Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 17

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 17

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The most important event in the life of Mr. Hen- "derson occurred on the 5th of November, 1868, when he was married to Miss E. J. Woodward, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Davis and Mary (Boyd) Woodward. They were farmers and the parents of 13 children, all of whom are living (except one who died in infancy) and had married and raised families of children before the father's death, which occurred in. 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are the parents of seven children,-Mary, Harvey, Davis, Amanda, Joseph O., Iran I. and Elizabeth.

Mr. Henderson belongs to the Order of Masons, Monmouth Lodge, No. 37, and Odd Fellows, Warren Lodge, No. 160, at Monmouth. He has held the offices of School Director and Constable of his town- ship, and is considered one of the substantial men of Warren County. Politically, Mr. H. is identified with the Republican party:

Imiron G. Parker, the junior member of the mercantile firm of Foster & Parker, at Gerlaw, is a native of the county in which he is a business man, having been born in the township of Cold Brook, March 28, 1849. He is the oldest son of Barton S. and Margaret (Rowe) Parker, who were pioneers of that part of Warren County. The father was a farmer and the son was brought up on the family homestead. He

obtained only education in the common schools, and all he needed, as he possesses the intelligence neces- sary to the management of such business projects as he sees fit to engage in ; and contact with the world at large is, to a man of his proclivities, equivalent to the advantages afforded by extended intimacy with the schools; and it is an open question if the more practical course does not the better subserve the idea of education. In the spring of 1875 he made his first acquaintance with the commercial world, and engaged in the capacity of merchant at Cameron, where he operated as such until 1881. In that year he formed his present business relation at the point where he is at present located. He has pursued the varied avenues of its connection without inter- mission ever since.

His union in marriage to Hulda Jewel took place in February, 1870. Mrs. Parker was born in Logan Co., Ohio, and in their family five children have been born, and Harry, Bertha, Arnold, Alva and Charles are their names. The father and mother are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Parker is a Democrat in political persuasion.

avid W. Rhinehart, proprietor of a quar- ter-section of land located on section 34, Hale Township, where he resides and where he is engaged in the active labors of an agriculturist, is a native of New York State, having been born in Ulster County, Oct. 14, 1824. The parents of Mr. Rhinehart were William and Maria (Jansen) Rhinehart, they both being natives of Ulster Co., N. Y. ' The father died in October, 1883. The mother still survives and lives in New York. 'They were of the old Huguenot stock, coming to this country at an early day. Mr. Rhinehart continued to reside in his native county until he attained the age of 29 years, receiving the education afforded by the common schools and pass- ing the major portion of his time until that age on the farm.

In 1853, David W. Rhinehart emigrated from New York to this county, and for two years was engaged in farming on rented land. He then purchased a quarter-section of land on section 34, Hale Town- ship, and at once entered actively and vigorously

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upon its improvement and cultivation. He erected a good residence, barn and outbuildings and to-day has the entire quarter-section in an advanced state of cultivation, and the place is indicative of that ability which he possesses in the vocation which he has chosen for a life-time pursuit.

Miss Maria Bruyn, sister of Mrs. Jeremiah Hoorn- beck, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this volume, on the 17th of November, 1853, in the busy and en- terprising little city of Monmouth, became the wife of the subject of this notice. She was born in Ulster Co., N. Y., March 18, 1832, and during their 32 years of married life eight children have been born to them, whose names are: William, Nathaniel B., Lefever, Headley, John, Cornelia, Laura E. and Charles J. William resides in Missouri; Nathaniel lives in Iowa, and the remaining children live at home.

Mr. Rhinehart, although a gentleman who has no craving for public office, preferring to attend, strictly to the business of his farní life, has held the office of Overseer of Highways. He and his wife are strict Presbyterians, and in politics Mr. R. votes with and indorses the platform of the Democratic party.

rthur G. Seymour, owning 160 acres of good farm land, under an advanced system of cultivation, on section 2, Ellison Town- ship, was born in Fulton, Oswego Co., N. Y., Nov. 23, 1833. Rodney Seymour, father of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, was also born in Oswego Co., N. Y., and was the first white niale born in that county. His father and two other families moved to that county before the hand of civilization had improved an acre of ground, and when the same was one dense wilder- ness. Rodney was reared at home in Oswego County, and the necessity which compelled him to assist in the maintenance of the family, and the absence of common schools in the community in which he re- sided, deterred him from receiving an education other than that given by parental instruction. He assisted his father in "tree-cutting " and clearing his land, and experienced all the trials and privations incident to the settlement of a new country. He

was married to Amy K. Peabody, a native of Oswego County, where she had resided with her parents until her marriage. They were also early settlers of that county, and continued to reside there until her death, which occurred some years ago.

