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 35
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After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Davis located on his present farm, where his father gave him 397 acres of as good land as there is in the county. It will be seen that Mr. Davis had a competency with which to begin life. Ile possesses the common sense and business skill necessary to keep his in- herited wealth and add to it. Ile is a first-class farmer, and raises cattle, horses, sheep and bogs. In 1865 Mr. Davis erected a fine residence at a cost of $5.000. and since that time has added to it, and made many improvements in its surroundings. lle also owns a good house and lot in Danville. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had two children: John T., the elder of the two. is married to Miss Katie Thomas, and they are living three miles southwest of Fairmount. He is the father of one son-James Roy-by a former marriage. Rachel A. married E. R. Danforth; they reside in Danville with their three children-Jennie, Annie and James.
Mr. Davis has held many of the local offices of his township, and has given the best of satisfac- tion in conducting them. For nine years be held the offices of Road Commissioner and School Di- rector, and is now a Trustee of his school district. He is a member of Homer Lodge No. 199, A. F. & A. M., of which he has been Senior and Junior Warden, Junior Deacon and Treasurer. The offices of King and Seribe have been held by him in the lodge of Royal Arch Masons No. 94. Ile is also a member of the commandery at Danville. Mr. Davis has been a member of the Baptist Church for many years, and he takes some interest in poli- tics. Ile was born and reared a Demoerat, and continued with that party until the War of the Re- bellion. when he changed his political belief. and since that time he has invariably voted the Repub- liean ticket at National and State elections, but in local affairs he easts his vote for the best man. Mr. Davis has been somewhat of a traveler. His first
trip was to Chicago, in 1812, with a load of wheat. and in 1818 he took a second trip to Chicago with a load of apples. In 1875 he visited California, and made an extended trip through that State. IIe attended the Centennial at Philadelphia in 1876. and on that journey visited many different States. Mr. Davis enlisted in Company C, 71st Illinois In- fantry. and served with his regiment until late in the autumn of 1862. when he was discharged. There is no farmer in this section of the country whose judgment is better. and his record is one of the best.
IRGIL C. T. KINGSLEY. M.D. is a native of New York State. having been born near Utica. Ilis father, Jedediah S. Kingsley, was also a native of the same State and Utica was his home for a great many years. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Obediah Kingsley, was a native of New England and traced his an- cestry to England. He settled in Ilerkimer County, N. Y. and pursued the calling of a farmer, living on his first homestead for nearly a half century and dying there. He was one of the earliest settlers of Herkimer County, and early in the century, pur- chased a tract of timber land from which he cleared a farm. HIe built two saw-mills, was an extensive dealer in lumber and furnished the lumber for the large asyhun at U'tiea.
Jedediah S. Kingsley. the father of the subject of this sketch was reared to agricultural pursuits. and followed farming for some time after his mar- riage, when his health gave way and he turned his attention to the study of medicine, a profession to which he was eminently adapted, as time later on demonstrated. He graduated from the University of Vermont. at Burlington, when he immediately commenced the practice of his profession at Rome. N. Y., and has remained there since. The maiden name of his wife was Angeline Myers. a native of New York State and to whom was born five child- ren
Dr. Kingsley, of whom this biography is written, was educated in the common schools of Rome, and was graduated from the High School there. Early in
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life he concluded that he was adapted to the pro- fession of medicine and surgery, and following that idea, he commeneed the study of medicine with his father. after which he attended three years at the medical department of Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and graduated in the class of '83. After his graduation he returned to Rome and commenced practice and pursued his profession there until the spring of 1884, when he removed to Danville, where he has built up an extensive and luerative practice. The doctor makes a specialty of cancer, tumors and chronic diseases, and has been eminently successful in pursuing these specialties. Patients visit him from many different states. His office is well filled, a greater portion of the time. and all curable diseases are treated with success. The Doctor's pleasant ways and professional ability are drawing cards.
Dr. Kingsley was married in 1881, to Miss Ella Brown. a native of Oneida County, New York State and daughter of Mary Brown.
