Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 55

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 55

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harbor of New York. After the close of the war, about 1796, he went to West Virginia. He had be- come the possessor of a tract of land in that part of the Old Dominion which was located in Wood Coun- ty, and by a subsequent municipal division was set off to Ritchie County. The condition of the route thither from the then limited bounds of civilization can better be imagined than described. The way was literally trackless from the county of Rockbridge, in Virginia, where he was warned of the insecurity of the place where he purposed to settle, on account of the Indians there. He heeded the advice and lo- cated in Rockbridge County, among the mountains. Their stay continued four or five years and then three of the sons, one of whom was the subject of this personal narration, pushed their way to Wood County. They took possession of their father's claim, erected a log cabin and proceeded to clear the land from the heavy growth of timber. As soon as the work of improvement was fairly under way they were joined by their parents and the remaining members of the family. The grandparents were in- cluded in the household, and their lives came to a close in Wood County, on the frontier farm.

William Maley married Nancy Wells. She was a native of Pennsylvania, and her father was one of the pioneers of Wood County. From him she re- ceived a tract of land which comprised 320 acres. Her husband cleared it and placed it in profitable condition for agricultural purposes. It was their home for many years and was the birthplace of their 13 children. In 1837 the household, including 15 persons, started for an overland trip to Illinois ; the party made quite a little procession with their eight horses, two wagons and a carriage. They cooked and ate, and slept on the way in their wagons, and after a journey of four weeks arrived in Warren County. In the vicinity of Little York they found a vacant cabin, which they took possession of, and which was their home through the first winter. Meanwhile the father bought land in the Township of Sumner, on Section 31. It had no house and the family found shelter in a log house which stood on another farm in the immediate vicinity, of which they were the occupants until August of that sum- mer, when their own house was in readiness for them. With the assistance of his sons the senior Maley improved a farm, and on it he passed the re- mainder of his life. He died in 1858. His wife's

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death transpired in 1838. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. He belonged to the seceding branch of the same denomination.

Levi Maley came to Warren County with his fa- ther, and was an inmate of the parental home until his marriage, Dec. 6, 1841, to Margaret F. Paxton. She was the daughter of William and Margaret Pax- ton, and was born May 1, 1829, in Greene Co., Ohio. Her parents were pioneers of Warren County: Her husband, associated with two brothers, bought land on section 20 in Sumner Township, on which they located at the time of their marriage. Their home was at first the pioneer log cabin, but this in time gave way to a large frame house, and soon after the other buildings on the place were made to correspond in value and appearance. Mr. Maley died July 15, 1866. His five children were born in the following order : William, born June 5, 1852; died Dec. 23, 1876, leaving a wife and three children. Margaret A. is the wife of William Berry. They live at Little York. Clarissa married B. S. Dodson, and they are residents of the same place, as is John P. Elizabeth married J. Alison. Mr. Maley united with the Uni- ted Presbyterian church, to which his wife belonged before her marriage. Mrs. Maley is a resident of Little York, with her son John P., who is a stock dealer.

yrus Bute, resident of Kirkwood, at which place he is the Police Magistrate, was born in Fayette Co., Pa., Sept. 26, 1929, his parents being John and Mary (Morrison) Bute, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively. His father was a farmer in his na- tive State, and continued to reside there with his wife until his death, which occurred in 1855, that of his wife occurring two years later. in 1857.

Cyrus Bute, a sketch of whose life we give in this volume, remained under the family roof-tree until he attained the age of manhood. He received a com- mon school education in his native county, and as- sisted his father on the farm up to the time he left the old homestead. After leaving home he was engaged in running his father's flour mill, and con-

tinued in that vocation until 1850. He then came to this State and located in the neighborhood of Mon- mouth, where for four years he was engaged in culti- vating a rented farm. At the expiration of this time he purchased 75 acres of good farm land, located on section 9, Tompkins Township, where he has since resided.

In 1862, Mr. Bute enlisted in the 83d Ill. Vol. Inf., Co. A, and served in the Union army until the close of the war. He was appointed 3d Sergeant of the company, and served in that capacity until Feb. 3, 1863, when, after the battle of Fort Donelson, lie was promoted to Second Lieutenant, continuing to hold that position until he was honorably discharged at the close of the war, in July, 1865. He was en- gaged in many battles and skirmishes, and received but one wound, although he had his clothes pierced with the enemies' bullets in many places. His com- pany gave him the control of a large amount of prop- erty to deliver at Fort Henry, and while on the way he was attacked by guerillas and had two of his men shot, but by killing the leader of the band they suc- ceeded in safely delivering the property at Fort Henry.

