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 89
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At the home of the bride's parents in Peoria, Mr. Singer and Miss Ada Klewe were joined in holy wedlock. They have one child, a charming little maid, named Camilla.
W ARREN NOEL has been honored by this, his native county, by election to one of its most important offices, that of Sheriff of the county, and his fidelity to his duty, his in- corruptibility and various other sterling traits, show that a wise selection has been made, and that he is in every way fitted for the responsibilities of his position. His portrait appears on the opposite page and represents one of Peoria's most widely known citizens.
Sheriff Noel was born in this county, Angust 8, 1851, and is a son of John and Jane (Trial) Noel, natives of Virginia. They had gone from there to Ohio, and thence to Illinois before they met and married. Of the eleven children born to them nine are now living: Albert, in Iowa; Eliza- beth Nixon, 'in Kansas; Ariminda Shepherd and Jackson, in this county; Minerva Harker and Na- thaniel, in Peoria; Charles, in Iowa; Mary Horn- backer, in Peoria: and Warren. Harriet and Mar- garet are deceased.
The subject of this biographical review has spent his entire life in this county and farming has been his vocation. In 1882 he was called from his quiet pursuits to public life, being then elected Deputy Sheriff, and so ably did he discharge the duties thus devolving upon him, that in 1886 be received the honor of election to the still higher office of !
Sheriff of the county. He makes a most excellent officer, as he is eminently adapted by temperament and capacity for this responsible position, possess- ing a steady nerve, undaunted courage and ready tact. By his just and courteous treatment of all who come in contact with him he has made himself popular, we might almost say,even with the criminal class. He is a natural detective, and is feared by evil-doers, as is illustrated by this forcible tribute that he once received from a notable prisoner: "I thought," said he," "my case would be put in the hands of Chicago detectives, and felt safe, but when I found it was in Warren Noel's, I knew my jig was up !" Sheriff Noel is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen, and politi- cally, is identified with the Democratic party.
Sheriff Noel is fortunate in having a cozy, pleas- ant home to which he can retreat from the eares of publie life. For the comforts of this abiding- place he is indebted greatly to his amiable wife, formerly Miss Nancy J. McFarland, to whom he was married January 23, 1873. To them have been born two children-Mabel and Julia.
OHN M. YERION is eminently worthy of representation in this biographical work, where the record of many of Peoria County's pioneers and leading men is preserved for the benefit of rising and future generations. He is a farmer and stock-raiser and is conducting his business in Trivoli Township, where he is pleasantly located in that part generally known as Brunswiek.
The father of our subject, George Yerion, was a native of Wythe County, Va., while his grandfa- ther was a Pennsylvanian by birth and of German descent. lle married in the Keystone State, and then removed to Virginia, where he was successfully engaged as a farmer and stockman and became a large landowner. He was an early settler there and took part in the War of 1812.
His son was bred to the life of a farmer on the old plantation. Ile made tar and mined coal to some extent, and also engaged as a blacksmith. He was a good mechanic and made wagons and could
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do anything that required manual skill. Ilis wife urged him to move to Illinois, where she wisely thought a man of his practical ability would find a good opening in the building up of a new country. In 1848, they started with their family on the eventful journey, traveling with two teams and a wagon, crossing the Ohio at Louisville, and the Wabash at Terre Haute, and proceeding slowly on their way to Peoria, which they reached at the end of nine weeks' travel, and which they found to be a small place. One of the sons was sick on the jour- ney, so they had camped for twenty-one days. They found plenty of game along the way, and it added greatly to their supply of food. The father rented land in Trivoli Township, and engaged in farming until his death in 1850, closed an honor- able and industrious life. Hle was a Democrat in politics, and while a resident of Virginia was Justice of the Peace. He was a conscientious and upright man, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Sallie Miller, and she was born in Wythe County, Va .. a daughter of William Miller, who was of English extraction. Ile was a farmer by occupation and during the War of 1812, was a soldier and an officer, and was wounded. The mother resided with her children here until 1875, and then went to live with a daughter in Platte County. Neb., where she died in 1886, at the age of eiglity-one years. Thirteen children were born of her marriage, of whom eight grew to maturity : Susan, Mrs. Minnick, who died in Trivoli; Sarah, Mrs. Hollandsworth, who died in Trivoli; John, Randall and Jackson, who died in Trivoli; David, a resident of Arkansas; Nancy, Mrs. Yerion, of Farmington; Martha, Mrs. Wolf of Nebraska. David was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in Company I, Eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry, in 1861, and serving creditably throughout the war.