IMOTHY PARK, who lives on section 24, in Grant Township, Vermilion County, near the Indiana State line, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, in 1844. His parents were Silas and Mary (Good) Park. both of Virginia. They removed to Franklin County, Ohio, at an early day, but later went to Delaware County in the same State, where both died, the father in 1877, the mother about twenty years ago. Silas Park was a farmer by occupation, and a plain, hardworking man who never took any part in public affairs, but attended elosely to the business of making a home for his family, and he succeeded. They had nine children, of whom five are living, namely: Ezek- iel, William and Branson, farmers in Delaware County, Ohio; Rose, who is the wife of William Ilazlett, also living in Ohio. Those deceased were named respectively: Susanna, Samantha, Hardy and Ashforth.
Timothy Park, of whom we write, was brought up to farming, which has been his lifelong oceu- pation. IIe remained in Ohio until 1869, when
he came to this county, buying a farm on section 25 in Grant Township, one-half mile: south of his present home. lle lived there but a year. however, when he returned to his native State. A few months later he came back to this county, was married and rented a farm on section 19. town- ship 23. range 10 and 11. and there he and his wife lived for four years, when he bought the farm which he now owns and ocenpies. It was then but a traet of uncultivated prairie, without a building, fence or tree, in fact, being wholly destitute of the work of man. Now he has all the improvements necessary for a well regulated farm. his house being neat and comfortable, his buildings ample for all his needs, and his land more than ordinarily well cultivated, the trans- formation being due to his untiring energy and knowledge, and the picture of his broad acres with their fine surroundings is one on which he can look with just pride. Eighty acres of his land are on the section on which his house stands. while another eighty is located on section 13, adjoining it on the north. Mr. Park has always been an ardent advocate of thorough drainage, and was one of the first to build tile drains in this part of the county, and he now has his entire farm tiled in the most thorough manner. On the northern half of his farm he has the biggest and deepest ditch in the northeast corner of the county, and the results of this careful attention to proper drainage and till- age of the soil are apparent in the splendid con- dition of his land and his usual good crops. .
Although not one of the original settlers of the county. Mr. Park located here when the land was new and sparsely settled. The presence of large sloughs and much low land in the neighborhood had retarded the progress of this section of the county, and he has witnessed its development from its wild state to its present prosperous condition, and has been no small factor in assisting its growth, to which he has contributed his full share. The first work that he did here was for his wife's father, James Budd, who was largely interested in the cul- tivation of broom corn. having as much as 300 aeres planted at one time. The nearest market for the product was at Lafayette, Ind .. and no regular and direct roads having been laid out, the wagons
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had to go the best way they could around the numerous sloughs and across the prairies. making the distance between here and there from forty-live to fifty miles. Often Mr. Park has started long before daylight. sometimes as early as two o'clock in the morning, in order to get to Lafayette by sundown, which could only be accomplished by hard driving. The next day was occupied by the return trip. Farmers of the present day would think this an overpowering hardship, but sueh trials as this the pioneers had to endure in their efforts to build up homes on the prairies. and their labors and sacrifiees have made this country what it is. Without them railroads would not so soon have been built to carry the farmer's produce so far and near, and bring the articles he needs almost to his very door. All honor. then, to those brave and sturdy men who from the wild and bleak prairies have made this country one of prosperous farms. dotted with groves, among which nestle thousands of comfortable homes. Theirs were the toils and sae- rifices, while we in comfort and ease enjoy the fruits of their labors. Among these true men, Mr. Park is justly entitled to a place. When he settled here, Iloopeston was not thought of. and he men- tions as an interesting fact that he sold the first dozen brooms ever disposed of in that now thriv- ing town. Although yet a young man, he is to-day one of the oldest settlers living in the northeast corner of the county.
