Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 97

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 97

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Samuel Wiley, father of our subject, was two years old when his parents left their old home in Pennsylvania, and sought a new one in the pri- meval wilds of Ohio, and there he was bred to the life of a farmer. He came to this county in a wagon in 1852 and was three weeks on the way. He se- lected a traet of one hundred and sixty acres of wild land on section 3, and here dwelt until death called him hence February 14, 1877. His wife survived him until October 29, 1888, when she too joined the great majority. They had six children: Hadassah J.wife of StewartGlasgow, of Logan Town- ship; John P; William, ofLoganTownship who served in the war; James P., who died at the age of twenty years; Samuel M., who died at the age of twenty- three years; and Joseph I., who died at the age of twenty years. Their parents were among the prom- inent members of the United Presbyterian Church of Logan Township, in whose organization they assisted.

Receiving his book edueation in the common schools and his training as a farmer on the old homestead, our subject grew to stalwart manhood and afforded his father great assistance in the man- agement of his agricultural interests until the age of twenty-three, when he started out for himself, as a renter of a farm. In 1877 he made his first purchase of land, buying at that time eighty-eight acres of his homestead. In the month of Septem- ber, 1889, he located where he now resides at Han- nalı Station, on a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres belonging to his wife. He has shown himself to be a first-class farmer in every respect, tilling his field after the best methods, having neat and

substantial buildings, and the best of farming ma- chinery and keeping everything about his place in good order.

A veteran of the late war, our subject won a military record as a brave and capable soldier, of which he and his may well be proud. August 14, 1862, he enlisted in Company C. Seventy-seventh Illinois Infantry, and took an active part in many battles and skirmishes, showing himself to be a cool and courageous in the face of danger, and ever ready to do his duty on every occasion and prompt in the discharge of it. He was present at the siege of Vicksburg, was at the battles of Arkansas Post, Magnolia Hill, Champion IIills, and Big Black River. Ilis regiment accompanied Banks on the Red River Expedition and took part in the battles of Kane River and Sabine Pass. They met the enemy at Ft. Gaines and at Ft. Morgan ; were active in the capture of Spanish Fort; and fought their last battle at Whistler's Station. Soon after enter- ing the service our subject was selected by his superior officer as well qualified for the post of Sergeant. He was afterwards promoted to be Or- derly Sergeant and acted in that capacity the last year he was in the army. He was honorably dis- charged July 10, 1865, at Mobile, Ala. Ilis servi- ces during the war are now commemorated by his connection with the Grand Army of the Republic. In every department in life he has shown himself to be eminently trustworthy, ard no citizen of this township is regarded with greater confidence and honor than he. Ile and his wife are people of social prominenee and religiously are identified with the United Presbyterian Church as two of its most zealous members.

Mr. and Mrs. Wiley were united in marriage February 13, 1879, and they have an adopted daughter, Jessie M. Beard. Mrs. Wiley's maiden name was Mary E. Runkle, and she was born on the homestead where she now resides June 2, 1839, being the daughter of John I. and Mary (Herring- ton) Runkle, who were early pioneers of this county. Her paternal grandfather, John Runkle, was born in 1756, in the State of New York. His wife's maiden name was Magdaline Van Wort. He was a son of John Runkle, who was a native of the Empire State, and was the son of another John

811

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

Runkle, who came from Germany to this country in Colonial times. The Van Worts came from Hol- land. Mrs. Wiley's grandfather died February 17, 1813. Ile was a prominent member of the Dutch Reformed Church in which he was an Elder. The following are the children born to him and his wife : Elizabeth, born 1797; Mary, 1798; John, October 1, 1800; Elder, Angust 19, 1802; Barbara, Decem- ber 10, 1805; Henry, November 14, 1807; Corne- lius, Jannary 19, 1810; and Ann, December 14, 1812.

Mrs. Wiley's father was born in Albany County, N. Y., October 1, 1800, and was the first of the family to come West, two of his brothers coming later. Cornelius and Henry, settling in Knoxville, Knox County, and Elder coming later still, located in the same county. John Runkle came to Logan Township in 1833, by stage and water. He entered a tract comprising three hundred and twenty acres of wild prairie land on sections 2 and 11, and in the years that followed, by hard pioneer labor im- proved a valuable farm. At his death here, Au- gust 24, 1889, one of the most venerated pioneers passed to his reward. Ile was twice married and by his first wife had seven children, of whom the following four grew to maturity: John, a resident of Yuba County, Cal .; Margaret, now Mrs. Alfred Shepherd, of Harvey County, Kan .; Sarah, wife of Moses Beecher, of Peoria, and Mary E. His first wife died April 2, 1842. Ile took for his second wife Mrs. Fannie Dusenberry, and by that marriage had one child, Catherine C., wife of John Nisley, of Knoxville. His second wife-died April 6, 1883.

