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 41
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Dr. Henton is a member of Olive Branch Lodge No. 38, A. F. & A. M., and also of Vermilion Chap- ter No. 82, R. A. M. The Doctor and wife are communicants of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Professionally Dr. Henton has been very successful, and as a citizen, his reputation is one of the high- est. He keeps well read up on current events, and is what the world calls a well-posted man.
B IRD C. PATE is numbered among the worthy citizens of Vermilion County who, natives of its soil. have for many years been active in developing and extending its great agricultural interests, and while so doing have placed themselves in independent and pros- perous eireumstances. Ile was born and reared in Catlin Township, and sinee attaining man's estate has been a practical member of its farming com- munity, owning and busily engaged in the man- agement of a good farm of 200 aeres of fertile land on seetion 21.
Adam Pate, the father of our subjeet, was a native of Virginia. When he established himself in life he married Elizabeth Owens, a native of Kentucky. They commenced their wedded life in Dearborn County, Ind., but in 1829 they made their way through the rude and sparsely settled
country to Vermilion County. and became early settlers in this vicinity, locating at first about three miles north-west of Catlin. and then removing to this farm, which is now in the possession of our subjeet. Ilere their remaining lives were spent in the toil necessary to improve a farm in the wil- derness, and now that they have passed away, their memory will be cherished with that of other pio- neers who labored and sacrificed that they might build up comfortable homes. and in so doing aided in building up this commonwealth of Il- inois. The father died Feb. 24. 1867, aged seventy- four years, two months and five days. The mother died Oct. 8, 1874, aged eighty years, nine months and twenty-six days. They were the parents of fourteen children. of whom Bird was the thirteenth. He was born in Catlin Township, July 12, 1836. and grew to manhood amid the primitive surround- ings of those early days of the settlement of the county, and on the homestead where he was reared he has spent his entire life thus far, and has de- voted himself exclusively to farming.
To the lady who presides over his pleasant home and helps him to dispense its abundant hospital- ities to whosoever comes under its sheltering roof, he was united in marriage in Vermilion County, Dec. 21, 1857. Iler maiden name was Rebecca Tanner, and she was born in this county, July 30, 1839 to William and Lueinda (McKinsey ) Tanner, early settlers of the county. Six children have blessed the marriage of our subjeet and his wife. of whom live are living-Lafayette P. married Rebecca Jones, and is engaged in the coal business north of Catlin ; Horace M. is unmarried and resides in Gar- vanza, Cal .; Asa married Jennie Alexander, and is engaged in farming in this township; Clay and Clara O., the two latter reside at home with their par- ents. Their eldest child, George W., died when about four years old, and thus early taken from this weary world, he is "safe from all that can harm, safe, and quietly sleeping."
Mr. and Mrs. Pate are very pleasant people. kindly and generous in their dealings with their neighbors, by whom they are much liked. Mr. Pate has been Road Commissioner and School Di- rector, holding the latter office twenty-one years, and in both capacities has served the public etlici-
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ently. Ile is a sound Republican and earnestly supports the principles promulgated by his party. He is a man of correct moral habits, and though a member of no religious society yet takes an active part in the affairs of the church and does what he can for its welfare. IIe is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Catlin Lodge, No. 285.
A fine lithographie view of the homestead and surroundings on the farm of Mr. Pate is shown elsewhere in this work.
UDGE OLIVER LOWNDES DAVIS. It is seemingly natural, at least it is easier, for mankind to wander into crooked paths than to follow the straight road of recti- tude and honor; but he who fortunately con- fines himself to the latter, must have some realiza- tion of the homely and ancient adage that "virtue brings its own reward." Men do not realize the truth of this so much as in life's decline, when the shadows of the great change which is soon to come are already visible; then fortunate is he who may humbly feel that his life labors have not wholly been in vain. These thoughts involuntarily arise in contemplating the career of Judge Davis, which has been perhaps, like that of a deep stream. little -disturbed at the surface, but with an under-current whose strength has been clear and decided. A native of New York City, he was born Dec. 20, 1819, and is the son of William and Olivia (Thomp- son) Davis, who were natives respectively, of Sar- atoga, N. Y., and Connecticut. After their re- moval to the metropolis the father was for many years engaged with varying success as a shipping mereliant.