On April 16, 1876, Mr. Park was united in marriage with Miss Naney S. Budd, daughter of James and Susanna Budd, then and now resi- dents of Iroquois County, Ill., who emigrated from Ohio, where Mr. Budd was largely en- gaged in the occupation of sheep-raising. Ile has. now a general farm, hut is virtually retired from active life. being seventy-six years of age. Mrs. Park was born in Ohio, 1841, and is the mother of one child-Elnora Jeanette. a bright young miss. now attending school. Mr. Park is one of the younger farmers of Grant Township, who is becoming known as one of its most enter- prising and go-ahead citizens. Ile has never been an applicant for public otlice, but has held some of the minor township positions. Ile is an honest. trustworthy man, whose neighbors give him an ex-
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cellent character as a citizen, and one of the sub- stantial sort who contribute much to the prosperity of the county. Politically he is a supporter of the Democratic party in State and national affairs, but in local matters party ties rest lightly on him, for he believes in voting for the man best qualified for the position, the proper way for those who have the best interests of the community at heart.
SHOMAS KEPLINGER. The snug and well- regulated farm occupied by the subject of this sketch comprises 120 acres of choice land. located on seetion 29, Grant Township. This, when he took possession of it in 1870 was but slightly improved, only a little breaking having been done and not a shrub, post or tree upon it, being all open prairie. During the nineteen years of his proprietorship Mr. Keplinger has effected a great transformation, there being now a fine resi- dence with a good orchard and numerous shade trees, together with a barn and the other outbuild- ings required for the successful prosecution of farm pursuits. The liekls are 'enclosed to a good extent with hedge feneing, and by a process of underdrain- ing the land has become remarkably fertile and the source of a handsome income.
At the time of his coming to Illinois, Mr. Kep- finger found deer, wolves and all kinds of wild animals in abundance. For the first few years his farm was mostly devoted to the raising of grain to which it seemed best adapted, but now he raises all the cereals, besides the produce required for family use and considerable to sell. Ile is at this writing (April 1889) completing a handsome new residence, the main part occupying an area of 16x24 feet with an "L" 15x26 feet and which when finished, set in the midst of shrubbery as it is, will form one of the most attractive homes in this region. Everything about the place is indicative of thrift and prosperity, cultivated tastes and the refinements of modern life.
Mr. Keplinger was born in Fountain County, Ind .. six miles east of Covington. April 7, 1829, and lived there until a man of thirty-two years. He
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remained a member of the parental household until the death of his father, which occurred in 1859. at the age of fifty-three years. The mother had died when he was a lad of twelve. On the 10th of May, 1860. he was married to Miss Eliza Shaffer and the year following removed to the vicinity of Sugar Grove, Champaign County, upon which he operated ten or eleven years. In 1870 he came to this county and secured the land which he now owns. Since becoming a voting citizen he has given his influence and support to the Democratic party, but has carefully avoided the responsibili- ties of office.
Mr. and Mrs. Keplinger have had six children. five of whom are living. as follows: Nancy, born Feb. 5, 1860, and died Aug. 2. 1862; James married Miss Ella Gunn, is a resident of Hoopeston and is the father of one eliild; George, Annie and Andrew are at home with their parents: Allie, the third child, is the wife of Elmer Crane and lives in Ne- braska; they have two children. Mrs. Keplinger was born in Fountain County. Ind., Jan. 24, 1835, and is the daughter of Daniel Shaffer, a farmer of that county. She received her education in the common school and remained with her parents until her marriage.
Jacob Keplinger, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia and lived there until a man of twenty-seven years. He then emigrated to Indiana and was married to Miss Nancy Dedimore. To them there were born three sons and two daugh- ters of whom only three are living-Thomas, our subject, and his brother, John, a resident of Indiana and a sister Martha, who residles in Iowa.