The parents of Arthur G. had three children, of whom the subject 'of this notice was the eldest. He continued to reside on the parental homestead until he was 20 years of age, when, in March, 1860, in company with his two sisters, Celesta and Emeline, he came to this State, and located in the southeast corner of Berwick Township, this county. He rented land there and for two years was occupied in its cultivation, when he removed to Tompkins Town- ship, and was there similarly engaged in the culti- vation of rented land for another two years. He afterward rented land in Ellison Township and oc- cupied his time one year in raising a crop thereon. During his residence in that township, Mr. Seymour was united in marriage with Mary M. Abdill, daugh-" ter of Isaac and Mary M. (Bissett) Abdill, natives of Delaware and New Jersey respectively, the date of their union being Dec. 30, 1864. Her parents were married in New Jersey and came West in 1858, and located at Keithsburg, Ill., having lived in Kentucky for some years after their marriage, from which State they came here. Her father was a molder and millwright, and died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Seymour, in Ellison Township, March 6, 1875, and his wife, mother of Mrs. Seymour, died at Mon- mouth, Jan. 20, 1875. Mrs. Seymour. was born in Cadiz, Ohio, in 1836. She acquired her education in the district schools and resided with her parents until her marriage.

In 1865, Mr. Seymour purchased 160 acres of land in this county, the same being his farm upon which he at present resides. At the time at which he purchased it, it was an unbroken tract of prairie land. He located upon it, and by laborious toil has succeeded in placing it under the advanced state of cultivation in which it is at present. He has a good residence on his farm, built some years ago, and the place is well supplied with a good barn and neces- sary outbuildings. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Seymour, one of whom is deceased, -- Florence, who became the wife of William Galbrith, who is a farmer residing in Ellison Township; Jes- sie M., Willard L., Nellie M., Arlena A., Mamie G.,

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OF THE

Chat. Ranken

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Evelina, Fannie, Roscoe and Minnie G., deceased. Mrs S. is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

When Mr. Seymour first came to this State, he had the enormous capital of 45 cents in his pocket, and, in addition to his own support, had the care of two sisters. Still, having faith in the future devel- opment of the country and a firm determination to succeed, backed up by energy, perseverance and industry, he " stuck to it," endured the privations which a settler in a new country necessarily encoun- ters, and was successful. In addition to his home- stead in this county, he is the owner of 400 acres of good farm land, all fenced and partly improved, in Taylor Co., Iowa. "

In politics, Mr. Seymour was formerly a Republi- can, but, since the Prohibition party sprang into existence, affiliates with that party.

oshua W. Barber, a resident on section 30, Lenox Township, engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, is a son of Aaron W. and Ann C. (Hill) Barber, natives of New Jersey Grenz. and Ohio respectively. They had a family consisting of six children, of whom J. W. Bar- ber was the second in order of birth. He was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Aug. 13, 1831, and lived at home with his parents until 1846, when he came to Knox County, this State, and there resided until 1857. We next find him in Warren County, where he located in Lenox Township, and has been a resident of this place ever since.

In October, 1364, he enlisted in the 30th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served for about nine months, and, on re- ceiving an honorable discharge, he returned to his home in this county and again engaged in the peace- ful pursuits of life. His farm comprises 85 acres of good tillable land, which, by his industry and econ- omy has been all improved.

Joshua W. was married in Knox County, this State, on the 15th of November, 1855, the lady chosen to be his companion in life being Mary A. Woodmansee, who was a native of Ohio. Albert F., who is a conductor on the Rock Island & St. Louis

Division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road; and Edith V., the wife of Wm. K. Kittering, a resident of Monmouth Township, are the two chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua W. Barber.

