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 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92
Mrs. Sykes, wife of the subject of this notice, was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., Aug. 25, 1819. She re- ceived a good education in the common schools, and was brought up under the influence of the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church, to which denomination her parents belong. Mrs. S. was the eldest child but one in order of birth of a family of 11 children. About one year after the birth of their first child, William A., who was born Oct. 16, 1837, and died in Warren County in 1853, at the age of 16 years, they came West settling upon a farm of 160 acres which
268
WARREN COUNTY.
had formerly belonged to General Harding. On this place, Mr. Sykes at once went to work with a view to making it an abiding place for himself and family for all time to come. He added to his landed pos- sessions but disposed subsequently of his additional purchases and at the time of his death was the owner of 160 acres of good farm land. Mrs. Sykes, since the death of her husband, has increased her acreage in the county by purchasing 87 acres on section 17, the same township, which is also under a high state of cultivation, and she is also the owner of 240 acres of well improved land in Nebraska. The homestead farm on which she resides is under an advanced state of cultivation and has a good residence, to- gether with substantial outbuildings upon it.
Mr. S., while living, was honored with all the minor offices within the gift of the people of his township, and politically, was a supporter of the principles ad- vocated by the Republican party. He was a well- respected and honored citizen of Warren County, and like his wife, who then as she is still, was an active member in support of the Presbyterian Church. His death occurred Dec. 13, 1875. A second child was born of their union-Charles L., the date of his birth being Jan. 17, 1855. His demise occurred Dec. 16, 1871.
-
Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Sykes and a view of their homestead are shown on other pages of this work.
lof Bengtson, deceased, of the township of Spring Grove, was a native of Sweden, and was born in Christianstadt, Dec. 5, 1823. He was reared a farmer and was well educated in the common schools of the province where he was born. The town was several miles distant from the farm on which he was born and brought up, and when he was 17 he succeeded to the entire charge of the homestead estate. Soon after entering upon the duties of the position, he opened a store and supplied the adjoining commun- ity with groceries. He continued this line of traffic as long as he remained in the land of his birth.
In 1853 he left his native land to come to the American Continent. He sailed thence and after a
voyage of seven weeks he landed at the port of New York. He made no tarry there but came directly to Illinois. He made a stay of a few months in Knox County and came thence to Monmouth. He con- tinued in that place until 1856, when he bought 160 acres of land on section 11 in Spring Grove Town- ship. It was in a wholly unimproved condition, and he at once built a shanty for a shelter and proceeded to the work of putting the land in a satisfactory con- dition. He was at the time a single man, and as long as he remained such he discharged the duties of his domestic establishment after a pattern of his own. He was married May 3, 1857, to Anna Rem, daughter of Nils and Caroline Rem. She is a native of the eastern part of Sweden, where she was born in 1837. She came to this country in 1855. Im- mediately after their union in marriage they com- menced their house-keeping in the board house which had been the home of the husband during the days of his bachelorhood, and which they occupied eight years. Meanwhile Mr. Bengtson had bought the northwest quarter of section 14 in the same township, and at the expiration of the time named he moved his family there. He improved all the land he had at first purchased and fenced it. He erected a good frame house on the land he bought secondarily, and that was his home until his death, which transpired July 18, 1885. He was one of the most successful farmers in the township and accu- mulated territory until he was the owner of 515 acres of land, which was all situated in the same township where he at first became a land-holder. He was from first to last engaged in mixed farming. Polit- ically, he was a radical Republican, and after be- coming a citizen of this State he was fearless in the advocacy of his principles and always acted con- sistently with his convictions.
To him and his surviving wife six children were born, four of whom lived to realize the condition of the fatherless. Minnie is married to Nels A. Hol- mer. Her husband is a native of Christianstadt, Sweden, and was born March 13, 1862. He con- tinued to reside in his native country until he had reached manhood, and in 1880 he came to America, He set out from home March 10, and celebrated his birthday on the North Sea. After landing at New York he came immediately to Warren County. He was married Aug. 22, 1884. Their children are Anna and Alma. They reside with the widowed
269
WARREN COUNTY.
mother on the Beugtson homestead. Edward, Carrie and Harry are the names of the remaining children who are the brothers and sisters of Mrs. Holmer.
srael Jared, of Point Pleasant Township, is one of the leading agriculturists of Warren. County. He is the owner of a consider- able tract of land in the township in which he is a resident, and also of a considerable acre- age in Swan Township. His residence is on section 23.
