Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 88

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 88

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ILLIAM REED, an enlightened and pro- gressive farmer and stock-raiser, is recog- nized as one of the most successful agri- cultnrists of Peoria County. He is a prominent citizen of Millbrook Township, where he is exten- sively engaged in his calling, and has on section 3, a very fine and substantially improved farm.

Ohio is the native State of our subject, and he was born in Delaware County, April 7, 1834, a son of one of its early pioneer families. His parents, Joseph and Lucy A. (German) Reed, were natives of Pennsylvania, his mother being of German descent, and his father of Irish extraction. The latter served three months in the War of 1812, and settled in Delaware County at an early day.

The early life of our subject was passed amid pioneer scenes, and he grew to a vigorous and strong manhood, being endowed with an exception- ally fine constitution. The manly self-reliant little lad was early set to work on the farm, and since he was ten years old has been able to attend to a crop

and has never missed a harvest, as he has always enjoyed the best of health. He received his edu- cation in the subscription schools of Ohio, which at that early day afforded but few advantages to those desiring to obtain substantial education. In his twentieth year our subject, with characteristic en- terprise, sought «green fields and pastures new"' in which to carry on the calling to which he had been bred, coming at that time to Illinois. He worked for nearly eight years by the month in Stark County, receiving $18 a month for his services. He subse- quently farmed as a renter there, and finally came to Peoria County in 1866, and located on his pre- sent farm. As a pioneer in this portion of Illinois, he has witnessed much of the growth of Stark and Peoria Counties, and has had a hand in their de- velopment. Thirty-two years ago, he used to draw his grain to Peoria, making about three trips weekly. When he first came to this State, markets were distant, and the roads leading to them were often rough and almost impassable at times, and the farmers of those days did not enjoy the advan- tages that the agriculturists of the present have in their many facilities for shipping their produce and laying in their supplies.

When Mr. Reed first came to this county, he pur- chased forty acres of land in Millbrook Township, paying therefor $12 an acre. He has added to his original purchase from time to time, and now has three hundred and four acres of land, mostly under cultivation, and supplied with every needed im- provement, to make it a valuable farm. When it came into his possession it was mostly covered with brush and timber, being in its original wild state, and he has done much hard pioneer work in clearing it and preparing the soil for cultivation.

Mr. Reed was married March 6, 1852, to Mary Gingrich, and to them have come eight children, namely: Lucy E., wife of Henry Emery, of Laura, Ill .; Flora, wife of Caleb Wildrick, of Jackson County, Mo .; Allen G .; Hattie B., Marion J., Milo M., Viola A., and Clyde E.

When Mr. Reed started out in life, his only capital was his fine physical endowments and a clear brain, seconded by ambition, tenacity of pur- pose and good habits, and with these he has achieved success as will be seen in the perusal of this record

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of his life and work. His position in the business, social, and religious cireles of his adopted town- ship, is among our best citizens. lle is serving as School_Director, and we are sure to find him abet- ting all enterprises that will in any way benefit the community. He is independent in polities, gener- ally voting for the mar and not the party, but he has Democratic proelivities. He is a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church, and is most liberal in its support.

E LDER ABY is the proprietor of a farm on seetion S. Millbrook Township, which when it came into his possession was nothing more than a traet of timber and brush. He has cleared it. placed it under excellent tillage, and has erected convenient buildings and made of it a valuable piece of property. By doing this he has also placed himself among the substantial farmers of Peoria County, of which he was a pioneer.

Mr. Aby is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth taking place in Montgomery County, March 2, 1828. His parents, Benjamin and Rachel Aby, were also natives of the Keystone State, and his paternal ancestors are said to have been of German origin. When he was an infant his father and mother emigrated to Ohio and became pioneers of Richland County, and there he had the misfortune to lose his mother when he was only about two years old. When he was seven years of age his father removed to Huron County, Ohio, and there remained nntil early in the '40s, when he again took up his march westward, and erossing the State of Indiana penetrated as far as Stark County in this State, and became a pioneer in what is now known as West Jersey. Mr. Aby eventually came from there to this county, and spent his remaining days in Millbrook Township, dying here in 1866 at a ripe old age; his name holds a worthy place among those of the sturdy pioneers of Illinois.

