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 44
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
The gentleman whose name heads this article, was an inmate of the parental household until he attained the age of 22 years. His education was acquired in the district schools, and the major portion of his years, prior to that time, were passed on the farm .. After leaving home, J. R. worked out for a year, when he rented land and occupied his time for another year in,its cultivation. His father then gave him 40 acres of land, on which he settled in April and re- mained until Aug. 9, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. D, 83d Ill. Vol. Inf., and participated in the battle of Fort Donelson, Feb. 3, 1863. He was also en- gaged in every battle in which the company took part and served his country for about three years, during which time he was promoted to the rank of Corporal.
After returning from the War, Mr. Nevins sold the 40 acres his father had given him and parchased 80 acres in Mercer County. On the latter farm he re- mained for about three years, when he sold the same and came to Roseville Township, this county, and purchased 65 acres on which he resided two and a half years; thereafter sold his 60 acres and pur- chased the 120 acres which he now owns and on which, since then, he has been actively engaged in farming or stock-raising. In addition to his 120- acre farm, Mr. Nevins owns a residence and three lots in Roseville.
The marriage of Mr. Nevins took place Nov. 29. 1861, when Miss Elizabeth A. Barnes, a native of Indiana, became his wife. They have had no chil- dren. Mr. Nevins who is one of the oldest men liv- ing, born in Mercer County, is a believer in and
448
WARREN COUNTY.
supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church.
emual Wagy is an enterprising and thrifty farmer of the township of Point Pleasant. His father was born July 4 1805, in Virginia, and accompanied his parents to Ohio when he was six months old. Abra- ham Wagy was among the earliest of the per- manent white settlers there, and he passed his early life in Ross County. He acquired a knowledge of the business of wagon-making, and married Loieo Cooper, a native of that State, and whose birth oc- curred in 1806. In 1848 Abraham Wagy, with his family, removed to Illinois. He settled on a farm, which he bought in the vicinity of Olena and also became a property owner i. that village. He opened a wagon shop there for the prosecution of his trade and worked at it while his sons in.proved the land lie owned. He sold his farm after a few years and bought 160 acres on Haney Creek prairie. On this he resided from that time until 1882 and then removed to his present place of abode, in Gladstone.
Mr. Wagy remained in the family of his father and mother until 1864. In that year he caught the gold fever and started with an ox-team for Montana. Af- ter two months of travel he arrived at Virginia City, and was glad to reach his destination after such an experience as he had had of the adventurous career of gypsies, as he had managed his own domestic af- fairs on the road. For a time he prospected and mined in that Territory, operating in the vicinity of Virginia City. He went thence to Boise City, in Idaho, where he remained a short time only. He returned to Illinois with the intention of going back soon to the Territories, but his father prevailed on him to remain and take charge of the homestead. He yielded to his solicitation and managed the place one year. He then rented a farm in the vicinity and operated on that through the next year. In 1866 he bought the northeast quarter of section 31, in Point Pleasant Township. The section was wholly unim- proved, and the proprietor has applied his time and energies with the best effect and the place is now in ' time no improvements of any kind. Mr. Bagley
splendid cultivation: He is now the owner of the entire half-section lying in the north of section 32, which swells his possessions to 480 acres. He is en- . gaged in raising fine graded stock-horses, hogs and cattle.
Mr. Wagy has been twice married. March 29, 1866, he formed a matrimonial union with Sarah A. Hill. She was born in Vermont and died in 1878, leaving six children. They were named William S., Lemuel F., Elzie, Gracie, Lovisa and Sarah A. In June, 1885, Mr. Wagy was a second time married, to Virginia, daughter of James and Elizabeth Riggs. Mrs. Wagy is a native of Ohio. Mr. Wagy is a mem- ber of Raritan Lodge, No. 727, A. F. & A. M., and of Raritan Lodge, No. 201, A. O. U. W.
