Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 41

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 41

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).

To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tinkham have been born two children to brighten and bless their family cir- cle. Mary A. married Samuel H. Smith and is the mother of four children-Jessie M., Mary D., Hayden F. and Edna F. who resides in this county. Joseph W. married Emily Blanch Cunningham, and their family comprises three children-Willard B., Zelma, B. and Mary F., and they also live in this county.

Mr. Tinkham is a Democrat in political opinion, and, with his wife, belongs to the Christian Church. He is a stock-holder in the First National Bank at Kirkwood, has served this community as Supervisor, Township Treasurer, and in other minor offices, and is justly regarded as one of the influential men of Kirkwood village. . Mr. Tinkham's portrait appears on page 422.

ars. Martha M. Bennett, widow of Her- man K. Bennett, resides on section 20, Tompkins Township, where she is en- gaged in carrying on agricultural pursuits, cultivating the land left her-by her husband,

- Herman K. Bennett, who was born Sept. 8, 1833, in Madison Co., N. Y., and departed this life Nov. 8, 1879. Mr. Bennett received a good educa- tion in the common schools and was an inmate of his parents's household until he attained the age of 17 years. At this time he went forth to do for him- self, and for three years worked out by the month. He then came to this State and engaged in the oc- cupation of agriculture, which he made a lifetime pursuit. In 1854 he purchased 80 acres of land on section 19, Tompkins Township, on which he loca- ted with his family and at once entered actively and laboriously upon the task of its improvement and cul- tivation. By hard labor and economy, coupled with the active co-operation of his good helpmeet, he suc- ceeded in saving sufficient to enable him to add 40 acres to his original purchase, the same being loca- ted on section 31. He lived and labored on his farm, determining to make it a permanent home for him- self and family, until his death, at whichi time he left a clear title to 120 acres of good farm land to his wife and children.

The ceremony which united the lives of Mr. Ben-

425

WARREN COUNTY.

nett and Miss Martha M. Fitzsimmons, was solemn- ized March 5, 1861. She was a native of New York and a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Dewitt) Fitzsimmons, natives of the same State. Their union was blessed with the birth of two children-Will H. and Cora E. Mrs. Bennett has, since her husband's death, purcl.ased 160 acres of land, on section 20, east of the old homestead, upon which she now re- sides and manages the cultivation of her entire farm of 280 acres. In politics, Mr. B. was a Republican. He was a gentleman possessed of a large amount of benevolence and never failed to lend a helping hand to the needy, or failed to aid any good undertaking that was calculated to benefit the community, either with his time or means.

lisha J. Hughen, is a member of the agri- cultural community of the township of Point Pleasant, and is located on section 14. He was born in Greene Co., Ind., Aug. 31, 1825, and is a son of Samuel Hughen who was a native of South Carolina. The latter was born in the District of Newbury, in that State, and was married to Susannah Jones, who was a na- tive of the same State and District. Some years after their marriage they removed to Indiana, being among the earliest of the permanent white settlers there. Mr. Hughen, senior, bought a large tract of timber land, where he cleared a farm, which was the place of his residence and the field of his operations until his death, which occurred in 1827. The mother, by that prudent management characteristic of par- ents in her generation, succeeded in keeping her fatherless flock of seven children together until they grew to the age of maturity and were settled in life. In 1856, she came to Warren County to become a member of the family of the son who is the subject of this narration, and with whom she passed the last years of her life. She died in 1859.

Mr. Hughen was less than two years of age when his father died. As boy and man, he devoted him- self to the service of his mother, continuing to assist in the cultivation of the home farm, until his mar- riage, solely for her benefit.

In 1847, he was joined in the bonds of matrimony

with Mary, daughter of Drury and Elizabeth (Hurd) Boyd, and with his wife remained residents of the old family homestead until their removal to Warren County.

After their arrival here they farmed rented land for two years. In 1858, Mr. Hughen bought 80 acres, which he has since retained possession of and upon which he has expended the best energies of his life. It was all wild prairie and previous to taking possession with his family he was under the neces- sity of erecting a dwelling into which they moved in the spring of 1859. He has since enlarged the homestead by the purchase of 40 acres additional. The entire farm is under a high state of cultivation, being devoted to mixed husbandry, and Mr. Hughen may well be proud, not only of his success in secur- ing a competency for the future, but also upon the reputation he has attained as a model farmer. He and his wife are the parents of four children. Eliz- abeth is the wife of J. Newton Anstine, of Seward Co., Neb. Esther married James King. She died leaving four children. Her husband and children live in Missouri. Susannah died in early chilhood. William resides at home with his father and mother. The latter is a member of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church.