Elder Aby was a stalwart. active youth of about fifteen years when he accompanied his father to this State, of which he has ever since been a resident. and he has had a hand in the pioneer labors of de.

veloping the wonderful resources of this part of the Mississippi Valley. He was the fourth child in his father's family, and early beeame self-reliant and helpful, and after coming to Illinois for several years worked as a farm laborer at $8 or $9 a month and his board. He was prudent and thrifty, and wisely saved his money, and was thus enabled early to marry and establish a home. In 1865 he located on the southwest quarter of seetion 9, Millbrook Township, and for several years was busily engaged in farming there. In 1880 he decided to try life in Kansas, and established himself in Allen County. He did not like that part of the country so well as Illinois, and returned to the Prairie State well sat- isfied that he could do better financially here than elsewhere.

On his return from Kansas Mr. Aby settled on his present farm on section 8, Millbrook Township, and has ever since made his home, which is a eozy, comfortable abode, in this pleasant locality. By dint of downright hard labor, carried on persist- ently and systematically, he has succeeded in elear- ing off the brush and timber that was standing on his land when he purchased it, and its eighty aeres are now in a fine condition as regards eultivation and improvement and from them he gleans rich harvests.

In his wife our subjeet has found a sagacious counselor and an active assistant, who bravely shared his pioneer labors, and the hardships of life in a newly settled country. and is now enjoying with him the fruits of a successful toil. They joined hands in wedlock Angust 17, 1848, and to them have come ten children, of whom six survive, namely : Franees, wife of Albert Long, of Knox County; F. Albert, a resident of Allen County, Kan .; James O., living in this county; Jacob I .. in Laura; Emma, wife of Richard Bilderbeck, of Millbrook Township. and Pluma R.

The maiden name of Mrs. Aby was Mary A. Murphy, and she was born in Ashland County, Ohio, September 11, 1827, to James and Maria (Triekle) Murphy. Her mother was a native of Maryland. Her father died before Mrs. Aby was one year old and when she was in hier tenth year she came to Illinois with her mother and other members of the family, and her first winter here

Richard Howarth

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was spent in Fulton County, near Canton. The next spring the family went to Stark County, and settled about five miles northeast of Rochester, being among the first settlers of that locality.

His possession of those very desirable traits, the economy that spends judiciously and saves wisely, and thrift and native foree, have been an important factor in placing our subjeet on a sound financial basis. He is a man of strictly moral habits and sound principles, his personal character being such that his fellow citizens regard him with feelings of perfect trust and kindly friendship. Hle nnites with his neighbors in forwarding all schemes for the improvement of the community socially, relig- ionsly and educationally, and has borne an hon- orable part in carrying on the local government. For nine years in succession he served creditably as School Director, and for three years was Road Commissioner of Millbrook Township. His reli- gious views find expression in the faith of the Christian Church, of which he and his wife are active members and cordially unite with their fel- low-members in doing the good work for which the society is noted. Mr. Aby is independent as regards politics, and votes for the man whom he thinks best fitted for the office without reference to party.

R ICHARD HOWARTHI, one of the wealthiest residents of Kickapoo, resides on section 30, where he has a large and finely culti- vated farm. Not only does the smiling prosperity everywhere visible over the broad ex- tent of his domain bespeak his thrift, prudence, and intelligent adaption of means to secure the desired ends, but the substantial and tasteful build- ings of stone which he has erected to accommodate his family and serve the needs of his stock, also proclaim in unmistakable terms that the owner las been no laggard in the "world's great field of bat- tle." He is emphatically a self-made man, and an honor to the county of his adoption.

The parents of our subject, Richard and Martha (Greenwood) Howarth, were both natives of Lan- cashire, England, where they were married and

lived until 1842. They then emigrated to Amer- ica and settled in Kickapoo Township, in which place they resided until death claimed them for his own. Mr. Howarth was a stone-mason by trade, and followed the business while a resident of his native country, being engaged principally in con- tracting. After coming to America he commenced farming operations, but ere a second harvest had been gathered he fell a victim to the Reaper Death, and passed peacefully away to his home on high, where life is one perpetual harvest of happi- ness. His wife lingered in this lower world some nine years longer, departing, in 1851, from its cares and pleasures, its sunshine and shadows. They were the parents of fifteen children, of whom the subject of this sketch was one of the younger members.

