Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 14

Author:
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 794

USA > Illinois > Warren County > Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 14

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In July, 1871, Mr. Hamilton married Miss Helen M. Williams, the daughter of Prof. Wm. G. Williams, Professor of Greek in the Ohio Wesleyan University. Mr. and Mrs. H. have two daughters and one son.

In 1876 Mr. Hamilton was nominated by the Re- publicans for the State Senate, over other and older competitors. He took an active part "on the stump" in the campaign, for the success of his party, and was elected by a majority of 1,640 over his Democratic- Greenback opponent. In the Senate he served on the Committees on Judiciary, Revenue, State Insti- tutions, Appropriations, Education, and on Miscel- lany ; and during the contest for the election of a U. S. Senator, the Republicans endeavoring to re-

elect John A. Logan, he voted for the war chief on every ballot, even alone when all the other Republi- cans had gone over to the Hon. E. B. Lawrence and the Democrats and Independents elected Judge David Davis. At this session, also, was passed the first Board of Health and Medical Practice act, of which Mr. Hamilton was a champion, against so much opposition that the bill was several times "laid on the table." Also, this session authorized the location and establishment of a southern peni- tentiary, which was fixed at Chester. In the session of 1879 Mr. Hamilton was elected President pro tem. of the Senate, and was a zealous supporter of John A. Logan for the U. S. Senate, who was this time elected without any trouble.

In May, 1880, Mr. Hamilton was nominated on the Republican ticket for Lieutenant Governor, his principal competitors before the Convention being Hon. Wm. A. James, ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Judge Robert Bell, of Wabash County, Hon. T. T. Fountain, of Perry County, and Hon. M. M. Saddler, of Marion County. He engaged actively in the campaign, and his ticket was elected by a majority of 41,200. As Lieutenant Governor, he presided almost continuously over the Senate in the 32d General Assembly and during the early days of the 33d, until he succeeded to the Governorship. When the Legislature of 1883 elected Gov. Cullom to the United States Senate, Lieut. Gov. Hamilton succeeded him, under the Constitution, taking the oath of office Feb. 6, 1883. He bravely met all the annoyances and embarrassments incidental upon taking up another's administration. The principal events with which Gov. Hamilton was connected as the Chief Executive of the State were, the mine dis- aster at Braidwood, the riots in St. Clair and Madison Counties in May, 1883, the appropriations for the State militia, the adoption of the Harper high-license liquor law, the veto of a dangerous railroad bill, etc.

The Governor was a Delegate at large to the National Republican Convention at Chicago in June, 1884, where his first choice for President was John A. Logan, and second choice Chester A. Arthur; but he afterward zealously worked for the election of Mr. Blaine, true to his party.

Mr. Hamilton's term as Governor expired Jan. 30, 1885, when the great favorite " Dick " Oglesby was inaugurated.

WARREN G

LLINOIS.

سارس

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

فارما

INTRODUCTORY.

HE time has arrived when it becomes the duty of the people of this county to per- petuate the names of their. pioneers, to furnish a record of their early settlement, and relate the story of their progress. The civilization of our day, the enlightenment of the age and the duty that men of the pres- ent time owe to their ancestors, to themselves and to their posterity, demand that a record of their lives and deeds should be made. In bio- graphical history is found a power to instruct man by precedent, to enliven the mental faculties, and to waft down the river of time a safe vessel in which the names and actions of the people who contributed to raise this country from its primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly the great and aged inen, who in their prime entered the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their heritage, are passing to their graves. The number re- maining who can relate the incidents of the first days of settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an actual necessity exists for the collection and preser- vation of events without delay, before all the early settlers are cut down by the scythe of Time.

To be forgotten has been the great dread of mankind from remotest ages. All will be forgotten soon enough, in spite of their best works and the most earnest efforts of their friends to perserve the memory of their lives. The means employed to prevent oblivion and to perpetuate their inemory has been in propor- tion to the amount of intelligence they possessed. The pyramids of Egypt were built to perpetuate the names and deeds of their great rulers. The exhu- mations made by the archeologists of Egypt from buried Memphis indicate a desire of those people

to perpetuate the memory of their achievements. The erection of the great obelisks were for the same purpose. Coming down to a later period, we find the Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleums and monu- ments, and carving out statues to chronicle their great achievements and carry them down the ages. It is also evident that the Mound-builders, in piling up their great mounds of earth, had but this idea -- to leave something to show that they had lived. All these works, though many of them costly in the ex- 1 treme, give but a faint idea of the lives and charac- ters of those whose memory they were intended to perpetuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of the people that then lived. The great pyramids and some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity; the mausoleums, monuments and statues are crum- bling into dust.