BRAHAM FRYE. Peoria County is greatly indebted for its present wealth and high standing to the sturdy, intelligent, enter- prising tillers of the soil, who have been instrumental in developing its vast agricultural resources. As a worthy member of its farming population who has contributed his quota towards its advancement, it gives us pleasure to present to the readers of this volume, a brief review of the

life of Abraham Frye whose portrait is shown on the opposite page. A representative of an honored pioneer family, he has himself performed the pio- neer task of reclaiming from the hand of Nature a farm which is finely located on section 29, Rich- wood Township, and is in all points one of the most desirable in the neighborhood.

Benjamin Frye, the father of our subject, was born in Washington County, Pa., and his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Shafer, was also of Pennsylvania birth. Her father, Thomas Shafer, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The par- ents of our subject married and settled in Washing- ton County, Pa., and lived there until 1839. In that year they became pioneers of this county, and early settlers of Richwood Township. Here they lived for more than forty years, respected and es- teemed by all. Their last days were passed in Hinsdale, Cook County. They had nine children, of whom the two eldest died when quite young, seven growing to maturity.

Our subjeet was the fourth child of the family and was born in Washington County, Pa., July 11, 1814. Ilis boyhood was passed in his native county, on his father's farm. In 1838 in the opening years of a vigorous manhood, he came to Peoria County, and at once identified himself with its thrifty, ener- getic pioneers. Ile engaged chiefly in farming in Richwood Township and now has a fine farm of eighty acres on section 29, which is under excellent tillage and is provided with a good set of farm buildings, suitable machinery and all things nec- essary for carrying on farming properly.

Mr. Frye came to Illinois a single man, but he was not long in finding a helpmate, and on the 25th of February, 1840, was united in marriage with Eleanor Campbell, a native of Pennsylvania. She bore him four children: Benjamin D., who is a resident of Radnor Township; Mary E. : Josephine and Caleb B., the latter dying in infancy. Septem- ber 20, 1848, Mrs. Frye departed this life, while yet in the prime of womanhood.

Mr. Frye was married a second time in Peoria, Jannary 27, 1853, taking Margaret Belford, a native of Ohio, as his wife. They have had the following seven children : Frank P., Emma C .. wife of John Weber, Andrew . D., Ida M. wife of C. Eugene Den-

842

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

ton ; Richard Yates who died September 23, 1873, at the age of nine years; William E. and Harvey L., the latter deceased.

During a residence in this county of more than half a century, our subject has become well-known, and none know him but to respect him for the ex- cellence of his character, and for the possession of those traits, such as tenacity of purpose, thrift and industry, that have enabled him to overcome all the obstacles that the early pioneers of this State had to contend with, and have also placed him in comfortable circumstances. Mr. Frye is not an office-seeker, though he is interested in public affairs and has served with credit in some of the school otlices. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, sup- porting his party by voice and vote.

G AIN ROBINSON BLACK. The subject of this sketch is a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, where he was born May 23, 1823. Ile was reared in his native place and received a com- mon-school education, to which he has added by reading and observation until he is able to hold his own in any company. When twenty-one years of age he left home and removed to Peoria County where he settled, choosing Hollis as the place of his future residence. lle is the son of Joseph and Eliza ( Hutchinson) Black, natives of Virginia, who migrated with their respective fami- lies to Ohio in their youth. They grew to matu- rity in their adopted State which was also the scene of their marriage and death. They had a family of eleven children. One sister married and re- moved to Coles County, Ohio, where she died.

