Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 45

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 45

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In the latter year the call was made for brave hearts and strong arms to defend the Union flag, and Joseph B., a very patriotic gentleman, enlisted in the Seventh Regt. of Ill. Vol. Cav., and served two years and four months, having held the position of Sergeant Saddler, but was discharged on account of disability. He then returned to Prairie City and again embarked in business, which he continued until the year 1872, then coming to Roseville and in- teresting himself in his present enterprise, in which he has met with remarkable success and is doing a constantly increasing business. He has gotten up many new improvements in harness that have come

into general use. He invented the first pad for a saddle, padding for a saddletree and the roller at- tachment to the "Sensible Combination, Buckle." He is also the inventor of a combination halter, which is not only the best in use but cheap and durable.

In 1841, one of the most important events in the life of Mr. Joseph B. Maloney occurred, it being his marriage to Miss Jane Anderson, and of their union were born four children-Richard A., Joseph C., Willian N. and James M. Mrs. Malony's de- mise occurred in 1850, and Mr. M. formed a sec- ond matrimonial alliance with a sister of his first wife, Miss Catherine Anderson, and they have be- come the parents of five children, only four of whom survive, as follows: Mary E., Nathaniel L., Margaret J. and Emma. Mrs. Maloney died in 1872. Mr. Malony is a Greenbacker in politics. He is a member of the United Brethren Church at Rose- ville.

ohn Wesley Bolon, Sheriff of Warren County, was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Sept. 2, 1838. His parents, John and Eliza ( Joyce ) Bolon, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia, were married in the last named State; settled at once in Ohio, where their five sons and four daughter were born, and where the senior Mr. Bolon died in 1848, aged about 63 years. John Bolon was a son of John and Mary Bolon and a descendant from a long line of English ancestry, who had emigrated to America many years prior to the Revolutionary War. John, the father of Sheriff Bolon, lived in Eastern Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in farming, and during the war of 1812, enlisted in the defense of his country. ,After he grew to manhood he moved to Virginia, where, in Loudon County, he married his wife. During that same year he came to Ohio. His wife was the daugh- ter of Col. Thomas B. Joyce, a native of Ireland. He had come to Virginia prior to the Revolutionary War, and with three of his sons took part in that memorable struggle. He was likewise one of the patriots who assisted in repelling the British invasion during the war of 1812. He was Colonel of a Vir- ginia regiment, and proved himself to be a brave and

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gallant officer. After the death of his wife, he re- moved to Ohio, and subsequently to Illinois, and re- sided with his daughter, Mrs. Bolon, until his demise, which occurred at the advanced age of 97 years. In politics, he was an old line Whig. Mrs. Bolon brought her children to Warren County in 1855, after living four years in Indiana, and in Floyd Township, this county, spent the rest of her life, dying at the home of the subject of this sketch in 1868, aged 76 years.

John W. Bolon was pretty thoroughly educated at Hillsboro Seminary, in Indiana, where he spent four years, and after coming to Illinois taught school probably two years, which, for himself, was an excel- lent means of further disciplining and forming his mind. Before leaving Indiana he read law some time with Judge Niblock, who has since served so many years upon the Supreme Bench of that State, but abandoned it and turned his attention to farming and stock dealing, which he followed uninterruptedly for 15 years. He now rents his fine farm of 160 acres in Floyd Township. While a resident of the township.he served the people 12 years as Road Commissioner, one year as Constable, eight years as Supervisor and 14 years as School Director. He has always been a Republican in politics, is a good stump speaker, and in 188z, as' candidate for Sheriff, ran far ahead of his ticket.

Mr. Bolon was married in Floyd Township, Jan. 21, 1857, to Lucinda Sigman, a native of Guernsey Co., Ohio, and daughter of Isaac and Julia (Spears) Sigman, a farmer of Floyd Township. His ancestors were German. Mr. and Mrs. Bolon's children are named : Alfred W., Charles M., Emeline, Nettie, Ella, John H. and Roy. The family are all con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bolon, himself, has been a member of that Church for many years and for the last 16 years has had license to preach as a local preacher. He is recog- nized as a fervent and eloquent teacher and is capable of doing great good in the cause of Chris- tianity.

