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 18
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A short funeral service was held at the home by Rev. A. C. Cummings. The music was under the direction of Mrs. Elsie McGreggor. and the follow- ing persons were chosen as pall bearers: A. G. Olmstead. G. W. L. Church, Jno. Parker, jr., T. Brady, J. M. Douglass and G. W. Tilton.
By request of the deceased, a sacred song was sung during the services by little Benny Louis, ac- companied by his sister. A large procession of friends accompanied the family to the Jones ceme- tery, where the body now reposes.
Mr. Dickinson is justly regarded as one of the solid. reliable citizens of this township, as during the many years that he has resided here, he has ever shown himself to be faithful to his duties and responsibilities in every department of life in which he has acted. as a husband. father. neighbor and citizen. and it may truly be said that his character is such as to inspire respect and esteem.
AMES M. GEDDES, an linois pioneer of '56, and a man who has been the architect of his own fortune, is now the owner of a fine property, comprising a well-appointed farm located on section 7, in Ross Township. He is a scion of an excellent old family of Seotch an- cestry, and the son of Joseph Geddes, whose father, George Geddes, emigrated from the Land of the Thistle to America about 1788. Making his way to the Territory of Ohio, he located on a tract of land in the wilderness. near where the town of East Liverpool now stands, but which then for miles around was destitute of any signs of civilization. He
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had been married in Boston. Mass .. to a lady who was descended from old Plymouth stock-people who came over in the Mayflower-and who was reared in the strict doctrines of the oldl Presbyte- rian faith. They began their wedded life together in the wilds of Ohio, where they reared their fam- ily, and spent the remainder of their days. each attaining to a ripe old age. Of their children, seven in number, Joseph, the father of our subject. was the youngest, and was born in 1805. He was reared at that home in the wilderness. The coun- try was gradually settled up, and among the other adventurous pioneers who followed in the wake of the Geddes family were William Moore, whose daughter, Catherine, became the wife of Joseph Geddes, and the mother of our subject. The mother's parents lived just across the Ohio River in Brook County, Va., until their deaths occurred.
Joseph Geddes and his young wife continued to reside near the old folk in East Liverpool about six years, and in the meantime their son, James M., the subject of this sketch. was born April 21, 1837. About 1839 they removed to Tuscarawas County, and later to the northeastern part of Indiana, where Joseph Geddes departed this life at the age of sixty-five years. and the mother at the age of sev. enty-six. They became the parents of twelve chil- dren, all of whom, with one exception. are living. The second child, Elizabeth, died when about seven years old. Those besides our subject, are named respectively. John. William. Mary A., Wilson, Richard, Robert. Nancy J., Lucinda, Joseph, and Minerva. The latter, the youngest of the family, is thirty-six years old. The household cirele re- . mained undivided by death for more than fifty years-a circumstance scarcely equalled in the his- tory of any other family in this region.
The parents of our subject, during their younger years, were identified with the Presbyterian Church, but later became connected with the United Bretli- ren. in the faith of which they died. James M., upon coming to Illinois in 1856, located first at Momence, but later removed to Iroquois County. There he was married, in 1862, to Miss Emma, thoughter of Thomas and Anna ( Barkley ) Young. They lived there until the spring of 1883. engaged in farming pursuits; then our subject disposed of
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his interests in that section and purchased his pres- ent fine farm of 160 acres, which he proposes to make his permanent home. Upon coming to this State he was without other resources than his good health and strong hands. and like the wise man of Scripture. he has increased his talent ten fold. During his younger years he experienced all the hardships and difficulties of life in a new country. and improved his first farm from the raw prairie. He cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln, and has been a steadfast supporter of Republican prin- ciples. especially since the outbreak of the war. and has ever maintained an ardent admiration for the martyred President. Lincoln. Both he and his wife belong to the Christian Church at Prairie Chapel. Their seven children, who are all living, were named respectively: Ehner L., Joseph F., Maude. Ruby, Nellie, Grace and Nora. They form a bright and interesting group, and are being given the educational advantages which will fit them for intelligent and worthy members of so- ciety.
