USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > Portrait and biographical album of Vermilion county, Illinois, containing sketches of prominent citizens of all the governors of the state, and of the presidents of the United States, Volume I > Part 16
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OIIN W. BANDY, junior member of the firm of Smith & Bandy. druggists. is also owner of the Bandy Block on Vermilion street. Danville, and is well-known to the citizens of the city and vicinity as representing some of its most important business interests.' Ile is a native of this place and was born April 8, 1814. Of his father, William Bandy, one of the earliest pioneers of this county and an aged vete- ran of seventy-seven years. a sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume.
The first four years of the life of our subject were spent upon a farm and then the family re- moved to Danville, where John W., acquired a practical education in the common schools. When approaching manhood he entered the office of the Danville Plaindealer, then under the control of John Leslie and with whom he remained until the office was purchased by Judge Daniel Clapp. Young Bandy continued with the latter until 1864. That year he began the study of medicine with Dr. Samuel Humphrey as preceptor and after a time began practicing to a certain extent. He, how- ever, concluded that he was better adapted to some other business than that of a physician, which resolution was strengthened by his failing hoalth. Ile spent three or four years in recuperating and in 1872 engaged as elerk in the store of E. E. Boudi- not about five years. At the expiration of this
time he was admitted to partnership with his em- ployer. Three years later he sold out to Mr. E. G. Smith, a native of Danville, and the only surviv- ing member of the family of Giles Smith. These gentlemen have been in partnership since that time and Mr. Bandy has been in the store siner 1872. Mr. Bandy is a gentleman of great energy and enterprise, and has accumulated a good prop- erty, including one of the finest brick blocks on North Vermilion street which was erected in 1887. and is equipped with all modern improvements.
Mr. Bandy was married in Danville, Sept. 28, 1864, to Miss Margaret Humphrey, who became the mother of one child and who died together with the child in 1865. Our subject contracted a second mat- rimonial alliance with Miss Mary A. Campbell, of Lafayette, Ind .. Aug. 29, 1879. Of this union there was one child, a son, Claude W., who was born Ang. 29, 1880. and is still living. Mrs. Mary A. (Campbell) Bandy was born June 1, 1853. about fifteen miles sontheast of Logansport, Ind .. and spent her childhood and youth in Indiana. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bandy are members of good standing of the Kimber Methodist Episcopal Church. Until about 1865 Mr. Bandy voted with the Republican party but has since that time affiliated with the De- mocracy. He has never had any ambition for office. preferring to give his best efforts to his business affairs. His home comprises a neat residence in the northeast part of the city and as the son of a prom- inent family he occupies no secondary position in social and business circles.
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ENRY L. BUSHNELL is one of the leading and successful business men of Hoopeston. He is the proprietor of the North Elevator, which has a capacity of 75,000 bushels. Ile also owns several other large elevators on the line of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. He is also general agent for the Brazil Block Coal Com- pany, handling from 2,500 to 3.000 cars yearly. besides his local trade.
Mr. Bushnell was born Oct. 2, 1813, near what is now Dunlap, Ill., and there remained with his father until he left school to enter the army. Heenlisted
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on July 2. 1862, in Company E. 77th Illinois In- fautry. This regiment was assigned to the 13th Army Corps, originally under Gen. Smith, but which was latterly under the command of Gen. Banks, and participated in the battles of Black River, Jackson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, the siege of Vicksburg, and also in the entire cam- paign which resulted in the opening of the Missis- sippi River. At Vicksburg he was wounded on the 22d of May, 1863. in the left knee, after which he was in the field hospital until his recovery. The last seventeen months of the service he was Second Lieutenant of his company. While on the expedi- tion with Banks up the Red River, he was cap- tured at Mansfield. La., April 8. 1861, and taken to Camp Ford. Tyler. Tex .. and was there heldl until the close of the war. While a prisoner of war he suf- fered untold hardships. which impaired his health. the effects of which he feels to this day. After his release he joined his regiment at Mobile, Ala .. . Jan- mary, 1865, but remained there but a few days when he proceeded to St. Louis, where he was properly exchanged. Here he was detailed on Gen. Dodge's staff, remaining .on this duty until Ang. 1, when he was mustered out of the service having served for several months more than his regular enlistment. After leaving the army he returned to Peoria. III .. and engaged in the lumber business with his father. In this he continued for some time. having an ex- tensive trade, and becoming accustomed to railroad business in the mean time. he was appointed Assis- tant General Freight Agent of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, with headquarters at Ter- re Ilaute. He continued in this capacity for five years. when in July 1883. he resigned and removed to Iloopeston where he has since been engaged in business, and it is not too broad an assertion to state that he transaets more business than any other man in Eastern Illinois.