After the war was over, Mr. Bute returned to War-1 ren County and was elected Sheriff in 1868, and served a term of three years. In 1873 he was elect -. ed to the position.that he at present occupies, Police Magistrate.

· His marriage took place in r841, at which time Miss Margaret Gibson, a native of Pennsylvania, became his wife. Of their union four children were born, all of whom are living, and named as follows : Mary E., Achsa J., Margaret E. and John M. The last named enlisted in the war for the union at the age of 13 years, having joined Co. L. r2th Cav. He participated in quite a number of skirmishes and engagements, never receiving any wounds. After the war was over he continued in the service over a year (being under the command of the late lamented Gen. Custer) doing service in Texas. He was mus- tered out of the service at Houston, Tex. Mr. Bute had one son killed in the army, M. DeLafayette. He enlisted in Co. C, 36th Ill. Vol. Inf., and was killed at the battle of Chicamauga, Sept. 20, 1863.

In politics, Mr. Bute is a stanch Republican, and socially he is a member of the Order of Masons.

Mr. Bute is regarded as one of the representative men of this county, always aiding any laudable en-

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terprise that is calculated to benefit the community in which he resides.

The children of Mr. Bute are settled as follows : Mary E., married Dr. E. Hicks, of Greenfield, Iowa ; Achsa J., married L. D. Earp, and resides in Mon- mouth, and has two children, Effie and George ; Margaret E. married Mulford Sewell, and now re- sides in Huntington, Indiana ; John M. married Car- rie Hall, and has one child, Thadeus.

giram Sheldon, one of the successful and prominent agriculturists of Warren County, residing upon section 33, Floyd Township, is a native of Oneida Co., N. Y., at which place, on the 20th of November, 1831, he was born, being a son of Wilson Sheldon, who was born in New York city, Feb. 3, 1811. He died Sept. 13, 1873, in the city of Monmouth.

In 1837, Wilson Sheldon, the father of our subject, came to Illinois and located in Floyd Township. He married Miss Sarah Matteson, a native of New York, Feb. 14, 1830. She was born Feb. 26, 1817, and still survives, residing in Monmouth, enjoying good health. Of this union nine children were born, namely : Hiram, Martha, George, Seneca, Burr, Al- ma, Aurilla, Mary and Jerome. With the exception of Jerome and Aurilla, all of the above are living. Martha is the wife of Wyram Wiswell; they reside in Galesburg. Alma married David Van Winkle, and lives in Chicago. Mary resides with her mother at Monmouth. George is married and lives in Ne- braska. The balance reside in this county.

Hiram Sheldon married Miss Emma J. Aylsworth, Jan. 29, 1862. She is a native of Warren County, and was born in Berwick Township, April 6, 1841. She was a daughter of Hiram Aylsworth, a native of Connecticut, born in the year 1816, and about the year 1836 came to Illinois, and two years later mar- ried Miss Harriet Roberts. She was born on July 16, 1817. They became the parents of two chil- dren, viz. : Norman and Emma J., who is the wife of our subject. Mr. Aylsworth came from Otsego Co., N. Y., to this State, his demise occurring in 1846, and that of his widow Sept. 4, 1885. After the death

of the first husband, Mrs. Aylsworth married An- drew Whitenack, who still survives her.

Mr. Hiram Sheldon is the proprietor of 800 acres of good land in this county. , His home dwelling is a substantial residence, two stories in height. His barn is 36 x 48 feet, with 20-foot posts. -

Mr. Sheldon is largely. engaged in shipping and feeding stock, and has made this business a very profitable one. Besides this he is one of the Direc- tors of the Monmouth National Bank, having been connected therewith for about 12 years. He has served in the capacity of School Director and Road Commissioner. Mr. Sheldon is considered one of Warren County's solid and substantial cit- izens, besides being a well-to-do and well known ag- riculturist of Floyd Township.

Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon have a family comprising four children : Wilson J., born Oct. 28, 1862 ; Irene, Jan. to, 1864; Donna L., Sept. 5, 1868, and Ken- neth R., Oct. 28, 1876, all now residing at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon, with three of their children, " are members of the Baptist Church, and politically, Mr. S. is a Democrat.

ames Henry Spriggs, of the firm of Spriggs & Bro., prominent druggists and pharma- cists at Monmouth, was born in the city of Philadelphia, Sept. 15, 1822, and was the eld- est son of his parents. (See biography of James S. Spriggs, this volume.) After the death of his father, James H. had largely the care and sup- port of his mother and the younger children, a trust ever discharged by him with the utmost degree of good faith and filial devotion. As with the boy, so with the man, true to the instinct of that high order of humanity that springs naturally fron: a heart un- incumbered by any of the passions that mark and mar the lower class.

James H. Spriggs, in his dealing with people has been purposely the cause of no pang of pain or sor- row to any one. With this small tribute the com- ment of the historian ends, and by a brief recital of minor events will conclude the biography of one of Monmouth's best citizens. He was educated as op-

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portunity offered at the common schools and acad- emies of his neighborhood, and from the age of 22 to 35 was conducting a farm in Cumberland Co., Pa. He came to Monmouth in 1857, and in partnership with his brother, engaged at once in the drug busi- ness. This has since received his attention, varying it's duties somewhat occasionally by outside ven- tures. For instance, he was one of the organizers of the Monmouth Mining & Manufacturing Co., and was for two years its President. He was also a stock- holder and director of the First National Bank of Monmouth, but when the limitation of the charter expired he sold his stock and severed his connection therewith. He also represented his Ward three or four times in the common Council. Politically he is identified with a preference for the time-honored principles that made the old Republican party. His first vote was cast for Henry Clay.

. Mr. Spriggs was married in Cumberland Co., Pa., Dec. 23d, 1845, to Miss Eleanor J. McCune, native of that county, and has had borne to him five chil- dren, as follows : Mary E , born January, 1847, died 1851; Ellen M., born Sept., 1848, died 1851 ; John S. was born April, 1850; Albert, formerly Secretary of the Mining & Manufacturing Co., was born in April, 1852, and William Henry, born March 16, 1854, died April, 1866. Since 1854 Mr. Spriggs and wife have been members of the Presbyterian church.

C. Twitchell, one of the most prominent young business men of Roseville, where he is engaged quite extensively in the business of a merchant, was born in Delaware Co., N. Y., April 22, 1856, his parents being Perry and Belarma (Woodmansee) Twitchell, natives of the Empire State. Mr. Perry Twitchell, the father, was a soldier in the late civil war, having enlisted in 1862, and served within two months of its close. He was a member of Co. C, 12th Conn. Vol. The 1 2th was a part of the army of the Potomac, subse- quently transferred to Butler's command at New Or- leans. He is at present a resident of Wallingford, Conn. His wife died April 25, 1878.

J. C., our subject, remained companion to his par-

ents until he had attained the age of 22 years, hav- ing worked in the meantime with his father at the carpenter's trade, and attended the public schools, receiving a fair education.

He arrived in Roseville Dec. 8, 1877, and began clerking for J. L. Woodmansee, his uncle, remaining with him until 1881. He then bought out the busi- ness, and has continued to conduct the dry goods, grocery and boot and shoe business, in which he has met with splendid success, with a trade constantly increasing.

Mr. J. C. Twitchell and Miss Margaret Harbaugh were married in 1882, she being a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Peter Harbaugh.

Mr. Twitchell is a member of the Methodist Church, and regarded as a representative and solid business man of Roseville.

Politically, Mr. Twitchell affiliates with the Re- publican party.

- -do-

rank J. Pine is the senior member of the firm of Pine & Porter, hardware merchants of Alexis. He was born in Kelly Town- ship, Warren County, Sept. 14, 1855. He is the son of Joseph and Letitia (Watson) Pine, and the parents were pioneers of the township where the son was born. They were farmers, and reared their children to the same calling. Mr. Pine was educated in the common schools of the pioneer period of Warren County, and obtained a fair degree of knowledge of books, although the facilities of the schools of that day were in no sense like those of the present. It is an open question whether the latter, with their attendant ease, are of greater benefit as a means of mental discipline. At a later date Mr. Pine passed 18 months at Knox College, where he took advantage of all that institution afforded in the way of advancement, for the limited time that he was within its reach.