ames Bagley, a former resident of Point Pleasant Township, now deceased, was one of the numerous class of citizens of whom the biographer can truly say, "he was a self-made man." He was a native of County Monaghan, Ireland, and was born in May, 1835. He was of Scotch-Irish origin and was reared in the Presbyterian Church. He was bor.1 and bred a farmer and was wholly educated in the district schools. He remained in his native country until he was 19 years of age, when he sailed for America and landed at the port of New York nearly out of money." He proceeded up the Hudson River until he arrived in Washington County, in the same State, and there he obtained employment as a farm hand. While there, he made the acquaintance of Mary King, who be- came his wife. She was the daughter of James and Margaret King, and was born in the same county in the old country as Mr. B., Dec. 29, 1830. Their marriage took place in 1854. Mrs. Bagley came to America in 1851, and settled in Washington County. After a residence there of several years they came West. They made their first location in Henderson County, where they operated as renters six years. At the end of that time they came to Point Pleasant Township and bought the west half of the southwest quarter of section 7, on which there were at that
LIBRARY
RES. OF FRED. SORENSON, SEC.21. SPRING GROVETOWNSHIP.
RESIDENCE OF WM. CARSON, SEC. 34. SPRING GROVE TOWNSHIP.
RESIDENCE OF MRS. FLORA SIGAFOOS, SEC.33. SPRING GROVE TOWNSHIP.
451
WARREN COUNTY.
built a small frame house and improved all the land. He also set out fruit, shade and ornamental trees, and lived on the place until the date of his death, which occurred Jan. 21, 1883. Following is the rec- ord of the three children who are still living : Rob- ert S. lives in Raritan ; Margaret is the wife of Wil- liam Caldwell, of Roseville; the remaining child a daughter, is named Martha E. She resides with her widowed mother on the homestead, which is man- aged by a renter. The place is made beautiful and valuable by a grove of natural timber, and is consid- ered one of the most pleasant homes in the county.
The parents of Mrs. Bagley came to America in 1858, and located in Henderson Co., Ill., where their lives terminated. Of their sons, Joseph F. and Al- exander King live in Henderson County and Samuel resides in Iowa.
harles F. P. Yarde, a grocer at Alexis, is a native citizen of Warren County, where he was born in the township of Kelly, Oct. 6, 1852. A sketch of his parents will be found elsewhere in this volume. Aaron and Charlotte (Cousins) Yarde, his father and mother, were pioneers of Kelly Township, where the subject of this sketch was reared on the farm. He attended the public schools and at a suitable age became a student at the business college in Gales- burg, whence he was graduated when he was 18. After the termination of his educational course, he passed six months in farming. At the end of that time he came to Alexis and entered upon the duties of a clerkship in the employ of Thomas Leveridge, a merchant of that place. After an experience of three and a half years, he embarked in business in his own behalf, associated with M. G. Bollinger. They bought the grocery establishment of W. A. Elder and conducted their joint business four and a half years. At that time Mr. Bollinger sold his in- terest to Frank Wray, and the firm name became Yarde & Wray. A little less than a year after the change was made, Mr. Yarde bought the interest of his partner and has since managed his affairs alone.
Feb. 1, 1881, Mr. Yarde was married to Rettie McKelvey. She is the daughter of John and Jane
(McMillen) McKelvey, and was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, in June, 1860. She is the fourth in order of birth of a family of nine children, viz .: Robert S., Amy I., Mary A., Henrietta (the wife of Mr. Yarde), William S., Vernon, Joseph, and two de- ceased. The parents of Mrs. Yarde were born in Belmont Co., Ohio, the father Feb. 4, 1830, the mother Dec. 16, 1833. On the paternal side, the grandparents were born in Ireland, in the Counties Tirone and Kerry respectively, and on the maternal side her grandparents are of Irish descent.
Mr. and Mrs. Yarde are members of the United Brethren Church.
rederick Sorenson, a farmer of the town- ship of Spring Grove, is a citizen of the United States of foreign birth, having been born in Schilesswig-Holstein, Nov. 26, 1850. He was reared under the customs of the land of his nativity, and, after completing the time which, by law, he was required to pass in school, he assisted his father on the home farm, until 1869, when he determined to seek a fortune in that far more congenial clime, " The land of the free, and the home of the brave." To resolve was to execute, and April 22, 1869, he sailed from Hamburg and was landed in Portland, Maine. He came thence direct- ly to Warren County, where he had been preceded by an older brother, Martin. He had no trouble in - obtaining employment at farming, cheerfully going to work for $10 a month. He was wholly ignorant of the English language and when the winter season came he attended school for the purpose of familiar- izing himself with the language of his adopted coun- try. He not only accomplished that purpose but acquired a highly creditable English education.