The subject of this sketch pursued his first studies in a select school in his native city, afterward en- tered Hamilton Academy, and later was a student at the academy in Canandaigua, N. Y. After lay- ing aside his books he entered the service of the American Fur Company, which was founded by John Jacob Astor and which was at that time un- der the presidency of Ramsey Crookes. He con- tinued with this company until 1841, and then,
having determined to make his home in the West. came to this county and settled in Danville, where he now lives.
Early in life Judge Davis had looked forward to the time when he could enter the legal profession and now in keeping with his long cherished desire, he placed himself under the tuition of Isaac l'. Walker and began the study of law. By close application and untiring diligence he made rapid progress in his studies and on the 15th day of De- cember, 1842, was admitted to the bar. Soon afterward opening an office on his own account, he began the practice of his profession, but contin- ued his studies and in due time established him- self as a reliable practitioner and was regarded as an able advocate who signalized himself as ex- ceptionally honorable and high-minded.
In 1861 upon the formation of the Twenty- seventh Circuit Court, Mr. Davis was elected Judge and was appointed by Judge Treat as United States Commissioner. On the 1st of July, follow- ing, he was re-elected to the former office, which he held until July 10, 1866, when, owing to the meagreness of the salary he resigned and resumed the practice of his profession, which he continued with marked success until 1873. He was then elected Judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit which office he held until 1879, and in that year he was elected and commissioned .Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit.
In the meantime. on the 25th of September, 1877, our subject was appointed by the Supreme Court as one of the Judges of the Appellate Court -an office to which he was twice subsequently re- appointed and in which he served with great wis- dom and discretion for twelve years and at the end of the second appointment retired from the bench. He is particularly distinguished for his legal acumen and honesty, together with great purity of motive, while his equitable rulings and gentlemanly bearing have seenred him the high esteem of all with whom he has had dealings. As a lawyer, he has honored his profession, while as a Judge, he holds the un- qualified respect of both bench and bar.
In politics, Judge Davis, was originally a Demo- crat. but upon the organization of the Republican party he became identified with that body. He
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OL David
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was elected to the Legislature. first in 1851, and again in 1857. Aside from this he has declined political preferment. finding more satisfactory oc- enpation in the practice of his chosen profession. In his religious views, he is a Presbyterian, having united with that church in 1870.
Judge Davis was married Dee. 5, 1844, to Miss Sarah M. Cunningham. a daughter of Hezekiah and Mary ( Alexander) Cunningham, who were natives respectively of Virginia and Georgia. In the lat ter State were many members of the Alexander fam- ily who rose to eminence, and were particularly gifted with the traits of an illustrious ancestry. Mrs. Davis is a native of this county and was born Sept. 3, 1827. To the Judge and his accomplished wife there were born ten children, six of whom are liv- ing-Mary married Charles J. Palmer; Lney, mar- ried J. B. Mann ; Jennie, married S. M. Milliken; Nellie, Henry Harmon, and Fannie, E.
AMES E. WHITE is industriously pursuing the calling of a farmer on section 10, Catlin Township, where he owns a good farm whose well-tilled aeres yield him an income that enables him to support his family in comfort. He was born in Perrysville, Ind., Sept. 4, 1851, a son of James and Frances Ann (Sanders) White. The former was twice married, his first wife being Ilannalı Rogers. the mother of William White. of whom a brief account is given on another page of this work.
Our subjeet is the oldest living son of his father and mother, and was a lad of eight years when his parents came to Vermilion County, this State, and here the remaining years of his boy hood and youth were spent, and when it became time for him to settle upon some calling by which to earn a living. he selected agriculture as the one for which he was the best fitted. He has been quite successful thus far and has already placed his 160-acre farm under excellent tillage and has made many good improv- ments.
June 3, 1874. was the date of one of the most important events that ever occurred in the life of
Mr. White, our subject, as at that time he was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Emily Eliza Browne, who is faithfully co-operating with him in his work. Seven children have come to brighten their home, as follows: Henry W., Eliza F., Mirriam R., Frederie .1 .. Alice E .. who was taken from the home circle Feb. 2, 1888; JJes- sie L., and Minnie E.