A
Mr. Jared was born in Bedford Co., Va., Aug. 5, 1829. His father, John Jared, was born in the same county, in 1795. The latter grew to the age and ambitions of manhood in the county where he was born, and where he was married, to Elizabeth Bandy. She was born in the same county, in 1800, and was therefore but 14 when she became a wife in 1814. They remained in the " old Dominion " until 1830, when they emigrated to Kentucky. They resided in Breckenridge County, in that State, until 1835, when they came to Morgan Co., Ill. They passed a year there and at the end of a twelvemonth they came to Warren County, landing May 6, 1836. They settled on a tract of land in Swan Township, which was designated " patent " land. It was situated on sec- tion 5, and they also purchased a piece of timber on section 8. On the former a log house was built, which had clapboards for a roof and a puncheon . floor. The chimney was built outside and was con- structed of earth and sticks of wood. The death of John Jared occurred in the pioneer home, in May, 1844. His widow was the occupant of the place until her death, April 1, 1879. Of their family of 13 children nine are still living. Ruth is married to John Simmons and they are located in Nodaway Co., Mo .; Joseph resides in Hamilton, same State; John lives in Allen Co., Kan .; Thomas is located in Rose- ville, Ill .; Mr. Jared, of this sketch, is next in order of birth; Benjamin F., who was Second Lieutenant in the late war, lives in Wayne Co., Iowa; James is a farmer in Swan Township; Elizabeth married A. L. Bair, of Allen Co., Kan .; and Miriam L. is the wife of Caleb Bair, of Roseville, Ill. The children
of John Jared who are deceased, were: William, who died in 1873, in his 69th year, leaving four chil- dren; George, who died in his 12th year ; Polly Ann, wife of James C. Emerick, who died in 1868, in her 40th year, leaving six children; and Agnes, wife of Thomas Bair, who died Aug. 8, 1871, in her 34th year, leaving four children.
Mr. Jared was a child in his mother's arms and was only six months old when the removal to Ken- tucky was made. He was but six years of age when the family came to Warren County, and was 15 when his father died. He has consequently been a resi- dent of Warren County since 1836. He remained in the family of his mother until he went to Califor- nia, in 1852. On the 16th of April of that year he set out for the land of gold and crossed the plains with an ox team, carrying a load of provisions and camping on the route. The company comprised Joseph Jared, D. K. Michael, Wm. Rogers, the sub- ject of this sketch and B. F. Jared. Wm. Rogers died on the plains, from cholera, and was buried there. Cholera made its appearance among them and many of the company lost their lives. After four months of travel the remainder of the party arrived at Placer- ville, which then rejoiced in the significant name of Hangtown. Mr. Jared remained there six years and passed the first four years in mining and the next two in the business of a farmer. In 1858 he returned to the East, via the Isthmus of Panama and thence to New York and then home.
He resumed farming as soon as he was fairly at home in Warren County, locating on land he had bought before leaving for California. After a resi- dence on it of about 16 years, he sold out and lo- cated on the farm which he has since occupied in the township of Point Pleasant. He bought the property in 1862, and at that time it consisted of wild prairie and timber. 'The farm is all improved, and is well supplied with good buildings. He is the owner of 470 acres in the township where he resides and of 115 acres in Swan Township, of which he has retained the ownership since it became his property.
His marriage to Mary J. Kelsey took place Dec. 15, 1859. The sketch of the parents of Mrs. Jared is given in full on another page, and the credit of its appearance in this work is due to Mr. Jared, who has presented the items relating to the family of his wife. The latter was born in Sangamon Co., Ill., Oct. 1, 1835. Their five children are named Leenora
270
WARREN COUNTY.
A., Allen E., George B., Israel K. and Roy L. James Albert died in his second year, Leon H. died in childhood, and Lilborn E. died in his fourth year.
The parents are members of the Universalist So- ciety at Swan Creek, and Mr. Jared is a Democrat in his political sentiments.