In 1870 his parents also immigrated to America, settling in Warren County, where his father bought 40 acres of land on the northeast quarter of section 21, on which Frederick and a brother went to work, speedily putting it in a condition for profitable farming. In the succeeding year they became by purchase the owners of the remaining 120 acres of the quarter-sec- tion on which they had located. Mr. Sorenson has always been a part owner of the place in company with his parents.
He was joined in marriage with Catherine John-
452
WARREN COUNTY.
son in 1883. She is a native of the same German province in which her husband was born. Two chil- dren have been born to this worthy couple -- Carl, a son, and one who died in infancy. The members of the household are connected in membership with the Lutheran Church. In politics, Mr. Sorenson is a Republican. A view of Mr. Sorenson's home- place appears on page 450.
Andrew C. Sorenson, the father of the gentleman whose biography has just been briefly sketched, was also born in Schlesswig-Holstein, in 18rr, and was reared under the legal regulations of his native land, receiving the education provided by law. He mar- ried Annie Mathiason of the same province. She was the daughter of a well-to-do farmer, and on his death the son-in-law became the owner of the estate by purchase. It was his homestead and there his children were born and reared, until. 1870, in which year the transfer of the entire family to the Continent of America took place, their settlement in Warren County being effected as before mentioned. The elder Sorensons were the parents of eight children, and all save two are still living. Hansine is the wife of Paul Sorenson, and they are settled in Iowa. Martin is a citizen of prominence as a farmer and a friend of good order and progress in Spring Grove Township. Annie is the wife of Peter Hansen,. of the same township. Frederick is the next in order of birth. Mary is married to Martin Thuson, of Monmouth. Caroline, who is now a student at Mon- mouth College, lives in the same township where her parents located.
ames Owen, of Point Pleasant Township, is one of the prominent members of the farming community of Warren County. He is the owner of 400 acres of fine land located on section 12, which is in an exceedingly good condition for successful farming. Mr. Owen is a descendant from ancestors who, by their bravery in the contests with Great Britain, for the liberty of this country, earned for their succeeding generations the indisputable rights of American citizens. He was born in Tennessee (Hawkins County) Dec. 17,
1819, and is the son of James Owen. The latter was the son of Willian Owen, who was born in South Carolina, and was a soldier of the War of the Revo- lution. Among the battles in which he is on record as having been a participant, were King's Mountain, Cowpens, Eutaw Springs and Camden, besides many smaller engagements. He died in Hawkins Co., Tenn. His son, James Owen, was born in Anson Co., N. C., March 25, 1789, and he was only six months old when the family removed to Tennessee, where they were pioneers of Hawkins County. The Indians of that section of the country were still troublesome and for a short time after the arrival of the family in that State, they resided in a fort, James Owen, Sr., there reached the years of maturity and was still a young man when the War of 1812 again called the citizens of America to defend her from British encroachment. He enlisted and was in the action called the battle of Horse-Shoe. He mar- ried Sarah Lántor, who was born in Rockbridge Co., Va., about two miles from the Natural Bridge. After marriage, Mr. Owen settled on a portion of the large tract of land which his father had bought in Haw- kins County. Not being a friend to the slave ele- ment, however, he at last resolved to emigrate to some one of the free States, and, accordingly, made preparations to leave the section in which he had been born and reared. He set out with a horse and carriage, containing all his household goods. His wife rode on horseback, carrying the two youngest chil- dren, while the two eldest daughters, aged respec- tively 14 and 16, walked the entire distance to their destination, "in the State of Indiana. All else was abandoned by Mr. Owen in his eagerness to retreat from the hated institution, being determined that his children should not grow up within its influence. A location was made in Floyd County, where they set- tled on 80 acres of timber. A " patch" of land was cleared and a log house erected. The heavy timber was removed by hard and persistent labor and there . the wife and mother died in 1835. In the year fol- lowing that event, Mr. Owen sold his place and again set forth with his family for a new start in the role of a pioneer. He and his four children rode on horse- back to McDonough Co., Ill., at which place they stopped and located, instead of going to Flint Hills (now the city of Burlington), Iowa, where they had originally intended to settle. They made their home in the northwest part of McDonough County, at a
453
WARREN COUNTY.
point designated as the " Job Settlement," where a tract of land was purchased, on which they resided until 1844. The father then sold out again and went to Missouri, but remained there only a short time, returning to Illinois and locating in Henderson County. There James Owen, the subject of this biography, who had never been separated from his father during the many migrations of the family, bought 80 acres of land on which his father died in October, 1845.