In 1877 he entered the employ of Messrs. Gibson, Postlewaite & Co., as a clerk, and continued in their service one year. The next year he passed in Gales- burg, and he returned from there to the township where he was born, and interested himself in farm-

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ing. He indulged in that calling until he had raised two crops. In 1880, in company with R. T. Wray, he opened a hardware store at Alexis, and establish- ed a popular and profitable business. The firm was known in business circles as R. T. Wray & Co. In addition to the lines of goods common to the trade, they were agents for agricultural implements, in which line of traffic they did a prosperous busi- ness.

In the spring of 1881 Mr. Wray was killed on the railroad, and the father of Mr. Pine bought the in- terest of the deceased man in the business, which father and son managed together until 1884. In that year the change was effected by which the firm be- came as now. The business is the same as when the firm was first established, and is operated with satis- factory results to all concerned.

In the spring of 1882 Mr. Pine was married to Louisa Thierne, a native of Chicago, and they have one child -- Ethel.

ugh R. Gilliland, of the mercantile firm of F. S. Talbot & Co., at Alexis, has been a resident of the county in which he is a prominent business man, since 1852. He is a citizen who has made a creditable record in point of manly worth and probity, and has the satisfaction of realizing that he has advanced in ex- act proportion to his merits and abilities.

He was born Oct. 22, 1828, in Barre Township, Huntington Co., Pa., and is the oldest son of John and Margaret Gilliland. His parents were worthy people, but for good and honorable reasons had not been successful in storing an abundance of the world's surplus. This was not the worst condition in which the oldest son of a family might be placed, as riches do not always exert the best influence on the young, and whatever inight have been the result to Mr. Gilliland of a different state of affairs, it is quite certain that he had little opportunity of specu- lation about possibilities, as necessity compelled him to take a practical view of the situation at an early date in his life. He was 16 when the privilege of providing for his own wants was accorded to him,

and he went to Mifflin County in his native State to accept a situation on a farm, where he earned $4 per month. He passed eight months in the same employ at the same wages. His pay increased until he could command nine dollars a month, which was the largest amount he received until after he was 21. The discontents and strikers of the present day have forgotten those times when the consideration was to obtain work without much reference to the remuneration, and when the quality of service a man could render was also considered. The winter suc- ceeding his arrival at the age of manhood he taught school in his native county, and received $18 a month and boarded himself. He officiated as ped- agogue in the same school-house where he first at- tended school.

He remained in Huntington County two years and then came to Warren County, as has been stated. He passed the first season in Hale Township as a farm assistant. In the ensuing fall he went to Spring Grove Township, where he passed the winter and labored at 50 cents a day, husking corn, taking his pay in corn at ten cents a bushel.

His marriage to Rebecca E. Campbell occurred March 1, 1853. This event, transpiring at this period in the history and fortunes of Mr. Gilliland, proves the material of which he is made, as he is not a man to assume a responsibility to which the test would be likely to prove him inadequate. The young couple took possession of a rented farm, managed on shares. It was situated in Suez Town- ship in Mercer County. They rented land in the same township in the following year, and were its occupants until the fall of 1854, when they took pos- session of a tract of 40 acres which had been located by Mr. Gilliland in 1853. The land was on section 4 in Spring Grove Township, and was in unimproved condition. The proprietor built a house on his property and lived there until 1872. In the mean- time he bought additional land, until he was the owner of 120 acres. He put the place in tillable condition and in the year named rented it, and re- moved to Alexis. He bought a lot and built a house. In January, 1874, he bought a drug business and managed it until the spring of 1876. He closed his affairs in that line and went to the Centennial at Philadelphia, and also visited his old home and friends in Mifflin County, where his father still lived. He returned to Alexis in the fall and formed a part-

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nership in the mercantile business under the name of Gibson, Postlewait & Co. At the end of six years the firm dissolved, and Mr. Gilliland bought an in- terest in the general store of F. S. Talbot & Co., which is still in existence.

Politically, Mr. Gilliland was formerly a Democrat, but has latterly cast his fortunes with the prohibition element. While a resident of Spring Grove Town- ship, he officiated as Assessor several terms, and as Collector.

Mrs. Gilliland was born in Huntington Co., Pa., and is the daughter of Matthew and Hannah Camp- bell. She is the mother of two daughters. Maggie H. is the wife of F. S. Talbot, her father's business associate. The younger is named Mary E. .