Mr. Bushnell bas served his city as Mayor for two terms and for one term has been an Alderman. Hle has also served five years on the Board of Edu- cation, of which he is now President. He has never aspired to office but his great business talents are always in request by his neighbors, and he cannot see his way clear to refuse them, He is a hard- working Republican. is recognized as a leader in
his party, and can be found attending all its conven- tions and gatherings. He is a member of the First Baptist Church and has been a Sunday-school Su- perintendent for twenty years.
On September 18. 1867, Mr. Bushnell married Miss Hattie A. Littell, of Peoria, and they have become the parents of ten children. two of whom only are living, six dying of diphtheria. The living are William F., who was born Jan. 25, 1872 and Jessie A., April 21, 1883. Mrs. Bushnell was born in New York City. March 18, 1844 and is the daughter of Isaac Littell, who came West in 1855. In closing this brief sketch, it is proper to say that there are no more popular people in this section of the country than Mr. and Mrs. Bushnell.
C HARLES M. BAUM. a native of this county, may usually be found at his well- regulated homestead on section 25. Be- sides general agriculture. he is largely interested in the breeding of draft horses and has been of signal service in elevating the standard of horse llesh in this part of the State. Active, energetic and industrious, he is a scion of the pioneer ele- ment which located in this county at an early day and assisted largely in its growth and develop- ment.
There are some interesting facts connected with the family history of Mr. Baum which cannot by any means be properly omitted from this sketch. His father. Samuel Baum. a farmer by occupation. was born twenty-five miles south of the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, and was the son of Charles Banm, supposed to have been born in Pennsyl- vania, whence he removed first to Ohio and later to Illinois. He was a gunsmith by trade, but after coming to this country occupied himself mostly as a farmer, and died at the advanced age of ninety- eight years. Three of his seven children are yet living, and Samuel. the father of our subject. was the oldest of the family. Samuel Baum came to Illinois as early as 1828, and located on the Little Vermilion, near the present site of Indianola. The country then was very thinly settled and Vermil- ion County was considered quite a frontier. The
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journey was made overland in a Dearborn wagon, and they brought with them a bug-horned cow tied behind the wagon. The incidents of that long and wearisome journey. during which they eamped and cooked by the wayside and slept in the wagons at night, and the after experiences. replete with toil and privation, if properly related, would fill a good-sized volume.
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The parents of our subject, however, possessed the hardy spirit requisite in the pioneers of '28 and entered with courage upon the task set before them. The mother was in her girlhood Miss Sarah .Weaver, daughter of Michael Weaver, who also came to this county in 1828, and the young people were married in Ohio. Mr. Weaver prior to this time -had served as a soldier in the War of 1812. and was greatly prospered as a tiller of the soil of Illinois, becoming one of Vermilion County's wealthiest men. Mrs. Baum was the eldest of the eight children comprising the parental family. of whom only two are now living.
The parents of our subject were married in 1823. Samuel Baum became a very successful farmer, the owner of 1,400 acres of land, and devoted him- self largely to stock-raising. After the labors of a well spent life he departed hence in March, 1861. The mother had passed to the silent land fourteen years previously, in t817. Of the ten children born to them seven are still living. Charles M. was the sixth child and was born Dee. 22, 1838, at the old homestead near Indianola. He pursued his first studies in the district school and in due time entered Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College. Indianapolis, from which he was graduated and at the age of twenty-two years began work for him- self on his father's farm.
Our subject operated as a general agriculturist two years, then for one year turned his attention to shipping stock. In the meantime he went into Texas and purchased 500 Texas cattle. which he drove through the Indian Territory, in 1866, to Chicago, consunning eight months on the journey. Hle disposed of his stock, then returning to New- town, this county, embarked in the mercantile business for two and one-half years. Ile then pur- chased ground for a sawmill and in company with Robert Craig put up the necessary building, equip-
1
ping it with machinery and operated the mill for two years. Then selling out he resumed his for- mer business as a live stock shipper and afterward farmed again for about two years.