Mr. B. has served liis township as Clerk and School Director, and politically he is a Republican, and a St. John man in temperance. Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the Methodist Protestant Church.

athaniel A. Rankin, general farmer and fruit-grower, on section 31, Monmouth Township, was born. in Henderson Co., Ky., Feb. 1, 1809. His father, Adam, was a doctor by profession and a native of Pennsyl- vania, and of Scotch descent. He was married in Kentucky, near Danville, to a Miss Speed, who afterward died, leaving five children. Before the death of his wife he had moved to Henderson County, in another part of the State, and there formed his second matrimonial alliance, the lady being Miss Susan Roan Anderson, who was born in Virginia, and was a daughter of a farmer and came to Kentucky when quite young. Of the latter union five children were born, of whom our subject, Nathaniel A., is the eldest and the only survivor. His brother, James E., was shot by a band of marauders while in his store in Henderson County, because he was a Union sympathizer. He was a prominent merchant and member of the Presbyterian Church.

Nathaniel A. Rankin, of whom we write, resided with his parents until the death of his father, liv- ing with his mother afterward until his inarriage. He has been twice married, -- the first time to Miss Ann Louisa Holloway, third child of George Hollo- way, of Bourbon Co., Ky. The acquaintance which led to this union was formed while she was on a visit to her relatives in Henderson Co., Ky., and was celebrated at that place March 29, 1831. She lived only a little over two years after her marriage, her demise occurring Dec. 18, 1833. His second mar- riage was celebrated near Paris, Bourbon County, Ky., on Christmas day, in the year 1834, the lady chosen to share his joys and sorrows, successes and

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reverses, being Miss Martha Holloway, a daughter of George Holloway and sister of Hon. Robert Holloway (see sketch). She was born in Bourbon County, Dec. 7, 1816, and was reared in her native county, remaining at home with her parents until her marriage. They were farmers, and father died in Bourbon County. The mother's demise occurred at the home of one of her sisters, the wife of Gen. W. F. Thornton, of Shelbyville, Ill. Mrs. Rankin was the fourth child of her father's family of seven children, and she has become the mother of ten children, seven of whom are living: William H. is married and engaged as a furniture dealer in Mon- mouth, where he resides; Adam is also married and engaged in agricultural pursuits in Johnson Co., Kan .; Anna is the wife of D. E. Thompson, a stock speculator, and resides in Los Angeles, Cal .; Mary married William H. Irwin, who is engaged in the real- estate business in Dawson Co., Neb .; George C. is Clerk of the Circuit Court of Warren County ; Belle and Robert reside at home, the latter operating the homestead. Three of Mr. Rankin's children died in infancy.

Immediately after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rankin came to Illinois, locating at Springfield, where Mr. R. had established himself about 12 months prior to his marriage in the mercantile business. After mar- riage he lived there for about nine years, doing a successful business in his line. He went thence to Shelbyville, Ill., and embarked in the same business and remained for about three years. In 1845, he came to Warren County, and settled in Monmouth, where he carried on , an extensive business in pro- duce and general merchandise. He was thus occu- pied until 1861, when he came to his present farm, which consists of 80 acres of land, and which is under an excellent state of cultivation. As a fruit- grower he has done exceedingly well, and at the annual fairs he represents his products, which always take away a share of the laurels. Grapes and straw- berries are his specialty.

Mr. Rankin has ever taken an active and promin- ent part in every enterprise having for its object the advancement of the public interest. He has always been found associated with the best and most prom- inent people in the county in laboring for the public good. He has been called upon to fill many public positions, which he always did with a high degree of

satisfaction to all concerned. He was one of the first Aldermen of Monmouth, and during the years 1859-60 was Mayor of the city. He was United States Internal Revenue Assessor of his district for six years-from 1862 to 1868. He served as Super- visor for two years and Justice of the Peace for eight years. In 1864 the Warren County Agricul- tural Society elected him President, and re-elected him the following year. In 1868, when the War- ren County Reading Room was first organized, he was chosen President of the Board of Directors, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the War- ren County Library from 1870 to 1879, the lat- ter institution growing out of the Reading Room. Thus it will be seen, as above stated, that he has been both an active and a leading spirit in the affairs of Monmouth and Warren County for years. He never has pushed himself into position, but being recognized as the man best fitted for the work in hand was selected without opposition.