On the small farm in Henderson County, where a frame house had been built and some other nominal improvements made, Mr. Owen resided until 1851, when he sold out and came to Warren County. He made his first purchase of land in Swan Township, of which he was the occupant between two and three years. He then sold out and bought the farm upon which he now lives, located on the northwest quarter of section 12, in Point Pleasant Township. No improvements of any character had been made on it, but the owner soon accomplished the necessary work which put it on a footing of equality with the numerous farms of value in the county. It is also sup- plied with all the needed outbuildings of substantial structure. Besides 400 acres under cultivation Mr. Owen is the owner of 50 acres of good timber land in Swan Township.
Mr. Owen had small advantages for obtaining any education in the schools, but his mental calibre is such as to supply all deficiencies of that character. He was fond of reading and possessed the natural sagacity to render it a source of profit and a means of intellectual cultivation. His powers as a natural mathematician are something remarkable, and he probably stands at the head of that class of geniuses in the State. He is a Republican by inheritance and inclination and has been a strong adherent of the party since its organization.
July 23, 1846, Mr. Owen was married to Demarus E. Emerich. She was born in Fayette Co., Ohio, July 14, 1829, and became the mother of fr chil- dren. They were named James C., Jacob E., Sarah A., John A., Joseph S., Mary J., Lucinda, Mary F., Cassius C, William C. and George G. The eldest son (James C.) was born May 6, 1847, and died June 2, 1880, from disease contracted during his ser- vice in the late war as a member of Co. H, 83d Ill. Vol. Inf. He left a wife and four children. Mary J.
'died at the age of nine years. Lucinda died in in- fancy. Mary F. also died in early childhood. Cas- sius C. was born May 1, 1861, and died Sept. 21, 1885. He left a wife and one child.
The parents of Mrs. Owen were Jacob and Abigail (Cooper) Emerick, natives respectively of Virginia and Ohio. They removed hither in 1832. The father died March 12, 1855, near Fort Scott, Kan. The mother died Nov. 1, 1877.
6
errit Paddock ranks among the well-to-do and well known agriculturists, who in early life engaged actively and arduously in the labor incident to a farm, and whose efforts have been crowned with success, thus enabling him to spend the remaining years of his life in retirement in the peaceful village of Kirk- wood. He is a native of Oneida Co., N. Y., and was born on the 19th of September, 1822; his par- ents are John and Polly (Christian) Paddock. They were natives of the State of New York, where they resided until their death, which occurred in Decem- ber, 1867, and in April, 1840, respectively.
Merrit continued a member of the family until he attained the age of 20 years, attending the district schools and working on the farm. After leaving home he worked out for six months, receiving for his salary $to.50 per month, and in 1842 he rented a farm in Oneida Co., N. Y., of 60 acres, which he re- mained on for one year. He then moved to Lewis County, same State, and there worked a farm for two years having only rented it, when he made a pur- chase of some land, a tract of 50 acres, and began its improvement and cultivation, continuing for two years and then sold it. His next enterprise was to work a farm on shares, also occupying himself in other pursuits, until 1851, when he removed west- ward, locating in Prophetstown, Whiteside County, this State, where he purchased 130 acres of land and remained there until 1853. In the latter year he again returned to Lewis County, in his native State, and reniained there for a couple of years, when he returned to Prophetstown and purchased 40 acres of improved land and erected thereon a good residence
. Y .
454
WARREN COUNTY ..
and barn, fenced the same, planted trees, etc. He came to Warren County in 1861, and settled in Tompkins Township. He purchased some land and engaged actively and energetically in its cultivation and improvement, and by subsequent purchases has increased his landed possessions until now he is the proprietor of 143 acres. He resided upon the same until 1872, when he came to Kirkwood and there purchased a house and lot where he has since lived, retired from the active labors of life.