John Yerion was born February 12, 1829, on the Cherry Purchase in Tennessee, during the residence of his parents in that locality. He was reared in Virginia, gleaning what education he could in the subscription schools, that were held three months of each year in a rude log house, furnished with slab benches and having greased paper instead of glass in the windows. Ile helped on the farm. en-
gaging in making tar, etc., and was twenty-one years old when he came to this county. Beginning life for himself in the fall of 1848, he worked out by the month until he was thirty- six years of age. In 1856, he leased a farm in Orion Township, Ful- ton County. Prior to that time, in 1854, he and his partner, made a trip to Texas driving two colts,and returning in the month of November. The next fall he again visited the Lone Star State, going there to pilot seven families, and remaining there one winter, engaged in work. 1Ie was taken sick and came home, via the Gulf of Mexico, and the Mississippi River. In 1856, he went to Virginia to revisit his old home and remained there one win- ter, then coming back, once more engaged in farm labor. He is an extensive traveler, and made a trip to Dakota in 1882, and again in 1885. During the latter year he also visited Portland, Ore.
In 1863, Mr. Yerion having been very successful in agricultural adventures located on his present farm, which he then purchased, and here he has since been actively engaged in raising grain and stock. He purchased the original eighty acres of his homestead for $3,300 and has since added ten acres to his landed possessions, buying a small tract of land on section 28. Ilis place is well fenced and has on it fine buildings, including a roomy house and good barns; also a fine orchard and good springs of water. He has horses for general pur- poses and nses two teams of draft horses in his work ; he has full-blooded cattle and hogs, buying and feeding swine in addition to raising them.
Our subject is very happy in his domestic rela- tions, his wife filling in a perfect measure the duties devolving upon her, in her position as his helpmate and the mother of children, of whom they have two living-John M. and Flora M. Two children are deceased, Letta V., who died at the age of one month, and Varina, who died when four years old. Mr. and Mrs. Yerion were married by Judge Fol- lett February 17, 1864. Her maiden name was Maria Stookey, and she was born in Timber Town- ship January 30, 1840. For parental history see the biography of her brother, the Hon. D. B. Stookey, on another page of this volume. As a man of unblemished character and fine reputation, our subject is an important member of this com-
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munity, and every scheme toward its advancement, religiously, educationally or materially, finds in him a liberal and able promoter. He has been School Director for years and for a period of nine years was Commissioner of Highways in this township. In his political views he is a strong Democrat. IIe is one of the foremost members of the Presbyterian Church at Brunswick, of which he is a Deacon.
OAI BIRD. Among the many pleasant and remunerative farms to be found in Trivoli Township, that, of the gentleman above named should not be passed unnoted. It comprises one hundred and thirty-five and one-half acres on section 30, all tillable and pasture land, watered by Copperas Creek and divided into two parts by the road. The land is surrounded and divided into fields of convenient size by substan- tial fences, is furnished with a comfortable dwell- ing, barns and other outbuildings, a good orchard and an abundant supply of small fruits, and further beautified by groves of forest trees. The dwelling is about five miles from Farmington, thus affording the inmates a convenient trading post.
Mr. Bird is of German descent in the paternal line, and his near ancestors have been natives of the Southern States. His grandfather died in Virginia and his father, Henry Bird, a native of West Vir- ginia, operated a farm in the Old Dominion. While still single he removed to Hardin County, Ky., where he married Mary Parker, a Virginia lady. lle located on and cleared a farm, residing upon it until 1833, when he removed to Macoupin County, Ill. There he lived two years upon rented land, then changed his habitation to Peoria County, and after renting land in Trivoli Township some years, purchased a quarter-section in Orion Township, Fulton County. This was raw land which he placed under excellent improvement, adding to it until at the time of his death his estate amounted to two hundred and forty acres.