Politically, Mr. R. is a Republican, and takes a prominent part in politics. Mr. Rankin, wife and daughter Belle are active members of the Chris- tian Church, and he has been Elder of his con- gregation for nearly 40 years, which position he is filling at the present time.

We are pleased to present to our patrons the por- trait of Mr. Rankin., which we do in connection with this sketch. It will be gladly received by his many friends all over the county who have so long and favorably known him:

......

W. Meacham, spending the sunset of his life in ease and comfort at Roseville, was born in Kentucky, July 26, 1830, and is a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Jones) Meacham, natives respectively of North Carolina and Ken- tucky. They came to Illinois in 1838 and lo- cated in Sangamon County, where they purchased 120 acres of land and remained for two years ; the elder Meacham then sold out there and came to Warren County and made a purchase of a farm where the village of Ellison now stands. Here he remained for four years. He next located .three miles west of Roseville, on a tract of 80 acres of land. He subsequently went to New Lancaster, where he was engaged in the dry-goods and grocery

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WARREN COUNTY.

business for a number of years. After selling his interest in the latter enterprise he purchased 80 acres in the southeast part of Ellison Township, upon which he resided until his death, in 1878, the death of his wife occurring a year later. Their family consisted of nine children, five of whom are living,-Miles G., Lavina, Frances W., Etna and Achilles.

F. W. Meacham, the gentleman whose name heads this personal narrative, remained the compan- ion of his parents until he reached the age of 20 years, in the meantime receiving a good common- school education. After leaving home, he rented a farm for the first year, and in 1851 made a purchase of 80 acres, located on section 34, Ellison Township, and upon this he resided for 20 years, entering act- ively and energetically upon the task of its im- provement and cultivation, adding by subsequent purchases 269 acres. He, in the year 1870, pur- chased a house and five acres of land at Roseville, where he resides. This he has since increased by a ten-acre tract.

Mr. F. W. Meacham was married in 185 1 to Miss Harriet Herring, a native of Pennsylvania. She has borne him seven children, as follows: Edward, Nora, George, Casa, Luther, Oscar (deceased) and Flora, who died when 12 years old. Edward mar- ried Miss Mary Bragg, and they have a family consisting of four children,-Frederick, William, Clara and Angie. Nora married William Buckley, and George is in partnership with the last named gentleman in the hardware business at Roseville.

Mr. Meacham is a Republican and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

osiah C. Lucas, one of the largest land- owners in Warren County and also one of her most successful farmers and respected citizens, resides on section 18, Cold Brook Township. He has been a resident of this county during his entire life, having been born in Monmouth Township, July 30, 1832, and has consequently witnessed the development of the county to the present magnificent agricultural con- dition which it presents to-day.

The father of Mr. Lucas of this sketch, Marshanı Lucas, was a native of Hart Co., Ky., and a farmer by occupation. He was married in his native county to Miss Cynthia Ann Whitman, likewise a native of that county and State. They emigrated to this State in 1829, locating in Morgan County, and after a resi- dence there of some time, came to this county, in 1831, where Marsham Lucas purchased land from the Government, located on section 31, Monmouth Township, and where the parents continued to re- side until the death of the mother, which occurred in October, 1837. Marsham Lucas, by his first mar- riage, had five sons and two daughters. In order of birth they were, Thomas H., now a resident of Ore- gon ; Christopher W., who died in 1880 ; Albert W., also a resident of Oregon ; Sarah E. became the wife of Elijah D. Butler : they moved to Oregon, where they both died ; Josiah C. was next in order of birth ; Emily J. became the wife of James M. Ellis, and they live in Palmyra, Mo .; and Samuel C., a resi- dent of Indiana.

The gentleman whose name heads this article was a child of five years at the date of his mother's death. He was the youngest but two of his parents' children, and after the death of his mother, his father was a second time married, when Mrs. Elizabeth Davidson, nee Deweese, became his wife, with whom Mr. Lucas of this sketch continued to reside until four years after attaining his majority. In 1865 his father and step-mother moved to Abingdon, where they are at present living, retired from the active labors of life and enjoying their accumulations of the past.