RANKLIN BALDWIN. It must be ad- mitted that although no man attains to sue- eess without encountering ditlieulties and drawbacks, life still has its compensations. espec- ially when the individual has chosen that wise path of rectitude and honor which has led him to a po- sition where he is looked upon by his fellow men with confi lence and esteem. The career of Mr. Baldwin has been pregnant with interesting events and experiences, some of them dark and trying and some of them filled in with a large mtas- ure of satisfaction. The former served to devel- op the naturally strong points of a substantial character while the latter have shown like the sun upon a rugged mountain side, rounding up the whole to a complete end.
The native place of our subject was in the vicin- ity of Decatur, Ohio, and the date of his birth. April 26, 1832. When he was a mere child his parents set out for the West and after landing in Grant County. Ind., stopped there and raised one crop. In the spring of 1838 they folded their tents for a further journey Westward, starting out
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with a four-horse team and taking with them their household goods and a quantity of provisions. Arriving at the Wabash River at Covington, they then loaded their belongings on to a ferry boat. The wind being strong and the river high, they came very near being capsized and drowned and received such a fright that our subject distinctly remembers the event to this day. They succeeded however, in making the crossing in safety and ar- rived in this county on the 30th day of March. stopping at Danville, that place then being a very small town. The country around was compara- tively unsettled, the cabins of the pioneers being few and far between. There was onlyone or two wag- on roads and wild animals were plentiful. The fel- low feeling which makes all man kin prevailed, and each new comer was greeted with a heartiness which made him feel welcome. The father of our subject died the succeeding fall and the family were left to struggle along as best as they could under the stress of limited means, and the hard- ships and difficulties of life on the frontier. The mother was a lady of more than ordinary capacity and by careful management kept her family to- gether nutil they were old enough to take care of themselves. Finally, laying aside the cares and labors of life she removed to the home of her daughter in Dallas County. Iowa. where her death took place at the age of seventy-six years.
The subject of this sketch acquired his educa- tion mostly in the subscription schools. When lif- teen years old the mother broke up housekeeping and Franklin began working out by the day. month and job, and managed to maintain himself very comfortably. splitting wood by the cord. plowing, sowing and gathering in the harvest. In the fall of 1856, he took an important step toward establishing a home of his own. being married to Miss Editha Jane, daughter of John and Polly (Stewart) Naylor. The newly wedded pair took up their residence near Yankee Point and Mr. Baldwin occupied himself as before, until 1864. when he purchased a traet of land from which he built up a good farm and which he occupied for a period of twenty-one years. In January. 1886. he and his estimable wife decided, and wisely, they would retire from active labor, and accordingly
leaving the farm removed to the new village of Sidell, of which they have since been residents.
Mr. Ballwin in the fall of 1885. purchased from Sanson Rawlings a stock of hardware and has since been engaged in trade, building up a good patron- age. In the year 1887, he completed a neat res- idence on East Market street and with ample means and all the comforts of life, is enabled to live cas- ily and enjoy the fruits of his early industry.
Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin became the parents of nine children, the eldest of whom, John MI., mar- ried Miss Lucy Thornton and is farming in Car- roll Township, they have three children; Perry A., married Miss Sarah E. Lawrence and occupies the homestead; they have four children-Maude, Ellen Lester. and Rosa; Charles M., married liss Emily Criees. and they are the parents of one child; he conducts a grocery store in Sidell; William A. and Wilbur A. were twins. the former is farming in Sidell Township, and Wilbur is with his brother Charles in the grocery; Benjamin lives at the home- stead; Norah E., died at the age of eighteen months ; Robert W., is in Carroll Township with his brother John.
The father of our subject was in his early man- hood an old line Whig, and Franklin remembers the election of 1840. when the grandfather of Pres- ident llarrison was elevated to the first position in the land. He cast his first Presidential vote for J. C. Fremont, and, was a stanuch supporter of Re- publican principles.
James Baldwin, the father of our subject. mar- ried Miss Rachel Parry and both were natives of Brown County, Ohio. The paternal grandfather. John Baldwin, came from England prior to the War of 1812, and settled near Ripley in Brown County. Ohio. The grandfather of our subject participated in the above war, enlisting at the age of twenty-one years, after Hull's surrender. The father of our subject came to this county in the spring of 1838, and rented a part of the Draper farm, but died the ensuing fall when Franklin was a Ind of six years. There were eleven other chil- dren. one of whom, the youngest born, William. died at the age of three years.
