon receiving an honorable discharge April 18, 1865, at Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, he returned to Trivoli, and taking his family, who had remained there during his army service, removed to Minnesota, thinking that his health might be improved. How- ever, finding that he grew worse instead of better, he returned to his former home in Illinois, and for three years was unable to do anything. His home was then in Trivoli. In 1869 he was ap- pointed Assistant United States Internal Revenue Assessor, for Peoria County, outside of city; and served in that capacity until the fall of 1871.
To show the esteem in which Col. Taylor is hield it is only necessary to state that he has been elected five times County Treasurer of Peoria County, with a majority of from three hundred to twenty-one hundred, although the county usually gives a Democrat majority of seven hundred, while he is a stanch Republican. His first election to this office was in 1871 and he held it continu- ously for eleven years. After retiring therefrom he went into the real estate business and for four years served as Canal Commissioner having been appointed to that office by Governor Oglesby. He took a leading part in the great Waterway Con- vention, being chairman of the local committee which called the convention. This convention was held in Peoria October 11, 1887, and was one of the largest and most important of the kind ever held in the West.
Since the organization of the Republican party Col. Taylor has been an ardent supporter of its principles, casting his first vote for Abraham Lin- coln. lIe was a charter member of Bryner Post G. A. R. and has been Post Commander. Religiously, he and his family worship at the Congregational
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Church, of which they are active members. After the war the Colonel was Captain of the "National Blues" from 1875 until 1878. He was also Colo- nel of the Seventh Illinois National Guards, being commissioned by Gov. Cullom. His poor health compelled him to resign the latter office, and he still suffers from the effects of his army life. He enjoys a wide acquaintance, not only among the best people of Peoria County, but also among the leading men of the Nation.
On the 15th of October, 1860, a very impor- tant event took place in the life of our subject took place. He was then united in marriage with Miss Mary B., daughter of Melatialı T. and Mary L. Bourne, of Trivoli. To them three children. daugh- ters, have been born: The eldest is Alice Lee. the wife of Charles E. Bunn, of Peoria; Laura B. and Isa D. remain at home. The family residence is a pleasant and comfortable one, located on Sixth Street, and there they have lived for seventeen years. Mrs. Taylor is a descendant of good old Puritan stock, her mother bearing the maiden name of Bartlett, being a daughter of Isaac Bart- lett,of Boston, and cousin of Sidney and George Bartlett, of the same place ..
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Isaac Taylor, of Connecticut, who moved into the Empire State during the early days of its history. The maternal grandfather was Mr. Putnam, a di- rect descendant of Isarel Putnam, famous in the nals of the Revolutionary War as a Colonial hero.
ENRY S. HARKNESS. Elmwood Town- ship has no more worthy representative of its flourishing agricultural interests than this gentleman, who was born within the borders of the county, educated in its schools and in the opening years of a vigorous manhood, took his place among its busy farmers. While actively engaged in laying np a competence he has also aided in promoting the material welfare of his na- tive county. He is the son of a pioneer of this region who assisted in the development of its re-
sources and reclaimed a fertile farm from the pri- meval wilds. Ile has now retired from the active labors of life, although still occupying his home- stead, which is under the efficient management of his son.
The immediate progenitors of our subject were Isaac and Sarah (Wilson) Harkness, the former a native of Pelham, Mass., and the latter of Pennsyl- vania. They were married in the Keystone State, residing there until 1830, when the husband walked to Illinois with the intention of selecting a location on which to make his future home. In Trivoli Township, Peoria County, he chose eighty acres of land on which he broke a few acres of sod and planted corn. He then returned to Pennsylvania where he remained during the winter. It proved an extremely hard season in this section and a great many Indian ponies died from want, but the corn which Mr. Harkness had left growing was un- touched by the savages, whose honesty in this in- stance, affords a striking example to more civilized people.
