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 86
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The family of our subject and his good wife consists of six children-Joseph, Frank, George, Grace, Mary, and Harry. The eldest is married and living in this township, engaged in farming; Frank has been operating the home farm; George taught when quite young, being obliged to aban- don that pursuit when twenty years old on account of his health, and returned to the home roof; the younger members of the family are at home also.
Mr. Higgs has been School Director some years. He is independent in polities, but has in former years been a delegate to the Democratic County Convention. He belongs to the Methodist Epis- eopal Church, holding the office of Trustee, and has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school held in the neighboring schoolhouse. Ilis unusual intelli- gence, particularly regarding matters .connected with the township history, and his cordial manners make it a pleasure to converse with him. Those who know him have only good words for his char- acter and life-work.
n ICHOLAS E. WORTHINGTON. Among the members of the legal profession in Peoria none are more deserving of notice in a BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM than the gentleman above named. Not only is he well versed in law and equity, but he has a highly cultured mind, and has done much good work in the educational field. Ilis powers of oratory are far above the average, and in times of political excitement have been used to win success for the party to which he belongs, his ability as a political organizer assisting to that end.
Mr. Worthington is of English extraction, the entire family in America being descendants of two brothers, one of whom located in New England and another in Maryland on first coming to Amer- ica. His father, Samuel G. J. Worthington, was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a na- tive of Maryland, and a resident at different pe-
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periods of his life in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Vir- ginia. He married Mary J. Hedges, who bore him two sons and four daughters. Of this family those who survive are: Samuel H., a merchant at El Paso; Mary C., wife of George Hubbel, a leading lawyer of Davenport, Iowa; Emily, wife of Mr. Forbes, a planter in Texas; and our subject.
The natal day of Nicholas E. Worthington was March 30, 1836, and his birthplace Brooks County, West Va. With the usual fate of a minister's son in the fields of Methodism, his boyhood was passed in several States and towns, among them being Al- leghany City and Pittsburg, in each of which the family lived two years. In the academy at Clarks- burg, Va., the young man fitted for college, and from the Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pa., he was graduated in the class of '54. He took the first honors of the class, B. F. Martin, now of Graf- ton standing second, and James McKilvey, Cir- cuit Judge of Minnesota, third. The lives of him- self and these classmates have run parallel to some extent, particularly that of Mr. Martin and him, the former having been a member of the Forty- sixth and Forty-seventh sessions of Congress.
After graduation Mr. Worthington taught one year as First Assistant in the Academy at Clarks- burg, Va., then entered the office of Wartman T. Willett, as a law student, also teaching there. In 1856 he came to Tazewell County, Ill., teaching during the first winter at Fremont, and then going to Brierfield to pursue his pedagogical labors in that place. While there he was appointed County Superintendent of Schools to fill out the term of William G. Randall. Ile was afterward clected and served through one term of office, after which he entered upon the practice of the legal profession in Peoria. For three or four years he was a mem- ber of the State Board of Public Instruction. His services to the cause of education were recognized as valuable while on that Board and in the county work which he bad formerly done. In 1872 he was a Congressional candidate on the Democratic ticket, but was at that time defeated. In 1882 he won the Congressional race and again, in 1884, he was sent to the legislative halls to represent a large and intelligent constituency. As a member of Congress lie has won a good record, and upon
bis return to Peoria to resume his law practice he found that his reputation was here before him, and has aided largely in determining his standing in the community.
The wife of the Hon. Mr. Worthington was known in ber girlhood as Miss Sarah E. Fowkes, and is a daughter of Col. Richard Fowkes, of West Virginia, in which State her marriage was cele- brated in 1856. She belongs to an old and hon- ored family, and in mind and character is the fitting companion for her brilliant husband. The fruit of the union is three children, two of whom, Louis B. and Nellie, still brigliten the home fire- side with their presence. The eldest son and child, Frank E., is engaged in mining in Alaska.
HOMAS FRY. Among the farmers and stock-raisers who have been prominent in bringing about this county's high standing as a great agricultural centre, no name is more worthy of mention than this gentleman's. For many years he has been a resident of Radnor Town- ship, and here he has developed a large farm that is in all its appointments very fine, and is in all par. ticulars one of the best regulated landed estates in this locality.
