Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 49

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 49

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The subject of our sketch was furloughed for 60 days after the battle of Vicksburg. He re- ceived a wound in the left thigh at Mansfield, on the Red River expedition, when he was compelled to re- main in the hospital for two months, being mustered out Aug. 12, 1864, at Baton Rouge, La. Coming to Springfield, he was paid off, and then returned home. Mr. Kidder now draws a pension on account of the wound received while fighting for his country. Since 1864, the time of his return home, he has been en- gaged in farming, principally raising stock

Mr. Kidder received opportunities for acquiring a fine education, having attended College at Lombard

University, Galesburg, for two years, besides other excellent schools of learning. He studied the arts and sciences, and is a well educated man, as well as one of the prominent and representative citizens of this county. Politically, Mr. Kidder is identified with the Republican party.

avid B. Stewart is a farmer on section 6 of the township of Kelly. In 1855 he started from his home in Pennsylvania to seek a suitable place for a permanent loca- tion, and visited the States of Illinois, Mis- souri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. He concluded to locate in Illinois, and returned to his native State to make the necessary preparations. In the spring of 1856 he came to Warren County. and entered eighty acres of land on the south half of section 15 in Spring Grove Township. He · also bought 40 acres adjoining, where he built a house and proceeded to improve the property. He lived on that place until the winter of 1872, when he sold out and bought the property where he is at present located. He is the owner of 151 acres of excellent land, all of it being in a good state of till- age and supplied with the requisite farm implements. The place is beautified by several varieties of trees. We are pleased to be able to present a view of the home place in this ALBUM on page 428.

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Mr. Stewart was born Sept. 30, 1826, in Washing- ton Co., Pa. Thomas Stewart, his father, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, and was a Presbyterian of Scotch descent. The latter was nine years of age when he accompanied his parents, Robert and Mary Stewart, to America. He was reared in Ad- ams and Washington Counties in the Keystone State, and was married in the county last named. The lady whom he made his wife, Miss Mary Welch, was born in Adams Co., Pa., and they resided there until 1835, when they went to Moundville in West Virginia. Mr. Stewart bought a farm and was a resident there as long as he continued to live. His wife afterwards came to Illinois to see her children and died while in this State, in 1856. They had II children, and five of them are still living : Robert

UNIVERSIII WILLLANVIN

Starry . G.Harding

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is a citizen of Kirkwood. William lives at Little York. Joseph lives in Elmwood, Peoria Co., Ill .; he is a retired merchant and is holding the office of Police Magistrate. Mary is the widow of James Graham, and lives in Page Co., Iowa.

Mr. Stewart is the youngest. He was nine years of age when his parents removed to West Virginia, where he was reared on the farm. He was educated in the school which was maintained by its patrons and called the subscription school, because its ex- penses were defrayed by subscription. When he attained the period of his legal freedom, he went to Somerset Co., Pa., and, associated with another young man, he engaged in the manufacture of farm implements. He operated there four years, and went thence to Bedford County and was similarly occupied there until the year in which he made his prospecting tour in the West.

Aug. 6, 1861, he was married to Sarah Pilkington, and they had eight children. They are named Jen- nie B., Orlando P is a teacher in the High School at Keithsburg, Harry J., Archie G., Guy, Fred G., Erma and Erla (twins). The third child born to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart died when about a year old, in 1867.

Mr. Stewart was formerly a Democrat but is now a prohibitionist in political principles. He was Jus- tice of the Peace for 12 years while a resident of Spring Grove Township. His wife was born in Somerset Co., Pa., May 26, 1838. She is the daugli- ter of Benjamin W. and Jane (Henry) Pilkington. Mr. Pilkington was born in Adams Co., Pa. He died May 24, 1844, in Somerset County.

karry G. Harding, one of the best known men in Warren County, and whose portrait is given on the opposite page, resides on a fine place, in the suburbs of Monmouth. He was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., Aug. 25, 1811, and was a son of Chancy and Anna (Gates) Hard- ing,* natives of Connecticut and of old English de- scent. Nathan Harding landed at Cape Cod, in

1640, and from him sprang the Hardings of this country. His grandson, Chancy Harding, named as the immediate ancestor of the subject of this sketch, was born in Middle Haddam, Conn., Jan. 8, 1775, and died at Iowa Falls, Dec. 11, 1876; his first wife, mother of H. G. Harding, was also born at Middle Haddam, I I years later than Chancy, and died while yet a young woman, at Richfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., April 6, 1819. The Chancy Harding here mentioned married a second time, his last wife being Sally Mar- tin, who was born at Richfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., Nov. 3, 1794, and died at Iowa Falls, in April, 1885. Thus it will be seen the families upon both sides have been uniformly long lived. Chancy's first mar- riage occurred at Chatham, Conn., and he removed thence to Otsego County, N. Y., probably in 1809. From there he removed to Iowa Falls, Iowa, after having buried his wife, who died April 6, 18rg. She bore him two sons, H. G., the eldest, and his brother, Chancy.