Mrs. White is a native of Catlin Township. and was born Dee. 23, 1852, to William and Eliza (.Jones) Browne, natives of England. The latter was born Feb. 3. 1829, and became the wife of William Browne May 16, 1850. and with him set- tled in Catlin Township On the 24th day of March, 1854. he was suddenly removed by an ae- cidental death. from the sphere of his usefulness while yet in life's prime. On that day he was un- loading hay from a wagon near the residence of the late Henry Jones. on the road between Catlin and Danville. He was on the ground at the rear of the load unloosening the pole that bound the hay, and the horses becoming frightened started to run away. and while he was trying to catch them he was struck by the hay ladder of the rack. across the heart. and in less than a half-hour was dead. He was the father of two children-Eliza and Em- ily E., (Mrs. White). Eliza died when about fif- teen months old. The widow of William Browne, and mother of Mrs. White was afterward again mar- ried. this time being united with Frederic Tarrant. a native of England. Mr. Tarrant was born at Stanford in the Vale, County of Berks. old Eng- land, his birth occurring May 15, 1821. IIe left his native land in June, 1853, coming almost im- mediately to the great and growing West.
Mr. and Mrs. Tarrant became the parents of a large family of children. whose names are given below: Sarah Louisa, born Feb. 6, 1857, married Charles P. Williams, Sept. 1. 1875: Frederic Riel- ard, born Jan. 1. 1859, and died May 17. 1859: Miriam Whitfield. born Feb. 10. 1860. and mar- ried Nov. 1, 1882, to Robert White: Ellen Eliz- abeth, born Dec. 18. 1861, and died May 7, 1862; Arthur llenry, born May 20. 1863. and married June 6. 1888. to Annie Estella Ludy; Jessie Bent- ley, born Dee 20, 1865, and married March 31, 1887, to Thomas J. Dale; Thomas Alfred, born
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Feb. 11, 1868; Alice Bertha. June 21, 1870. and Elsie Kate, born Feb. 10, 1873, and died Dec. 14, 1874.
Mr. White is an honest, sober. hardworking man, and is regarded as a useful member in the commu- nity. Ile has served his township faithfully as School Director. lle and his wife are people of religious views and habits. and belong to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Mr. White is identified with the A. F. & 1. M. as a member of the Catlin Lodge, No. 285. In politics, he is a follower of the Democratic party.
W ILLIAM W. CURRENT occupies a prom- inent position among the progressive, en- terprising citizens of Newell Township. his native place, of which he is Supervisor. and with whose agricultural interests he is closely iden- tified. He is a veteran of the late war, in which he won an honorable record as a brave, faithful soldier, ready to do or die for his country.
The father of our subject. Henry B. Current, is a native of Virginia, while his mother, Martha Srout, was born in Ohio. [For parental history see sketch of Henry B. Current]. They had eight children, three sons and five daughters, and William of whom we write, was the eldest of the family. Ile was born in this township Nov. 27, 1842. Ile was reared to manhood in his native county. re- ceiving common educational advantages in the public schools. When he was sixteen years old, an independent, self-reliant youth. he left the shelter of the parental roof to learn the trade of harness and saddlery making, serving an appren- ticeship of two years. But after that he did not follow the trade, but engaged as a elerk in a dry goods and elothing house in Danville, and was there for three years. During that time he had been watching the progress of the great civil war that was then raging so fiercely, and he then deter- mined to cast in his lot with the noble defenders of the stars and stripes and fight with them his eoun- try's battles. Accordingly in the prime and vigor of young manhood he enlisted in the spring of
1864 in Company K, 37th Illinois Infantry. under the command of Capt. J. C. Black. afterward Gen. Black. He did good service on Southern battle- fields for about a year, but the hardships and pri- vations of a soldier's life told on his naturally strong constitution. and after the war ended he was discharged on account of disability.
