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 59
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In 1855, Mr. Calder came to America and settled at Chicago, where he was engaged in butchering, feeding cattle and speculating, until 1863, when on account of failing health he was compelled to leave the city. He came to Warren County and purchased some land on section 8, Kelly Township, where he
embarked in farming and stock raising. Here he has since continued to reside, and in the quiet and peaceful calling he has chosen, so radically different from his former experiences, he has been quite suc- cessful. He has an elegant home, a view of which we present in connection with this sketch, and seem- ingly enjoys life fully as well as when his vessel was plowing the chilly waters of the North, or sailing in distant seas.
On the 20th of February, 1855, before leaving England for America, Mr. Calder was united in mar- riage with Miss Fanny, daughter of William and Esther (Tilly) Cattle. She was born in Somerset- shire, England, June 22, 1829. There has been born to them seven children, four of whom are yet living, the others dying in infancy. Those living are in the order of their birth : John, born Oct. 9, 1858; Ka- tie, May 6, 1864; Elizabeth E., July 4, 1866 ; and Frederick, Jan. 28, 1870.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Calder were reared in the Epis- copal Church, and politically Mr. C. is a Repub- lican.
avid C. Brent, general farmer and stock- raiser, residing on section 18, Ellison Township, was born in Lancaster Co., Va. Oct. 12, 1821, and is a son of Kenner Brent (see sketch of Paul Brent). Our subject, David C., is the eldest of the living children, and was 14 years old when he came to Illinois. He lived on the farm with his father until his marriage, in the meantime acquiring a fair English education His marriage was celebrated on the 7th of March, 1850, in Ellison Township, the lady chosen to become his wife being Miss Jane, daughter of William Brown, from Lancaster Co., Va., who was by occupation a farmer and carpenter, his demise occurring in July, 1883, in this township. Mrs. Brent was the eldest child of her father's family of seven children, and was born Jan. 1. 1830. She was only a small child when her parents came to this township, where she remained with them until her marriage.
The home circle of Mr. and Mrs. Brent has been blessed by the birth of 12 children, three of whom are deceased. The living are six sons and three
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daughters, as follows : Elizabeth C., born April 25, 1854; Augusta, Feb. 22, 1856; William K., Dec. 14, 1857 ; Melvin D., Jan. 8, 1860; Thomas, Feb. 14, 1862; Manie, June 17, 1864; Edmund, July 26, 1868; Frank, Oct. 15, 1870; Joseph A., Nov. 27, 1872.
After marriage, Mr. Brent settled on the farm where he now lives and is the possessor of 304 acres of excellent land, nearly all of which is improved.
Mrs. B. is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Brent has held the office of Road Commissioner, and, politically, is identified with the Republican party, being a staunch advocate of its principles.
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ealy A. Chapin, banker and merchant at Kirkwood, is not only one of the best known men in the county, but is classed among the early pioneers of this part of the State. His parents, Ebenezer and Catherine (Daggett) Chapin, were natives of New York and Vermont respectively. They came west to Indiana in 1832, and were living in Crawford County, that State, when Nealy A. was born, Jan. 28, 1828. His parents were among the early settlers of Indi- ana and after a few years' residence there pushed on westward and found a desirable location in Knox Co., Ill., where they arrived in 1836. At that early day there were but few settlers in that section and but little land ever turned by the plow. They re- mained there three years, when they moved into Oquawka village (then in Warren County, but after- wards in Henderson County), where the father died, in 1877. He was formerly a merchant, was an en- terprising, influential and valuable pioneer, and a man highly respected by the community in which he lived.