It was left to modern ages to establish an intelli- gent, undecaying, immutable method of perpetuating a full history-immutable in that it is almost un- limited in extent and perpetual in its action ; and this is through the art of printing.

To the present generation, however, we are in- debted for the introduction of the admirable system of local biography. By this system every man, though he has not achieved what the world calls greatness, has the means to perpetuate his life, his history, through the coming ages.

The scythe of Time cuts down all; nothing of the physical man is left. The monument which his chil- dren or friends may erect to his memory in the ceme- tery will crumble into dust and pass away; but his life, his achievements, the work he has accomplished, which otherwise would be forgotten, is perpetuated by a record of this kind.

To preserve the lineaments of our companions we engrave their portraits, for the same reason we col- lect the attainable facts of their history. Nor do we think it necessary, as we speak only truth of them, to wait until they are dead, or until those who know them are gone: to do this we are ashamed only to publish to the world the history of those whose lives are unworthy of public record.

لامه

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John 603 und

189

WARREN COUNTY.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

aj. John C. Bond, for nearly half a century one of the most prominent and valued citizens of Warren County, was born in Knox Co., Tenn., Dec. 25, 1799. Here he was reared and educated and, in 1818, was married to Miss Polly Grimsley, of the same county. To them were born five children-Susannah Johnson, widow of Walter Johnson, deceased ; W. G. Bond, ex-Sheriff of this county; Jesse W. Bond, a prominent citizen of Lenox Township; Ruby L. Cay- ton, wife of A. J. Cayton, of S:van Township; and Anna Bond, all of whom are living except the latter, who died when quite young. Sketches of the former may be found elsewhere in this volume.

Maj. Bond removed from Tennessee to Alabama, and from there to Morgan County this State, in 1826, in which county his wife died. In May, 1829, he was married the second time, to Miss Mary Singleton, of Morgan County, and by her had three children-Fielding, Mary and Eveline, all of whom are deceased. Fielding was elected School Com- missioner of Warren County in 1861 or 1862, but died shortly after his election. He was a young man of brilliant promise ; graduated from Lom- bard University with honors in 1857; shortly after was admitted to the Bar, but died April 19, 1862,

when only 28 years of age. Mrs. Bond died in September, 1842, and in January, 1844, Maj. Bond was married to Mrs. Nancy Terry, by whom he had two children-Canzada S., the wife of Mathew Campbell, of Stella, Neb .; and Cordelia, the wife of Henry Staat, of Berwick Township. (See sketch.) Maj. Bond was the father of ten children, six of whom survived him, and all of whom were present at his funeral. He lived to behold his fourth gen- eration of children. His funeral services were held in the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Greenbush, Sunday afternoon, May 21, 1882, and were conducted by Elder Van Meter, a well known minister of the Regular Baptist Church, of McDonough County. It was attended by an immense concourse of old set- tlers from the south part of the county, who knew the venerable and esteemed man so long, so inti- mately and so well. He was buried in the grave- yard laid out by his father on the old home farm many long years ago.

Maj. Bond played an important part in the early history of Warren County. He was one of the Com- missioners of the county in 1839, when the affairs of the county were conducted by three men, and in 1853, together with Samuel Hallam and Robert Gil- more, was appointed to divide the county into Town- ships, which they did as they now exist. After the adoption of the township organization system, he was the first Supervisor elected from Greenbush, and served for 14 successive years, and until he became so deaf and bending with age he asked his fellow citizens of Greenbush to relieve him of further dis- charge of his arduous duties. He served the county

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WARREN COUNTY.

on the Board long and well, and his judgment and excellent good sense, as well as public spirit, per- vaded the affairs of the county for many years. He was the first Justice of the Peace in the south part of the county, to which position he was elected in 1835, and appointed his own constable to conduct his court and serve his papers. His first court was held in a smoke-house, and the trial was over a steer belonging to some Indianaian. Being his first term and the occasion an important one, he ordered his- sons to clean out the smoke-house, and set the " court-room " in order. While carrying out the order, they performed some tricks not proper to docket, for which the 'squire fined them " for con- tempt of court," and they paid the penalty.