L
awrence H. Gilmore is a resident on sec- tion 34, Spring Grove Township, and has been a citizen of Warren County since 1833. In that year his parents, Col. Robert and Maria (Pilgrini) Gilmore (see sketch of Col. Robert Gilmore in biography of J. T. Gil- more), removed from Jefferson Co., Ohio, to Warren Co., Ill. The son was born in the former county April 11, 1830, and was but three years of age when the family of which he was a small member located in the township where he is now a part of the busi- ness element.
Mr. Gilmore had only the advantages of the pio- neer home and log school-house, and attained to the age of independent manhood in Warren County. He was born in a log house, schooled in a log house and lived in a log house until he built his present resi- dence in 1854. His initial business enterprise on his own responsibility was the securing of a pre-emption claim in Spring Grove Township in 185t. It is the same on which he is now situated, on section 34. He had little available means, and he was obliged to borrow the balance of the purchase money beyond the amount of his small savings. In r854 he built a small frame house on his property and at the same time commenced the work of improvement. He was until that year a member of the family of his father. From the little beginning made by Mr. Gilmore in 1854 his possessions have swelled until his real es- tate comprises more than 1,000 acres of land, all in advanced agricultural condition, 840 acres of which is in Spring Grove Township and 160 acres in Lenox Township. The acreage is divided into several farms, which are managed by himself and his sons. In 1857 Mr. Gilmore commenced to raise stock and since that date has operated in all the avenues of
mixed farming. He raises grain and stock, the lat- ter including horses, hogs and cattle.
Politically, Mr. Gilmore adheres to the faith of the Democratic party. He served his township as Super- visor for 11 or 12 years, and it is said of him that he made a very excellent officer and did much to pro- mote the welfare of his township.
Nov. 9, 1854, he was joined in marriage to Sarah A. Forwood, who was born July 19, 1831, in Harvard Co., Md., and is the daughter of William W. For- wood. (See sketch of him in the biography of his son, Benjamin F., on another page.) The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore, six in number, are named Clarence M., Frederick L., Frank E., George F., Rosa L. and Sarah B. They all reside at home ex- cept Clarence M., and Frederick L., the second son, who is inarried to Lillian, daughter of Schuyler Palmer, of Spring Grove Township. Her parents were pioneers of this county and are represented by a sketch in another part of this volume. He became a-member of the First Presbyterian Church at Mon- mouth in 1856, his wife having been a member since 1852. For many years he has been a Trustee of the congregation and for the last five years has held the responsible position of Elder. He has ever been ready to advance the cause of religion and morality in his section of the country. Three of his children are also members of the Presbyterian Church.
G asper M. Dull, farmer, residing upon sec- tion 8, Hale Township, is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in Mifflin Co., Pa., Sept. 4, 1822. When Mr. Dull was five years old and after his father's death, his mother moved to Greene Co., Ohio, where Casper M. resided until 1851, being engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. His years prior to attaining his majority were passed on the farm and in attend- ance at the common schools. In 185 t Mr. Dull came to this county and joined with the farmers of Hale Township in their efforts to establish a permanent home for themselves and family. He became a citizen of that township by the purchase of 160 acres of land and by moving his family upon the same.
LIPKARY
RES.OF MRS. HELEN M.ROCKWELL, SEC. 26. SUMNER TOWNSHIP. RES.OF HERCULES RONEY, SEC. 21., HALETOWNSHIP.
SCALES
RES. OF CHARLES TORRANCE , SEC.17., POINT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
273
WARREN COUNTY.
He at once engaged actively upon its cultivation and improvement, and has there resided until the present time, having developed his land until the major portion thereof is in an advanced State of cultivation.
June 5, 1861, in Greene Co., Ohio, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Stevenson, who was a native of the same county and State in which she was married, having been born there Dec. 25, 1832. Of their marriage, two children, a son and a daughter, have been born,-Florence J. and Calvin M., who reside at home. In politics, Mr. Dull is independent.
The parents of Casper M. Dull were Benjamin and Nancy (Junkin) Dull, natives of the Keystone State. They married and settled in that State, where his father died, his mother afterwards remov- ing to Greene Co., Ohio, from which State she came to this county with the subject of this notice, and here died, at the age of 74, in February, 1876. She was the daughter of Major John and Catharine (Kirkpatrick) Stevenson. The Major was a native of Virginia and a soldier in the War of 1812. He went with his parents to Kentucky, where he grew up and was married about 1809 or 1810. They were mar- ried in their native State and immediately afterwards moved to Ohio, where he was a farmer and resided until his death. He had 12 children, of whom Mrs. Dull was the youngest.
harles Torrance, one of the leading and well known farmers of the township of Point Pleasant, came to Warren County in 1868, and settled in that township. He is the owner of 320 acres of excellent farm land and is closely identified with the development of the agricultural resources of the county.
