Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 29

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 29

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On March 1, 1852, after Mr. Shawler had moved

into Lenox Township, he was married there to Julia A. Ray, who was also a native of Kentucky, where she was born June 30, 1833. Five sons have risen to bless their home, all of whom are living. Thomp- son B., married, resides in Lenox Township; John O. and Algernon S. H. live in Swan Township; Philemon and Jesse are with their parents. Both Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the Baptist Church at Union. In his political belief, Mr. S. is a holder of independent views.

Our subject now ranks among the large stock raisers and feeders of the township. When he first settled in this county he could claim but little of this world's goods, and he is able to point with pride to his present possessions as the result of well applied industry and sound judgment. He to-day enjoys a - very comfortable competence and is properly recog- nized as one of the public-spirited citizens of the community. A view of his elegant and commodious homestead is one of our pictorial features, and will be found page 320.

K. Cummings, retired from a life of mer- cantile pursuits, and spending the closing years of his life in peace and quiet at Kirk- wood, is a native of Scotland, having been born in that country July 4, 1813. The parents of Mr. Cummings, Israel W. and Susanna (Kerr) Cummings, were natives of Massachusetts and Scot- land respectively. The father was a sailor in his younger years, and from his native country he went to Scotland, where he was married and where the subject of this notice was born. In 1828, the father with his family came to the United States, and for a time resided in the father's native State, Massa- chusetts. He then moved his family to Maine, where for ten years he was engaged in farming. In 1837, the father sold his landed possessions in the latter State and with his family came to this State, locating in Fulton County, where the father pur- chased 192 acres of land. He moved on the land with his family and at once engaged in the laborious task of improving it, by cultivation, the erection of a residence, the setting out of trees, etc., and there

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continued to reside until his death, which event took place in 1854.

The gentleman whose name we give at the begin- ning of this biographical notice, was an inmate of the parental household until he attained the age of 20 years, having received a fair education in the district schools. At this age in life, he engaged to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he served ap- prenticeship of three years, fully and completely mastering the same, after which he followed his trade in Fulton County from 1838 to 1856, a period of 18 years. 1

Mr. Cummings came to Warren County in 1855 and in 1856 moved to Kirkwood. In 1859, he en- gaged in the grocery business at that place, and was thus occupied for 12 years. He then sold out and began the hardware business and followed that for five years, when, in 1878, he sold the same, and since that time has lived a life of comparative retire- ment, doing nothing except a little insurance busi- ness. He is the proprietor of a farm of 162 acres, one mile and a half from Kirkwood, and is enjoying the comforts which a life of business activity coupled with energy has acquired.

In 1836, Mr. Cummings married Miss Mary Eve- leth in Kennebec Co., Maine, she being the daughter of Joseph and Eunice (Jennings) Eveleth, four chil- dren being the result of this union, -- Susan Jane and James H., Melissa E. and Eunice A., who are de- ceased. Mrs. C. died in the year of 1878. Mr. Cummings again formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Eliza Bowen in 1879, a native of Ohio.

In politics, Mr. Cummings votes with the Repub- lican party. He has held the offices of Assessor and Collector of Tompkins Township, and is one of the honored and respected citizens of Warren County.

ames W. Van Tasell, farmer on section 13, of Lenox Township, is a son of Isaac and Phebe D. (Corgill) Van Tasell. (See sketch of Isaac Van Tasell in this volume.) James W. was born in Kendall Co., Ill., Nov. 6, 1855. He received a good common-school education and has all hi's life been engaged in agricultural pur- suits. He was about four years of age when his par

ents came to Warren County. His marriage occurred in Lenox Township, Sept. 9, 1880, to Catherine Ball. She is the daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Wurgler) Ball, natives of Germany. The family emigrated to Canada, where the father died. His widow survives. Mrs. Van Tasell was the third of a family of five children born to them. She was born in Canada, April 4, 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Van Tasell are the parents of one child, Loui I. Mr. Van Tasell in political affairs is a Republican.

arrison Meachum, a farmer pursuing his vocation on section 33, Berwick Township, IG was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., March 23, 1818, and is a son of Calvin Meachum, who was likewise born in York State, in 1790, and who received his death from being thrown from a spirited horse. He lived some 24 hours after the accident, and at the date of his demise was 40 years old. The father was united in marriage to Miss Sally Huntley in 1812. She was born in New York in 1792, and died in 1876, in Livingston Co., N. Y. They were the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters, and who were named Enos, Porter, Harrison, George, Sally, Hannah, Mary and Eliza. The latter married Mr. Ferris, a resident of Kansas City, and died at Mt. Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., in 1878.