He was brought up to farming, an occupation he - has claimed all his life. The common schools of Otsego Co., N. Y., and an academy at Hamilton sup- plied him a good education, and from 16 to 26 years of age he' alternated the seasons with farming and teaching. In 1857, he came to Warren County, bought a farm, now part of the city of Monmouth, laid a portion of it off as Clark's addition to the town, and later on, in 1859, he purchased a 40-acre tract in connection with Gen. Harding and laid out Haley's addition. At this writing (October, 1885), he lives upon a part of his original purchase, owns several hundred acres of the finest farms in the county, and has given his children a handsome com- petency. He was one of the organizers of the Mon- mouth National Bank, in 1870; was a director therein up to 1874 ; sold out, and, assisted by his brother, Chancy, and others, in January, 1875, organized the Second National Bank of Monmouth, with which he is now connected as a director. Mr. Harding has long been one of the wealthiest men of Warren County, and yet, aside from a few hundreds inher- ited from his father, he has acquired it by his indi- vidual effort and industry.

Away back in 1844, before leaving New York, Mr. Harding was elected to the State Legislature from Otsego County, but, to his credit, it must be written that he was wise enough to profit by his first lessons and to steer clear of such a fate in Illinois. The

*The father of Mr. Harding used the (g) in his name in the early part of his life, but left it off about the same time as did his son, Chaney (see sketeh), who is the only brother of Harry G.

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most the people here have been able to get out of him, in the way of public service, has been to push him into an aldermanship, and twice into the mayor- alty. He has always been an ardent Republican and during the war he was an active supporter of the cause of the Union and good government.

After returning from the Legislature in New York, he resumed his farming operations. He was soon thereafter elected Justice of the Peace, and served the people in that capacity for several years. He was a member of the Board of Education for about 15 years, during his residence in Otsego County, and contributed to the best of his ability in fostering and encouraging general education. He was also a mem- ber of the Board of Education in Monmouth for about 15 years.

At the time of the laying out of what is known as Haley's addition to the city of Monmouth, in con- nection with General Harding, the lots were di- vided and Mr. Harry G. Harding adopted what was then a new plan in this Western country, in get- ting his property into market. This was by selling lots and assisting many poor people to build small houses thereon, with the understanding that they should become owners after complying with the spec- ified agreement. This was, that they should pay him a monthly installment of but little more than ordinary rent. By this arrangement the prudent and economical mechanic was enabled to secure a home. Mr. Harding in this way disposed of about 100 lots, at prices ranging from $150 to $300 each, and also contributed largely to the building up of the city of Monmouth, as well as performing a most com- mendable act towards his fellow townsmen and neigh- bors. Careful business methods like these will nat- urally bring a fair financial return to their projectors. Mr. Harding also furnished most of the lumber with which to construct the dwelling, and in exceptional cases, where the man was very poor, he furnished all the lumber and gave long time for payment.

May 17, 1838, he was married, at Exeter, N. Y., to Salinda Brainard, a native of Otsego County, and daughter of Nathan Brainard. She died at Exeter, Aug. 15, 1843, leaving two sons-Delavan, who died soon after her, and De Lloyd. On Nov, 17, 1844. Mr. Harding, at the same town, married Elvira C. Hubbard, daughter of Seth and Lucy (Swan) Hub- bard, and had borne to him four children. Of his children, De Lloyd, the eldest son, married Mary

Bacon; they have one daughter, Elvira, now a young lady, who has been educated at Knoxville. The son resides near his parental home and owns a splendid farm of 225 acres, a mile from the city limits. He is principally engaged in stock dealing and farming. Fred E. was born Sept. 20, 1847, attended Mon- mouth College and completed his business education at Schenectady, N. Y. He is now Cashier of the Second National Bank of Monmouth. He was mar- ried to Lucy Nye, of that city. Frank W. was born March 1, 1849, and was united in marriage with Nannie Davenport, of Monmouth. They have three daughters. He was educated at Monmouth College and is the Assistant Cashier of the Second National Bank, at Monmouth. Jennie I., born Sept. 4, 1885, died June 2, 1861. Willie, the youngest, was born Oct. 22, 1857, died Sept. 6, 1858.