Mr. Torrance was born in the town of Jay, Essex Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1834. Riley Torrance, his father, was a native of Bennington, Vt., and was born May 13, 1801, only 13 years after the admis- sion of that State to the Union. John Torrance, the father of the latter, removed from Bennington, Vt., to Essex Co., N. Y., in 1808, and was one of the
earliest of the white settlers there. He purchased a large tract of timber land, upon which he cleared a farm. He was a resident there when the War of 1812 was declared, and he enlisted in the service to protect what had cost the colonists so much to se- cure. He remained on the Essex County farm until his death. The name of the lady he married was Ruth Hurd. They had nine children, eight of the number living to become the heads of families.
The father of Mr. Torrance of this sketch was but seven years of age when his parents removed to the northern portion of the Empire State, and he was reared there on the farm of his father. He married Lydia Foulton, who was born at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., N. Y., Feb. 5, 1804, a place where some of the stirring scenes of the War of 1812 were enacted. Her father had died previous' to that war. Her mother was the only woman that refused to leave the place at the time of the battle of Plattsburg. She said she was needed there and would remain and render all the assistance in her power. And she carried out her resolution.
At the time of his marriage, Mr. Torrance settled on a portion of the land which his father had pur- chased in the town of Jay and continued its occu- pant until 1865. In that year he removed to Illinois, accompanied by his wife, and they passed the re- mainder of their lives in the household of their son Charles. They were not long separated in their deaths, as that of the mother occurred Oct. 27, 1873, and the father died May 28, 1874, following the wife of his youth to the grave seven months after she had been placed within that retreat of peace and rest. They were the parents of 16 children, and of that number 13 grew to mature years, nine of whom are still living.
While in his early youth, Mr. Torrance of this sketch attended the common schools in the winter and operated as the assistant of his father in the summer. He remained in Essex County until 1858, when he turned toward the setting sun to seek a place where there was a reasonable prospect of win- ning the smiles of the fickle goddess, fortune. He came to Warren County and obtained a position as a farin hand. In the spring of 1859, accompanied by a party who possessed similar intentions, he set out for what was just then the land of promise- Pike's Peak. The company made their way across the plains with ox teams. They found, before they,
-
274
WARREN COUNTY.
arrived at their destination, that the stories that had lured them away from their homes were rather mythical, and as they received positive proof of the futility of the hopes that incited them, they turned their faces again toward the land of certainties. They arrived in Henderson County in the fall of the same year. Mr. Torrance rented land there and continued to operate it in that manner until 1868, when he came to. the township of Point Pleasant. He bought land on section 17 and made a perma- nent location thereon .. He has since been eminently successful and his farm is justly ranked, in 'propor- tion to its value, as one of the most desirable and best managed in the township. We present a view of his residence with its pleasant surroundings on page 272.
Mr. Torrance is a stanch Republican in his polit- ical relations, and has always been consistent in his actions. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He was united in marriage to Margaret Hindman, May 18, 1871. She was born in Green Co!, Ind., and is the daughter of Joshua and Lucinda (Hughen) Hindman. Four daughters are now included in the household. Their respective names are Bertha, Carrie, Laura and Hallie.
obert Teare, deceased, was born on the Isle of Man, Feb. 3, 1828, and there lived until about 25 years of age, when he emi- grated to Australia for the purpose of engag- ing in mining, and there remained about five years. He came to America, and in the spring of 1860 came to Warren County and located in Lenox Township, where he died Feb. 20, 1866.