Mr. Bird belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, being an official member of the organiza-
tion at Concord, whose edifice he helped to build and which he otherwise aided. He was an old-line Whig, and in later years a Democrat. He died in 1872, having passed his three-score years and ten. The mother of our subject having died, the father married a second wife.
The gentleman of whom we write was the first- born of the seven children of his mother, bis brothers and sisters being: David, who died in Ful- ton County; Richard, now living in Iowa; Mrs. Sarah A. Hollingsworth, of Sioux City, lowa; Joel, whose home is in Northwestern Iowa; Jacob, who lives in Northern Nebraska, and Mrs. Nancy Escue, whose home is in Kansas.
The natal day of our subject was January 13, 1826, and his birthplace Hardin County, Ky., near Elizabethtown. When seven years old he aecom- panied his parents North, the journey being per- formed with a four-horse team and wagon over mnd and corduroy roads. He helped to drive the stoek through, and after the family located did what he could on the farm in the intervals of at- tendance at the district school. In the spring of 1835 the family came to this county with the same "prairie schooner," our subject driving eattle and sheep. Passing through Peoria, which was but a small village, the lad assisted his father on the Fulton County farm, ere long becoming a champion ox-driver, breaking prairie with from five to six yoke and a twenty-four-inch plow with a wooden mold-board. Rattlesnakes were quite numerous, while wild deer, wolves, and foxes abounded, mak- ing hunting the prominent excitement and recrea- tion.
When twenty years old young Bird rented a farm in Trivoli Township, receiving one-third of its prodnce for his labors thereon. In 1848 he bought eighty acres of raw land which forms a part of his present estate. It was partially covered with tim- ber, necessitating grubbing as well as breaking, but by dint of perseverance it was ere long placed in good condition. A small frame house was built upon it and the owner turned his attention to farming and stock-raising, Peoria and Reed's Land- ing being his markets, and all grain and supplies being hauled to and fro in wagons. After a time he was enabled to buy an additional eighty acres,
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which he also improved, the whole now making one of the fine farms of the township, and being worth a much larger sum than the $3.50 per acre which his first purchase cost him.
In the summer of 1865 Mr. Bird, with two brothers and a number of other men, started with ox-teams for Denver, Colo. Upon reaching Coun- cil Bluffs, Iowa, our subject thought it would be better to remain in that State and hire out at breaking land. His brothers being of a similar mind, they returned to Knox County, Iowa, and hought eight yoke of oxen and two large plows with which they labored in Iowa until July. They received $5 an acre, turned the sod on from five to six acres per day, and were enabled to return to their homes with a nice purse which, Mr. Bird says, was the easiest and quickest money he ever made, as he received "spot cash" for his labors.
Upon coming back to his home Mr. Bird again turned his attention to work .upon his estate, de- voting his energies principally to grain and stock. He has some graded Short-horn cattle, a good grade of hogs, but makes a specialty of horses, hav- ing inherited from his father a love of equines which amounts to a hobby. His herd of those animals is the largest in the county and made up of the finest animals, all being standard-bred. Among his herd is a Norman and English draft horse, "Prince," which now leads the van. He al- ways keeps a stable horse which is certain to be of good blood.
The first marriage of Mr. Bird was celebrated in this township in 1845, his bride Miss Margaret A. Reed, a native of Hamilton County. His second marriage took place in Peoria, in 1856, to Miss Susan Ousley, a native of Cass County. This union resulted in the birth of one son, Alva, who is mar- ried, living in Fulton County and occupied in farming. The present Mrs. Bird was formerly known as Miss Abigail Mathis. She was born in Hamilton County, and celebrated her nuptial rites in Knox County in 1868. She has borne her hus- band two children-Ora A. and Edgar M., both of whom are still at home.