About this time Mr. Baum beeamne interested in fine horses and began importing Clydesdales from Canada and was thus occupied two years. After- wards he began breeding fine horses. for which his well-equipped farm of 200 acres affords every con- venience. Ile las thirty head mostly Clydesdales, including the Knight of Colander. imported by Galbraith Bros., of Janesville, Wis., and a very valuable registered mare imported by himself. Mr. Banm's horses are gaining an enviable reputa- tion in this part of the State.
On the 22d of Mareh, 1869, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Mary J., daughter of William and Emily (Vanderin ) Craig, who were among the pioneer settlers of this county. Of this union there have been born tive children: Grace. Ernest, Katie. Charles and Frank, all of whom are at home with their parents. Mr. Baum has been active in politics since becoming a voting citizen. and is proud to record the fact that his first Presi- dential candidate was the martyred President, Abraham Lincoln. Ile keeps himself well posted upon the political issues of the day, and for twelve years has otliciated as School Director in his dis . trict. He is President of the Newtown Horse and Cattle Fair and a member of the Clydesdale American Association, also for the Newtown Horse Protector Association. He has been for the last three years a Road Commissioner. It will thus be seen that he has made a good record as a citizen and is amply worthy of representation in the Bio- GRAPHICAL ALBUM of Vermilion County.
E LLIS ADAMS. The history to which our attention is now directed is that of a man possessing some admirable traits of charac- ter and one whose course in life has been such as to command the esteem and confidence of all who have known him. During the vicissitudes of life he has spent many years in arduous labor. ha- handled probably a million dollars in money, has
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dealt honestly and fairly by his fellow-men and should reap a large measure of consolation from the fact that comparatively few have made person- ally so clean and admirable record. There are few who have not experienced adversity in their strug- gle with the world, some more and some less, and while with some it has had the effect to make them sour and cynical, others have learned wisely from the lesson and in this respect at least come off con- querors in the struggle. Nature endowed Mr. Adams with those qualities of mind and heart. which have enabled him to make the best of cir- cumstances and leave the rest to Providence.
The native place of our subject was not far from the New England coast in Sussex County, N. J., his birth occurring Sept. 25, 1817. He commenced the battle of life for himself at the early age of fourteen years, clerking in a store from that time until a young man of twenty. He then accompan- ied his father's family to Virginia and remained on a farm in the Old Dominion for a period of five years. Then leaving the' parental roof he emi- grated to Orange County, N. Y., where he was employed as clerk in the grocery store of Mr. Reeve in Goshen. Two years later he established himself as a general merchant at Unionville in the same county and sold goods there for fifteen years.
Mr. Adams finally becoming wearied of mer- cantile pursuits concluded he would seck the farther West and settle upon a farm. Coming to this county, in 1857, he purchased 480 acres of land south of Fairmount and put up the largest residence in this vicinity. Thereafter he occupied himself at farming and merchandising until 1886, when on the account of the failing health of his wife he removed to Kansas, living there with a daughter one year and then returned to this county.
Our subject in 1844 was united in marriage with Miss Amanda. R., a daughter of Samuel King of Pennsylvania and a prominent farmer in his neigh- borhood. The ceremony took place at the home of the bride's mother in Philadelphia. This union resulted in the birth of three children, the eklest of whom, Frank A., was married and died leaving his widow with two children. Anna is the wife of Stanley Conklin, a member of the firm of Jarvis, Conklin & Co., in Kansas City, Mo., and they -
have two children. George C., married Miss Nellie, daughter of Hiram Catlett of Vance Town- ship, and they have two children. Mrs Adams has been sorely afflicted with rheumatismn. being in feeble health for the past twenty years and in 1884 was stricken with total blindness. She and her children are members of the Baptist Church in which Mr. Adams has been a Deacon for thirty years. In politics, Mr. Adams was first a Whig and later a Democrat. Although seventy-two years old he is in the enjoyment of good health and although having met with many reverses main- tains the cheerful and genial disposition which has always attracted to him numbers of warm friends. Ile appreciates the importance of pre- serving the family record and a few years ago wrote up a complete history of his life placing it in the hands of his son.