Some of Mr. Bolon's children have been married, namely: Alfred W. married Minnie, the daughter of Dr. Blair, of Abington, Ill. They reside on the homestead in Floyd Township, and carry on the farm; Charles Milton married Mary Ada Goddard, daughter of Henry Goddard, of Floyd Township, this

county. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising in Berwick Township.

Whatever of this world's goods, Mr. B. possesses, he has most diligently labored for. He inherited noth- ing in the way of property and when married had only $too in money. He has been a hard working, frugal man and has won for himself a most enviable position in the estimation of his fellow citizens, as well as a fair competency. He is not only a genial gentleman, but possesses most excellent judgment and nerve, and few men in the county are so well fitted for the position he holds. Among the portraits of the leading men of the county given in this book may be found that of Mr. Bolon. He is a truly representative citizen, and honors the work contain- ing his features.

ohn A. Gordon, notary public, real estate and collecting agent, at Roseville, also a surveyor and engineer, was born Jan. 10, 1835, in Mercer Co., Pa., his parents being William and Sarah (Dilley) Gordon, natives of that State. The parents came to this State in 1858, and purchased 80 acres of land located on section 32, Roseville Township, on which they lo- cated and where the father followed the occupation of a farmer until his death, in May, 1876. His wife still survives and resides on the old homestead one mile east of the village. The children were six in number, five of whom attained the age of majority.

John A. Gordon, of whom we write, was the eldest of his parents' children, and remained at home until he attained his 2 rst year, receiving a good education and assisting in the labors of the farm. He had, prior to attaining his majority, engaged somewhat in surveying and also in teaching school. During the winter of 1855-56, he was engaged in the latter oc- cupation, in New Lebanon, Pa. In September, 1856, he came to Roseville, but previous to that, during the summer of that year, was employed by the Mil- waukee and Missouri River Railroad, in Iowa, mak- ing the preliminary survey. In 1856, the winter of that year, he taught school, and continued in that vocation for three years. He next engaged as clerk

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and book-keeper for Emans & Woodmansee and was with that firm one year. We next, in 1865, find him in Chicago, where he is taking a regular business course of study at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, from which he received a diploma. He then returned to Roseville and was elected County Surveyor, which position he held until August, 1870, when he engaged with the Rockford, Rock Island and St. Louis Railroad as station agent at Roseville, and held that position two years. At the expiration of this time he became interested in the furniture business and continued thus for ten years, when he sold out and opened an office on Penn Avenue, where he is at present located

Mr. Gordon was married in 1861 to Miss Philena Dilley, a native of Mercer Co., Pa., and a daughter of Stephen Dilley, and he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church.

In his political views, Mr. Gordon is a strong.ad- vocate of prohibition, casts his vote with that party, fand was an active and energetic worker in the cause. Mr. Gordon has held the position of Police Magis- trate and Village Trustee. He has quite an interest in the village plat of Roseville, and is regarded as one of the leading business men of that thriving little village.

serrick Livermore, of Sumner Township, is one of the pioneers of 1839 who settled in Warren County, and is now one of the most prominent of the agriculturists of the township in which he is located. His birth took place Aug. 28, 1830, in Washington Co., Ohio. His father, Andrew Livermore, was a native of Shirley, Middlesex Co., Mass. The latter was the son of James and Polly (Kelsey) Livermore, The ancestral history of the family has been pre- served in the annals of Shirley, which were compiled by the Rev. Seth Chandler. The first progenitor in this country was John Livermore, who came, at the age of 28, to the New World, sailing from Ipswich, England, in April, 1634, in the good ship Francis, John Cutting, Captain. John Livermore located in Watertown, Mass., and there his life terminated, April 16, 1684. He was a potter by trade, Oliver

Livermore, who was the first of the family to settle in Shirley, located in that place as nearly as can be ascertained about 1767.

Andrew Livermore was but seven years old when his parents removed from the " Old Bay State " to the, then, far distant West. The journey was made in the fashion so often recounted in this and other works of similar character, peculiar to the time, when there were practically no means of public travel. The long and difficult route, however, was safely traversed by team, and the family homestead established in Washington Co., Ohio. Andrew Liv- ermore there attained to the age and condition of manhood, and there he was married to Betsey Ful- ler. She, too, was a native of Massachusetts, having been born in Essex County, in 1807. Her parents be- came pioneers of the "Buckeye State" when she was very young. After marriage, Andrew and wife set- tled on the homestead of his father, in Washington County, and resided there until their removal to Warren County, in 1839, that journey also being made in the primitive fashion of the earlier period, the family traveling to Illinois with four horses and a wagon. They brought with them all their portable property, and passed four weeks on the road.