- eorge W. Claycomb, Supervisor of Mon- mouth, and a retired farmer living there, is a son of Frederick and Mary Ann Claycomb. (See biography of Andrew Clay- comb in this volume of family history). He was born in Breckenridge Co., Ky., Feb. 4, 1828, and canie with his parents to this State in 1836. He was brought up on his brother's farm and educated at the common schools.

At the age of 21 years Mr. Claycomb began busi- ness for himself. He bought an 80-acre tract of land in Cold Brook Township and improved it. He then traded it for a 120-acre tract in the same town- ship, which he now owns and which is occupied by his son ; and from this comparatively small begin- ning he owns at this writing (Oct. 18, 1885) one of the best farms in the county. It contains about 415 acres and lies about eight miles northeast front Mon- mouth Court House.

He was united in marriage in Floyd Township, Dec. 17, 1851, with Miss Sarah A. Godard, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Francis Godard, one of the pioneers of Warren County, whither he removed from Indiana at an early day. He was a native of Kentucky and died at the age of 84 years. Mr. Clay- comb retired from active farming in 1882, and in April, 1885, was elected Supervisor.

Mr. and Mrs Claycomb have had born to them

four children-Laura E. (Mrs. P. H. Shelton), Al- bert R., born Nov. 7, 1853, died aged seven years; Frank E. and Alta M. The family belongs to the Christian Church, and Mr. Claycomb, socially, is a member of the Order of Masonry.

ohn Salter who, in his 70th year, is resting from the labors of the past, enjoying the comforts which a life of toil, energy and economy have brought him, at his resi- dence, one-half mile from the village of Kirk- wood, was born in New Jersey, Aug. 24, 1815. The parents of Mr. Salter, Paul and Elizabeth (Culberly) Salter, were natives of New Jersey. They came to this State in 1845, his father settling in Hen- derson County, where he purchased 800 acres of land, which he subsequently supplemented by 400 acres more, and on which he resided until a few years prior to his death, when he purchased a resi- dence and lot in Kirkwood village. He continued to reside at the latter place until his death.

The gentleman whose name we place at the head of this notice remained with his parents until he at- tained his majority, receiving a good common-school education. Prior to the age named, when 18 years . old, he engaged in the oyster and fish trade, and, after leaving home, he continued in the same busi- ness until 1855. During that year he came to this State and located in Henderson County, on 160 acres of land, which he had purchased. He per- chased ten acres one-half mile from the village of Kirkwood, which he sold and bought another house and lot, where he is at present living. He remained on his farm until 1883, following the vocation at which he passed the major portion of his life and meeting with success, when he moved to his present residence, as stated.

The marriage of Mr. Salter. was solemnized in 1839, at which time Miss Jane Vreeland, a native of New Jersey, became his wife. She was born Oct. 17, 1821, and has borne her husband eight children seven of whom survive-Eliza J., Henry V., Lucin- da, Mary A., John, Sarah T. and Emma. Rachel,

J. J. WeBlanahan h.

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C. was drowned in Peoria Lake, at the age of 13 years and 4 months.

In politics, Mr. Salter affiliates with the Republi- can party, and he and his wife attend the Presbyte- rian Church. Mr. Salter is one of the representa- tive citizens of Warren County, and although his hair is silvered by the lapse of time, he is yet in comparatively good health, and taking a retrospect- ive view of the past, he can call to memory no acts of injustice to his fellow-man, and lives in the knowl- edge that his accumulation of this world's goods is the outgrowth of no legacy, but of his own energy and perseverance, coupled with the active co-opera- tion of his good helpmeet and children.

ohn P. Mcclanahan, M. D., is a well known and highly respected physician of Warren County, his reputation extending far be- yond the bounds of Alexis, where he resides, or of the northern part of the county. John P. McClanahan is the sixth son of John McClan- ahan, whose sketch is given in this volume and to which we refer for the record of the family of Dr. John P. The latter was born Nov. 5, 1831, in Adams Co., Ohio. He was six years of age when his parents with their family removed to Brown County of the same State, and there the remaining years of his minority were passed, not only in ac- quiring a knowledge of books, but in learning to suc- cessfully labor in business and agricultural pursuits. He at first attended the schools in his immediate neighborhood. taught mainly by his father or one of the older members of the family. He next had the advantages of the high school at Ripley, which was the adjoining town, and later attended a select school at North Liberty, Ohio. In 1851 he began the study of his profession, in the office and under the preceptorship of Dr. Alexander Dunlap of Ripley.

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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 55

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

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