The father of our subject was Joseph Adams, a native of New Jersey and a farmer by ocupation. He married Miss Martha Post, a native of New Jersey and they lived there until 1839. Then disposing of their interests in that State they re- moved to Spottsylvania County, Va., where the mother died at the age of fifty-two years. Joseph Adams spent his last years in Virginia and de- parted this life in July, 1845.
The parental household included eleven children, all of whom lived to mature years. Grandfather 'Adams was a prominent man in Sussex County, N. J. and held the position of Judge for some years.
HOMAS D. McKEE, of Oakwood Town- ship, has for years been prominent in busi- ness circles, operating as lawyer, banker and
farmer. Ilis home is located on section 15, and the farm is chiefly devoted to stock-raising, an in- dustry which has always proved profitable in this section. Mr. McKee was born in New York State June 9, 1833, at the old homestead of his parents. John C. and Jeanette (Stewart) McKee. the former of whom was a native also of the Empire State, and the mother of Scotland.
John C. McKee was born in 1809, and died at the age of seventy-six years. The paternal grand-
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father, Thomas MeKee, was born about 1784 in Dryden, Tompkins Co .. N. Y., where he spent his entire life, dying at the age of sixty-two years. The great-grandfather, James MeKee, was born in the North of Ireland, and died at the age of ninety- six years. Grandfather John Stewart married a Miss Melntosh and emigrated to America, settling near Dryden. N. Y., where he engaged in farming and died at the age of sixty-two years. Thomas D. had the privilege of seeing all three of the old veterans.
The parents of our subject were married in New York State, and afterwards lived upon the same farm which still remains in the family, and which is located on the old State Road four and one-half miles from Cortland. between the latter place and Ithica. The mother passed away in 1877, and the father in 1885. Their family consisted of eleven children, all of whom grew to mature years, and of whom our subject is the eklest. Thomas D .. like his brothers and sisters. attended the village school at Mclean, and later was a student in Cortland Academy at Homer, N. Y. He prosecuted his law studies in the State and National Law School at Poughkeepsie under the presidency of J. W. Fow- ler, from which he was graduated and then set out for the West.
Mr. MeKee left his home in New York State in 1855, and going to Maysville. Wis., taught school there six months. Prior to this before leaving his native State he had been similarly occupied at South Cortland. In 1857 he went to Faribault, Minn., and platted Morristown together with sev- eral other towns. Ile then migrated to St. Louis, Mo., and from there to Leavenworth, Kan., during the days of the troubles in the latter State and wit- neesed many scenes of violence, enacted on the soil of "bleeding Kansas." In that State he operated as a surveyor, and taught the first school estab- lished at Atchison. After a two-year's sojourn in that region he returned home, completed his law course in Poughkeepsie, and, in 1864, returning to Illinois, established himself at Homer. Champaign County, and began the practice of his chosen pro- fession.
The next important event in the life of our sub- jeet was his marriage with Miss Mary Groenendyke, |
and six or seven years afterwards the newly wedded pair established themselves at their present home stead. While at Homer Mr. MeKee, in company with D. S. Pratt, established the bank at Homer, and later our subject purchased the mterest of his partner therein. That same year through the speculation of his clerk the bank was obliged to close its doors. This individual had been trusted implicitly without bonds, and had made away with $23,000 in cash.
Subsequently Mr. McKee became interested in farming pursuits and began operations on 240 acres of land, which amount has been augmented so that the farm now embraces 680 acres all in one body. It is all in productive condition, but largely de- voted to stock-raising-forty to fifty cattle in a year, about 200 head of swine and numbers of very fine imported Belgium horses.
To Mr. and Mrs. McKee there were born five children, four of whom are living: Samuel G .. Stewart T., Mallie and John. all at home with their parents. Our subject has been for many years the School Director in his distriet, and has served on the School Board in Homer for six years. He was President of the Town Board there for several terms, and it was largely through his influence that sidewalks were laid and shade trees were planted. lle also labored assiduously in suppressing the liq- uor traffic. Ile votes the straight Republican ticket, and is uniformly in favor of those measures tending to elevate society and advance the inter- ests of the people. Mrs. McKee is a very capable and estimable lady, with a good talent for business and is a member in good standing of the Presbyte- rian Church.