Mr. Harding's life has been devoted to the prose- cution of his business and the education of his chil- cren. He has ever been careful and methodical in all his operations, and his course has won the esteem and respect of his neighbors. He is public-spirited and liberal, and any object having for its aim the ad- vancement of the material or moral development of Monmouth or Warren County, finds in him an able and earnest supporter. We are pleased in being able to present a portrait of this good and prominent citizen.

illiam M. Lair, a well known farmer of Kelly Township, is the son of William Lair, one of the earliest pioneers of Warren County. The senior Lair was born in War- ren County, Ky., April 3, 1797. His father was a German by birth and his mother was born in North Carolina. They were among the very first settlers in Warren Co., Ky., and their son, the father of the gentleman who is represented in this sketch, was the first white child born there. He was reared to be a farmer, and passed the whole of his youth in his native county. He was married there, Feb. 5, 1827, to Sarah R. Wallace. She was the daughter of William and Nancy (Smith) Wallace and was also a native of Warren Co., Ky. Her grand- father, Robert Wallace, came from Ireland. She was

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born May 8, 1809. In 1832 they left their native county with their family, setting out with their own conveyance, for the State of Illinois. They brought with them their household appurtenances and camped and cooked by the wayside. They were four weeks on the road. They passed a year on the Spoon River, in Knox County, and after reaching Warren County settled for a summer in Monmouth. Mr. Lair then bought land on section 30, in "Township 12, Range 1," now Kelly Township. He set about perfecting the arrangements common to pioneers, built a log house for the temporary accommodation of his household, and proceeded with all possible dispatch to the work of improving his claim. Soon after, the first log cabin was replaced by a double- hewed-log structure of goodly dimensions, which constituted their home until 1858. In that year the family removed to the southeast quarter of the same section and once more lived in a pioneer's cabin. This they inhabited until 1861. They then removed to a school-house, in which they lived six weeks, while their own house was in preparation. The new house was a commodious frame building, and was the home of the senior Lair during the re- maining portion of his life. His demise took place April 7, 1872. Six of the children born to him and his wife (thirteen in all) are still living. They are Robert W., who married Mary A. Quinn, and to them were born four children, viz .: Annie, William, Addison and Fannie. Addison is deceased. Robert lives in Spring Grove Township. Harriet is the wife of Dwight Corning, and is the inother of ten children; the names of the six living being Benjamin, Jennie, Jessie, Clark, Helen and Alice. The family reside in Crawford County, Kas. Helen is the wife of Sam- uel McKahan, and they are also residents of Craw- ford County, and the parents of five children, name- ly : Charley, May, Hattie, Altie and an infant de- ceased. Sarah E. married R. B. Ball. Rosa and Fielding F. are the names of their children. They reside in Rice County, Kas. Ella J. is the wife of Ferdinand Burtschy, a resident of Nodaway County, Mo. Four children were in their family-Etta, Ada, Freddie and Gracie. Freddy is deceased. The next in order of birth was William M., the subject of this notice. Catherine, who is now deceased, was the wife of James T. Gilmore. Fielding A. is also de- ceased, but had married Margaret S. Pedigo. Anna E., who is also deceased, became the wife of Irvin

Robinson. The remaining five children died while young.

William M. Lair was born on the homestead of his father, in Kelly Township, Feb. 5, 1853. He had the training and education of the farmers' sons of that period and, in connection with his mother, ably manages the estate left by his father. A view of the old homestead is given on page 428. He was married Aug. 2, 1876, to Nancy A. Pedigo. Their family now includes four children-Florence, Clark, Maggie and Robert. Mrs. Lair was born in Ken- tucky, in the same county in which her husband's parents were early settlers. The date of her birth was Sept. 4, 1857. She was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Millegan) Pedigo, who were natives *

of Warren County, Ky. They came to this county about 1860, and settled in Kelly Township. The fa- ther died in 1872. His widow is still living and re- sides in Iowa. £ Mr. Pedigo had previously been married, by which union he had five children, and by his second marriage had ten children. Three of the fifteen are deceased.

amuel Marvin Eldred, was born in Fulton County, N. Y., Dec. 19, 1828. His parents John and Hannah (Fox) Eldred, were na- tives of Rhode Island. They spent most of their married life in New York. The father came to Illinois to see his children, and died while here at the advanced age of 75 years. The death of the mother occurred in 1864, at the home of her daughter in Michigan. Marvin Eldred remained at home until he was 21 years old, receiving, meantime, a good common-school education. He spent a few years in a lumber mill at Inghams' Mills, New York, until he decided to come West. He came to Illi- nois in 1852 and located in Roseville Township. He purchased 160 acres of land, and by subsequent in- vestments increased his landed interests, making him the owner of 360 acres of good, valuable land.