^ Richard Howarth, of whom we write, was born April 12, 1824, in Lancashire, England. He ac- companied his parents to America in 1842, and remained under the parental roof until his mar- riage, in 1849, to Miss Alice Lonsdale. Their mar- riage was celebrated October 25, in Kickapoo Township, amid the festivities usual upon such occasions among the people of that day. With mingled sadness and joy the young couple bade farewell to their respective homes, and took up their abode on a piece of land which forms a por- tion of the present large farm of our subject.

Mrs. Howarth was a daughter of Thomas and Helen (Halsted) Lonsdale, natives of Lancashire, England. Mr. Lonsdale came to America in 1842, and was joined by his family the following year. They settled in Kickapoo Township, where they resided during the remainder of their earthly pil- primage. Mrs. Howarth was born in Lancashire, England, October 10, 1828, and entered upon the joys of the life beyond January 25, 1887. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and throughout her life was an affectionate daughter, a devoted wife and mother, and a true Christian whose death was a severe loss to* the entire com- munity, as well as a deep affliction to her immediate friends.

Mr. Howarth is the father of two children. the eldest of whom, Samuel. died when one year old. The second, Martha E., is the wife of William

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Taylor, and resides with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are the parents of six children, as follows: Alice A .. Susanna, Richard, Helen, Arthur and Mabel. Arthur departed this life when a tender infant of six months.

Our subject is the possessor of a large farm, comprising some nine hundred acres of land in Kickapoo Township, upon which he resides. He also owns valuable property in the city of Peoria. Aside from his farming and other in- terests, he is largely engaged in the mining of coal at Edwards' Station in company with William and James Taylor, and is also engaged with Isaac Wantling in a separate coal mine. They have been very successful in this business, and are amassing wealth with gratifying rapidity. Our subject takes a lively interest in the welfare of his adopted country, and keeps himself abreast of the. times by reading and meditating upon the great questions that are presented for consideration from time to time. In politics he is a Republican, and has the good will and admiration of his party friends, but does not make enemies among his political opponents, believing it the inalienable light of everyone to think for himself.

A portrait of Mr. Howarth is presented on another page.

AMES M. MILLER is a Government official in Peoria, where he is acting as store-keeper on the United States Revenue force. He is a native of this county, and his whole course . through life has been an honor to its citizenship. both in his public and in his private life and as a soldier in the late war. He was born October 28, 1846. and is a son of W. W. and Amelia (Robey) Miller, natives respectively of Ohio and Maryland. Ilis father is a farmer and came to this State in 1844 or 1845, and he and his wife are still honored residents of this county.

Our subject has passed the most of his days in this county, where he was reared and educated. His carly life was passed on a farm, and he was assist- ing his father in his work when the war broke out. lle was a mere lad too young to enter the service,

but he watched the course of events with intense patriotic interest and at the youthful age of seven- teen was allowed to enlist in the Union Army. He became a member of Company MI, Fourteenth Illi- nois Cavalry, which was officered first by Captain Lupton, then by Captain Rowcliffe, of the Robins Nest, and subsequently by Col. H. Capron, now de- ceased. After his enlistment in Peoria in the month of January, 1863, Mr. Miller was sent with his reg- iment to Nicholasville, Ky .. thence to Knoxville, Tenn. He did gallant service in the battle of Ken- esaw Mountain and from there he and his comrades were dispatched to Marietta, Ga., and then were ordered to take part in Stoneman's raid which was sent out with the intention of capturing the enemy, but the regiment itself was taken near Macon, Ga., by Gen. Forrest and the men were sent to Anderson- ville. They were there five months. and later were dispatched to Florence, N. C., and endured the awful hardships of those two famous prisons with fortitude. After four months in the Florence strong- hold, our subject and his fellow-prisoners were re- leased by Sherman's army in April, 1865, and they were taken to Annapolis. Md., and brought home. Such were the sufferings he endured during his confinement that he had been reduced to seventy- five pounds weight and was a mere skeleton.