Nealy A. received a liberal education. He as- sisted his father in his store and finally learned the trade of harness-maker, which occupation he fol- lowed until the spring of 1840. After leaving home, which he did in the year of 1840, he was employed as a clerk for three years. He then embarked in the lumber and mercantile business as a member of the
firm of Knowles, Ray & Chapin, at Oquawka. Here they remained until 1858, when they removed their business to Kirkwood, where the old firm conducted the business for one year. The firm was then re- organized under the name of Chapin, Creswell & Houlton, who were the leading merchants of the place until 1865, when the company was again re- organized and their business enlarged. The firm was then known as Chapin, Houlton & Davis, mer- chants and bankers. No other change was made until 1882, since which time the firm name has been Chapin, Houlton & Co.
Mr. Chapin has been an active, enterprising busi- ness man, and has done a great deal for Kirkwood. He had a great faith in the future prosperity of the village, and while the wild prairie grass was growing on the site of the village plat, he erected a fine residence there. The company put up a fine brick business block, 56 x 64 feet, in 1868. Mr. Chapin has also large landed interests in Henderson County, but his time is entirely given to his banking and mercantile business, and he is justly recognized as one of the leading business men of Warren County.
The marriage of Mr. Chapin and Miss Cordelia Perry occurred Jan. 28, 1854. Mrs. C. is a daugh- ter of Jonathan Perry, a prominent citizen of Warren . County. They have a family of seven children (one deceased) namely: Willis A., born Oct. 31, 1852, died Sept. 4, 1868; Eben H, born Nov. 21, 1854; Florence, Dec. 9, 1856; Katie B., Sept. 29, 1859; Fred L., June 16, 1863; Jennie M., Dec. 11, 1865 ; Laura A., April 9, 1869; William R., March 24, 1875. Eben married Miss Kate Mathews, of Merid- ian, Conn., Oct. 18, 1882, and is at present the Pastor of the First Universalist Church at Lincoln, Neb. ; they have one child named Charles. Flor- ence married George C. Ellis, an attorney at Med-
icine Lodge, Kan. Katie B. married James F. Morgan, superintendent of telegraphy of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, June 14, 1879, and they are now living in Chicago; two children have been born to them-Bessie and Olive. Florence married George C. Ellis, an attorney, now of Medi- cine Lodge, Kan., Feb. 1, 1882 ; one child has been born to them, named Nealy, after his grandfather, the subject of this sketch.
Politically, Mr. Chapin is a Republican, and, with his wife attends the Universalist Church.
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avid S. Hayden, gunsmith and dealer in sporting goods, at Monmouth, was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, Aug. 13, 1830. His father, John Hayden, was a farmer and a na- tive of Maryland, and was the only son of John Hayden, Sr., who came from Dublin, Ireland, where he had been bound out as a' coverlet weaver at the age of 12 years, and who, after serving an ap- prenticeship of about two years, became dissatisfied, and stole on board a vessel setting sail to the United States, and secured passage to this country. In Bal- timore, Md, he accepted a position as a coverlet weaver, where he remained until his enlistment in the Revolutionary War, and there served for seven years. He was wounded with a spent ball, this being the only injury received during his seven years' en- listment. At the expiration of his term of service he again engaged with his former employer, at Balti- more, Md., where he served out his apprenticeship. He died in the latter State, at an advanced age.
John Hayden, Jr., the father of our subject, was an only child, and determined at the age of 14 years to make his own way in the world. In the year 1817 he came to Ohio, having been previously mar- ried to Nancy Ellis, in Maryland, in 1814, and of their union have been born II children, of whom our subject, David S., was the youngest but two. His parents lived in Monroe Co., Ohio, until their deaths, the father at the advanced age of 95 years and the mother at 75.
David S., whose name heads this personal narra- tive, resided with his parents until he attained his 2Ist year, then setting out to learn his present trade. He served his apprenticeship under his older broth- er, Joseph, who was residing in Oxford, Ohio,, from 1851 to 1858. At the latter date he left Oxford for Monmouth, arriving here March 12, 1858, and com- menced business on his own account. He was the only man of his calling in the county at that time, and has been the pioneer of his trade and followed it from the time he came here, being at present the only gunsmith in the city. He is the proprietor of 25 acres of land and two houses near the city limits, the land being well improved and valuable. .