Mr. Paddock was married Feb. 20, 1845, to Miss Alvira T. Hall, a native of New York, the ceremony being performed in Lewis County, her native State. Mr. Paddock is a Republican in political views, and, with his wife, belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is regarded as one of the solid and influential men of Warren County.
apt. Elisha C. Atchison, one of Warren County's successful farmers, and a gentle- man who has followed that vocation more or less all his life, is at present residing upon section 1, Cold Brook Township. He was
born in Sumner County, Central Tennessee, Jan. 20, 1820. The father of Mr. Atchison, whose name heads this notice, Nathan Atchison, was a na- tive of Virginia, having been born in Stafford County, that State, and was a farmer by occupation. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, under command of Gen. Jackson. He was married in Tennessee, after at- taining his majority, his wife being Lucretia Barnard , a native of North Carolina, who moved to Tennessee with her parents previous to her marriage. After their marriage, in 1829, they came to Gallatin Co., this State, from whence they removed to Madison County, where the father died in 1843, at the age of 67 years. The mother died in Bunker Hill, Macou- pin County, in 1872, aged 82 years. They were prominent citizens of the communities in which they resided, and her father was successful in his chosen vocation, as an agriculturist.
The gentleman whose name heads this notice was about nine years of age when his parents came to this State. He continued to reside with them until the death of his father, when he set forth to fight the battle of life alone. He was married in Knox County,
Nov. 24, 1846, to Miss Nabbie L. Fuller, the accom- plished daughter of Samuel and Hulda (Record) Fuller, natives of Massachusetts and of New England parentage, who, after marriage, moved to, Marietta, Washington County, Ohio, and afterwards, in 1844, came to this State, settling in Knox County, where her father died. Her mother is yet living, with her daughter, Mrs. Atchison, and has attained the ven- erable age of 90 years.
Mrs. Atchison, wife of our subject, was born near Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, Nov. 16, 1826. She was educated in the public schools and resided at home, assisting her mother in the household duties, until her marriage to Mr. A. Of their union eleven children have been born, four of whom are deceased. The names of the living are George W., who married Mary Mitchell; they reside in Cold Brook Town- ship, and are the parents of three children, one of whom is now deceased. Hulda L. married George Harlan and they are the parents of five children, one deceased ; they live at Dallas City, Ill. John H.,? William E., Fred and Minnie reside at home. Mary M. is attending school at Galesburg. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Atchison located in this' county and have continued to reside here, with the exception of a few years passed in Galesburg and Monmouth, until the present time. In 1856 Mr. Atchison purchased a portion of the property where he now resides. He has, by subsequent purchases, increased his landed interests in the county, until he is at present the proprietor of 240 acres, in Cold Brook Township, the major portion of which is under an advanced state of cultivation He and his wife are members of the Universalist Church. In politics, Mr. Atchison casts his vote with the Democratic party. He has been Assessor and Collector and also Justice of the Peace.
In September, 1862, Mr. Atchison enlisted in Co. B, 102d Ill. Vol. Inf., as private, and his regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. Im- mediately after enlistment he was elected Captain of the company, which he organized, and went into camp at Knoxville, Knox County. From there he went to Louisville, Ky, and afterwards did some skirmishing, but was in no active engagements. Mr. A. resigned command of his company at Gallatin, Tenn., and returned home, where he has since fol- lowed his chosen vocation, agriculture, meeting with success in that avenue of life.
1
UNIVERSITY VI NADA.
1
JW.Bolon
457
WARREN COUNTY.
oseph B. Malony, manufacturer of har- ness and dealer in harness and saddlery goods at Roseville, is a son of James and Margaret (Cairnes) Malony, and was born in Cumberland Co., Pa., Dec. 16, 1818. His parents were natives of Ireland and came to America about the year 1810, locating in the Key- stone State where the father was engaged as contrac- tor for stone work. In 1824 he removed into Ohio and there engaged in farming, also following his trade at stone work, and laid the foundation for the first flouring mill on the Maumee River. He made the Buckeye State his permanent home and died there about 1826-7, his wife's demise occurring in 1846.
Joseph B., the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this biographical notice, went to learn the trade of saddle-maker at the age of 16, at which he served an apprenticeship of three and a half years, and again ten months under the instruction of another firm. He followed the same in the States of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and finally settled down in Canton, Fulton County, this State, and opened a shop, which he carred on for 12 years. At the ex- piration of that time he removed to Vermont, same county, but remained only a year, when he again re- turned to Canton and embarked in the same busi- ness for four years. His next move was to Prairie City, McDonough Co., Ill., where he engaged in business and remained until the year 1861.
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.