Mr. Bird is now President of the School Board, and has been School Director about half of the time since he has lived here. He is a sturdy Democrat
but interests himself in politics only to the extent of keeping himself well posted and depositing his vote on election day. He has served on both Petit and Grand Juries. The work in which he takes most interest is that of the church, in which he has for many years been prominent. His membership is in the Methodist Episcopal society at Concord, where he now holds the positions of Trustee and Steward, and is regarded as one of the chief sup- ports. He assisted in building the first edifice in which this society worshipped, served as Trustee, and when it was rebuilt in 1884 was a member of the building committee. His son is now Class- Leader, has been Superintendent of the Sunday- school and has frequently attended Conference as a delegate, having united with the church when but a boy.
R RED PFANDER. This enterprising young gentleman, a resident of Limestone Town- ship, is prosecuting the coal business with a degree of energy highly commendable. He was born near his present residence, June 5, 1854, be- ing the oldest of the five children of Charles and Elizabeth (Gabler) Pfander. His father came from Germany to this country when a young man, locat- ing in Peoria, and followed building and contracting in and around that city for years. He also did a great deal of work on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, in building bridges, culverts, etc. He was a proficient stone-cutter as well as a good builder. The mother of our subject was, like her husband, a native of Wittenberg, their marriage having been celebrated in this country.
Our subject has been engaged in the coal busi- ness, in some capacity, since an early period in his life. He has been a miner and a superintendent of mines, and twelve years since, in partnership with George Noll, he started in business for him- self. This was operated by the firm for a time. and then Mr. Noll was bought out by our subject, who carried on the enterprise alone several years longer. In the spring of 1890 he formed a partnership with A. H. Barnewalt, buying what is known as the Star shaft on the Iowa Central Railroad. The shaft
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John Hines.
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was put up to the highest bidder, the machinery and franchise for the one hundred and sixty acres of coal land having cost $30,000, and was bought by Messrs. Pfander & Barnewalt for $10,150. The new owners are putting in great repairs, and will soon commence work with a full force and a ca- pacity of eight or nine car-loads per day.
Mr. Pfander won for his companion Louisa, daughter of George and Mary Noll, whom he led to the hymeneal altar in 1878. The happy union has been blest by the birth of five children, and the parents have been bereaved of their first-born. The names of their offspring are George, Fanny, Charles, Lizzie and Freddie. Mr. Pfander is a man who attends strictly to the business he has in hand. bringing to its prosecution all the powers of an active mind and an abundance of vital force. In bis associations with his fellow-men he is honorable and kindly, while as a citizen of this great republic he is peaceable and trustworthy. In addition to his recent purchase of coal lands he retains his ownership of another bank, which is shut down on account of the strike.
OHN HINES. Among the worthy farmers of Richwood Township, mention should certainly be made of John Hines, whose portrait appears on the opposite page and whose comfortable estate is located on section 28. He is a son of John and Ellen (Belford) Hines, natives of Virginia, who two years after their mar- riage removed to Coshocton County, Ohio, remain- ing there until 1836. They then changed their place of abode, settling in Richwood Township, Peoria County, and here spent the remnant of their days. Mrs. Hines passed away in 1876 and her husband breathed his last some few years later.
The subject of this notice is the fifth in the pa- rental household which comprised nine children. He was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, January 6, 1826, and having accompanied his parents to the Prairie State, abode under their roof until he was twenty-three years old. He then married and set- tled on his present location, where he has erected a
good dwelling and made such other improvements as would be expected of one who understands his calling and desires pleasant surroundings. Ilis es- tate comprises eighty-seven acres, sufficient to insure him a comfortable maintenance, and not so large as to require numerous tenants and burden one un- duly in its management and oversight.
The first marriage of Mr. Hines was celebrated in Peoria Township, his bride being Miss Rebecca, daughter of Smith and Nancy (Shepler) Frye. She was a daughter of the Keystone State, born in 1825. She bore two children, who died in infancy, and was herself removed by death in 1856. The sec- ond marriage of Mr. Hines was celebrated in Rich- wood Township, June 10, 1857, his bride on this occasion being Miss Laura N. Corrington, daugh- ter of Washington and Elizabeth H. (Chase) Cor- rington and a native of Hamilton County, Ohio. They have nine children, named, respectively, Lewis, John B., Mary Eliza, Charles W., Walter S., Gilbert B., Laura A., Everett and Winfred. Lewis is farming in Kickapoo Township; Charles in Radnor Township, and Walter in Richwood Township.