Mr. Hayden was married in Henderson County, this State, at the residence of the bride's parents, the event being celebrated on the 19th of February, 1860, to Miss Martha A. Michaels, daughter ot Frederick Michaels, farmer from Tennessee,' and it was in that State that the daughter was born, March 20, 1840. She came to Illinois with her father, her mother hav- ing died when she was nine years of age. They af- terwards resided in Henderson County, where the father still lives, at the advanced age of 89 years. Mr. and Mrs. Hayden are the parents of seven chil- dren-Frederick, married; Thomas F., and Ira B., deceased ; Fannie M., Lotta A., Ralph D., Ruth G. and Ran. W., all of whom, except the eldest, reside at home. Mrs. Hayden is a member of the Chris- tian Church. Mr. H. is a member of the Masonic Order and has been a member of the City Council. Politically, he is a Republican.
ames W. Morgan, a successful dealer in real estate, residing in a comfortable and beautiful home near the city limits of Mon- mouth, is the second son and third child of Jas. C. and Penelope (Green) Morgan, and was born Dec. 17, 1828, in Erie Co., New York. The father of James was the fourth child and third son of Benui Morgan, who married Mary Clark, and by her had six children. He was a member of a cavalry company in the Revolutionary War, and died in Connecticut, aged 69 years. He was the fourth son and child of James Morgan, who became the father of seven children by Grace Smith, and who died at Griswold, Conn., Oct. 15, 1801, aged 72 years. James Morgan, the grandfather of James W. Morgan, sub- ject of this notice, was the elder son in order of birth of a family of 11 children, his father being Samuel Morgan, who was born Dec. 16, 1705, and died while in office at Preston, Conn .. Dec. 29, 1769, aged 65 years.
Samuel was married to Elizabeth Forsyth, and was the oldest son and child of James Morgan, who was born about 1680, and died at Preston, Conn., Nov. 7, 1721, and who became the father of five children. He, James, was the seventh and youngest child of
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his father, Capt. John Morgan, and of the first mar- riage of his father, seven children having been born by his first, and eight children by his second mar- riage. He, Capt. John Morgan, was the second son and third child of James Morgan, and was a prom- inent, public man, being Indian Commissioner and Deputy of the General Court in 1690, and was born March 30, 1645, and died in 1712, aged 67 years, his father, James Morgan, having been born in Wales in 1670. James, the latter, was quite a young man when he came to the United States, and married Margery Hill, of Roxbury, Mass., and died in Au- gust, 1685, aged 78 years. His family consisted of seven children, and he was a prominent public man of his day, and is the progenitor of one of the best known and most successful families of the States. He was the son of a prominent family in Wales,who had figured conspiculously in that country in both general and public life. We find among the family in this country, merchants, farmers, speculators, of- ficials, one of the most prominent being Edwin D. Morgan, ex-Governor of the State of New York. He was first elected Governor of the State in 1860, and re-elected in 1861, his administration being a suc- cessful and popular one. He afterward received the appointment from President Lincoln as Major Gen- eral of Volunteers. He was also connected with the Western Union Telegraph Company, many Railroad corporations, and was proprietor with Mr. Jones, of the New York Times.
James C. Morgan, father of James W., of this notice, was first married to Penelope Green, Jan. I, 1823. She was the daughter of Dyer Green, of Columbia, Herkimer Co., N. Y. The wife and moth- er died July 9, 1846, after having borne seven chil- dren, and Mr. Morgan, on Dec. 2, 1846, was again married to Nancy Gette, a daughter of James Gette, of Hamburg, N. Y. She bore Mr. Morgan one child -- Henrietta, born Jan. 2, 1848, and died March 4, 1849.