In 1864 Mr. Eldred was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Chase, who was born in Princeville, Peoria County, Oct. 4, 1843. She was a daughter of S. P. and Ann (Houston) Chase, who were nativesof New

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Hampshire. They removed to Peoria County, this State, in 1842, where they bought wild land. They succeeded in cultivating it and making a comfortable home, where the family remained until the death of Mr. Chase, which occurred in 1870. The demise of the mother occurred in 1875, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Eldred.

The issue of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Eldred was one daughter, Anna May, born Oct 14, 1866. The family lived upon the farm until 1874, when they removed to Roseville and the ensuing year pur- chased a lot on Main Street, and erected a resi- dence upon it. Here Mr. Eldred resided until his death, which occurred Jan. 5, 1885.

Mr. Eldred was interested quite extensively in buying and feeding cattle for the market. He served his township as Supervisor and his village as Trus- tee. He was careful of his financial standing, and valued his word or any contract or verbal agree- ment as thoroughly binding as his bond, and, as was remarked, he " always paid 100 cents on the dollar." He was a strong Republican, and as a citizen and neighbor always kind to the poor and enterprising, and was recognized as one of the leading men in this part of Warren County.

eorge Jacob Kobler, born in Rhine, Bava- ria, Germany, July 6, 1836, came to Amer- "K ica in 1853. His parents, Henry and Anna Mary (Faath) Kobler, reared two sons and two daughters, George J. being the second in order of birth. Mr. Kobler, of this sketch, was fairly educated in his native country, where he learned the trade he has since so successfully fol- lowed, that of butchering. Landing first in New York city, Mr. Kobler proceeded at once to Buffalo, and thence to Cincinnati, where he spent one year, going from there to Louisville, St. Louis and Burlington, Iowa, and stopping some time in each place, up to the one last named, which claimed him as a citizen some three or four years. He was next in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, probably two years, and the year 1860 found him in Monmouth. While at Mt. Pleasant, Mr. Kobler was married, Dec. 9, 1859, to

Anna Mary Stenz, a native of Germany, and a daugh- ter of Philip and Anna Mary (Myers) Stenz, who came to America when the daughter was only 6 years of age. Anna Mary grew to womanhood in Utica, N. Y., and from there accompanied her parents to Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Kobler have had six children-Mena, wife of Mr. E. Alexander, D.D., druggist at Alexis,Ill .; Henry, Ella, Lula and Frederick, at home, and Ma- mie, deceased.

Mr. Kobler ranks among the substantial and high- ly respected citizens of Monmouth. He has been strictly honest and upright in all his transactions, and has conducted his business so successfully that he possesses a competency for himself and family.

Politically, Mr. Kobler votes with the Republicans.

ndrew J. Cayton, whose homestead com- prises 360 acres of excellent farm land on section 21, Swan Township, was born in Edmonson Co., Ky., Sept. 22, 1830. His widowed mother came to Illinois when Andrew was three years old, and after residing one year in Morgan County, located in Swan Township, on section II. Abel Cayton, the father of our sub- ject, was a native of Tennessee, his demise having occurred in Kentucky. He married Miss Lively Harrington, who was born in the State of Kentucky in 1808. They became the parents of four children, -Nancy, George, Andrew J. and Maranda. George and Nancy are deceased.

Mr. Andrew J. Cayton belongs to the pioneers of Warren County, having passed his boyhood and ma- ture years in this county. In 1856 he purchased 60 acres on section 21, on which was built a small frame house. All the improvements that are now upon his land, are the result of his own industry and skillful management. He married Miss Nancy C. Lieur- ance, Nov. 12, 1857, She was a native of Illinois, where she was born in 1837, and bore her husband three children,-Clarence A., born Jan. 14, 1859; Jed. O., in 1861, and Lewis Grant, in 1863. Clar- ence is the only survivor. He is in the mercantile business in Youngstown. He married Miss Abby Johnson. Mrs. Cayton died in December, 1862, and Mr. Cayton married a second wife, Miss Mary Eliza

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WARREN COUNTY.

Clevenger, in 1865. She bore him one child,-Mary Eliza, who died in infancy, and in 1866, the mother also was carried to her final resting place.