The senior Livermore bought a farm in township II (now Kelly Township), and there proceeded with the work common to the pioneer residents of a new country. He built a hewed-log house and split " shakes " for a roof and puncheons for a floor. This place was occupied by the family until 1852, when it was sold and they removed to Point Pleasant Town- ship. The father bought a farm, on which there had been a log house erected. Of this structure they took possession until time and circumstances were favor- able for the building of a more suitable and conven- ient abode. The farm was put in the best possible condition and was the home of the father until his death. His demise took place Feb. 30, 1880. The family comprised ten children. Derrick, the subject of this biography, was the eldest. Russell was born April 3, 1832. His death transpired Aug. 28, 1850. Andrew P. was born Aug. 28, 1834, and died Feb. 5, 1881. John K. was born Aug. 9, 1836, and is living in Henderson County. Western T. was born Dec. 29, 1838. Jonas was born June 19, 1841, and died May 8, 1862. Oliver was born July 29, and died Aug. 28, 1842. Socrates was born Nov. 10, 1843; Charles C., Oct. 24, 1847 ; William R., Oct. 6, 1850.

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Derrick Livermore was nine years old when he accompanied his parents to Warren County, and in that county he has ever since made his home. He was brought up on the homestead of his parents and lived with them until he became the head of a fam- ily of his own. His marriage to Betsey Stevens oc- curred Jan. 8, 185 1. She was born in Sangamon Co., Ill., Feb. 15, 1831, and is the daughter of James and Nancy (Miles) Stevens. Her father and mother were natives of the State of Kentucky, and joined the early pioneer element of the county where she was born.

At the time of his marriage, Mr. Livermore bought 80 acres of land on section 12, in the township of Cold Brook, in the same county where he had passed the years of his boyhood and youth, and entered upon the duties of manhood and which he has so thoroughly and creditably discharged. He built a small house on the estate and proceeded to the bus- iness of a farmer. There he continued to reside until he sold it and removed to Point Pleas- ant Township, in 1855, where he bought 80 acres situated on section 10, and where he repeated the experience of his former life in the township in which he at first located. He improved the land and made additional purchases, until he became the owner of his present estate of 400 acres, the whole of which is under thorough cultivation. The family of Mr. Liv- ermore includes six children. Andrew J. resides in this (Point Pleasant) township. Joshua resides in Page Co., Iowa. Eugenie L. is married to B. L. Bird- sall, of Point Pleasant. Mary A., Alice E. and Clara are still at home.

Mr. Livermore is a Republican in politics, and a Universalist in religious belief.

ohn Nicol Bruen, deceased, was born in Essex Co., N. J., Oct. 25, 1825, and died in Monmouth, Nov. 21, 1884. His father, William Bruen, was a descendant from Scotch ancestry, and his mother, Jane (Williamson) Bruen, from the German. They reared three sons and five daughters, Mr. Bruen being the eldest. John Nicol Bruen was educated at Bloomfield, N.

J., and his father, who was a shoe manufaturer on a small scale, tried to educate him into the Order of the Knights of St. Crispin, but young Bruen protested after a few months' application to the rudiments of the trade, and the year 1844 found him farming in Henderson County, this State. An uncle of his, Mr. Bruen, owned an unimproved farm of 160 acres some ten miles from Oquawka, and it was upon this tract of land that he gave our subject 80 acres if he would settle on it, and here he sought to establish an independency. Before assuming the dignity of a farmer on his own account, however, he hired him- self out to a neighbor who paid him the paltry sum of $7 per month, probably advancing him to $8 per month when he had grown more proficient in the essential departments. He brought with him from New Jersey a squirrel rifle and a silver watch. The first he exchanged for fence rails, and the second for prairie-breaking. His start in life may be accurately surmised from these facts, and it is proper here to; state that he left his family a handsome competency. He owned a large tract of land in Mills, Montgomery and Pottawatomie Counties, Iowa, all of which is now in a good state of improvement. In 1882 he had between 2,000 and 3,000 acres of corn, 300 acre. of wheat, 200 of oats and 1,200 head of hogs. He. was also President of the Illinois Live Stock Com- pany in Colorado, in which he was a heavy stock- holder.