The remaining children of the parental family of our subjeet are recorded as follows: Caroline, the 1
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eldest, is a resident of Madison County, Iowa, and is seventy-four years old; Amanda lives in Marys- ville, this State, and is aged seventy-two; Polly. sixty five years of age, is a resident of Georgetown. Ill .; Jane, aged fifty-five is a resident of Dallas County, lowa; Thomas lives at Yankee Point. this county. and is fifty-nine years old. He and our subject are the only two sons living. The other children were named respectively, Elizabeth. Dari- us, John N., James and Elijah.
Mrs. Baldwin's father was born in Ohio, and her mother in Ireland. Mrs. Baldwin was born in Ver- million County, Ind., dune 11, 1810. and there spent her childhood and youth. attending the com- mon school and being trained by an excellent mother to those housewifely duties, a knowledge of which is essential in a well-ordered household. She has stood bravely by her husband in his toils and struggles and he avers that it is owing largely to her good sense and wise counsels that he has been enabled to attain to his present position, so- cially and financially. They take a natural and pardonable pride in their fine family of children to whom they have given all the advantages in their power. Mr. Baldwin believes in education and has carried out his sentiments in this respect in providing his children with good schooling. The family is widely and favorably known throughout Sidell Township and vicinity where they count their friends by the score.
W ILLIAM MCBROOM occupies a high place among the venerable and honored citizens of Catlin Township. and though not among the earliest settlers of this part of Vermilion County, he may be denominated one of its pioneers. Ile is still living on the pleasant tract of land on section 35, that at the time of his purchase formed a part of the wild prairie, and which he has since im- proved into a line farm. He and his wife are serenely passing their declining years in one of the cosiest and ucatest homes in this community. where they are held in respect and affection by the many who know them.
Mr. McBroom is a Kentuckian by birth, born in
Preston County April 28, 1815. the oldest of the five children of Joseph and Phebe ( Young) Me- Broom. the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Chilicothe, Ohio. After their marriage they had settled in Preston County, Ky .. and thence they removed to Crawfordsville, Ind., in 1827, be- coming early settlers of that place. Mr. MeBroom bought a tract of land, and cleared forty acres of it where the city now stands. Hle was a man of considerable enterprise, and besides engaging in agriculture. he made brick in that locality for four years, operating two brickyards at a time. and making the first brick that was ever made in that county. Ilis useful career was closed in 1841. in the home that he built up there in Montgomery County, aud a valued citizen was then lost to the community. His wife survived him several years, but for fourteen years previous to her death, which occurred in Cass County, Neb., at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Young, she was an invalid.
Our subject was still in his boyhood when his parents took him to Crawfordsville, Ind., and there he grew to maturity. developing into a strong. shrewd, capable man. He learned the trade of wagon-making in that county, and followed it exclusively for a long term of years. finding it quite profitable. He removed to Tippecanoe County. and was engaged in his trade there, manu- facturing wagons for some ten years. He then re- turned to Montgomery County, where he resided until the month of October. 1854. when he came to Vermilion County, and settled in Catlin Township. purposing to give his attention to agriculture on this rich, alluvial soil. and he has ever since made his home here. He owns 120 acres of land that is very fertile and productive, and is supplied with a good set of buildings; everything about the place is orderly, and the farm is under good manage- ment.
Mr. MeBroom has been three times married. The maiden name of the wife of his early manhood was Rhoda Ann Stover, and she was, like himself, a native of Kentucky. She bore him one child, which died in infancy, and. the mother dying also, both were buried in the same grave. Mr. McBroom was married a second time in Montgomery County. Mrs. Elizabeth Boyd becoming his wife; she was a
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danghter of Joseph Hanks. To them three chil- dren were born-Joseph, John and Thomas. the latter dying when about a year old. Mrs. Mc- Broom departed this life in Tippecanoe County. Ind., in 1818. Our subject was married to his present wife in that county March 13. 1831. Her maiden name was Emily Allen. She was the daughter of the late Judge William and Susan (Spurgeon ) Allen, and widow of Jacob Snyder. lle died in Montgomery County Nov. 17. 1846. She had by her first marriage four children-Sarah, Susan, Ivea Ann. Amanda M. Sarah was the wife of Arthur C. Schocky, and she died in Kansas. Mrs. McBroom's parents were natives of Ken- tucky. and she was the sixth of their ten children. She was born in Bourbon County, Ky., May 20, 1818. By her marriage with our subject she has had six children, as follows: Phobe E .. Alfred, Franklin. Josephine, William and Eddie J. Phoebe and Franklin are deceased.