Mr. Andrew J. Cayton formed a third matrimonial alliance, Feb. 15, 1873, with Miss Ruby L. Bond, who was born June 30, 1827, in Morgan Co., Ill. She is a daughter of Major John C. Bond, a native of South Carolina, where he was born in December, 1799. He died May 22, 1882. In 1827 he came to Illi- nois, and located in Morgan County, and was mar- ried to Miss Mary Grimsley, in 1817, she also being a native of the Sunny South, where she was born in 1790. Of their union, five children were born,- Susan C., born August, 1819; William G., April 2, 1821; Ann, who died in infancy; Jesse W., born in September, 1826, and Ruby L., born June 30, 1827. Mrs. Bond died in Morgan County, this State, in 1828. Mr. Bond was a Democrat in political affilia- tions. Religiously, he was a member of the Chris- tian Church.

Mr. A. J. Cayton's farm of 360 acres is under the finest improvement and cultivation. He has 15 head of thoroughbred Short-horn cattle; has a fine house and barn, with other necessary outbuildings upon his land, his house being a two story, 45 x 50 feet in dimensions, with a good cellar under the entire build- ing. Owing to his own indomitable energy, perse- verance and economy, Mr. Cayton has now sufficient of this world's good to enable him to spend the sun- set of his life in ease and comfort. Besides his farm, to which he devotes considerable of his time, he owns a fine vein of coal about 36 inches thick. Religiously, Mr. Cayton is a member of the Christian Church, and in his political opinions, he affiliates with the Democratic party.

lizabeth Van Tuyl, residing upon section 3, Tompkins Township, this county, is the widow of Isaac Van Tuyl. He was born in New Jersey, May 31, 1808, and his parents were Michael and Sophia (Coberly) Van Tuyl, natives of New Jersey. Michael Van Tuyl was born March 17, 1775. Sophia Coberly was born Nov. 10, '1782 ; they were married Dec. 9, 1797.

The parents moved from their native State to Ohio in 1814. The father was a farmer by occupation and was the proprietor of 1,280 acres of land, be- sides a saw and grist mill, in the Buckeye State. There he resided, following his chosen vocation, un- til his death, in 1848 ; the death of his wife occurred in March, 1857.

Isaac Van Tuyl, husband of the subject of this no- tice, remained at home until 1847, where, in his younger years, he attended the common school and assisted his father, and later became a partner with his father and elder brother. In the year mentioned, he sold his interest and moved northeast of Dayton, Ohio, where he purchased 160 acres of good farm land, on which he located and for six years was en- gaged in its cultivation. He then sold it, and, in 1854, came to this State and settled in Biggsville Township, Henderson County, where he became the owner of 200 acres of land. On this latter tract he lived for 12 years, cultivating and improving it, and then sold the same and came to this county, where he purchased 1521/2 acres on section 3, Tompkins Township, which acreage he afterward increased by an additional purchase of 480 acres in the same township and 160 acres in Henderson County. He moved on his land in Tompkins Township and was engaged in its improvement and cultivation until his death, which took place in 1880.

The first marriage of Mr. Van Tuyl was with Miss Sarah A. Williams, and they had five children, three of whom are living, and named, Michael, Anna and Sophia. The deceased are Lewis W. and Sarah. Lewis enlisted in the roth Ill. Vol. Inf., August, 186r. He remained in the service during the war, and participated in 13 different engagements. Among the most noticeable was Island No. Io, Lookout Mountain, Nashville, and he was with Gen. Sher- man when he made his great march to the sea. He enlisted as a private and was mustered out as First Lieutenant, passing through the whole period of the war and not receiving a wound. He was accident- ally killed by being shot with a gun while in Texas, in 1869. Asher D. and John I. were both in the service, John I. serving three years in the 83d Ill. Vol. Inf. He was wounded at Fort Donelson. As- her D. was in the 104th Ohio Vol. Inf., Co. F, and served one year, participating in several battles, the most notable being the battle of the Wilderness. James Morgan, the husband of Anna Van Tuyl, was

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WARREN COUNTY.

also engaged in the war, as First Lieutenant of Co. F, 83d Ill. Vol. Inf. He participated in the battle of Fort Donelson, serving his country three years. Henry Francis, husband of Addeliza Van Tuyl (child of second wife), was in the 83d Ill. Vol. Inf., serving three years. Geo. M. Jamison, husband of Sophia Van Tuyl, was a member of Co. K, 84th Ill. Vol. Inf., having served one year and being discharged on account of sickness.

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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 49

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

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