LFRED M. DIXON. This well-known gentleman, who owns a farm on section 10, in Grant Township, was born in Fayette County, Pa .. May 25, 1834, his parents being William and Jane ( Montgomery) Dixon, both natives of the Keystone State. The father was a farmer in the county where his son was born, and there he died when the latter was about ten years of age. Alfred was brought up to farm work
from an early age. also drove cattle to market, and worked at all such like occupations until 1861, in which year he removed to near Attica. in Fountain County. Ind., making that his home for two or three years. but spending a summer during that time in Vermilion County, in which he settled per- manently in April, 1868, at a place known as Burr Oak Grove. in Grant Township. There he worked for four years, when he removed to the farm on which he now lives. This land was given to him- self and wife by the latter's father and was then nothing but a traet of raw prairie land, with neigh bors few and far between. and to one accustomed to the more densely populated communities of the Eastern States it did not present a very inviting appearance. With stout hearts and willing hands, assisted by the labors of a faithful wife, our subject set to work improving his land, and at length brought it to its present state of thorough cultiva- tion. Wild game was in that day plentiful in this region, and Mr. Dixon mentions that he eounted at one time seven deer at a small creek near his house. Wild fowl were also plenty; ducks, geese and prairie chickens being constant and not always welcome visitors to the farmers' grain fields. Prairie wolves were unpleasantly numerous, the farmers' pig pens often suffering by their depra- dations.
In the seventeen years that have elapsed since Mr. Dixon settled at his present home, great changes have been wrought, and the country about has been thickly settled. Ilis own place shows the work of an industrious and thrifty hand. About nine years ago he put up a new frame house and luis outbuildings are all that the necessities of his farm require. These have all been the results of his own labor, and the comforts he is now enjoying are deserved.
In October, 1864, Mr. Dixon was married in Fountain County, Ind., to Miss Serena Dunkel- barger, born in that place in 1845 and a daughter of John and Fanny Dunkelbarger, whose home was in the county named. but who were the own- ers of large tracts of land in Vermilion County, comprising 900 acres in all. Both of Mrs. Dix- on's parents were natives of Perry County, Pa., and they removed to Indiana at an early day.
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The mother died a few years afterward and Mr. Dunkelbarger has since been twice married. both of his later wives being from Indiana. where he still resides.
Mr. and Mrs. Dixon became the parents of ten children, six of whom are yet living. four dying young. The survivors are: Fannie. wife of Burn Deeten, a farmer of Grant Township; John. who is a machinist by trade, lives in Milwaukee, Wis. ; Jennie, Emma. Ella and Dale Wallace are yet under the parental roof.
Mr. Dixon takes an active interest in township affairs and has held several otlices. He is now Highway Commissioner. He is a member of the Masonie fraternity, affiliated with Star Lodge. No. 709, A. F. & A. M .; and with the Hoopestou Chapter. No. 181. R. A. M. In every position Mr. Dixon has filled he has discharged the duties in- posed upon him with such fidelity and judgment as to win the good opinion of all, and to-day no man stands higher in the respect and esteem of all who know him than does he.
OIIN H. VAN ALLEN. In noting the men of prominence who are residents of Oak- wood Township and have been instrumental in bringing it to its present position, the subject of this notice could by no means properly be omitted, and those who in the future may peruse the records of this county will recognize in him one of its representative men, who, in assist- ing to develop a portion of its soil and each year turning in a handsome sum to the county treasury from the proceeds of his taxable property, has borne no unimportant part in establishing its repu- tation and importance. The value of history and biography are becoming more thoroughly reeog- nized each year among the intelligent people of the great West, who realize the fact that their children and their children's children in future years will reap great satisfaction in noting the names of their progenitors among those who contributed to the development of Central Illinois.
In noting the events of the life of a prosperous
and respected citizen, the mind naturally reverts to those from whom he drew his origin. The father of our subject was Stats B. Van Allen, a native of New York City, who learned carpenter- ing when a young man and in later years operated quite extensively as a contractor. The family is of Scottish descent, and was represented in this coun- try probably during the colonial days. Mrs. Mar- garet (Ilill) Van Allen, the mother of our subject, was a native of Muskingum County. Ohio, and the daughter of William Hill, who was born in Virginia. and for a time was connected with the iron works in Gilim's Falls as foreman of a forge. IIc also carried on farming. He spent his last years in lIenry County, Ohio, dying at the age of seventy- six.
Stats B. Van Allen. the father of our subject. spent bis last years in the Buckeye State, dying in February. 1888. at the age of seventy. The mother is still living there. and is now in the sixty-eighth year of her age. They were the parents of twelve children, all of whom lived to mature years. John II., our subject, was the third in order of birth, and first opened his eyes to the light Jan. 22, 1843, in Licking County, Ohio. Ilis boyhood was spent in his native State, and he received a limited edu- cation in the common schools. Ile remained at home with his parents, turning over his earnings into the family treasury, until entering the army to fight the battles of the Union.