R ansom Roberts, a representative citizen of the agricultural class of Warren County, residing upon section 2, Swan Township, where he is the proprietor of 218 acres of good farm land, is a native of this county, hav- ing been born here Apr. 2, 1839. He is a son of Abijah Roberts, a native of Ohio, who was born Jan.26, 17 98, came to this State in 1834 and located in Swan Township, where he purchased 160 acres of land, on section 12. He died June 23, 1851, of cholera, after an illness of 24 hours. He was buried in the Bond Cemetery, Greenbush Township. Miss Laura Smith became his wife Dec. 10, 1836, they having been married in Morgan County. She was born in Mor- gan County, July 9, 1820, and was the first white child born in that county, her parents, Phineas and Lucy Smith, being pioneer settlers there.

Mrs. Laura Roberts, mother of the subject of.this

126

WARREN COUNTY.

notice, died Feb. 3, 1877, and was likewise buried in Bond Cemetery. She was the mother of seven chil- dren, five of whom survive, the eldest two having died in infancy. Those living are Ransom, born April 2, 1839; Abirum, April 15, 1841 ; Mariette, Dec. 16, 1843; Gilbert, July 8, 1845; George W., April 11, 1849.

Ransom Roberts, of whom we write, formed a mat- rimonial alliance with Miss Henrietta Vandeveer Jan. 15, 1874. She was born March 18, 1847, in this county, and died of consumption July 28, 1878, and lies buried in Bond Cemetery.

Mr. Roberts enlisted in the war for the Union, in August, 1862, joining Co. H, 83d Ill. Vol. Inf., and was mustered into service at Monmouth, Ill., Aug. 21, of that year. He spent three years in his coun- try's service, and was mustered out June 26, 1865, at Nashville, and paid off at Chicago. Socially, Mr. Roberts is a member of the A. F. and A. M., Lodge No 387, at Youngstown. He joined that order in 1872. In politics, he votes with and supports the principles advocated by the Greenback party.

arnard Kidder, deceased, was one of the pioneer settlers of Swan Township, Warren Co., Ill. to which section he removed in September, 1837, from near Woodstock, Ch : In- paign Co., Ohio. He was born in Mansfield, Conn., March 11, 1806, and was of Puritan an- cestry. He died at the family residence in Swan Township, Sept. 25, 1864, of typhoid fever.

His earliest American ancestor, was James Kid- der, who, marrying Anna Moore in 1649, came to New England about 1650, from East Grinstead, County Sussex, England, and settled in Cam- bridge, Mass., but soon removed to Billerica, Mass. The ancestry has been traced back six gen- erations in England. Maresfield, County Sussex, was the ancestral home of the Kidders in old Eng- land. It is an agricultural country. The Kidders were land-holders there and some of them Wardens of the Parish Church. Richard Kidder, in 1492, was of the manor of Maresfield. The name appears there 200 years earlier. Later, one of them was a Bailiff

of Ashdown Forrest, a part of the manor. The manor of Maresfield was the property of John of Gaunt, and there is authority for the statement that Wycliffe found an asylum there for a time during his retirement under the protection of John. From James (Ist) above mentioned, the line runs through James (2d) of Billerica, Mass , born Jan. 3, 1854, at Cambridge; married Sept. 23, 1678, to Elizabeth Brown; James (3d), born June 27, 1679; married Mary Abbott, at Concord, Mass., and settled in Mansfield, Conn., in 1703; Nathaniel (4th), of Mans- field, born Oct. 30, 17 12; married Ann Royce; Na- thaniel (5th), of Mansfield, born March . 5, 1754 ; married widow Mary (Cross) Barrow; Nathaniel (6th), born Nov. 25, 1782; married Speedy Whit- more; Larnard (7th), the subject of this sketch, born as before stated.

Larnard Kidder had moved from Connecticut in 1822, with his father's family, near Woodstock, Champaign Co., Ohio, and was married March 22, 1837, to Mary A., daughter of Abisha and Lucinda (Hastings) Hoisington, in Ohio. She had emigrated with her father's family from Windsor, Vt., in 1817, where she was born April 5, 1809, and was of Puri- tan ancestry. After their marriage they moved to · Warren Co., Ill., settling in Swan Township, as al- ready mention, being among the first settlers of that portion of the county. Though 20 miles away, Mon- mouth was then the nearest postoffice, and the post- age charged by Uncle Sam for carrying a letter in that day was 25 cents. The country was wild prairie with groves and timber along the large streams. The Black Hawk War of 1832, had cleared the country of Indians.