Harrison Meachum, the subject of this sketch, came to this State in 1854, and located in Floyd Township, this county, where he remained for four years, until 1858, when he removed to Berwick Township and there bought 112 acres of good land, with a number of small improvements upon the same. He located upon his land and at once en- gaged upon the arduous task of its improvement and cultivation, and by energy and economy has added to his original purchase until he is the proprietor of 260 acres.

The life of Mr. Meachum has been one of activity and he now has his fine farm under an advanced state of cultivation, and is also devoting considerable of his time to the raising of stock. He has some 40 head of cattle on his place, with room for 60 head, and makes the Jerseys a specialty.

The marriage of Mr. Meachum to Miss Cornelia

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Landon, took place April 1, 1840. She was born May 16, 1821, in New Jersey, and moved to York State in 1831, where she resided until her marriage. The issue of their union has been six children,- John, William, Harrison S., Mary, Lydia and Bertie. Lydia became the wife of Andy Willard, and died in 1875 ; Bertie married Martin Simmons, and died in 1881 ; Mary was married to Harry Murphy, who re- sides in Avon.

Ebenezer Landon, father of Mrs. Meachum, was born in New York in 1793, and died in 1877. He married Miss Lettie Rich, a, native of Halifax, in 1816. She was born in 1800 and came to the State of New York when quite small. The father of Eb- enezer Landon, John Landon, served in the War of 1812. Mrs. Meachum's mother is still living, and resides in Berwick village. Her parents' family con- sisted of six children, namely: Henry, Joseph, Frederick, John, Lettie and Martha, and of her marriage with Ebenezer Landon nine children were born as follows: Cornelia, Mary, Martin, Susan, John, Martha, Thomas, Isaac and Elizabeth, only four of whom are at present living.

Mr. and Mrs. Meachum have the following grand- children : Frederick, John Riley, Perly, Lucina, Laura Belle, John, Allie, Cornelia, Cloy and John Willard.

Mr. Meacham, in his political opinions, favors the principles advocated by the Greenback party. I days past he belonged to the old line Whig, then voted with the Republican party, but since the former party sprung into existence, has voted with it.

B enjamin T. Kettering, a resident of this county since 1853 and one of the large land-owners of Monmouth Township, re- sides on section 27. He was born in Cum- berland Co., Pa., April 16, 1820. The father of Mr. Kettering was a native of the same State as his son and was of German parentage. He was married in his native State to Mary Thompson, a lady of American parentage and Scotch descent. After their marriage, they resided in Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Pa., for a time, when they moved to Cumberland County, that State. Their family con- sisted of eight children.

Mr. Kettering was next to the youngest in order

of his parents' children. He lived on the parental homestead, attending the common schools and work- ing on the farm, thereby assisting in the mainten- ance of his family and acquiring a fair English education, until he attained the age of 24 years. In 1853, he came West and located in Warren County, since which time he has continued to reside here. The parents came to this county soon afterward and remained until their death. On arriving in this county, Mr. Kettering, of this sketch, first began to work as a general laborer. His capital at the time amounted to the sum of $2.50, and he was con- sequently compelled to engage in work for a living. Prior to attaining his majority Mr. K. had learned the trade of his father, that of shoemaking, but on coming to this State and county, he chose a differ- ent vocation, that of farming, which he has followed until the present time.

Feb. 8, 1858, five years after his arrival in this county, Mr. Kettering was united in marriage to Mrs. Melinda Murphy, nee Clacomb. She was a na- tive of Kentucky, in which State she was born Dec. 5, 1825, and came here with her mother and brother, her father having died in Kentucky. She continued to reside with her mother in this county, assisting her in the household duties and attending the com- mon schools, until her marriage to Mr. Murphy. He died a few years after that event, leaving two children to the care of his wife, both of whom have since died, namely : T. Frantz Murphy and Ella O., whose demise occurred when she was a young lady. Of the later union, three children have been born : Hattie B .; Milton A., who resides o.1 a farm near Kirkwood, this county; Philo E. was married to Sina Frantz, and follows the occupation of farming in this township.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Kettering lo- cated on the homestead which Mrs. Kettering owned previous to their marriage, consisting of a little more than 100 acres, on which they are residing at the present time.