In the fall of 1831 Isaac Harkness removed with bis family to his claim, where he spent the remain- der of his life, accumulating worldly goods and assisting in various frontier labors. He helped to organize the township and afterward held the office. of Constable. Ile eventually secured two hundred acres of land, built an excellent stone house and barn, and otherwise made of his estate a home of comfort. It is worthy of record that he never killed but one thing with a gun, that being a crow. He died in 1879, on the forty-ninth anniversary of his arrival in this section. His faithful companion survived until February 3, 1885, when she too en- tered into rest, Both were members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. They were the parents of thirteen children, eight of whom are yet living.
The subject of this notice is said to be the first white child born in Trivoli Township, and is cer- tainly the first native of Ilarkness Grove. His natal day was January 21, 1832. Ile attended one of the first schools organized in this section, con- tinuing to pursue his studies during the winter and assisting on the farm during the summer. He re- mained an inmate of the parental home until about twenty-three years old when, on April 30, 1854, he
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was united in marriage with Miss Sarah C. Parker, with whom he set up his own home.
Mrs. Harkness is the third child born to Samuel A. and Harriet (Potter) Parker and was born in Ocean County, N. J., May 24, 1836. Her mother was born in the same county, December 15, 1800, and her father in Monmouth County of the same State, July 30, 1800. Their home was in New Jersey until 1844, when they removed to Indiana, residing there seven years. They then changed their location to Peoria County, Ill., living in Tri- voli Township until 1876, when they came to make their home with our subject. Mr. Parker died March 7, 1886, at the age of eighty-five years, seven months and seven days. The widow still survives and although she has reached the advanced age of ninety years, still enjoys fairly good health and an unusual degree of brightness of mind. John Parker, the brother of Mrs. Harkness, was a member of the Eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry, and died from disease in 1863 in a hospital near Mur- freesboro, Tenn. Another brother, William, who belonged to the same company and regiment, suf- fered from sunstroke there.
The farm of Mr. Harkness now comprises one hundred acres on sections 29 and 32, all the build- ings upon which and all the improvements have been added by himself. Fine specimens of Here- ford cattle, which Mr. Harkness believes best for the market, are raised there, while the other stock is of good grades. A noticeable feature on the estate is the large assortment of small fruit. Taken all in all the farm is one of the most attractive in this section and affords a very pleasant home in which to spend the peaceful years of declining life. Mrs. Harkness is very intelligent, with a thoroughly womanly nature, and presents a fine example of the model wife and mother. The family consists of two children, Hattie and Charles. The former, who was born July 9, 1855, is living in Montgomery County, Iowa, being the wife of Daniel Hovenden, and the mother of four children. The latter, who was born June 5, 1863, is unmarried. IIe is a young man of fine mental ability, well educated, and has had a successful experience of two years as a teacher in this county, being now Principal of the graded school at Glasford.
From his youth Mr. Harkness has been deeply interested in political questions and since he was entitled to the right of suffrage has missed but two elections, either general or local. He belongs to the Republican party and is well known as one of its stanchest members. For fourteen years he has been Director of his school district and he has also served as Pathmaster. ITis excellent eharacter, general intelligence and industrious life have se- cured to him the hearty respect of an extended acquaintance, in whose esteem his wife and children share. His brother, Kelton W. Harkness, now of Linn County, Kan., served in the Union Army three years during the late war.
OHN TAYLOR. The subject of this sketch is one of the few remaining pioneers of Elm- wood Township, and has passed through all the hardships incidental to the career of him who begins upon the lowest round of the ladder of poverty in au undeveloped country and climbs lat- boriously until he reaches the platform of affluence. He was born in Highland County, Ohio, in 1823, and came to the Prairie State with his parents in November, 1833, stopping at a fort which had been built by the few settlers for protection against the Indians, near- the present site of Farmington, Ful- ton County.