After his experience of military warfare Mr. Current returned to his native county and engaged as switchman in the Danville yards for the Wabash Railway. He acted in that capacity about a year and was then transferred to the freight office where he was employed some six or seven years. When the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railway was com- pleted he was appointed conductor of a freight train running from Chicago to Danville. A year and a half afterwards he gave that up to accept a position in the Chicago office. After working there one winter he returned to Danville and in June took charge of the yard. A year and a half later he abandoned railroading, and then engaged in the grocery business in Danville about three years and then in farming. In the month of August. 1886 Mr. Current returned to Newell Township where his early life had been passed. and has since been engaged in farming here at the old homestead of his father, farming on shares.
Mr. Current has been twice married. Ile was first wedded in this county, in Catlin Township, to Miss Margaret Ellsworth, a native of the county. She bore him three children-Oscar E .. Harry S., Ida MI. July 10, 1878, the devoted wife and mother was called to a higher life, leaving many friends to sympathise with her afflicted household. Mr. Current was married to his present estimable wife in Newell Township. Feb. 15. 1880. She is, like himself, a native of this place, born June 8. 1858. her maiden name Mary A. Makemson. Iler parents, lliram and Prudence (Campbell) Makem- son, are residents of this township.
Mr. Current is an ambitious, wide-awake man. skilled in his calling, and his ability and well- known integrity have been duly recognized by his fellow-citizens, who have twice called him to the responsible office that he now holds as Supervisor of Newell Township, eleeting him first in the spring of 1888, and re-electing him in the spring
1
griloon Burroughs
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of 1889. While living in Danville he was City Clerk for one year. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Olive Branch Lodge, No. 38. Vermilion Chapter at Danville and Athelstan Commandery. No. 45, at Danville. Ile is a man of sincere reli- gious principles. and an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been an officer, and he heartily cooperates with his fellow members in whatever will promote the best interests of the church and of society at large. Politically, he is a Democrat.
- AJOR WILSON BURROUGHS. Among the self-made men of Vermilion County none deserve greater eredit than the sub- ject of this notice who is in possession of a comfortable amount of this world's goods, obtained by downright hard labor and wise management. At the beginning, when he started out in life for him . self, he made it a rule to live within his income, and this resolve closely followed has given him that independence than which. there is no more comfortable feeling in the world. In possession of a fine home and a splendid family, together with the respect of his fellow men, he surely has much to make life desirable. ITis occupation through life has been principally agriculture, but he is now retired from active labor and has wisely determined to spend his remaining years in the comfort and quiet which he so justly deserves.
The ancestors of the Major were Southern peo- ple mostly, and his father, Jesse Burroughs, a na- tive of Kentucky, was born in 1803. Early in life he was married May 8, 1823, to Miss Mary C. Wilson who was born in 1804 in Pennsylvania, the wedding taking place in Deaborn County, Ind .. to which place the young people had emigrated with their parents. They resided in that county for sixteen years. then coming to Illinois, in 1839, settled on a farm near Catlin, this county, where they lived a number of years, then changed their residence to Fairmount. The father died on the 5th of March, 1880, aged seventy-six years, ten months and sixteen days. The mother survived her partner less than a year.
passing away Feb. 25, 1881, aged seventy-six years. three months and twenty-four days.
To the parents of our subject were born nine children, six sons and three daughters. five of whom are living, and of whom Wilson was the second child. He was born Nov. 21, 1825, in Dearborn County, Ind. Ilis early education was conducted in a log school-house with greased paper for win- dow panes and the other finishings and furnishings common to the buildings of that place and time. It was never his privilege to attend a higher school. Ile had the ordinary experience of a farmer's boy in a new country, assisting in the development of the farm, plowing, sowing and reaping, becoming in- ured to hard work at an early age. There were very few settlers in this region at the time of the arrival of the Burroughs family, there being a few Indians and French on the Sault fork of the Ver- milion River.