Our subject will ever remember his first months in llollis, for soon after his arrival he met and re- newed his acquaintance with Miss Susan M.Powell, whom he had previously known in Ohio and who was destined to exert the greatest influence over his future life. Their friendship ripened into that mutual esteem which should precede matrimony and accordingly their nuptials were celebrated in 1849, at the home of the bride's parents amid the good wishes of hosts of friends. Mrs. Black is

a sister of A. J. Powell, a sketch of whose life found elsewhere in this ALBUM

Mr. Black is a carpenter. He commenced to learn his trade with Mr. Powell, but finished it with Mr. Adams after removing to Peoria,and dur- ing the first year of his married life his wife re- mained under her father's roof while our subject worked at his trade in the village of Farmington. The first farm which he bought was located on Maple Ridge and that was his home until 1858, when he sold and moved to the place where he now lives, where his first purchase of eighty acres was of land but little cultivated. Ile improved it as rap- idly as possible and some time afterward bought one hundred and forty acres adjoining, but lying on the other side of the road in Timber Township. Ile has labored diligently and by his own efforts has brought his place under a fine state of cultiva- tion.

During the time Mr. Black was employed at his trade he erected a great many fine buildings, the chief of which were: the large house on the poor farm of Peoria County, the "Mason House" of Ful- ton County, and some fine residences in the towns of Kingston Mines and Glasford. Seven children blessed their union, six of whom grew to matnrity as follows: Theodore died in infancy; Miss Cora is a young lady at home with her parents; Lydia is the wife of Dr. A. Brown of Peoria; Charlie, the fourth child, is a young man of much ability, a graduate of Brown's Commercial College. He has received a good education and occupies a promi- nent place in the community, having been High- way Commissioner. He is a dealer in fine stock, a business which he handles to a good advantage; Corda is also at home with her parents, she and Lydia are graduates of a school in St. Louis; Lincoln is married and lives in Chicago where he is engaged in the mercantile business; Judson, twin brother of Lincoln is still at home; spent some time in a dry goods store. They are a fine family and enjoy the respect and esteem of all. Mr. Black and his entire family are members in good stand- ing of the La Marsh Baptist Church and are liy- ing consistent and useful Christian lives.

Our subject is a believer in the principles of the Republican party and takes a lively interest in mat-

- --

------

843

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM.

ters pertaining thereto. llis ability and integrity have been recognized and employed in various ways. He was Government Store-keeper for seven years in Peoria and gave excellent satisfaction; was Justiee of the Peace for twenty years and has also served his township in the capacity of Asses- sor. Ile is enterprising and always on the lookout for improvements and possesses good judgment in business affairs. He was the first man to introduec into the county an imported Suffolk boar; he also brought into the township the first Short-horn bulls, and the first pure bred full-blood imported horse of Belgian stock. In 1862 he purchased an imported pure blood, thorough-bred Mor- gan horse. lle takes a deep interest in fine hor- ses as well as in other fine stock.

E DOUBET. In the biographical history of this county the name of this gentleman occu- pies a prominent place among those of its most sagacious and able farmers and stock- raisers, who have been connected with its inter- ests since the early pioneer days. While using his influence to advance the development and financial standing of this region, he has acquired a hand- some fortune and is classed among the wealthiest men of his community. He has a large and well- ordered farm in Limestone Township, and is the owner of one of its most attractive homes.

Mr. Doubet is of French birth and antecedents and came to this country in 1837, when he was twelve years of age, with his father, Joseph Doubet, who settled about a mile from where our subject now lives, in Kickapoo. When they first came here there were but few settlements in the county. Deer and prairie chickens were plentiful and with wild turkeys formed the staple meat of the pioneers. Prairie wolves abounded and made night hideous with their howls. A perfectly white wolf, which is a rare animal, used to be seen quite often in this neighborhood and was afterward killed by poison and his body found in the vicinity. Wild turkeys used to venture even to the corn eribs of the pio- neers and eat the eorn, and game was so abundant

that Jack Johnson killed in one winter a large quantity, as he was an extra good shot and many a time brought down a prairie chicken with his rifle while it was on the wing.