Samuel Groenendyke, the father of Mrs. McKee, was born in Seneca County, N. Y., in 1803, and married Miss Lacy Thompson, of Cumberland County. Pa. In 1821 he removed with his family to the vicinity of Terre Haute, Ind., and thenee to Vermillion County, Ind .. where he established his permanent home. He finally became the owner of nearly 2.000 acres of land. Later he established him- self as a general merchant at Eugene, and also had a branchi store at Homer, IH. Ile was very indus- trions and enterprising, and was the first pork- packer in his locality. He aided largely in encour- aging the various industries of the new country.
TENANT HOUSE
Er'S 2111
4, 44
PASTURE.
MEADOW.
FEED LOTS !
A.
PASTURE.
PASTURE,
MEADOW
OATS:
MEADOW.
SCHOOL HOUSE SEC 25
TENANT HOUSE SEC 2G.
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STOCK-FARMAND RESIDENCE OF J. W GOODWINE, SIC'S. 21, 22, 26, 27 & . 28. PILOT TP, VERMILION CO.
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and was prominent in his community, being espec- ally well known by the old settlers. The parental family included three children, two daughters and a son, Samuel, who is now a resident of Eugene.
OIN W. GOODWINE is one of the leading farmers and stock-growers of Vermilion County, and the owner of one of its largest and most valuable farms, finely located in the township of Pilot. his substantial residence, with its attractive surroundings, being situated on section 26. He is the son of a former well known prosperous pioneer of this section of the country. who was in his day an extensive land owner, and did much toward developing the vast agricultural resources of the county.
The father was a native of Kentucky, of English descent, his parents having been carly pioneers of that State. In 1810 he went to Bartholomew County, Ind., and was among its carliest settlers, subsequently removing from there to Warren County in the same State. In 1826 he came to Warren County while it was still in the hands of the pioneers, and located on government land, buy- ing at that time 200 acres. He built a log house for the shelter of his family and entered with char- acteristic zeal upon the development of a farm from the wild prairies, and from time to time in- creased its aereage till he became the possessor of 2,400 acres of fine farming land at the time of his death, so fortunate was he in his undertakings. Ile died March 8, 1851. His wife, who died in 1824, was a native of Germany, her maiden name being Elizabeth Snyder, and she came with her parents to this country when she was young. Of her mar- riage nine children were born: James, Martha and John, the only ones now living. James married Sophia Buckels, of Warren County, Ind., where he is engaged in farming, and they have five children -William, Christina, Indiana, Horace and Fre- mont; Martha married Richard Lyon, of Warren County, Ind., and they have three children-John, Martha and Thomas.
John Goodwine spent the early years of his life in his native State, gleaning such an education as
was afforded by the pioneer schools of those days. and on the home farm a good practical training in the management of a farm. le came to Vermil- ion County March 15, 1848, and when he began an independent life for himself he had a better start than many farmer's sons, having inherited 300 seres from his father's estate. But notwithstanding such an advantage he worked with persevering en- trey. and by wise management and a judicious ex- penditure of money he has become possessed of one of the largest and finest estates within the limits of Vermilion County, owning over 1,000 acres of highly improved land. besides having given his children 2,000. He does an extensive business in general farming, and makes a specialty of raising Short-horns, having a fine herd of highly graded eattle of that breed.
Mr. Goodwine has been twice married. Ilis first wife was Jane Charleton, of Indiana, and to them were born five children-Marion, John, James. Mary J. and Fremont. Marion married Susan Sel- sor. and lives in Marysville, this county. They have five children, one of, whom is dead ; the others are Hattie, Fred, Daly E. and Ary; John married Mary Alexander. and they had one child. Annie : his first wife died October, 1872, and about 187 4 he was again married to Miss Alice Lane, and they have six children-John. Wilber. Nora, Ulysses, Cora and Villa; James, a farmer in this county, married Minerva King, of New Jersey, and they have three children-Nellie, Roy and Goldie; Mary J. mar. ried James MI. Tillotson, of Warren County, Ind .. now a farmer in Louisiana, and they have three children-Jessie. Estella and Mabel.
The maiden name of the present wife of our sul ;- ject was Arminda Sperry, and she was born in this county Dec. 21. 1842. Her parents, Erastus and Ruth ( Rees) Sperry, were of German antecedents though they were born in this country, the father in Ohio June 3, 1819, and the mother in Indiana Ang. 19, 1819. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwine have four children, namely : Martha. Helen, Dora and Grant W., all of whom are at home with their parents.
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