Four days before attaining the nineteenth year of his age young Burroughs was married Nov. 17, 1844, to Miss Martha Ann Thompson, daughter of John and Esther (Paine) Thompson, who came to Illinois from Dearborn County, Ind., in 1830, and settled on a farm in Vance Township. this county. Their family ineluded eight children, four of whom are living and of whom Mrs. Burroughs the second child, was born May II. 1827, in Dearborn County, Ind. Her early education was conducted in a similar manner to that of her husband, and her father oflieiated as a pedagogue for several years. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs set- tled on a rented farm near Catlin, and like their neighbors frequently had difficulty to make both ends meet. There was an abundance of labor and with but very little return. They raised their own flax and wool, and Mrs. Burroughs spun and wove and fashioned the garments for her family. Mr. Burroughs often thinks of the time when he went to church dressed in home-made linen shirt and pants and a straw hat. He maintains, however, that those were happy days, during which mutual affection and mutual purposes enabled them to bear with courage the burdens of life and sustain their hopes for the future.
Our subject operated five years upon rented land to such good advantage that at the expiration of
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this time he was enabled to purchase 100 acres -- eighty acres of prairie at 85 per acre and twenty aeres of timber at &1 per acre. He paid eash down for the timber but was obliged to go in debt for the other. He put up a frame house and hauled the fin- ishing lumber for it from a point cast of Eugene. Ind., the trip occupying three days. He lived at this place seven years then traded it for a tract of raw land, three and one-half miles southwest of Fairmount. Removing to this he went through the same process as before, bringing the new soil to a state of cultivation, putting up another house and hauling the himber as before from the same place. This continued the home of our subject and his little family until after the outbreak of the late Civil War.
Although there was much to engross the time and thoughts of Mr. Burroughs in connection with his personal interests he. nevertheless, responded to the call of his country and in August, 1862, entered the army as Captain of Company E, 73d Ilinois Infan- try. He participated with one exception, in all the battles of his regiment. being prevented by illness from taking part in the fight at Murfreesboro, Tenn. On the 18th of December, 1864, he was promoted to the rank of Major. Although in many of the im- portant engagements which followed he was never wounded except, as he expressed it, "in the hat." He has a vivid recollection of the battles of Perry- ville, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Rocky Face, Burnt Hickory. Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creck, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy's Station, Franklin. the two days at Nashville and the fight at Dalton and Resaca. After Lee's surrender he was mustered out in June, 1865. at Camp Butler. Ill.
Upon retiring from the army Major Burroughs returned to his farm which he occupied until 1867. Then, removing to Fairmount, he purchased a home and has since lived retired from active labor. Af- ter giving to his two children each a farm he still has 324 acres left. There were born to him and his excellent wife four children, of whom Melissa, the eldest daughter, became the wife of I. N. Wilcox, who died Sept. 19, 1887, leaving his widow with one child. Harry B; Elsworth Thompson Burroughs, the eldest son of our subject, married Miss Laura Custer, and is the father of two children-Fred and
Frank-living near Westville; Esther M .. is the wife of William P. Witherspoon and the mother of three children-Stella, Wilson W. and Myrtle: they live in a home adjoining that of Mr. Burroughs. The youngest child Newton W .. remains at home with his parents.
Mr. Burroughs usually votes the straight Repub- lican ticket but further than this takes no active part in politics and has avoided the responsibilities of office, although serving as Director and Trustee in his district. Ile has been a member of the Town Council and as an ex-soldier, belonged to George N. Neville. Post. G. A. R. until its discon- tinuance. Major and Mrs. Burroughs together with all their children, are members of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church at Fairmount. This was organized in 1869 and the Major has been one of its Elders since that time. Ile has always enter- tained an active interest in the Sunday-school in which he has held the office of Superintendent many years. Ife ranks among the foremost temperanee men of this community and in all his dealings has preserved that honest and upright course in life which as been the surest guarantee of a substantial success and paved the way to a position in the front ranks among the responsible men of this community. He knows by what toil and struggle his posessions were accumulated, and has a faculty of investing his capital to the best advantage.
A portrait of Major Burroughs, which appears in this volume will be valued by his many friends in the county, and especially by his comrades in the G. A. R.
- LBERT VOORHIES, a prominent and well-to-do farmer and stock-raiser of Cat- lin Township. numbered among its most benevolent and public-spirited citizens, is a fine type of our self-made men. who white work- ing hard to establish themselves in the world have materially added to the wealth of this county. When he and his wife began life together, they had to commenee in the humblest way, having no means, but by their united labors. with wise econ-
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