His first marriage was in 1848, to Miss Jane Sharp- less, of Henderson Co., Ill., who died in 1863, leav- ing three children-William S., Charles E. and Ida. Mr. Bruen came into Monmouth in 1875, and lo- cated, bringing with him the accomplished lady now his widow, who kindly furnishes the data from which this sketch is written. Before her marriage to Mr. Bruen, which occurred in Henderson County, Oct. 10, 1865, she was Miss Mary A. Martin. Her par- ents were Preston and Ann E. (Taylor) Martin, na- tives respectively of Kentucky and Virginia. They were married in the first named State, came to Illi- nois in 1838 and spent some years in Morgan County but the greater part of their lives was spent in Hen- derson County, where the present Mrs. Bruen was born. Mrs. Martin died Dec. 15, 1881. They had previously, on the 23d of March, 1881, celebrated their golden wedding. Mr. Martin resides at Biggs- ville, Ill., now in the 82d year of his age.

Mrs. Bruen was educated at Knox College, Gales-

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RESIDENCE OF WH. A. MITCHELL, SEC. 3. HALE TOWNSHIP.

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DRUGSTORE OF E.D. ALEXANDER & Co, MAINST. ALEXIS.

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burg, Ill., and taught four years in the public schools before her marriage. Her parents reared six sons and four daughters. Four of her brothers and one brother-in-law were in the Union army during the Rebellion. She is a consistent member of the Pres- byterian Church. Her husband also attended that Church, though not a member. He was always a liberal contributor to the support of the Church. In politics, he was a Democrat, though frequently voting for men identified with other parties. He was for several years a director and stockholder of the First National Bank of Monmouth. The success of Mr. Bruen may be attributed to his energy, perseverance and broad grasp of business enterprises. No man stood higher in the county in which he resided. His word was always as good as his bond.

enry Sigafoos, deceased, was formerly a resident on section 33 of Spring Grove Township. He was born in Sussex Co., N. J., Aug. 31, 1832. The death of his father when he was in infancy left hini in the sole care of his mother, and he remained with her until he was nine years of age, when she was again mar- ried. He then undertook the management of his own affairs and he gave his attention exclusively to the work of obtaining a good and available educa- tion. He had already made considerable progress and he prosecuted his studies until he was qualified to teach in the public schools. He was occupied in that business until his transfer of his interests to Il- linois, which took place in 1853. He was unmarried when he located in Warren County, and, associated with his brother, he bought a farm in Lenox Town- ship. He passed the winters in teaching and through the remainder of the year he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits.

March 18, 1858, he was married to Flora Shaw. Mrs. Sigafoos was born in Hartland, Genesee Co., N. Y., Jan. 27, 1840, and was the daughter of Wil- liam and Adeline (Stannard) Shaw. Not long after their marriage, Mr. Sigafoos bought the southeast quarter of section 33, in Spring Grove Township. They moved into a log house which stood on the

place. There was besides a frame stable and some of the land was already broken to the plow. . The new proprietor re-built the stable at once, and in 1871 he erected the commodious and good frame house, which has since been the family residence. His death took place April 29, 1881. ` The four chil- dren of which he and his wife became the parents are as follows: Warren H., residing in this township, born Dec. 2, 1859, and married to Dora Robinson in the same township; Hattie M., born Oct. 20, 1864, and now the wife of Charles Hart of Cameron ; Myr- tle A., born March 11, 1870; while the birth of the youngest child, Laura A., took place Nov. 19, 1870. Mr. Sigafoos was always prominent in his interest in educational matters and discharged the duties of School Director for many years. He was a Repub- lican of strong principles.

William H. Shaw (father of Mrs. Sigafoos) was born in Hudson, N. Y., Oct. 27, 1802. He was reared to the estate of manhood in his native State and was there married to Adeline Stannard, March 5, 1829, who was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., July 1, 1811. They located their home in Hartland, in the same county, and were there resident until 1841. In the year previous the husband had come to the West alone to seek a suitable location upon which to found a home. He came by the regular route of public travel to Chicago, whence he came to Warren County on foot. He had exchanged his farm in Hartland, Genesee Co., N. Y., for land in this county and on his way thither he went to Whiteside and Henry Counties. He had made the exchange with- out seeing the property in Illinois, but on looking it over he was entirely satisfied with the bargain he had made, and concluded to make the necessary arrange- ments for the accommodation of his family in War- ren County and establish his home in the place of which he had become the owner. The farm was situated on section II, in the township of Monmouth. There was a log cabin on the farm, of which he took possession and passed the winter on it. During that season he built a frame house for Mr. Talbot. He went back to his old home in the spring for the members of his household, and with them returned to Illinois for a permanent settlement. They reached their home in June. The log house was the abode of the family for a time, when the father erected a more suitable and comfortable home.