In 1844, Maj. Bond was candidate for the Legis- lature, and was beaten by only three votes. He was Assessor for his township for a number of years. In 1828, he went to Galena and worked in the lead mines. He passed through this county on his way and camped for the first time in the edge of the tim- ber two miles west of what became his own home. At that time, as he surveyed the broad, open prairie, that stretched out for miles before him, he was en- raptured with the high rolling mound where the old homestead now stands. He remarked to his com- panion that " there was where he would settle."

He received his title as Major under the old mil- itia law of Illinois, and was Major of the regiment of this section of the country, of which John Butler, deceased, of Greenbush, was Colonel. In 1834, Maj. Bond settled on the old homestead where he died. The land was entered by his father, and after his death Maj. Bond purchased from the other heirs their interest in the farm.

As a neighbor and friend, he was a most genial and companionable man, and just as true as the needle to the pole. His integrity was as unbending as the oak, and no man more heartily despised a dishonorable action than he. His heart and purse were ever open to the needy, unfortunate and op- pressed, and no one was ever turned hungry from his door. His home and its hospitalities were often shared by the early settlers who sought locations in this county, and they never forgot the genuine friend- ship they received from John C. Bond, and many are the silent tears that will be shed to his memory by those who bore the trials and vicissitudes of the years long gone by in the settlement of the county.

Having well and faithfully performed the task set before him, and more than filled out the measure of his four score years with a firm and abiding faith in the mercies of a true and just God, he peacefully closed his eyes and rests from the long journey of life: Thus, on the 20th day of May, 1882, passed âway John C. Bond, as good and true a man as ever resided in Warren County, leaving to his descend- ants a priceless heritage-a spotless name. His widow is still living and now resides with her daugh- ter, Mrs. Campbell, at Stella, Nebraska. His grand- son, J. C. Bond, lives on the old farm in Greenbush.

We are pleased to present the portrait of Major Bond in connection with this sketch.

R. Houlton, a member of the well known banking and mercantile firm of Chapin, Houlton & Co., Kirkwood, was born in Maine, in 1833. His father, Joseph Houlton, was a native of Massachusetts, and his mother, Almira (Ray) Houlton, was born in New Hampshire. They came to Illinois in 1852 and set- tled on a farm in Ellison Township, Warren County. Here the elder Houlton passed his life in the quiet pursuit he had selected 31 years before his death.

In 1850 Mr. F. R. Houlton set out with a few others to cross the plains to California. For four years and a half, he was interested in gold mining on the Pacific Coast. Returning to Illinois, we find him in 1858, entering Kirkwood. He secured an en- gagement as clerk for Knowles, Ray & Chapin, with whom he remained one year, when he bought out the interest of Mr. Knowles, and became a partner in the new firm, and from that date, 1859, until the present, he has been connected with the firm and there have been but two changes in it. Besides his interest in the business carried on by Chapin, Houl- ton & Co., our subject owns about 700 acres of land in Warren and Henderson Counties, the cultivation of which he superintends himself. Politically he is identified with the Republican party.

Mr. Houlton was married Jan. 22, 1862, to Miss L. J. Calkins, who was a native of Maine. She was born June 18, 1836. To this union two children have been born, Blanche L. and Fred. N .; Fred. N. died in infancy. Blanche L. was born Sept. 7, 1863. Mrs. Houlton died April 1, 1885.

LIBRARY CI THE UNIVERSITY WILLINGLY

Rockford

North Star

Maggie Wilson.

Princess.

Mamie &Dick

King

Cleveland Bay

Duke

RESIDENCE

PROPERTY OF W. H. FRANTZ , SEC . 27. MONMOUTH TOWNSHIP.