Although Mr. and Mrs. MeBroom are well ad- vanced in years, the snows of age have not yet chilled their hearts or deadened their sympathies towards the needy and suffering. They still take an active interest in the affairs of the day. aud keep well posted on topics of general interest. Mr. McBroom's career in life has been a useful one to himself and to the community at large, as he has contributed his quota towards its upbuilding. and has always acted the part of a good citizen. Ile is decided in his political views, and is a faithful ad- herent of the Democratic party.
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INSON R. BOARDMAN. Occasionally we find a man who has had the enterprise to see something of the world before settling down to the sterner duties of life, as in the case of the subject of this notice. He has been quite a traveler throughout the Western country, and spent a number of years on the Pacific Slope. Ile came to this county in the fall of 1810, and settled on this farm in 1859, where he has 265 acres of choice land on section 26, township 23, range 12. This has been his home for the long period of thirty-five years, and he is still on the sunny side
of seventy, surrounded by all the comforts of life. and blest with the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens.
Mr. Boardman was born in Ontario County, N. Y .. May 3, 1822, and there spent his youthful days, acquiring a practical education in the com- mon school. He was bred to farming pursuits. In the spring of 1819, young Boardman decided to visit California. and. purchasing an ox team at In- dependence, Mo .. started across the plains with a company of 125 men. They crossed the Missouri River at St. Joseph. and followed the usual trail taken by emigrants. They were five months on the road, but at the end of that time 123 of the men were scattered to different places, only our subject and one man reaching their destination in company. The others finally drifted to the same place after having wandered around north of the Sacramento River.
l'pon his arrival in California, our subject en- gaged in mining from early in the fall until late in the winter. then went down to Nappa, when there was only one building in Sacramento but acres of tents. Ile staid there with an attack of fever, which lasted about four weeks, and then en- tered the employ of the proprietor of the city, with whom he remained. hauling lumber at $150 per month until fall. when he made his way to Oregon. where he spent the winter. In the spring he entered the mines of Northern California, but with rather poor success, then returned to Oregon, but finally went back to California and rented land. where he carried on agriculture until returning home.
This return journey was made by our subject via the water route. across the isthmus to New Orleans. and up the Mississippi, Mr. Boardman arriving in this county again in the spring of 1853. That year he visited New York State. Subsequently Mr. Boardman employed himself at farming. hay- ing in view the establishment of a home of his own, and on the 16th of November, 1854, was united in marriage with Mrs. Susan Carter. Soon afterward he settled on his present farm, where he has since made his home. although the farm did not equal its present dimensions, having been added to both by himself and his sons.
To Mr. and Mrs. Boardman there were born four
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children. all of whom are living. Inez is the wife of Thomas Evans, and they are residing in Grant Township: Herbert V. and Ernest C. are at home with their father: Marcus A. is traveling Auditor for the Chicago & Eastern HHinois Railroad Com- pany. Mr. Boardman has been for a number of years a member of the Presbyterian Church at Rossville, and politically gives his support to the Republican party. He is a man quiet and uno-ten- tatious in his manner of living. and has been con- tent to pursue the even tenor of his way, making very little stir in the world, and never seeking po- litical preferment.
The parents of our subject were Jesse C. and Mary (Runyon) Boardman, the former a native of Connecticut. When about eight or nine years old he removed with his parents to New York State, where he was married and settled on a farm in Ontario County. His wife. the mother of our subject. died there when the latter was four years old. Jesse Boardman spent his last days near Rushville. Ontario County, and departed this life when about sixty-seven years okl.
ests.