James C. Morgan, at the age of 19 years, moved from Preston, Conn., to Columbia, Herkimer Co., N. Y., and for five years had charge of his uncle's busi- ness'there, which was paper making. In March, 1823, he removed with his young wife to Hamburg, Erie Co., N. Y., and engaged in the hotel business until November, 1843, when he came to Monmouth, Ill. He lived at the latter place, owning 40 acres of land inside the city limits, and known as the Morgan
Addition to the city of Monmouth, and continued to reside there, the sunset of his life being passed in retirement from active labor, until old age called him to the better land, at the age of 74 years. His death occurred Jan. 31, 1872. He was a good business man, possessing sterling qualities, and a strong sup- porter of temperance.
The children of his first wife are recorded as fol- lows: Emeline, born Jan. 10, 1824; became the wife of J. W. Robertson ; George W., born May 31, 1826, died while in the Mexican War, Sept. 13, 1847, and James W., the subject of this notice.
James W. was married Dec. 2, 1857, at the resi- dence of the bride's parents, in Henderson Co., Ill., to Miss Anna Maria Vantuyl, the accomplished daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Williams) Vantuyl, na- tives of New Jersey and Ohio respectively, and of German descent. Her parents were married in Ohio and resided on a farm near Dayton, that State, where Mrs. Morgan was born April 21, 1833. Her father's family came in 1854 to this State, and located on a farm in Henderson County. Her father lost his first wife in Ohio, and was again married in the same State. He afterward came to this county and located near Kirkwood, where he died Oct. 11, 1880. He was a leading citizen in the community in which he resided, and met with success in the vocation of his life. Mrs. James W. Morgan, after receiving a rudi- mentary education in the common or district schools attended college at Monmouth, Ill., in the basement of the old Presbyterian Church, now known as Unity Church, and of her union with Mr. Morgan two children were born-Flora, Jan. 17, 1859, and Lewis Howard, June 1, 1867.
The subject of this sketch came with his father in 1843 from Hamburg, N. Y., to Monmouth, this county. In 1850, with an ox team and a party of men, he crossed the plains to the land of gold, which required a trip of six months. He remained in Cali- fornia until 1853, in search of gold, spending two winters in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in a small cabin, the snow 14 or 15 feet deep, and no commu- nication with the outer world, from October until the following May of each year. His experience was similar to those of many who sought their fortune in that distant clime. One of his best friends and neighbors, Amos Harding, late of Monmouth, died there of the cholera.
Mr. Morgan returned to Warren County in 1853,
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remaining there until August 6th, 1862, when, in an- swer to the second call for men to fight in the war for the Union, he enlisted in Co. F, 83d Ill. Vol. Inf., and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He was elected Second Lieutenant, subsequently pro- moted to First Lieutenant, and served under Gener- als Rosecrans and Sherman, participating in all of the battles in which his regiment was engaged, until he received an honorable discharge June 26, 1865, at the close of the war. Among the most prominent battles in which his regiment was engaged, was that of Fort Donelson, in February, 1863, when the odds in favor of the Confederate army were in the pro- portion of ro to 1, and where the Union forces suc- ceeded in holding the fort.
After the close of the war, Mr. Morgan returned to Monmouth, where he has since, mostly, resided, until the present tinie. He and his brother became owners of their father's 40 acres of real estate within the city limits, which constitutes Morgan's Addition to the city of Monmouth. James W. managed the sale of the lots for a time, and then bought out his brother's interests. He also owns 24 acres where his residence is located. He and "Deacon Brown," of Monmouth, are also the owners of an entire sec- rion of land in Seward Co., Neb., and Mr. Morgan is the proprietor of 320 acres in Thayer County, that State.
Mr. Morgan has been one of the Directors of the Monmouth National Bank for some years, and is at present a stockholder in the same. He and his wife are members of the Unity Society, of which Mr. M. is Trustee.
Politically, Mr. Morgan votes with the Republican party.