After remaining at the Block House a short time the parents removed to Middle Grove, where for two weeks they lived in a log house containing but one room, in company with a family of eight, which, added to their own family of nine, made it necessary to utilize every inch of space. In the meantime they were constructing a house for them- selves, the material for which was furnished by the neighboring forests. Shortly after moving into this house John witnessed the strange phenomenon known as "falling stars," which he looked upon with awc, wondering if it was one of the character- istics of the frontier. Ere many months a removal was made to Knox County, near Summit, which was the parental home during the remainder of their lives. The father, Alexander Taylor, died in
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January, 1857. His native place was Bedford County, Ky. His wife Nellie (Dalton) Taylor, a native of Virginia, passed away May 15, 1847. Of this marriage six children are now living, our sub- ject being the eldest. The father had six children by a former marriage.
The pioneer labors of John Taylor began at an early age, immediately after the removal to this State. He broke the first ground in Elba Township, Knox County, the work being done with oxen, in accord- ance with the pioneer custom. Canton, which con- tained about twenty houses, was the nearest town, the few people who were cultivating the land be- ing located in what was termed "settlements," com- posed of three or four families living within a radius of a mile or two. There being no roads or bridges, grain was carried on horseback to the mill. The clothing of the frontiersmen consisted of home- spun cloth and buckskin, and their food of corn bread, hominy, and honey which could be had in abundance in the woods, together with meat pro- cured by hunting the wild hog, deer, turkeys, etc. In the fall of 1834 Jolin Taylor and a brother killed over three thousand pounds of pork, supplied by the wild hogs of that region.
The spring following the removal of the family to this State, our subject made sugar in a camp which had been used by Indians the previous sea- son, catching sap in troughs made by the Indians' tomahawks. While thus engaged he often saw sus- pended in the trees the remains of pappooses, which had been placed in a section of a hollow tree and made fast to the branches above by means of a piece of bark. Many scenes and incidents of those early days are related by Mr. Taylor, who proves a most entertaining companion when called upon to relate his experiences.
October 14, 1847, Mr. Taylor and Miss Emily Jane Doyle were joined in wedlock, the ceremony taking place in the Peoria Ilouse, from which the young couple departed the next day. Mr. Taylor had paid his wedding expenses from a $5 bill and had twenty-seven cents left as a casn capital on which to begin his new life. He had forty acres of unimproved land and his father gave him a horse. He built a log house, which is still standing, and in it he and his devoted companion began the toil-
some career which has resulted in worldly prosper- ity and deep respect from those to whom they are known.
Mr. Taylor bought eleven shoats of Daniel Hark- ness on a year's time, and having 'fattened them, drove them to Peoria, where he received $124 in cash. Returning, he paid his purchase money, $11. leaving him what he considered a goodly sum of money. The first wheat he ever hauled to Peoria, although as good as he has ever seen, sold for thirty cents per bushel, his cash payment for the entire load being $2 and the balance having to be traded out. Two acres of timber land, price $40, which he purchased from Isaac Doyle, was paid for by hauling to Peoria, at 83 per trip. with a load each way.
Mr. Taylor remained on his little farm until after the death of his wife, since which time he has pur- chased additional land, now having one hundred and ten acres on section 17. His first additional purchase was of eighty acres at 85 per acre on four year's time. The residence which he now occupies was erected in 1889 at a cost of $1.500. Although he has been troubled with rheumatism for the last thirteen years, he still actively carries on the farm, dividing his attention between crops and stock. He has always been interested in political issues and voted the Democratic ticket, his first ballot having been cast for James K. Polk. Ile has been a School Director for six years and has frequently served on the juries in Peoria.
To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor five children have been born, viz: Irene, Eliza, Amanda, Mary and Edwin. The first born is deceased; Amanda is the wife of David E. Sperry, of Bedford, Iowa, and has two children; Edwin learned the trade of a jeweler at Galesburg, finished at Parson's Horological Insti- tute at LaPorte, Ind., and during the last year has been following his trade at Omaha, Neb. For the past ten years he has done considerable correspond- ing for the local press and has written a series of excellent biographical sketchies of the pioneers of this locality, to one of which we are indebted for interesting items. All of the children have re- ceived good common-school educations.
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