Mr. Fry is of English birth and antecedents, born in Devonshire, December 2.1, 1831, the fourth child in the family of eight children of Thomas and Betsey (Snell) Fry, who were also natives of Devon- shire, England, and there spent their entire lives.
Our subject grew to a stalwart, self-reliant, ac- tive manhood on his native soil, and at the age of twenty-seven years, in 1858, ambitious to make more of life than he could in the land of his birth, he sought to better his condition by emigration to the United States of America. Accompanied by his wife, he crossed the Atlantic, and making his way to Peoria County, has ever since been identi- fied with its agricultural interests, and has been ac- tive in the upbuilding of Radnor Township, with the exception of a year spent in Trivoli Township.
Mr. Fry has here a farm of three hundred and twenty acres which he has supplied with a fine set
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Mary A. Sauvil
John Scorul
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of conveniently arranged buildings, including. a commodious residence. and its broad well tilled fields yield him large harvests and a good annual income. He is much interested in stock raising. and has his farm, which is well adapted to that pur- pose, well supplied with cattle, horses, and hogs of fine grades.
Mr. Fry was married prior to coming to this / country, to Miss Kate, daughter of Robert and Ann (Hartwell) Simons, natives of Devonshire, Eng- land, their marriage taking place in their native shire, April 20, 1858. Mrs. Fry was born July 12, 1836. She was carefully reared, and received an excellent training in all the duties of a housewife, and knows well how to look after the interests of her household. Five of the seven children, born to Mr. and Mrs. Fry, arc living: George, Robert, Henrietta, Mary, and Anna. Robert married Fan- nie Brown, and lives in Rosefield Township. The other two children, Lucy and Mary Ann, died in infancy.
Mr. Fry's career as a farmer and stock-raiser has shown him to be practical, skillful and progressive. and has resulted in placing him among the most substantial men of his adopted township. He is a man of good habits, his honesty, integrity, and sta- bility of character are well known, and his credit is good in financial circles. Having decided opinions of his own on all subjects with which he is convers- ant, in politics he is independent.
OHN SCOVIL. Peoria County has no more worthy pioneer still living within its borders than this gentleman, who is one of the old settlers of Timber Township. He has been prominently connected with its agricultural inter- ests for many years, and has a large farm here that is finely improved, his home being among the most pleasant in this vicinity.
Mr. Scovil was born in the town of Ripley, Seneca County, N. Y., May 30, 1823. His parents were Benjamin and Rebecca (Targee) Scovil. His pa- ternal grandfather was Benjamin Scovil, who came from Scotland to this country in Colonial times
and served in the War of the Revolution, and also in the War of 1812, under Commodore Perry.
The father of our subject, it is thought, was born in New York, where he was bred to the life of a farmer. He subsequently removed to Huron County, Ohio, in 1828, and thus became one of its pioneers. He was prominent there in public af- fairs and at one time was Sheriff. IIe was a soldier in the War of 1812. doing gallant service. Ilis last days were spent in Shelbyville, III. He was twice married, his first wife, the mother of our subject, dying in 1830. She was a true Christian and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ilis second marriage was with a Mrs. Bell. ITis children were all by his first wife, and their record is as follows: Lorenzo D., who died leaving a family in Ohio; Harriett C .; Lecta, wife of Mr. Martin, who died leaving four children; Charles died leaving a family in Shelbyville; William, who left home carly, went to California and has never been heard from since; John; Lucy, wife of Mr. Martin; and Gilbert, who died in Shelby County, Ill.
Our subject was an active, sturdy, bright lad,and commenced the battle of life on his own aecount at a very early age. When ten years old he left his home in the month of April, 1833. and going to the lake shipped on board a sloop as cook for four men. Ile was on the lake as a sailor until 1844, and had many exciting experiences of the dangers to be enconntered in the hard storms that so often sweep over these waters. He was a wheelman on the "Big Erie" when she was burned with four hundred passengers aboard, and he was one of the twenty-two persons who were saved. After that terrible affair he was employed on a canal at To- ledo until 1847. In June, of that year, he came to this county and located on section 20, in Timber Township, purchasing at that time twenty-five acres of land. He added to it until he had one hundred acres, and then selling it bought the place where lie now lives, on the same seetion. At first he purchased three hundred and sixty acres of land which he cleared and improved, and has since bought other land until his farm comprises four hundred and twenty-three acres of the choicest farming land in this locality. IIe lumbered and worked in timber until the war broke out, and has
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since confined his attention to the management of his large farm.