The remaining members of the family of James C. Morgan, are John Titus, born Nov. 25, 1831, married Maria Harroun, Nov. 8, 1858; Decatur, born July 23, 1834, Married Elizabeth A. Richardson, lives at Watseka, Ill., and was for a number of years Deputy Internal Revenue Collector; Angeline, born June 25, 1837, married David B. Stevens, and was a graduate of Monmouth College; Henry, born March 20, 1840, and died Feb. 20, 1841.
John Titus was educated at Lombard University, and graduated at the law school, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., after which he began practice at Monmouth, en- tered the army during the rebellion as Captain of
Co. F, 83d Ill. Vol. Inf .; took part in the battles in which the regiment was engaged. At the close of the war resumed his law practice ; was elected a member of the Lower House and afterwards to the Senate. He acquitted himself honorably as a mem- ber of the Legislature. He was appointed by Presi- dent Hayes Chief Justice of Idaho Territory, and re- appointed by President Arthur. He has now re- sumed the practice of law in that Territory, and. resides at Oxford.
eorge W. Bellinger is a general farmer on section 9, in Kelly Township. He has been Justice of the Peace since 1878. He was born in Geauga Co., Ohio, Aug. 6, 1844. His father and mother, Charles and Sophia (Pine) Bellinger, were natives of the shire of - Somerset, England, and came to America, where they located in Ohio. Mr. Bellinger was two years old when they removed to Warren County. They set- tled in the township where he is still living and where he was brought up and educated, so far as the common schools were concerned. He attended Knox College three terms, which were passed in the preparatory department. He lived at home with his parents until he was 20. He had become the pos- sessor of the farm on which he now lives and previ- ous to that time he had made some improvements on it.
His marriage with Lucinda Holcomb took place March 12, 1869. She was born in Kelly Township, Nov. 15, 1848, and is the daughter of Henry B. and Phebe (Ingersoll) Holcomb, who were pioneers of Kelly Township. A log house had been built on the farm of Mr. Bellinger, and when he was married he took possession of the humble abode with his wife. They have now a good farm house and other struc- tures suited to the purpose to which the farm is de- voted. The value and general appearance of the place is much increased by the addition of fruit and shade trees in great numbers.
The politics of Mr. Bellinger are in unison with the creed of the Democrats. He has been promi- nent in his interest in general educational matters,
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and has served inany years as School Director in his district.
The children of the household of Mr. Bellinger are as follows : Ben. was born Aug. 10, 1879; Judd, April 8, 1878; Jessie, Jan. 1, 1880; Maggie, July 8, 1882; Ethel, July 29, 1885. Their first child was born Sept. 4, 1870, and died Jan. 17, 1885. John, the second child, was born Nov. 30, 1873, and died Aug. 31, 1876. The father of Mrs. Bellinger was born in Lorain Co., Ohio, and her mother was a na- tive of Broome Co., N. Y. The former is still living, in LaBette Co., Kas.
ealy Gordon, Postmaster at Kirkwood vil- lage, is a native of Georgia, having been born in Covington, Newton County, that State, March 31, 1836. The parents of Mr. Gordon, Cornelius and Agnes (Mckenzie) Gor- don, were natives of North Carolina. They em- igrated to this state in 1855, locating in Henderson County, where they resided until 1862, and where the father followed the occupation of afarmer. Dur- ing the year named, they came to this county, and settled in Kirkwood village, where they lived until their deaths, which took place in January, 1869, and in April, 1870, respectively.
Mr. Gordon, whose name we place at the head of this biographical notice, lived with his parents until their death. He received a good common-school education, and after he attained his majority rented a farm and was engaged as an agriculturist until 1862. At this period the nation became imperiled by the Southern States seceding, and the call having gone forth for brave hearts and strong hands to bat- tle for its perpetuity, Mr. Gordon enlisted in Co. K, 84th Ill. Vol. Inf. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Chicamauga, Atlanta, Franklin and Nashville, and many smaller battles and skirmishes, receiving an honorable discharge in June, 1865.