M. H. franty

195

. WARREN COUNTY.

illiam Harrison Frantz, one of Warren County's most prominent and highly re- spected citizens, who has met with success in his chosen vocation of life, resides on section 27, Monmouth Township. He is a Director in the Monmouth National Bank and one of the leading general farmers and stock- raisers of this section of Illinois. He is a native of Maryland, and was born in Alleghany County, that State, April 10, 1829. His father, Solomon Frantz, was born in the same county. His par- -

ents were John and Catherine Frantz. They were early settlers in the State and their grand- parents were the first who settled in the United States by that name, having located in Bedford Co., Pa., at an early day. A few years previous to their demise the grandparents removed to Alleghany County, where they resided until their death, and where, previous to that event, they followed the vocation of farming. The father of Mr. Frantz, of this biographical notice, was married in Alleghany County to Jane McElroy, a lady of Scotch-Irish ex- traction and American parentage. After their mar- riage they resided in Alleghany County until 1849, when they moved to Perry Co., Ohio, and there be- came large land-owners and successful farmers, carrying on agricultural pursuits until about 1871. During that year they came to this State and settled on a part of the farm belonging to William H., in this county. Here the father died in March, 1882, aged 79 years. He was a strong temperance man and was one of the first to sign the total abstinence pledge in the State of Maryland, which he scrupulously kept the remainder of his life. In fact, the family were· noted for their strong temperance views and their lives were passed in strict accordance with their opinions. The mother yet survives and re- sides with her son, H. M. Frantz, and although at the venerable age of 8t years, is enjoying the best of health. She and her husband were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and were respected and honored citizens of the com- munity in which they resided. Their children were

nine in number, two of whom have passed to the land of the hereafter. The following is a record of their family : Lucinda, who married Alfred Thayer, and resides at Tuscola, Douglas County, this State. Mr. Thayer is a stock dealer and farmer, but has re- tired from the active labors of life, enjoying the accumulations of the past. Andrew J. who married Virginia Johnson, and resides in the city of Bran- don, Mississippi, is editor of the Brandon Re- publican; William H. was the next in order of birth; Isabella was united in marriage with O. P. Wilson, who follows the occupation of a farmer in Monmouth Township, this county; Elizabeth mar- ried Thomas Bushfield., She died in Ohio, in Octo- ber, 1855; John H. (see sketch) married Anna Porter and resides on a farm in Spring Grove Town- ship; Catherine became the wife of J. W. Free, who is a resident of New Lexington, Perry Co., Ohio, where he is following the profession of the law. He was also Major of a regiment of Ohio Volunteers dur- ing the late Rebellion ; Mrs. Free died in 1864;1 Nannie E. was married twice, her first husband be- ing J. D. Mackey, after whose demise she became the wife of S. K. Cramer, who is a resident of Wap- ello Co., Iowa; H. M. formed a matrimonial alliance with Flora Murphy, and is a farmer and stock ship- per, residing in Monmouth Township (see sketch).

Our subject received all the advantages in the way of an education afforded by the common schools of his native county, and when disengaged, assisted his father in the duties of the farm until he attained his 19th year, when his parents removed to New Lexing- ton, Perry Co., Ohio. Remaining at the latter place three years, his next move was in the year 1852, when he came to Warren County and -located in Monmouth Township. Here our subject rented land for about four years. He then purchased a tract of 80 acres, all of which was improved, but soon sold this and bought 180 acres, a portion of which is included in his present homestead.

April 2, 1857, Mr. Frantz was united in the holy bonds of matrimony at the residence of the bride's parents at Monmouth, to Miss Mary A. Lucas, daughter of Marsham and Elizabeth (Deweese) Lucas, natives of Kentucky. Her mother was first married in her native State to William Davidson, by whom she had four children, only one of whom sur- vives. Her marriage to Mr. Lucas was celebrated in Monmouth Township, this county, and to them -

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WARREN COUNTY.

have been born six children, of whom four survive. Mrs. F., our subject's wife, is the eldest. Next in order of birth was John T., his death occurring when a young man of 20 years ; William B., the third, formed a matrimonial alliance with Melissa John- son, and follows the vocation of farming near Ash- land, Neb .; Charles is also married, his wife's maiden name being Lidia Taylor. He is a conductor on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway, and re- sides at Galesburg ; Benedict N. is a resident of Ore- gon, and is engaged in farming ; Cassius died in early life. The parents of Mrs. Frantz are yet living and reside at Abingdon, Knox County, this State, where they arc living in retirement. Her father was one of the first settlers in this county, coming here as early as 1830. He helped to locate the county road and lay out the city of Monmouth, and exten- sively operated here for nearly half a century. He was here when the Indians were numerous and en- dured all the privations incident to the settlement of a new country. At that early date Chicago was their trading post, and thither they were compelled to go to do all their marketing. He is now in his 85th year, and his wife, the mother of Mrs. Frantz, in her 75th year, and both are enjoying extremely good health for that age in life, and are among the best known and most highly respected pioneers of this part of Illinois.