Our subject is a veteran of the late war. Ile enlisted February 23, 1865, in Company B, Seventh Illinois Infantry, joined his regiment at Raleigh, N. C., and served faithfully, proving to be a good and loyal soldier, until his honorable discharge at Louisville, Ky., July 9, 1865. In early days Mr. Scovil was a prominent Whig in these parts, and when he first voted in Timber Township he was one of the six representatives of that party .in this locality. When the Republican party came into existence, he naturally identified himself with an organization with whose sentiments he was so fully in sympathy, and has ever since remained true to its interests. He is a man of weight and influence in this community, generously using his money to forward the public good, and is very highly re- garded by all around him. He and his wife are considered among our best people, and his wife is one of the most zealons members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Seovil were married September 15, 1850, and their wedded life has been as happy as is usually allotted to mortals, their only sorrow being in the death of some of their children, three of whom died in infancy, John W. at the age of twenty-one and Benjamin at fourteen. The remain- ing children are Charles S., Leroy, Gerald L., Nellie V., wife of Ed. Weisner, and Clara A., Mrs. Engel.
Mrs. Scovil's maiden name was Mary Ann Mc- Coy, and she was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, her parents being John W. and Abigail ( Robbins) MeCoy, natives respectively of Virginia and New Jersey. Her father was a son of William McCoy, who was of Irish parentage. Her mother was a daughter of Joseph and Sarah Robbins. Mr. McCoy was a moulder by trade, and left his native State for Ohio when a young man. In 1837, he to came this county with his family and located in Trivoli, where he carried on farming many years, being one of the pioneer farmers of that township. In the latter part of his life he kept an hotel. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in every way was a good man. He was twice married, and by his first marriage had eleven children, of whom
the following is recorded : Joseph was killed on a railway; James lives in Iowa; Mary A., is the wife of our subject; William, of Iowa, served in the war; John M. is a resident of Quincy; Sarah J., now Mrs. Hutchinson, resides in Kansas; Philena is Mrs. Cobb, of Missouri ; John T. lives in that State, and also Martha E., Mrs. Bickford.
The attention of the reader is directed to litho- graphic portraits of Mr. Scovil and his estimable wife.
RANK D. JACOBS, the son of an old set- tler of this county, who was a prominent pioneer of Trivoli Township, was born on the old homestead here, where he still makes his home, December 15, 1860. He is now associated with the farmers and stock-raisers of his native place, and his standing as an intelligent, capable agriculturist is among the solid men of the com- munity.
Alexander Jacobs, the father of our subject, was born in Juniata County, Pa. His father, William .Jacobs, who was of German descent, was a farmer there. Mr. Jacobs was a carpenter and worked at his trade in Pennsylvania until he came to Peoria County in 1856, and settled on the place now oc- enpied by his widow and family on section 36, comprising one hundred and forty acres of land. Besides attending to its improvement he was en- gaged as a builder and contractor for twelve years after settling here. He engaged successfully in gen- eral farming after that until his death in 1872, when only fifty years old. He was prominent in the relig- ious and public life of the township. He was active in building the Lutheran Church, giving $ 100 worth of work towards it. He was Collector and Assessor of the township at different times, and at the time of his death was Justice of the Peace. The maiden name of his wife was Mary M. Glasco. She was born in Ireland and came to America when three years old with her parents. They settled in Penn- sylvania, and spent their remaining days in Juniata County. The mother was reared and educated there and is now living in comfort in Trivoli Township. She has had thirteen children, of whom we record
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the following: James M. died here; Sarah J., Mrs. Riddle, died in California; T. J. resides in Trivoli Township; Jesse W., in lowa; Howard A. in South Dakota; Clara F., Mrs. McFarland, in Iowa; Eu- phemia E. died at the age of fourteen ; Edward A., deceased; Frank D .; G. M. lives in Trinidad, Colo,; Josephine lives with her mother; one child died in infancy.