Mr. Kidder's first attempt in aid of the development of the, then, primitive country, was on a farm of 320 acres which is now a portion of the village of Youngs- town. In 1838 the first house was built on the site where Benjamin H. Kidder's house now stands, about 60 rods north of the southeast corner, south- east quarter section 28, near the east line. It was a story and a half hewed log house, 18 x 20 feet, with large brick fire-place at the north end, the chimney being carried up outside of the wall, as was customary in that day when stoves were an unknown feature of the domestic arrangement. There was one window in the east and one in the south wall, and a door opening upon a porch, extending the length of the east side. The roof was of clap-boards secured by

OLD HOME.

RESIDENCE OF LEONARD W. EDELMAN, 3 MILES EAST OF ALEXIS.

RESIDENCE OF D. B. STEWART, SEC. 7., KELLY TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF WH M. LAIR, SEC. 30., KELLY TOWNSHIP.

429

WARREN COUNTY.

weight poles. It was in this house that life began in earnest. It was a house identical in almost every particular with that built by his father, in Ohio, in 1822, a prototype of the dwelling houses built by our Puritan ancestors among the hills and valleys of New England, on the banks of the Concord and Mer- rimac and by the swift waters of the Willimantic and Connecticut, and which, no doubt, were patterned after the homes of the ancestry. dwellings on the downs of Sussex, or in the Forest of Ashdown. In such homes our progenitors have faithfully done the labors of this life, cheerfully accepted the privations and heroicly borne the many burdens allotted to mankind. Yet, in them were many joys, and thoughi always often cut off more or less widely apart, yet good society and kind friends were not wanting. They contained a thrifty household, the fireside glad- dened by bright faces, children in health and happi- ness, the pure manners and customs of the old times and the oft repeated story of sire and grandsire, mother and grandmother, were, as "mother, home and heaven." These, with the sacred regard for re- ligion and the highest standard of morality, must not be too hastily dismissed for the modern advancement, nor can we who have shared some of them in child- hood, recall them but with pleasure, nor dismiss them from thought without a sigh for their departure.

Larnard Kidder was a man of energy and great in- dustry, and in addition to his success in the develop- ment of his farm, he had the satisfaction of securing for his children the advantages of more than a common school education. He devoted himself ex- clusively to farming, that calling having been his inheritance through many generations, and the pros- perity which attended his efforts in the cultivation of his land was of the most satisfactory nature. He was diligent and resolute, practical and honest, faithful in the discharge of duty, moral and upright, and a long and faithful search into the records of the past dis- closes the fact that his forefathers were possessed of like traits of character, proving that character is hereditary to a very great extent. In religion he was not a member of any Church organization, nor had his ancestors been for several generations. Yet he was not without religious opinions, many of which were in advance of the time in which he lived. His funeral services were conducted by Rev. I. N. West- fall, a Universalist minister. In politics, he was a Whig, then a Republican. He never sought office,

but was elected Justice of the Peace, School Director, Township Treasurer and to other minor offices. He left no will. Records of the administration of his es- tate, in Warren County Court, places the amount of inventory at $22,739.38. In taking leave of Mr. Kidder it is claimed for him only, that he was one of the many whose push labor and enterprise made good farms and pleasant homes of the wild lands of Warren County, and hence contributed to the general prosperity-that he was a good citizen.

The children of Larnard and Mary A. Kidder are : Almon, horn Feb. 27, 1838, an attorney at Mon- mouth ; William O., Aug. 13, 1839; Henry H., May 25, 1841 ; Benjamin H., April 7, 1843; Nathaniel, July 31, 1845 ; Olive M. (Davis), July 3, 1847; Eliza A. (Mapes), Aug. 5, 1849. This sketch, which contains the results of mach research, is given for a . memorial of the dead, yet no more for the benefit of those living, than for those to come. His widow still survives and resides at the old homestead.