Mrs. Frantz enjoyed only such educational advan- tages as the common schools-such as they were in an early day-afforded. She is, however, re- garded by her many friends as a lady of rare cul- ture and refinement. She is one of the leading spirits in every circle in which she moves. The most excellent judgment which she possesses, and the qualities of both mind and heart with which she is gifted, eminently fit her for a wider sphere than the home circle. However, in this divinely endowed sphere, that of the home, she is a wife and mother of the most admirable type. She continued to reside with her parents until her marriage to Mr. Frantz. Of their union seven children have been born, namely : Delavan C., who chose for his life partner, Mary E. Paine, and is engaged in farming in Mon- mouth Township. They have had one child,- Harrison Paine; Kate married Charles Sickmon, who is also a farmer of Monmouth Township; Sina became the wife of Philo Kettering, a farmer by occu- pation, and she also lives near her old home; Pearl,

Ella J. and Mary L. reside at home. The demise of Georgie V. occurred in infancy.

After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Frantz, they located on the homestead which Mr. F. had previ- ously purchased, and where he was for a few years engaged in farming, afterwards going extensively into the stock business, ( buying, breeding and ship- ping stock ) in which business he is still engaged at the present time. Mr. F. is one of the heaviest land-owners in this county, owning nearly 1,000 acres, all joining, and having three good residences and eight houses on his land. His land is all under an advanced state of cultivation and he is one of the most successful farmers of Warren County. His ac- cumulations of this world's goods is indicative of that energy, perseverance and good judgment which he possesses.

During the last four years he has been engaged in the breeding of fine stock. In July of 1882, he visited England, Scotland and France, where he made purchases of some of the purest-blooded stock " to be found in those countries. Among the animals he bought were King Cole, Knight of Athloe, Prin-1 cess of Wales, Princess Beatrice and Maggie Wilson. These are the names by which these splendid animals were known in the herd books of Great Britain and America. They were pure-blooded Clydesdales, and rank among the best horses ever brought to Illinois. Princess of Wales has taken the first premiums at the Chicago State Fair, State Fairs at Peoria, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and at the great fair at St. Louis. These magnificent specimens of this excellent breed of horses were bought by Mr. Frantz for the purpose of improving the char- acter of the horses throughout his section of the county. The results have been most gratifying, and he should be commended for his enterprise and receive the gratitude of farmers and those interested in raising this noble animal in Warren County.

Not only has Mr. Frantz exhibited rare enter- prise in his desire to develop the horse in this sec- tion of the State, but has carried the samc spirit into his plans to better the grade of cattle. This is shown by his purchase of several head of pure Gal- loway cattle from some of the famous herds of Scotland, which he added to his already extensive herd on his fine stock farm, near Monmouth. Among those secured from Scotland were North Star, Rock- ford, Bonnie Lass and Bonnie Perle.

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WARREN COUNTY.

The publishers of this ALBUM are not only pleased to be able to present Mr. Frantz's property as show- ing one of the most beautiful country residences and splendid set of farm buildings in the Military Tract, but to show some of the magnificent specimens of both horses and cattle above mentioned.

Mrs. Frantz and some of her children are mem- bers of the Christian Church. Politically, Mr. F. is a believer in and a supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He has held the position of Road Commissioner, School Trustee and Director in his township, and is a gentleman whose word in a financial point of view is considered equal to his bond. His portrait, as one of the truly representa- tive men of this county, is given in connection with this sketch.

yrus J. Wood, associate editor of the Dai- ly Evening Gazette, of Monmouth, a son of Cyrus A. and Mary A. (Roe) Wood, was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Dec. 3, 1858. His father was by occupation a farmer, and died when the subject of our sketch was but four years of age.

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Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 14

Author: Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros. Number of Pages: 794

Author:
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 794