Frank D. Jacobs was born December 15, 1860, on the place where he now resides on section 25, Trivoli Township. Ile gleaned his education in the district schools and his knowledge of farming on his father's farm. He remained at home with his mother, working on the homestead until he was twenty-one. He then rented the farm and contin- ued its improvement, and in 1886 bought forty acres of choice land on section 25. Besides tilling his own land he manages his mother's and is meeting with gratifying success. He has all the necessary im- provements and facilities for carrying on agricult- ure, and has his farm well stocked with Short-horn cattle and hogs of a good grade, of which he raises and sells about fifty each year. His farm has on it a beautiful orchard and groves, is neatly fenced iuto convenient fields, and is well watered by a branch of Copperas Creek.
Mr. Jacobs was wedded to Miss Mollie Griggs in Orion Township, Fulton County, April 22, 1886, and they have two children, Clifford D. and Wil- bur. Mrs. Jacobs was born in Orion Township, November 25, 1860, and was given a fine educa- tion in the High Schools of Farmington and Elm- wood. She began teaching at the age of eighteen, and was thus engaged until her marriage. She is a member in high standing of the Lutheran Church.
Mrs. Jacobs is a daughter of James and Dulcena (McMains) Griggs, natives, respectively, of New York and Ohio. Her father came to this county when a boy with his father, George Griggs, in very early days. They lived in Peoria a short time, and then the elder Griggs bought a farm in Timber Township, which was nnimproved, and there Mrs. Jacobs' grandfather died. When her father started in life for himself he bought a farm in Orion Town- ship, and now owns one hundred and sixty acres of land there, on which he lives retired. He is a Baptist in religion and a Democrat in politics. Mrs. Jacob's
maternal grandfather, Enoch MeMains, was born in Ohio and reared there in a Quaker neighborhood. He was a farmer and an early settler of this county, a pioneer of Logan Township. Her parents have had five children, as follows: George W., in the agricultural implement business at Glasford ; Enoch E., a farmer in Fulton County; Mollie; Susan A., at home with her parents; Marion F., who died when a child.
Our subject's pleasant disposition and easy, open- hearted manner has attached to him many friends. llis active business capacity has been a factor in placing him in his present position, and also makes him a very desirable public official. He has been Tax Collector of the township two years; is Town- ship School Trustee at present, and has been School Director in the past. Mrs. Jacobs' grandfathers, both; paternal and maternal, were iu the War of 1812.
OL. JOHN BRYNER, deceased, came to Peoria as early as 1845, and subsequently became identified with its mercantile inter- erests. After the war broke out he offered his services to the Government, and as a commis- sioned officer in the Union army afforded valuable assistance in suppressing the rebellion, and won a distinguished military record. He was at one time a conspicuous figure in public life, and in various ways forwarded the highest interests of the com- munity, and his death was a serious loss to the citizenship of city and county.
Col. Bryner was born in Juniata County, Pa., October 6, 1820, and was a son of George and Catherina (Motzer) Bryner. His father was born January 5, 1787, and died January 9, 1823. His marriage with the mother of our subject was sol- emnized April 16, 1805. She was born October 28, 1787, and died September 1, 1833.
Our subject was early left an orphan, and was brought up by an uncle. He entered a dry-goods store as an errand boy, and from early youth was familiarized with the business, and for a number of years after marriage carried it on. In the spring of 1845 he removed, with his family, to
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Peoria, and became book-keeper for the firm of Vories & Daugherty, and was thus engaged for a short time, when he was obliged to give up all cares and responsibilities on account of ill-health. After leaving Mr. Daugherty's employ he be- came book-keeper for D. Gurney & Co., and re- mained with that firm a year. At the expiration of that time he formed a co-partnership with Will- iam McLean, under the firm name of McLean & Bryner, and they engaged in the leather trade to- gether until 1861. While in the latter business he was elected Sheriff of Peoria County, which of- fice he filled very acceptably for two terms.