Returning from the war, Mr. Gordon engaged in the nursery business at Kirkwood and was thus oc- cupied until he received his commission as Postmas- ter at that place, and has held the office until the present time. April 21, 1874, Miss Mary Wood, a
native of Henderson County, this State, became the wife of the subject of this notice, and to him she has borne two children - Frank W. and Fred C. So- cially, Mr. Gordon is a member of the G. A. R., be- longing to Post No. 81, at Kirkwood. Religiously, he and his wife are both members of the United Presbyterian Church:
avid E. Morse, a well-to-do and highly respected farmer, located on 180 acres of good land, on section 35, Berwick Town- ship, was born in Sangamon Co., Ill., Dec. 2, 1832, and is a son of Samuel G. Morse, a na- tive of Windham Co., Conn., where he was born, in April, 1786. The father came to Illinois in 18r1, and located in Vandalia, where he remained some years, then moved to Bond County. While a resident of the latter county he was elected to the Constitutional Convention in 1818, that met at Spring- field. He was also Sheriff of Bond County, and a man of considerable political influence at the time in the county in which he resided. He married Miss Jane M. Kirkpatrick, about 1820. She was born in Tennessee, in 1801, and survives her hus- band, who died in 1863, in Greenbush Township. He came to this country in 1835 and located at Ber- wick. Of their union 10 children were born, five daughters and five sons, namely : Adeline, Harriet, Roswell, Margaret A., John, William, Samuel, Da- vid, Mary J., Asenath and Emeline, all of whom are living except Harriet and Samuel. The mother is residing in Anderson Co., Kas.
David E. Morse, of whom we write, was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Davis, May 5, 1857. She was born in Henderson Co., Ill., July, 1840, and is the daughter of William F. Davis, who was born in Ohio, in 1815, and at preser resides in Mills Co., lowa. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Jam- ison, in 1839. She was born in Kentucky, in 1809, and is still living. Their union has been blessed with the birth of five children-Margaret Ann, James, Minerva, Thomas and Alexander. Mr. and Mrs. Morse by their union have become the parents of three children-Ann, born May 26, 1860; Samuel,
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Sept. 26, 1862 ; and Mary, March 19, 1872. They also have three grandchildren-Edwin McQueen, born in November, 1882; and David and Lotta Mc- Queen, twins, born Dec. 25, 1884.
Mr. and Mrs. Morse are pleasantly situated on their fine farm of 180 acres, on section 35, Berwick Township, all of which is under an advanced state of cultivation. On the place there is a good resi- dence and harn 28 x 34 feet in dimensions, and the place presents an appearance to the passer-by indic- ative of that push and perseverance characteristic of its proprietor. In addition to the cultivation of his land, he is engaged in raising fine horses. In poli- tics, Mr. Morse is a believer in and a supporter of the principles of the Republican party.
acob Jewell, retired farmer, residing at Monmouth, was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Nov. 9, 1814, and was the second son of Lemuel and Jane (Cole) Jewell, of Connecti- cut and New York respectively, and of English and German extraction respectively. They were the parents of seven children, six brothers and one sister, viz. : Abel, Jacob), Ira, Halsey, Harriet, Henry and John. Three are now deceased. Jacob left home when ten years of age and began to labor for his living. The district schools, with a few months at an academy, afforded him such education as allowed him to teach school a few years while yet a young man. He came to Will County, this State, in 1837, removed thence to Du Page County, in 1838, and to Berwick, in Warren County, in 1839. From the time he arrived in Warren County, he advanced steadily in the accumulation of property up to the time of his retirement. He moved into Lenox Town- ship, in 1843, and from there to Monmouth, in 1867. Of his immense farm property he gave to his children until he now has only about 270 acres. Strictly speaking, he did not retire from active business until 1882, when he turned matters over to his sons.
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