After he had partially recovered from the effects of his dreadful experience of life in rebel prisons and on Southern hattle-fields, Mr. Miller resumed his studies which had been interrupted when he had volunteered to give his services to his country, and for two years he was closely engaged at his books at Grinnell College, and thus amply fitted himself for any walk in life. Ile first entered the mercantile business, and subsequently began railroading as agent for the Chicago. Burlington and Quincy Rail- way Company and continued in its service until he received his appointment as store-keeper on the Uni- ted States Revenue force, an appointment due entirely to his well-known personal integrity and fit- ness for the office, which he still retains, and is con- sidered one of the most serviceable officials in the employ of the Government in this city.

'To the lady who presides over his home so graci- ously and with his genial assistance renders it a hospitable abode to which their numerous friends

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are glad to resort, our subject was united in mar- riage December 25, 1878, at Oak Hill, and found in so truc a wife a most precious Christian gift. Her maiden name was Isabelle Cunningham, and she is a daughter of Cornelius Cunningham. Of their six children four are living-Edna, Charles, Earl and Lester. Two died in infancy unnamed.

Mr. Miller is a member of Briner Post, G. A. R., and is identified with the Masonic lodge in Elm- wood and the Consistory at Peoria. Religiously, he is inclined towards Methodism, and his life is guided by principles of honor and truthfulness.

h ENRY S. PAYSON, the only living child of his parents, occupies a beautiful country home in Richwood Township, surrounded by all that money can purchase and a fine taste suggest. He is finely educated, being a grad. uate of one of the best known of American insti- tutions of learning, and having enjoyed the added privilege of foreign travel, which, to a man keenly observant, is of itself a liberal education. Having been obliged to abandon a professional life on ac- count of his health, he has recently taken up agri- culture, purchasing an estate of about one thous- and acres close to the Illinois River and entering upon his new calling with a determination to make it a success.

Henry R. Payson, the father of our subject, was born in Wiscassett, Me., August 24, 1822. He is an able financier and although now living a retired life, was formerly engaged in business,manifesting decided ability for commercial life and increasing his capital from year to year until he became the possessor of a considerable fortune. Ile married Miss Alexandrine Canda, who was born in Boston, Mass., August 27, 1829, is of French and Italian parentage, and attained to womanhood in Paris, France.

The marriage of the parents of our subject took place in Chicago, where they made their first home and where they have resided most of the time since. Mrs. Payson is a lady of rare intelligence, broad culture and most charming manners, and both she

and her husband possess characters which win the respect of all who make their acquaintance. Upon their son they have lavished affection and wealth giving him every opportunity possible to cultivate his mind, establish his principles and fit himself to secure a position of honor in society.

The gentleman who is the subject of these brief notes, was born in Chicago. December 23, 1848, receiving his fundamental education in excellent schools there. and leaving the city to enter Yale College, from which he was graduated in the class of '72. He next spent eighteen months traveling in Europe, on his return entering the Columbia Law School for professional study. He received his diploma from that institution in 1876, and be- ginning the practice of his profession in St. Louis, Mo., sojourned in that city about a year and a half.

Illness obliged Mr. Payson to relinquish his practice, and to benefit his health he turned his attention to an occupation which would lead him more into the open air. Going to Bradford, Pa .. he embarked in the oil business, operating in pe- troleum two years, after which he made a second trip to Europe. Ere long he again visited foreign shores, combining business and pleasure in these later excursions. In 1882 he purchased the old Littleton estate which was formerly a portion of the Moss estate. Here he has taken up his abode, identifying himself with the best agricultural ele- ment and with the intelligence and culture of the county.