The breaking out of the war gave our subject opportunity for the exercise of his great execu- tive talent, and his knowledge of military tactics. which he had gained in connection with the Na- tional Blues, of which militia company he was Captain. He entered the services of the Govern- inent in October, 1861, was commissioned Colonel, and organized the Forty-Seventh Illinois Regi- ment, which he commanded until the siege of Cor- inth, he having thoroughly drilled his troops, so that they acted with the coolness, courage and ef- ficiency of veterans in their various encounters with the enemy. After the capture of Corinth the Colonel was taken sick and was obliged to re- sign his commission at Rienzi, Miss,, September 2, 1862.
After his return from the seat of war, Col. Bryner still continued to do good service in the cause of his country, although he was incapacitated for active work on the field, and he assisted in or- ganizing and sending to the front the Eighty- fifth, Eighty-sixth, One Hundred and Third, One Hundred and Eighth and One Hundred and Twelfth Regiments, and had charge of the camp here. When the One Hundred and Thirty- ninth, a bun- dred-day regiment, was organized, he accepted a commission as First Lieutenant and Assistant Quartermaster. While in camp at Cairo his old regiment, the Forty-seventh, which had been re- duced to four companies, came home on veteran leave from the Red River expedition and visited him in a body. His old comrades-in-arms showed their love for their old leader by doing him the great honor of presenting a petition, signed by
every officer and member of the command, request- ing him to reorganize and take command of his old regiment. He accepted the great mark of their respect and esteem, and gaining permission from Gov. Yates, raised six new companies, and went into camp at Springfield, the four veteran companies having been ordered to join Gen. Smith's command in front of Spanish: Fort before the de- fenses of Mobile.
But the Colonel's illustrious career was already overshadowed by his approaching death, and while yet in the prime of a noble manhood he was called upon to give up his life that was so precious to his country, to his beloved family and his many warm friends. After the completion of the organization of the regiment he was taken sud- denly ill at the Chenery House, in Springfield, and on the 19th of March, 1865, he passed away uni- versallly regretted. Every honor possible was paid to the dead man's memory, and all that was mortal of him was borne to its final resting-place in Peoria, the funeral ceremonies being witnessed by a large concourse of sorrowing friends.
Our subject was a man of marked public spirit. and his hand was noted in the promotion of any and every feasible scheme for the common good. Of a frank, genial and tender nature, he was gen- erous, sympathizing and considerate, and no one ever appealed to him in vain for aid if suffering or needy. He was a member of the First Presby- terian Church, and was always active in its every good work. Before the war he assisted in the or- ganization of Calvary Mission in a railroad car, and to his earnestness and devotion it owed much of its success. In commemoration of his patriotic services during the war, Bryner Post, G. A. R., or- ganized October 8, 1879, was named in his honor.
Col. Bryner was happily married September 15, 1842, to Miss Rebecca, daughter of James and Rachel (Jordan) North, of Mifflintown, Pa. The North family came of an old and distinguished family of England, being descendants of Lord ! North. Mrs. Bryner is a native of Juniata County, Pa., where she was born October 28, 1824. Her father died when she was but two years old, while her mother lived to the advanced age of eighty- six years. Mrs. Bryner is living alone in a pleas-
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ant, attractive home on Ellis Street, Peoria. She is a woman of fine character, who has suffered and sacrified much, but has borne herself nobly through it all. She relates that when she first came to Peoria with her husband to share with him his pio- neer life she had to endure many hardships to which she was unaccustomed. She lost two of her children the first summer she was here, and has laid away six of her children in all and her hus- band, in two of the cemeteries in this city. One of her children was poisoned by eating mushrooms; and her son Willie was accidentally shot and killed July 4, 1867, at the age of nine years. Three of the nine children born to her and her husband are still living: Cloyd, who is in the life insurance business in Pittsburg, Pa .; Clara B., wife of Charles A. Cornwell, an attorney-at law of Peoria; and John, who is in the grain and commission business in Chicago.
The following is the record of the children born to Col. and Mrs. Bryner: Francis Marion, born February 23, 1844, died August 28, 1846; Mary M., born March 3, 1846, died Angust 30, 1846; Jane S., born July 25, 1847, died August 22, 1847; Byron Cloyd, born February 20, 1849; Clara Belle, February 20, 1854; William Henry, born July 22, 1856, died October 4, 1857; Will- iam, born September 19, 1858, died July 4, 1866; John, born January 1, 1862.
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