Mr. Ilines has not been allowed to devote his entire attention to his personal affairs, but has been called upon by his fellow-citizens to advance their interests as Road Commissioner and School Di- rector. In both offices he has served acceptably, showing good judgment and a keen appreciation of the needs of the public. In politics he is a stanch Republican, ever ready to cast his vote for the principles in which he believes. He and his good wife are esteemed by those about them as their useful lives merit.
SAAC W. DAVIS was a pioneer of this county, and during his life took an active part in de- veloping its farming interests, and at the same time improved a valuable farm, which is still in possession of his family. He was born in Marshall County, W. Va., November 14, 1834, and was a son of Albert W. and Mary (Ridifer) Davis. His father was a native of the same State. while his
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mother is thought to have been born in Ohio. Ile was the eldest son in the family, and was bred to the life of a farmer amid the beautiful scenes of his birth, and received a fair education in the com- mon schools.
In the fall of 1856 our subject came to this county and settled in Milbrook Township, on the southeast quarter of section 28, which his father had previously purchased, and here he was actively engaged in its improvement until death called him from his labors. He located on it permanently in 1859, and in the years that followed placed it under admirable tillage, and erected neat and sub- stantial buildings, transforming it from a tract of wild prairie to one of the best cultivated farms in all the region.
Mr. Davis was married December 23, 1858, to Miss Amanda V. Reed, who was, like himself, a native of West Virginia. Marshall County the place of her birth, and February 6, 1840, the date thereof. Her parents were John and Louisa (Caldwell) Reed, the former a native of the North of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish descent, and the latter a native of West Virginia. Her father was brought to Amer- ica when he was but one year old by his parents, who settled in West Virginia among its early pio- neers. They came to this county from there in 1853, and located near Brimfield, where the father died a few months later in the same year. His wife survived him until July 7, 1861, when she too passed away. They had a large family of children. of whom Mrs. Davis is the youngest child. By her union with our subject she became the mother of seven children, of whom the following is re- corded: Albert W. is in Canada; John R. is de- ceased; Minnie is the wife of C. A. Snyder, of Elmwood; Arthur, Charles C .; Everett W. and Freddie M. are at home with their mother. Mrs. Davis is living in the attractive home that she as- sisted her husband in making, and here, sur- rounded by her children, she is passing life quietly and pleasantly, in the enjoyment of an assured in- come from her well-managed farm. She occupies a prominent place in the social circles of the com- munity, and is actively identified with the Presby- byterian Church, and takes a great interest in the church work. Our subject left his heirs comfor-
tably well off, the homestead comprising a valua- ble estate of one hundred and fifty-eight acres of exceptionally fertile land.
The life of our subject was rounded out May 17, 1876, and he left behind him an unblemished record, of which his friends may well feel proud. IJe was one of the sterling pioneers of the county, and his memory is cherished in this township, the scene of his labors, as one of the early settlers who had the making of it and have now passed to their final rest. He was earnest and zealous in giving his support to all things that tended in any way to elevate society, and was ever to be found on the side of right in any important issue before the public. Politically, he was a follower of the Re- publican party, and none had greater faith in it or gave it more active support. A man of high moral character and excellent principles, his was truly a religious nature, and in him the Presbyterian Church found one of its firmest and most active members.
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B ENJAMIN WOOKEY represents the large briek manufacturing interests of Richwood Township as one of its leading mannfact- urers, one who is potent in advancing the growth of the county. Ile was born in Somerset- shire, England, March 1, 1834, to William and Ann Wookey. Ile was the seventh son in a fam- ily of nineteen children, eighteen sons and one daughter, ten of whom grew to maturity. llis parents were natives of the same shire as himself, and there spent their entire lives engaged in the occupation of farming.
Our subject lived in his native shire until he was almost eight years old, and then spent the ensuing time until he was twenty-two, in Newport, Mon- mouthshire. At that age, in the flush and vigor of early manhood, he came to this country to see what life held for him here and to build up a home under the favorable conditions offered to people of foreign birth by this Government. Landing in New York City, he came directly to Peoria in the fall of 1855, and was employed in that city making
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