Mr. Kettering, by energetic labor and economy, coupled withi good judgment and perseverance, has since added to the original homestead until at pres- ent the same consists of 400 acres of as good farm land as can be found in Warren County. It is all adjoined and has thereon a good residence, barn and substantial outbuildings, and is regarded as one of the best farms, not only in Monmouth Township, but

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in the county. In his chosen vocation, agriculture, Mr. Kettering has met with more than ordinary suc- cess, and the same is attributable to his indomitable energy and perseverance, coupled with the active co- operation of his good helpmeet. In addition to the cultivation of his land he has been and is devoting considerable time to the raising of stock, in which department of his vocation he is also meeting with success. He and his wife are consistent and active members of the Christian Church. Mr. K. is a Trustee and Deacon of that Church at Momouth, , and has been Treasurer of it for some time. In a political sense, Mr. Kettering votes with, and believes in the principles advocated by, the Republican party. .

yrus G. Rankin, one of the large land- owners of Tompkins Township, as well as successful farmers of Henderson County, residing in retirement at his home on section 25, Tompkins Township, is a native of Sulli- van Co., Ind., where he was born in 1832. William and Elizabeth (Gross) Rankin, his· parents, were natives of Pennsylvania and South Carolina respectively. After their marriage, in 1830, they emigrated to this State and located in Henderson County, where the father purchased 1,000 acres of land, and resided on the same for 40 years. He then moved to Monmouth, Warren County, and there passed his remaining days in peace and quiet, retired from the active labors of life, and where he died in 1873. Three years Later his beloved wife, who had accompanied him through all the trials of the past, followed him to that better land, her de- mise occurring in 1876.

The gentleman whose name stands at the begin- ning of this biographical notice, remained with his parents until he attained his majority, in the mean- time receiving an education in the common schools. On becoming his own man, he began to trade in stock and land, and was thus occupied until he be- came 24 years of age, when he was united in mar- riage with Miss M. T. Reynolds, a native of Ohio. Before his marriage, he purchased 240 acres of land in Olena Township, Henderson County, on which he moved with his family and was occupied in its im- provement and cultivation for 17 years. During

these years, by hard labor and economy, he accum- ulated sufficient to enable him to add 620 acres to his original purchase. He then, in 1873, came to this county and for two years resided at Monmouth, where he had purchased a residence and lot. In 1874, he purchased 480 acres of land in Tompkins Township, where he removed in 1875, and has re- sided on the same until the present time. He has a $5,000 residence on his farm, together with three barns and good, substantial outbuildings, and the farm presents an appearance indicative of energy and perseverance on the part of its proprietor.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Rankin, five in number, are named Elizabeth A., born July 27, 1857 ; Reynolds P., Aug. 10, 1863; Elijah A., Oct. 22, 1865 ; Minnie A., Feb. 18, 1869; Edith O., Feb. 13, 1878. Elizabeth was united in marriage with K. D. Bridenthal, and they have become the parents of one child-Cyrus W. Elijah A. married Miss Ada Beers, and they have one son, named Earl.

Mr. Rankin is a believer in and a supporter of the principles of thé Republican party. In religious be- lief, he and his wife both endorse the tenets of the United Presbyterian Church, to which denomination they belong. Mr. Rankin, truly speaking, is one of the leading representative men of his line of busi- ness in Warren County, and his success as an agri- culturist and trader is indicative of his own good good judgment and energy.

avid S. Billingsley, owning 80 acres of land in Berwick Township, and residing at Berwick village, where he is engaged in hotel business, and also to some extent in dealing in fine horses and roadsters. He was born in Monongalia Co., W. Va., Sept. 28, 1812, and is a son of Samuel Billingsley, who was born near Baltimore, Md., in 1778. The latter moved to Virginia, when he was 12 years of age, and there, in Monongalia County, resided, follow- ing the vocation of an agriculturist until his death, which occurred in 1850. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Snider, a native of Virginia. She bore her husband 13 children, whose names were John, Sias, Tobitha, Maria, Samuel, David, Thornton, Louisa,

UNIVERSIT WILL!

Lewis B. Chatterton

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Warren, Eugene, Malinda, Mary and Morgan. The wife and mother died in her native State, in 1862.

David Billingsley, of whom we write, came West April 11, 1855, and located in Warren County. He was married to Elizabeth Barrick, March 16, 1836, in Virginia, Rev. Wood, of the Baptist Church, offi- ciating. She was born Sept. 8, 1814, in Hampshire Co., and bore her husband nine children, four of whom are living. The record of their births are as follows: Eliza Ann, born Feb. 15, 1837; Louisa, born ,April 15, 1839; Henry F., April 15, 1841; David Luthier, Oct. 23, 1843; Mary, Jan. 14, 1845; Martha, June 9, 1847 ; Samuel, in August, 1840; Louisa, in 1852; Jane, June 27, 1855.