The pioneers conducted their work after the most primitive methods. In those days they used to mow altogether with the scythe, and cradle all their grain, and when it was ready for thresh- ing put it on the ground and drive the horses over it, as there was no machinery of any kind in use. The people were clad in homespun that was the product of the womenkind. Mrs. Doubet, when young, was very skillful in weaving and spinning aud coloring the cloth thus made, and making it into jeans, casinet and gingham, and she also made woolen cloth, which was used for dresses. She was likewise an expert in the manufacture of linen, and gives an interesting account of the process. First the flax was pulled and dried and bound in small bundles, which a man could take in his hand and about twelve of them were put together in a shock. These would set in the field till cured, and her father would then take the bundles down to the Kickapoo Creek and immerse them in water, leav- ing them six weeks, when the tlax thus treated would be taken out and spread to dry and then bundled together again. After that he would take each bundle to a machine which he had made, in which four teeth fitted into the grooves between three tecth on the reverse side. This would break the stalk, and the next process was to take a board on edge and hold the fibre over it, and then with a large wooden knife pound or thresh the wooded part ont of the lint. After this the women of the house- hokt took the flax in hanks as the father put it into twists, and next came the hackling process when the lint was taken by the women and drawn through the combing machine, which was an in- vertedt comb of steel tecth about four inches long, set in rows, each alternate row breaking the joint of the one in front, there being eight or ten rows with about fifteen or twenty lengthwise, eighteen to twenty inches long, this being fastened with a chain to their machine. From this the flax would come in large silken skeins, with each particular fibre lying side by side, and from this they made thread to sell, which supplied the whole neighborhood, and

814

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

also manufactured cloth for sheets, pillow cases, towels, summer clothing, and mixed with cotton for the women's wear. They often colored their cloth gaily with different varieties of bark. For yellow. they used hickory bark with copperas; for blue, chamber lye and indigo; butternut for brown; for green, peach leaves and alum; and for red they had to buy madder from the stores.

Our subject was well educated in his native France, his father having been a teacher. After coming to this county, he was sent out to work and the self-reliant, manly lad became independent early in life. By his marriage, January 18, 1849, to Har- riet Slane he had the good fortune to secure a good wife, whose intelligence, quickness and natural ability have been no unimportant factors in the attainment of the wealth that is the fruit of their united labors.

Mrs. Doubet is a daughter of Daniel and Ma- hala Slane, of Hampshire County, Va. They re- moved from their native State to Guernsey County, Ohio, where they were married, and there four children were born to them. In the old days of muster Mr. Slane was a fifer in a militia regiment, and when the war broke out he was importuned by the men of the regiment, with whom he was a great favorite, to enlist in the army, and his name was enrolled among the volunteers of the Seventy- seventh Illinois Infantry, at Peoria, and for six months he did good service at the front. But he was too old for the hardships of army life, and was taken sick and was honorably discharged. He died in February, 1885, leaving behind the record of an honorable, upright life, well spent. His widow now makes her home in Rosefield, and draws a pension on account of his connection with the army.

After marriage our young couple began their wedded life in a log cabin on the same place where they now live. They originally owned but eighty acres of land, but have added to it until now the farm comprises four hundred acres, all of which is under the plow and has been brought to a fine state of cultivation, and is supplied with many valuable improvements. The house in which they live was built in 1857, and is a neat and comfort- ably furnished residence. A new barn has been

recently erected and there are other necessary outbuildings. Mr. and Mrs. Doubet have had ten children,of whom the following is recorded: George LaFayette, a farmer of Knox County, is married and has four children; JJames HI. died at the age of four years; Joseph D., of Knox County, is mar- ried and has seven children; Eliza is the wife of William Guy, of Carroll County, Iowa, and they have one child; Isabel M. is the wife of Edmund Secretan, a farmer of Kickapoo Township, and they have one child; Rebecca died at the age of twenty-one; Delilah died at the age of fourteen; John is at home; Charles E. is the last in order of birth. All the children were well educated for their opportunities and are bright and useful citi- zens, and are well settled in life.

Mr. Doubet possesses sound, roundabout com- mon sense, a keen, resolute nature, a marked fac- ulty for practical work, and these attributes, to- gether with his financial sagacity, have led him on to fortunc. His reputation for honesty and gen- eral integrity is good and he stands well with his neighbors and fellow-citizens. For a number of years Mr. Doubet has been connected with the School Board as Director, and has actively inter- ested himself in educational matters. He belongs to the Democratic school in politics. He was reared a Catholic. but has broken away from the church and does not affiliate with any denomi- nation.