eonard W. Edelman is a farmer on section 34, in the township of North Henderson, Mercer County, Ill., his farm lying on the line between Mercer and Warren Counties. He was born Feb. 15, 1832, in Rush Co,, Ind., and is the son of Alexander Edelman, who was a pioneer of Knox Co., Ill. The grandparents of Mr. Edelman were natives of Germany. The latter was born in Tennessee, in 1801, and accompanied the family of his father to Kentucky when a youth. Thence they went to Indiana, where he was a resi- dent through the remainder of his early life and was there married to Mary Heflin. Her great-grandfa- ther Heflin was a soldier in the war of the Revolu- tion, and his daughter lived until a few years ago, when she died, at the age of 95 years. The wife was a native of the State of Kentucky, and the newly married people lived in Rush County until 1840. In that year they came, with the four children which had been born to them, to Illinois. They traveled with ox-teams and covered wagons and brought with them all their household belongings. They made their first location on the prairie, in the township of

- -

430

WARREN COUNTY.

Rio, in Knox County. A log house was constructed for the accommodation of the family and it was the homestead 14 years. The father then sold the claim and came to Warren County and settled in Kelly Township. He bought a quarter-section (of section 2), resided there a few years, and went thence to Union County, in this State, in the spring of 1860, where his life terminated. The death of his wife preceded his own by several years. They were the parents of seven children. Lewis G. lives in Wil- liamette, C)., Oregon ; Leonard W. is the next in order of birth of the survivors; James A. lives at Snake River, Idaho; Elizabeth resides with her brother, the subject of this record. These are the surviving children of Alexander and Mary Edelman. Rachael A., one of the daughters, married Samuel Smith in October, 1854, and died in March, 1856. Leonard W. came to Knox County with his parents in 1840, and was a resident there with them through his youth. He was reared on the farm and attended the common schools as a pupil. When he was 14, his mother died and he remained with his father until he was of age. He had become infected with the Western fever to such an extent that when he found himself at liberty to engage with the world in in a single-handed contest, he connected himself with a party to go to the Pacific coast. The company set forth April 5, 1853, to cross the country, and Mr. Edelman drove an ox-team the entire distance from Warren County to the valley of the Williamette, in Oregon. He arrived there in September, after a journey of five months. He slept on the ground every night while on the road. After crossing the Missouri River, the party. cast lots for the choice of a sentinel to guard the camp from Indians, and the lot fell to him. When he located in Oregon, he set- tled on a piece of land, of which he was the occu- pant four years and six months. He made some improvements and fenced a portion of the property, and while he held possession of it was a part of the time at work in the mountains. In 1858 Mr. Edel- man set out to return to his former home in Illinois. He came by way of Panama and New York, landing in May, of the same year. On Aug. 26, 1858, he was married to Lydia J. Miller. Mrs. Edelman is the daughter of Christian and Mary (Brown) Miller. They passed the first year after their marriage on the farm of her father, and the year succeeding was devoted to the care of a rented farm. In 1861 Mr.

Edelman purchased 40 acres of land in the township in which he now lives. He paid one-half of the purchase money in obtaining a title to his property and on the remainder paid 25 per cent, interest. In 1864 he bought 100 acres on section 33, in the same township, and removed his family to the newly ac- quired farm. He has added to his acreage by later purchase and is at present the owner of 280 acres in North Henderson Township and of 80 acres in Kelly Township, in Warren County. The latter is situated just across the line of the two counties. All the land belonging to Mr Edelman is in first class agricultu- ral condition. It is equipped in the best possible manner for the business of a successful farmer. Mr. Edelman is giving his attention to mixed husbandry, and raises cattle of an excellent grade. The farm residence of the family is on section 34, of North Henderson Township, on the county line, and a view of it is given in this ALBUM on page 428.

The record of the births of the children of the Edelman household is as follows : George W., Aug. 15, 1864; Frank M., April 4, 1867 ; Alfred A., Oct. 3, 1869; Eddie L., June 8, 1872; Ida M., Sept. I, 1874; Lotta D., March 10, 1878. Mary E., the first born child, was born July 7, 1859, and died Dec. 30, 1863; . Ella E., born Sept. 18, 1861, died Feb. 18, 1864. Politically, Mr. Edelman is a Democrat. He is not a member of any church organization.

F. Guilinger, a successful tiller of the soil, residing on section 23, Tompkins Town- ship, is a son of John L. and Martha M. (Finley) Guilinger, natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively. The parents came to this State in 1856, locating in Mercer County, where the father was engaged in farming for a num- ber of years. He then came to Monmouth, where he resided, retired from the active labors of life, until his death, the date thercof being 1878. His wife, mother of the subject of this notice, departed this life while the family were residents of Mercer County, in 1864.