The father of Mrs. Billingsley, Henry Barrick, was born in Hancock Co., Va, in 1787, and married Miss Catherine Wetzel about 1812. She was born in 1795, in Maryland, and she and her husband were both of German descent. Their family comprised ten children-Elizabeth M., Anna, Peter S., Henry, Isaiah, James M., John W., George and Mary. The father died in 1865, in Virginia, and the mother in October, 1868.

Mr. Billingsley is engaged in the hotel business at Berwick village, as above stated. He is an admirer of fine horses, and has done much to develop this noble animal in this part of the county. He also cultivates his farm, and as a business man and genial landlord, is regarded as one of the foremost men not only in Berwick village but also of the county.

ohn C. Turnbull, a retired farmer, pass- ing the declining years of his life in quiet ease and retirement at Roseville, this county, is a native of Maryland, having been born near Baltimore, Nov. 18, 1812. Mr. Turnbull removed with his parents to New Albany, Ind., when about six years of age (or in 1818). His father, John Turnbull, was born in Maryland, Dec. 27, 1780, and died in Jackson Co., Ind., March 28, 1840, in his 60th year. His mother, Mary (Tonahill) Turnbull, was born in Virginia, Jan. 14, 1777, and died March 29, 1820, near New Al- bany, Floyd Co., Ind. They were married July 12, 1801, and of their union five children were born, only two of whom at present survive,-Mrs. Gossett and John C., the subject of this notice.

The gentleman, whose life's history is herein briefly summarized, was an inmate of the parental household until 17 years of age, having received what education he acquired in the common schools. After leaving home he worked out by the day and month until the spring of 1835. He then rented a farm in Jackson Co., Ind., which he cultivated until 1850, when he purchased 2 10 acres of land and was engaged in its cultivation until Sept. 19, 1865. At this date he came to Illinois and located in Warren County, where he purchased 480 acres of land on sections 20 and 21, Roseville Township, and con- tinued to reside upon the same until 1872. He then moved into Roseville, and purchased a lot, erecting there on a fine residence, in which he has since continued to reside.

In politics, Mr. Turnbull is a Republican. Reli- giously, he and his wife belong to the Baptist Church. He is a gentleman whose accumulation of this world's goods has been acquired through his own energy, perseverance and good judgment, and is one of the respected and influential citizens of Warren County. Mr. Turnbull has been sadly unfortunate in his married relations, having lost by death two companions. The maiden name of his present wife was Elizabeth Crane, a native of Jackson Co., Ind., their marriage occurring Oct. 19, 1865. His first wife, to whom he was married in Jackson Co., Ind., Jan. 11, ,1835, was a Miss Rhoda Ann K. Crane, a native of New York State. She died in July, 1859. By this wife he became the father of an only son, John C., born Aug. 29, 1841, in Jackson Co.,. Ind., who, in 1870, married Susan Gordley, of Brown Co., Ill., by whom he has two children-Warren and Franklin.

S arah J. Chatterton, owning 120 acres of good farm land, located on section 25, Greenbush Township, where she resides, is the widow of Lewis B. Chatterton, who was born in New York, April 30, 1827, and came to this State in 1836 with his parents and lo- cated with them two miles east of Avon, in Fulton County. He was the son of Cornelius and Lucy (Ball) Chatterton, natives of New York, but of English extraction. The father was a farmer by occupation. Lewis B. was educated at the common schools of

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Galesburg, Ill. When the "California gold fever " became epidemic, he was one of the first to yield to its seductive influence, and forthwith hastened to that auriferous country, where he remained five years. A portion of his time while there was occupied in farming. He was united in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Wells; Aug. 20, 1857, Rev. Reed, of Peoria, officiating. She was born Nov. 25, 1838, in Fulton County, Ill., (near Avon), being the daughter of James a: d Roxanna (Stowell) Wells, natives of New York. Mrs. Chatterton's parents died while she was was very young. Slie bore unto her husband nine children, namely : Freddie, born Sept. 20, 1859 ; Chester J., born Feb. 16, 1861; Bessie E., June 2, 1863; Harry L., Nov. 2, 1865; George W., Aug. 25, 1877; Willie, June 10, 1870; Carrie L., Oct. 25, 1871; Henry K., July 25, 1884; Clarence O., Dec. 5, 1876. Bessie E. married J. W. Kinross. They are living in Avon, Fulton County, this State, and are the parents of one child, Nealy W. Kinross.