RITZ MOLCHIN has a fine farm on section 30, Richwood Township, which he devotes to dairy purposes, and is doing a thriving business in that line. He was born in Germany, January 22, 1814. He was reared under German institutions, received his education in the excellent public schools of his native land,and, in accordance with its laws, served two years in the Prussian Army. 'Hle remained in the Fatherland until the fall of 1868, when, ambitious to improve his con- dition and build up a comfortable home, he boldly resolved to try his fortunes in America. After a prosperous voyage he landed in New York and came directly to Peoria County, and for fifteen

١ 1 ! 1

RESIDENCE OF DANIEL KLINCK, SEC. 23. PRINCEVILLE TP, PEORIA Co: ILL.

OLD HOMESTEAD.1838

RESIDENCE OF HARRISON HARLAN, SEC. 22.& 23. RADNOR TP. PEORIA CO.ILL.

- ٨-١جمبريـ

بيبيهيد حـ ـــــــ

817

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

years was employed in a brick yard in North Peo- ria. IIe had carefully saved his earnings, and af- ter that engaged in the dairy business, continuing to live, however, on Elizabeth Street, North Peo- ria, until June, 1890. In that month he removed to Richwood Township, having here a good farm of eighty acres, on which he bas erected a neat set of buildings. Ile operates quite a large dairy and sells his products in Peoria at a good profit.

Mr. Molchin was married in Germany in the spring of 1868,to Miss Bertha Rautenberg. She was like himself, a native of Germany and was born in August, 1843.

In the death of this good and true wife at their home on Elizabeth Street, May 7, 1885, Mr. Mol- chin sustained a severe loss. She was a most ex- emplary woman, worthy of the respect and esteem called forth by her kindness of heart and other personal qualities, and she had many warm friends who mourn her untimely death. She was a woman of rare Christian nature, and in her the Evangel- ical Lutheran Church found a valued member. Three children were born to our subject of his pleasant wedded life: Mary L .. Hannah E. and Helen F.

Mr. Molchin has displayed excellent judgment and good business talent in the management of his interests and has placed his farm in the best pos- sible shape, its substantial buildings and other valuable improvements showing well his thrift and industry. He has proved to be a good citi- zen of his adopted country and in all his relations has borne himself as an honest upright man.

- AVID I. FINCH. This gentleman was appointed United States Storekeeper in Peoria, August 1, 1889, and commenced work September 1, being the first to as- sume the duties of that oflice in the Fifth District of Illinois. He is discharging his duties to the en- tire satisfaction of bis superiors, as he has those of other positions which he has held in times past. His integrity is vouched for by Judge Hopkins, Julius Starr, and other well-known citizens, and he

enjoys the respect of his fellow-men. His life pre- sents an excellent example of devotion to duty and regard for principle, well worthy the imitation of others. As a prominent citizen we are pleased to present his biography and portrait on these pages.

Connecticut claims our subject as one of her sons, his birth having taken place at Greenwich, June 2, 1841. His parents, Gilbert P. and Alatbea P.(Peck) Finch, were also born in Connecticut. Their loy- alty to their country was manifested by sending four sons into the field during the Civil War, one of them giving his life for his country. He was a member of the Ninth Iowa Infantry, and was fa- tally wounded at Pea Ridge. Another was mus- tered out as Lieutenant in the Eighteenth Michigan Infantry, while our subject and. his youngest brother belonged to the Tenth Connecticut Infantry.

The boyhood of Mr. Finch was passed as an in- mate of the parental home, his time being occupied in attendance at the public schools and an academy, and in the recreations and home duties suited to his years. When sixteen years old he started in life for himself in the employ of Brooks Bros., an old and prominent New York firm, for whom he was working when the first gun was fired in the Civil War. Being a minor, he was not able to enter the army at once, as he desired to do, but in Septem- ber, 1861, his wish was gratified by the attachment of his name to the muster roll of Company I, Tenth Connecticut Infantry. The enrollment took place at Hartford, whence the regiment was sent to An- napolis, Md., and down the Chesapeake Coast with Gen. Burnsides.

Young Finch first entered the smoke of battle at Roanoke Island, where the colonel was killed, the next engagement being at Newburn, during which fight our subject was twice struck by balls. The battle of Kingston followed, where, out of three hundred and sixty-six men who entered the contest, seventeen were killed and nearly one hun- dred wounded or missing. This was a severe loss to the regiment, but the depleted ranks entered into the next battle with even greater vigor. While Mr. Finch was not wounded at Kingston, the blank- ets in which he was wrapped were riddled with canister shot. White llall and Goldsboro were the next heavy engagements in which our subject par-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 97

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