His marriage to Martha Killey, who was also a native of the Isle of Man, having been born there March 5, 1840, was celebrated in their native coun- try on the Ist of March, 1860. She was the daugh- ter of John and Catherine (Quayle) Killey, and of her union with Mr. Teare were born three children, -John K., Kate A. and Lizzie R .; all reside at home. Mr. Teare was the possessor and owner of 240 acres of excellent improved land at the time of
his demise, which his widow is controlling at the present time. She has erected a fine residence and all other necessary outbuildings on her farm, and to- day it presents the appearance of thrift and energy. Mrs. Teare and family are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.
room
ercules Roney, a well-to-do farmer, resid . ing on section 21, Hale Township, and clerk of that township, was born in this county, and in the township in which he now resides, Feb. 10, 1845. He received a com- mon-school education, which he supplemented - by a course of study at a commercial college at Day- ton, Ohio. He has been a resident of this county, with the exception of three years, spent at Dayton,, and has devoted his time exclusively to the vocation of an agriculturist. He is at present the owner of, 90 acres of land, 80 of which is under an advanced." state of cultivation. On his farm he has erected al good set of buildings and his place presents an at- tractive appearance to the passers-by. A view of his residence and farm buildinge is given on page 272.
Hercules Roney was married to Miss Mary A. Mumma, Feb. 11, 1869, at Dayton, Ohio. She was born in Montgomery County, that State, Aug. 2, 1847, and has borne her husband one child,-Mary E. Mrs. Roney is the daughter of Joseph B. and Elizabeth (Solenberger) Mumma, who reside at Dayton.
Mr. Roney has held the offices of Commissioner of .' Highways and Township Clerk, of which latter posi- tion he is the present incumbent. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and, in politics, Mr. Roney votes with the Republican party and endorses the principles advocated by it.
The parents of Mr. Roney of this sketch, Hamil- ton and Elizabeth (McReynolds) Roney, were natives of Pennsylvania and Oluo respectively. The father was an early settler of this county, coming here at the early day of 1836. His first marriage took place five years previous to his emigration to this county, his wife's maiden name being Miss Margaret Mackey,
275
WARREN COUNTY.
by whom he had, five children. She died in 1841, and in 1842 he married Elizabeth McReynolds, at her home near Dayton, Ohio. She was a daughter of Joseph McReynolds. Hamilton Roney, in early life; was a blacksmith, and carried on that business in Monmouth for about five years. There his first wife died, and he continued to reside there a short time after his second marriage, when he removed to the farm. As a farmer he was eminently successful and became the owner of 700 acres of land, some of which was the finest farm land in the township. This is now divided among his sons and daughters, to whom, at his death, he left a comfortable com- petency. He followed the vocation of an agricultur- ist until 1863, when he went to Dayton, Ohio, and there, on the 3d day of March, 1884, departed this life. His wife survives him and resides in Dayton, Ohio.
The parents of Mrs. Hercules Roney had. a family of nine children, of whom Mrs. R. was the second in [order of birth.
ulius T. Lathrop, a retired farmer, resid- ing in Roseville, Warren County, was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., in the year 1818. He is a son of Colby and Polly (Terry) La- throp, natives respectively of New York and New Hampshire. Coming to Ohio in an early . day, he, the father of our subject, purchased land there and remained until his demise, which occurred March 12, 1857, his wife dying in 1874 in Michigan.
Julius T. assisted his father on the farm, attended the district schools and remained under the influ- ence of his parents until he was 25 years of age. In 1 846, after leaving home, he engaged in carpentering in a ship-yard in the Buckeye State, but not follow- ing that trade long, he emigrated West the same year, and settled in Greenbush Township, this county and State. Here he invested some money in the purchase of 120 acres of prairie land, which he engaged la- boriously in cultivating, and remained there for about 24 years, when he removed to Roseville vil- lage and bought a lot, on which he erected a build-
ing and has since lived therein, engaging in carpen- tering and wagon making a part of the time.
Feb. 22, 1843, he was married to Miss Almira Light, a native of New York, and they have one child living,-Sarah Sheppard, who resides in Iowa. Mrs. Lathrop died in 1874, and Mr. Lathrop took for his second wife a Mrs. Vurlinder T. Byarlay, a native of Indiana and daughter of Joseph and Su- sanna (Turnbull) Crain, native's of Indiana and Ken- tucky respectively. They lived in Indiana until their death, the father's occurring April, 1844, and the mother in March of the same year. Mr. Lathrop is the proprietor of a fine farm in Kansas, consisting of 120 acres. He is a member of the Christian Church and is one of the representative men of his village, and politically is identified with the Repub- lican party.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.