Mr. Shaw died April 13, 1876, his wife having

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departed this life July 8, 1872. Their family in- cluded seven children in all. Two only are now living. Flora is the widow of Henry Sigafoos and lives in Spring Grove Township. Henrietta is the wife of Barney Miller and they reside on the Shaw homestead, in Monmouth Township. A view of the home of Mrs. 'Sigafoos appears on page 450.

ewton P. Bruington, a resident of Alexis, has retired from the turmoil of an active business life. He is a native citizen of Warren County, having been born in the town- ship of Cold Brook, July 16, 1845. Thomas Bruington, his father, was born in Breckenridge Co., Ky., May 13, 1807. He was the son of James and Jane (McGlothlin) Bruington. He was of Scotch-English origin, the mother being of Scotch descent

Thomas Bruington was reared on the homstead of his parents, in the land of handsome women and good horses, and on the 22d day of January, 1822, suc- cumbed to the charms of one of the belles of the Blue-Grass country-Miss Jane McGlothlin. She was a native of the same county as her husband and was born Aug. 14, 1809. In 1833, the father, de- termining that there was a broader field wherein to rear his growing family, set out for the State of Illi- nois, traveling with his household in the conveyance common to the journeyings of the pioneers of those days. He owned a pair of oxen and a wagon and by their aid the route was made. The method of op- eration was quite after the gypsy pattern and the journey was not wholly without interest and pleas- ure, notwithstanding its tediousness. The cooking was done by the wayside and the family slept in the wagon. Their destination was Warren Co. and on their arrival they made their first location in Barnett's Grove, in what is now Cold Brook Township. Mr. Bruington took a timber claim and built a log house. He placed the structure in the midst of the timber and split logs to make its roof. He cleared a few acres of timber and held possession of the property there about ten years. On selling out he moved to the prairie

in the same township and built another log house. This the family occupied a few years and, as their circumstances improved, they erected a frame house for their accommodation. The father improved an entire section of land. About the year 1856 he de- termined to make another change, and on again sell- ing out, he bought a farm in Kelly Township, or rather a large tract of land in the immediate vicinity of the line of Mercer County. There he erected a house, which was one of the first frame buildings in this locality. There he improved another farm and made the common additions of fruit and shade trees to his estate. This remained the homstead while he lived, until a very short time previous to his death he moved to the property belonging to the lady wlio became his second wife, in the same township. There he passed the latest years of his life. His demise took place Oct 9, 1882. His first wife died Sept. 18, 1849. In 1859 he was married to Mrs. Annie Goff. She is still living. The issue of the first marriage was nine children, and six are yet living. James is a citizen of Kansas ; Jolın M. lives in Texas. Eliza- beth and Jane are deceased. George is a resident of the township of Cold Brook. Thomas lives in Mer- cer County. Newton P. is the subject proper of this sketch and is a resident of the township already named. Eugene lives in Spring Grove Township, and one child not mentioned.

Newton P. Bruington passed the years of his boy- hood and youth in his native county ; was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools. 'In 1861 he went to Idaho, crossing the plains with his brother John. They had a mule-train consisting of four animals and a wagon. They set out from War- ren County on the Ist day of April, of the year named. They made a halt of a few days in Marshall County, Iowa, and with that single exception pushed on to Omaha without pausing. There they replen- ished their stock of provisions and started from there in the latter part of April. They arrived at their destination about the ist of August. Mr. Bruington interested himself in mining and continued that ex- citing and delusive occupation about 18 months. He then commenced packing goods from Umatilla Land- ing to the camps in the mountains. In 1863 he re- turned to Warren County. As soon as he was fairly at home he resumed the occupation of a farmer. In 1870 he bought land in North Henderson Township, Mercer County, and devoted himself to the rearing of

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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 45

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

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