Mrs. Chatterton, since the death of her husband, continues to reside on the home farm, which is under an advanced state of cultivation, and with the as- sistance of her children, is conducting the same with marked ability and with well merited success. Her place is well supplied with good farm buildings, and last year she disposed of $1,000 worth of stock. Her husband was a Republican in politics, and in relig- ion, a member of the Universalist Church, as is likewise Mrs. Chatterton. Her husband died May 19, 1884, on the old homestead.

A portrait of Mr. Chatterton appears on page 326.

on. Azro Patterson, deceased. The Mon- mouth Weekly Review on Friday morning, June 30, 1782, contained the following fit- ting obituary of one who was for many years one of the most highly esteemed citizens of this county : "Azro Patterson died at his residence in this city, of Bright's disease of the kidneys, Satur- day evening, June 24, 1882, at 7:15 o'clock, aged 63 years, 5 months."

No death has occurred in Monmouth in the last quarter of a century that has caused such universal

sorrow among all classes of citizens-high and low, rich and poor, young and old-as the decease of Azro Patterson, and none will be more keenly missed from our midst, particularly by the poor and unfortunate, whose fast friend he was at all times and under all circumstances.

Mr. Patterson was born in Stowe, Vt., Feb. II, 1819. At the age of six years, with his father's family, he moved from Vermont to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he resided till he. was 19 years old, when, in company with a young man named Williams, and about the same age, he started for the West to work out his own fortunes and way through the world. He reached Monmouth in 1837, and as there was no railroad and but few facilities for travel in this coun- try at that early day, he walked all the way from Ashtabula to Monmouth, carrying his scanty pos- sessions in a bundle on his back, and stopped 'with his brother-in-law, R. N. Allen, who lived in an old log house where his present residence stands. Dur- ing the winter of 1837 he clerked in a dry goods store in a little frame house on the northwest corner of the square, under what was known as the "old - cottonwood tree," for General McAllen. The next summer he worked in a brick-yard for Erastus Rice, whom the early settlers well remember, and helped make the brick of which our old court house is built. Then he taught school at " Allen's Grove;" in Ber- wick township, and was very popular as a teacher among the scholars and old settlers. In 1839 he went into the employ of S. S. Phelps, of Oquawka, and had charge of the Indian trading store not far from Iowa City, Iowa, and remained in the employ of Mr. Phelps for a number of years.

In 1845 he was married to Miss Harriet Strong, at Ashtabula, Ohio, and returned to Monmouth with his bride. Her health failing her here, he started back to her home with her, but she died at Beaver, Pa., on the journey. She lived only seven months after their * marriage.

In 1848, and while residing at Oquawka, he was elected State Senator from the 17th district. Gilbert Turnbull, of Henderson, and A. C. Harding, of War- ren, were the members of the lower house. In 1850 he was elected a member of the lower house of the Illinois Legislature from Henderson and Warren Counties. He was elected on the Democratic ticket, the contest being between Democrats and Whigs. He was never a candidate for any public position

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after that, although entreated times without number by his political and personal friends to allow the use of his name for important public trusts.

In October, 1849, he was inarried to the accom- plished Christian lady, Miss Mary Babcock, daugh- ter of an old and valued citizen, E. C. Babcock (see sketch).

To Azro and Mary Patterson four children were born-three of whom died in infancy-and but one son, Henry, survives. He is endowed with the ster- ling qualities of his parents.

After serving in the legislature, Mr. P. located per- manently in Monmouth, and formed a partnership with C. L. Armsby and Jerry Massie in the dry goods trade. They occupied the old frame building that stood north of the Monmouth National Bank building, and afterwards moved to the building now occupied by George Babcock, which was built by Mr. Massie.

In 1853 he formed a partnership with his brother- in-law, R. N. Allen, in the dry goods trade, which continued two years. Mr. Allen then retired from business, and Mr. Patterson continued the trade in a frame building that stood on the corner of Broadway and East streets, where the Second National Bank now stands. Some time after Mr. Patterson sold his stock of goods to Major Holt, who continued the business a short time. He again formed a partner- ship with N. A. Rankin and L. S. Wallace, and car- ried on the dry goods trade in the building now oc- cupied by the Spriggs Bros., as a drug store, on the south side of the square. This partnership continued some time, when Mr. Patterson permanently retired from the dry goods trade, and devoted himself more particularly to real estate transactions.

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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 29

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

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