OIN E. SMITH is classed among the able and highly intelligent young farmers of Ver- milion County, who are active in sustaining and extending its great agricultural inter- His well appointed farm on section 26. Pilot Township, is in all respects finely improved. and compares well with other estates in the vicinity. He has stocked it with cattle, horses and hogs of tine grades, and he is cultivating it with good re- sults so as to make money. He is a native born citizen of this county, Dee. 3. 1854. being the date of his birth. His father. George G. Smith, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio. Aug. 31. 1828. and he came to this county in company with his parents. who were of German antecedents and birth, in 1836. They thus became the pioneers of Vermilion County, and were respected residents here till death closed their earthly career, the grand- father of our subject dying in 1861. and the grand- mother in 1812. The following is recorded of the nine children born to the parents of our subject:
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Elizabeth married George Wilson. of Ohio, now a farmer of Blount Township, and they have two children : Elias D., a farmer of Blount Township. married Clara Smith and they have three children; Sarah lives with her parents; Eva married Andrew Lanham. of Blount Township. now of Ross Town- ship, and they have one child; Wesley, a farmer. married Emma Sperry, of Blount Township, and they have one child; Marshall. Woodard and Jo- sephine are the others.
John Smith received the preliminaries of a sound education in the public schools, which he attended till he was twenty-one years old, and then being ambitious to advance still farther in his studies, he attended the State Normal School. where he pur- sued an excellent literary course that thoroughly titted him for the profession of teaching that he afterward adopted. He was successfully engaged at that vocation eight years, but after marriage he abandoned it to give his attention to agriculture, and bought eighty acres of linely improved farm- ing land. He subsequently sold that and pur- chased his present farm of 160 acres of land equally good, and well adapted to general farming. It is under high cultivation, and is provided with a comfortable. conveniently arranged set of farm buillings.
Mr. Smith has much financial capacity, is en- dowed with good mental qualities that have been stimulated by a liberal education, and he carries on his farming operations with intelligent skill that will one day place him among the wealthy and substantial citizens of this township, if he prospers as he has heretofore done. In his polities he is an ardent champion of the Democratic party, and has been since the days when he cast his first vote for Samuel J. Tilden. the great New York statesman, his last vote for president being in favor of Grover Cleveland.
The marriage of Mr. Smith with Miss Mary E. Firebaugh, of Blount Township, occurred March 25. 1876. She was born Dec. 11. 1853, in the aforementioned township, her parents being Wil- liam R. and Melvia ( Flora) Firebaugh, the father being of German descent. They emigrated from Ohio to Indiana, and thence to Hinois. The mo- ther departed this life in 1872. The father still
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resides in this county. They were the parents of five children: Curtis married Christina Porter, of this county, and they have two children; Elizabeth married George Suyder. of this county, now liv- ing in Oakwood Township, and they have two children; Robert, a farmer, married Loo Fairchilds. of Blount Township, and they have two children. Emma married Milton Fairchilds, of Blount Town- ship. The following is the record of the five chil- dren born of the pleasant wedded life of Mr. and Mrs Smith: Irvin W .. was born June 3, 1877: Edwin R .. Jan. 23. 1879: Alfred G .. Jan 9, 1881: Everett .J., Sept. 5, 1881; Alga. Nov. 6, 1886.
- LLEN T. CATHERWOOD is one of the most prominent and busy men of Hoopes- ton, having large interests in various branches of industry in the town. Ile is one of the originators and present owner of the Hoopeston Canning Factory, and is also its Gen- eral Manager. This enterprise was inaugurated in 1882, and at first was operated on a small scale. but has gradually increased until it has become a very important factor in the business interests of Hoopeston. Last year the establishment used about 2,000 acres of corn and peas, being all raised by the company. which is composed of Mr. Catherwood. J. S. McFerren and A. II. Trego. The concern furnishes employment to 300 people and fifty teams, and the output of corn alone last year amounted to 2.500.000 cans. The value of the plant and stock is given at $150.000.
Mr. Catherwood is also engaged in the grain business on the line of the Lake Erie and Western Railroad, on which road he owns large elevators at different points, having associated with him partners at each place. He also owns a large grain farm of 1.520 acres in the State of lu- diana in company with Mr. Williams. It will be seen that Mr. Catherwood has a large business. which is composed of grain handling, farming and manufacturing. and. it is safe to say, that there is no man in this part of the country better able to handle these immense interests. He has held dif- ferent publie offices, and here shows his capacity :
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