Our subject, on the 14th of August, 1862, en- listed in Company G, 97th Ohio Infantry, and served one year. The regiment was first ordered to Cincinnati and then to Louisville to follow up Gen. Bragg's army. At Wild Cat Mountain he received a very severe fall and was sent to the hospital at Nashville, where he was confined in the Zollicoffer House. Being very discontented here he left and returned to his regiment, with which he remained until the battle of Murfreesboro. Thence he went to Nashville, and finally was sent to Camp Denison, Ohio, where he was obliged to accept his honorable discharge on account of disability.
Mr. Van Allen now returned to his father's farm and remained there about one year. On the 21th of November, 1861, he was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca, daughter of Jolin Morrison, a prom-
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inent farmer of his locality and one of the repre- sentative men of Licking County. Mr. Morrison died in March, 1889, at the age of seventy-two years. He had been twice married, and by his first wife, the mother of Mrs. Van Allen, was the father of seven children. After her death, which occurred about twenty-four years ago, he was married the second time and there were born to him two more children.
Mrs. Van Allen was the second child of her par- ents and was born in Lieking County, Ohio, Feb. 1. 1842. She received a very good education in the common schools, and remained a member of the parental household until her marriage. The newly wedded pair commeneed the journey of life to- gether in Mt. Sterling, Ohio. and Mr. Van Allen employed himself as a carpenter for two years thereafter. Next he engaged in teaming three years, hauling principally stoneware and erockery. Finally, in 1869, he determined to seek the farther West. and coming to Illinois with his family located near Glenburn, where he established a pottery which he conducted about eighteen months. Then aban- doning this he turned his attention to farming. with which he has since been occupied and has met with flattering success.
The property of Mr. Van Allen embraces 205 aeres of choice land, mostly in one body and nearly the whole under a thorough state of cultivation. It is pleasantly located on seetion 26. The residence was put up in 1884, and comprises a neat and sub- stantial dwelling, which. with its surroundings is indicative of the enterprising and progressive spirit of the proprietor. Of the nine children born to our subjeet and his estimable wife, seven are living and all at home with their parents. They were named respectively : Etlie, Charles 11., William E., .James M., Jessie F., Gracie M. and Robert S.
In politics Mr. Van Allen is a Republican both by inheritance and a most decided preference for the prineiples of this party. At the time of Gen. Garfield's election as President of the United States the father of our subject had the honor of casting eleven votes for the Republican ticket. nine of these being for his own sons and one for a grand- son. Our subject has served as School Director for the last twelve years, and still occupies the
oftiee. In religious matters his views coincide with those of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Van Allen is a member in good standing of the Christian Church. Socially, Mr. Van Allen belongs to Newtown Lodge. No. 714, A. F. & A. M., and also to George Morrison Post. No. 635, G. A. R., of Glenburn.
LEX L. WHITE. a highly esteemed old resident of Vance Township, is without question one of the most popular men of Fairmount, where he has spent many years and with whose people he has been closely identi- fied both in friendly and business relations. ITis wide knowledge of human nature and his uniform- ly good judgment make him the recipient of many confidenees, especially among the old people of the place, who often solicit him for advice in business matters, and he seldom fails to give them wise and judicious counsel.
The native place of Mr. White was in the viein- ity of Logan. Ohio, and the date of his birth Nov. 2, 1849. His early education was conducted in the schools of his native town, and he made such good use of his time that at the age of sixteen years he began teaching, and followed this profession at in- tervals for a period of fourteen years. He taught first in the schools of his native town, when there were but two male teachers out of a corps of nine. At one time he was Superintendent of the Gore Coal Mines. Upon coming to Fairmount he offici- ated as Principal of the schools. and in 1880 took the census in Sidell Township, this county. The year following he journeyed to the Indian Terri- tory and became superintendent of the lumber business conducted by Osgood & Haywood. of Indianapolis, being stationed in the Creek Nation.
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