AMMERT B. LOOK is numbered among the early German settlers in the eastern part of Peoria County, and one of those to whom much credit is due for their share in the develop- ment of the material resources of the county, the progress of education and morality, and all that goes to make up the best citizenship. He is the owner of some two hundred and thirty-seven acres of fine land in Limestone Township, one hundred and twenty acres of which comprises the original homestead of the Look family. There are two ex- cellent residences on the estate, one of which was

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recently erected in the modern style for the use of our subject and his family. When it was com- pleted Mr. and Mrs. Look found it so hard to tear themselves away from the old home around which many associations clung. that they remained therein, giving up the new one to their eldest son. The residence which they occupy stands about a quarter of a mile from the road. surrounded by fields of waving grain, green pasture lands, and orchard and shade trees, while the new residence is pleasantly located on the Smithville Road.

The parents of our subject were Barney and Alma (Brons) Look, of Hanover, Germany, in which kingdom our subject was born. November 21, 1833. His mother died in the Fatherland and the father married a second wife who is still living. In 1850 the family emigrated to America, soon lo- eating on the farm now occupied by our subject's brother, John B. Our subject was an inmate of the parental home until 1861, when he married Cornelia, daughter of Ulrich and Emma (Johnson) Hippen, of Pekin. In that city Mrs. Look was born, receiving a good education and much useful instruction from her worthy parents prior to her marriage. The Hippen family was originally from Hanover, Germany.

After his marriage Mr. Look bought eighty acres on the Dutch Road, where he made such improve- ments as have made the estate worthy to be ranked among the finest in the county. That place is now owned by his brother. Reared from boyhood to habits of industry and accurate observation of the manners and methods of others, Mr. Look has been very successful in his worldly affairs. and has been enabled to bestow upon his family excellent advan- tages, encouraging and developing the worthy traits in their characters and their mental abilities. The home is abundantly supplied with excellent reading matter, the pernsal of which affords great pleasure as well as profit to the intelligent lads and lassies who gather around its hearthstone. Although well versed in German, the children do most of their reading in English.

The eldest son of our subject and his good wife is Herman, who married Miss Minnie Bruninga and has one child, a daughter, Nellie. The other mem- bers of the family are Bonny, Anna, Louis, Lena,

William, Bertha and Johnny, the latter a lad of eight years. All are at home except Louis, who is correspondent for the firm of Schipper & Brock, of Peoria, with whom he has been for some months. This young gentleman took a course of study in the Business College of Peoria, in addition to the good privileges which he elsewhere shared with his brothers and sisters. The family attend the Ger- man Methodist Church of Peoria, of which the parents are respected members. Mr. Look is not an office-seeker, but is sufficiently interested in po- litical affairs to keep well informed regarding the outlook and deposit his vote, a Republican one, on election day.

ENRY SINGER. A prominent place among the business establishments of Peoria, is oc- cupied by the Bottling Works of Charles Singer. now deceased, the business being continued under the same name hy his sons, Charles, Jr., Henry, and Emil. The works were established in 1868, the only goods then put up being soda and mineral water. From a moderate foundation the trade has grown with the growth of the city un- til it now stands among the most flourishing of her industries. Finally it was thought advisable to add the bottling of Blatz' Milwaukee beer to the beverages already put up, and in this alone a large business is done.

Charles Singer, the originator of the works, was born in Germany, and came to the United States, making his first home in Buffalo, N. Y., and reach- ing Peoria in 1855. On arriving here he took charge of the boarding house known as the Rail . road Exchange, subsequently becoming one of the early ice dealers of the city. At length he deter- mined to open the establishment which his sons are still controlling, and in which he worked up a fine large trade. In Buffalo, N. Y., he was united in marriage with Miss Johanna Brauch, who carefully managed the domestic affairs, and gave loving care to her family. Mr. Singer died in July, 1887, while his wife is still living, making her home in Peoria.

The gentleman with whose name this sketch is

Warren Noel

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introduced was born in Peoria, June 16, 1857, and educated in the common schools. He turned his attention while still young, to a life of trade, and devotes himself steadily to the interests of the busi- ness in which he and his brothers, after the death of their parent, took each his usual position. He is well informed, particularly on those topics that have a bearing upon the work he has in hand, his prospects being favorable to accumulate a fortune. Politics are esehewed by him, as he thinks a single. ness of purpose more effectual than a divided aim.

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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 88

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