Josiah C. Lucas resided with his parents until he was 24 years old, at which time he was married in the township of his nativity to Hannah J. Townsend. She was a native of Putnam Co., N. Y., born March 22, 1833, and came to Illinois with her parents when a young lady. She resided at home, acquiring an education in the common schools and assisting her mother in the household labors, until her mar- riage to Mr. Lucas. Her parents are both de- ceased. They were James and Polly (Baldwin) Townsend. They became residents of this county in 1855 and were farmers and members of the Bap- tist Church, and Mr. Townsend, in politics, was a Democrat.

Our subject and wife have had born to them eight children, namely : Berry, who married Katie B. Jam-

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ison : they live near Abingdon, Knox Co., Ill., where he is engaged in farming and the breeding of Polled Angus cattle ; Guy is deceased ; Ola A. is now a student of law at the Chicago Union College of Law: he is a graduate of Knox College; James L., Jessie E., Rosa J., Harry C., and a daughter who died in infancy, are the names of the other members of the family.

After Mr. and Mrs. Lucas were united in marriage, Mr. Lucas made his first purchase of land in Cold Brook Township, consisting of 80 acres, on which he located and engaged actively and energetically in its improvement. He has subsequently, by his energy, good judgment and perseverance, added to his orig- inal purchase of land in this county at different times until he is at present the proprietor of 1,800 acres of good farm land, the same being located in Cold Brook, Floyd and Monmouth Townships, and some in Knox County. The landed interests of Mr. Lucas have been acquired through that indomitable energy and perseverance of which he is character- istic. He is a gentleman possessed of far more than ordinary ability as a business man, and is regarded as one of the successful farmers of Warren County. He is also engaged in breeding thorougbred Polled Angus cattle. A view of his home is shown on another page of this ALBUM.

Mr. Lucas and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and in politics Mr. Lucas is a believer in and a supporter of the principles of the Democratic party.

imothy Thomas, an energetic and success- ful agriculturist of Lenox Township, War- ren County, is a son of Reuben and Lucy (Sprague) Thomas, and a native of Ohio, hav- ing been born in Clermont County in August, 1830. His parents were natives of New Jer- sey and New Hampshire respectively, and of their union four children were born,-Zuba, Alonzo, Tim- othy and Alice. Zuba is deceased.

Timothy Thomas, the subject of this biographical sketch, remained at home, working on the farm and attending school when opportunity presented itself,

until he attained the age of majority, at which age he came to Warren County and worked out by the month for two years. At the expiration of that time he rented land and improved and cultivated it for three years, when he engaged in working with his father. After thus being busily engaged for several years, he accumulated sufficient to enable him to purchase a tract of 120 acres of land, of which he is now the possessor. Having entered actively and energetically upon its improvement, he has it now under an advanced state of cultivation, witli a good residence and other necessary buildings upon it.

July 7, 1870, in Knox County, this State, occurred one of the most important events in the life of Mr. Thomas, it being his marriage to Miss Leannah Neff, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Shoemaker) Neff, natives of Virginia Jonathan, Jackson, Sally, Catherine, Rebecca, Melvina, Leannah, Susan, Jo- seph, Mary and Elias are the names of the 1 1 chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Neff. Leannah, now the wife of Timothy Thomas, our subject, was born in Virginia, March 28, 1840, and with her husband has become the parent of four children,-Mary V., Asa, Charles and Lucy B., all residing at home with their .parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members of the Baptist Church, and politically Mr. T. casts his vote with the Republican party.

raper Babcock, the leading dry-goods merchant of Monmouth, was born in Wales, Mass., Dec. 1, 1827. (For a his- tory of the parents, see sketch of E. C. Bab- cock in this volume.) Draper accompanied his parents to Monmouth in 1842, and has here since been engaged in mercantile pursuits. He be- came a partner with his father in 1852, and assumed full control of the business in 1864.

From 1859 to 1865, Mr. Babcock of this notice held the office of County Treasurer, and during the late Civil War was Deputy United States Revenue Collector under Grimshaw. In 1873, the Temper- ance element elected him Mayor of the city, and he has represented his ward in the City Council for many years, For several years he was connected

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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 17

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

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