The gentleman whose name stands at the head of this notice, was born in Muskingumn Co., Ohio, in

431

WARREN COUNTY.

1846. He remained with his parents, receiving the advantages afforded by the common schools and as- sisting his father in the maintenance of the family, and thus developed into manhood. When the Union was imperiled by the secession of the Southern States, Mr. Guilinger enlisted in its cause, becoming a member of Co. A, 83d Ill. Vol. Inf. He served four months, when he was transferred to Co. E, 6Ist Ill. Vol. Inf., and was with that regiment four months. He received an honorable discharge, Oct. 8, 1865, and returned home. On arriving home, he attended school one year and then purchased a farm of 80 acres in Tompkins Township, and entered upon the vocation of an agriculturist, determined to follow the same during his life. The land which he purchased, was on section 23 of the township named, and he at once located upon it and engaged actively and energetically in its improvement and cultivation, and has continued to reside thereon until the pres- ent time.

Mr. Guilinger was married to Miss Carrie Martin, a native of this State, and a daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth (Sproul) Martin, in 1871. Of their union three children have been born-Albia L., Ralph M. and Charles G. In his political belief, Mr. Guilinger coincides with the principles advocated by the Re- publican party. In religion he and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

290 B3

rnold Eldred, retired farmer, residing in Roseville, was born in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in the year 1817. His parents were John and Hannah (Fox) Eldred, natives of Rhode Island, where his father was engaged in the occupation of farming. Their family consisted of 16 children, eight of whom survive.

Arnold Eldred, whose name heads this article, re- mained under his parents' influence, attending the district schools in the acquisition of an English edu- cation and assisting on the farm, and had charge of the same for a while previous to attaining his 27th year. At that age in life he left home and started in the mill business, which he followed until his emi- gration West in 1852, when he came to Illinois and -

located in Kendall County. He rented a farm in the latter county and entered actively on its improve- ment and cultivation, which he continued for one year, when he came to Roseville Township, Warren County, and purchased 120 acres on section 17, and there remained for 17 years, making his permanent abiding place thereon. He put the land under an excellent state of cultivation and has it well equipped. In an early day he had to go to Pontoosuc, on the Mississippi River, to have his grinding done, and the nearest market was at Peoria, 60 miles away. In 1872 he removed into the village of Roseville, having purchased nine acres of land inside the corporation limits. He built a residence upon the same and is _ spending the sunset of his years in peace and quiet thereon.

Arnold Eldred and Miss Eliza Devoe were united in marriage, Jan. 11, 1852. She was a native of New York, and the daughter of Abraham and Polly (Walrath) Devoe, also natives of the Empire State, and by occupation farmers. Mr. Eldred is a prom- inent and leading man of Warren County, and, polit- ically, casts his vote with the Prohibition party. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

ames Campbell, a prosperous and highly respected farmer of Hale township, resid- ing on section 6, is a son of James and Jane (Reed) Campbell. The former was a son of William and Margaret Campbell, and was born in County Antrim, Ireland, ir. 1799. He married Jane Reed, daughter of John and Mar- garet Reed. The parents were married on their native isle and emigrated to the United States in the autumn of 1850. Soon after, they came to this State and settled in Henderson County, where they lived until their death They both died in December, 1874, and only eight days apart, the mother's death occurring on the 12th and the father's on the 20th. Their children were nine in number, of whom the subject of this notice was the eighth in order of birth. The first-born died in infancy, the next was William B., then Joseph, Elizabeth, Margaret, Maria, James and Jane Ann. Joseph is deceased.

On his father's side, James Campbell is of Scotch

432

WARREN COUNTY.

descent; his maternal grandfather was of English descent, his wife, however, was of Scottish ancestry. She was one of the Dansons of Scotland. Both the ancestors of Mr. Campbell bore arms under William of Orange. The family were among the first Pro- testants of Scotland, but the father and mother of our subject joined the Methodist Episcopal Church shortly after their marriage. All of his children, as they grew up, united with that Church, of which they are still members.

Six of the elder Campbell's uncles came to Amer- ica prior to the Revolutionary War. They were a strong, stalwart race, over six feet in height, and all of the six brothers enlisted in defense of the Col- onies.

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.

Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 41

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

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