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 61
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gold, and was thus occupied for one year. He then went to Nevada, where he worked in the silver mines, and there remained until. 1865, when he returned to Monmouth. His trip across the plains, in a financial sense was of but little benefit to him, and on return- ing to Monmouth he again engaged as a clerk and followed the same for two years.
Leaving Monmouth Mr. Gilliland came to Kirk- wood, and in partnership with Mr. S. C. Foster, engaged in the drug business, which they have con- tinued until the present time, meeting with that suc- cess which fair dealing and strict attention to business generally bring. The marriage of Mr.Gillil- and to Miss Margaret A. Ebert, a native of Pennsyl- vania, took place in 1869, and two children have been born to the family circle, namely, William and Lewis.
In politics Mr. Gilliland is a believer in and a sup- porter of the Republican party. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Socially Mr. Gilliland is a member of the Order of Masonry, and is regarded as one of the energetic and foremost business men of Kirkwood.
rs. S. E. Wray, residing at Kirkwood, is the widow of John Wray, who died in 1874. He was born in Kentucky in 1816, his parents being Isaac and Mary (Carleton) Wray, natives of Ireland. He landed on American shores in 1835, and determined to follow the occupation of a farmer. Following in the train whose watchword was "Westward Ho!" he reached the Prairie State and located one mile west of the present village of Kirkwood, where his father and mother died.
John Wray was united in marriage with Sarah E. Davis, a native of Virginia, Aug. 14, 1843, in Hen- derson County. She came to Illinois with her par- ents in 1833. They settled on a farm of 80 acres, and there her father followed the occupation of farm- ing and the daughter continued to reside until her marriage with Mr. Wray. Of their union ten chil- dren have been born, namely : William W., Mary, Frances M., Andrew E., Caroline C., Eliza J., Sam- uel D., Elizabeth E., John P. and Charles E.
Mr. Wray, in his political belief, supported the
Republican party. He took an interest in political matters and was an active worker for the success of his party. In religion, he was a believer in the ten- ets of the United Presbyterian Church, as is likewise Mrs. Wray.
Mr. Wray was a hard working man, generous to a fault, and never knowh to refuse aid in any cause that was calculated to benefit the community in which he resided. He lived on his farm and was there engaged actively and energetically in its im- provement until his death in 1874. Three years after the death of her husband, Mrs. Wray moved to the village of Kirkwood and there purchased a resi- dence and two lots, where she is at present living with her two sons and a daughter.
ohn S. Spriggs, M. D., of the pioneer drug house of Spriggs & Brother, at Monmouth, was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., Nov. 4, 1824. His parents, James S. and Elizabeth (Leaman) Spriggs, natives respectively of the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, traced their ancestry back to England and Germany. They were married in Lancaster Co., Pa., from whence they removed to Philadelphia, where the senior Mr. S. was for many years a merchant. He died in that city in 1838. His widow survived him about 26 years, and caine West with her son John S. in 1857, and died at Monmouth in 1864, in the 70th year of her life.
· John S. Spriggs graduated from New London (Pa.) Academy, when about 18 years of age, and began directly the study of medicine with Dr. John Lea- man, an uncle, of Williamstown, Pa., who was his preceptor. From Dr. Leaman's office he entered the Jefferson College, in 1842, and graduated two years later as M. D. He began to practice in Cum- berland Co., Pa., immediately upon leaving college, and was there 13 years. He came from Cumber- land County to Monmouth in 1857, and soon after engaged in the drug business. He began business in a building that stood upon the site of the present Second National Bank. The building was burned in 187 1, and he next opened up on the south side of the public square, where the firm (for the brothers · have been together all the time) have since carried
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on an extensive and lucrative business. 'As skillful druggists they undoubtedly stand at the head of the trade in Monmouth. Dr. Spriggs was one of the organizers of the Monmouth Mining and Manufac- turing Co., in 1872, his interests wherein he parted with in 1884.
Dr. Spriggs was married in Cumberland Co., Pa., Dec. 16, 1852, to Miss Emily E. Williamson, who died at Castile, N. Y., whither she had gone for her health, leaving four children, having buried two. The living are John W., of Monmouth; Margaret A. (Mrs. W. W. Yeates), of Chicago; Florence E. (Mrs. E. J. Robinson), of Iowa City, Iowa; and Laura Belle (Mrs. W. R. Smith), of Kansas. Their first child, Mary Elizabeth, was born Sept. 17, 1853, and died Dec. 23, 1868; William Francis, was born Oct. 24, 1858, and died Dec. 6, of the same year.
Ten years after burying his first wife, the Doctor found a second in the person of Miss Rachel Dy- sart, a native of Belmont Co., Ohio. They were married at Monmouth, May 6, 1885. The Doctor and family are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is a Republican.
H. Gilmore, who is engaged in the gro- cery business at Kirkwood, this county, was born in Butler Co., Pa., June 16, 1846, his parents being Hugh and Catherine (Dorothy) Gilmore, natives of Pennsylvania. The father moved with his family to New London, Iowa, in 1855, and was there resident for 10 years, coming thence to Kirkwood, where he is yet living.
J. H. Gilmore, the gentleman whose name we place as the subject of this biographical notice, was an in- mate of the parental household until he attained his 23d year. His years. prior to majority were passed in acquiring an education in the common schools and. assisting in the maintenance of the family. Two years after becoming his own man, in 1872, he en- gaged with T. F. Lowther in the grocery business at Kirkwood, where he continued for seven years, after which, in 1879, Mr. Gilmore purchased his partner's interest, and since then has conducted the business for his own individual profit. By strict attention to business, quick sales and fair dealing with his cus-
tomers, he has established a good and constantly in- creasing business.
The marriage of Mr. Gilmore to Miss Louisa Brown, daughter of John Brown and a native of this State, took place in 1869. Their union has been blessed by the birth of two children, Carrie and Hugh.
In politics Mr. Gilmore is a staunch Republican. He has held the different office's in his township and is one of the foremost business men of Kirk wood.
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ortimer S. Baldwin, at the head of the firm of Baldwin & Putnam, dealers in flour, feed, pumps, lime, cement, etc., at Monmouth, is a son of George and Mary L. (Stewart) Baldwin, natives of Pensylvania, and of English and Irish extraction, respect- ively. He was born in Chester Co., Pa., Oct. 27, 1846. The senior Mr. Baldwin was by occupation a farmer during his life and brought his six sons up to that honorable calling. His life was ended in the place where it began, and the hand of Time marked for him 66 years, A. D. 1869.
Mortimer S. Baldwin had the benefit of a com- mon-school education in Pennsylvania, and when about 20 years of age was employed as a clerk in a general merchandise establishment at Cochranville, that State. He remained here about three years and then in a similar capacity at Pennington ville for about one year. In 1869, we find him farming near Virden, Ill., and in 1871 he landed at Monmouth, where he learned telegraphy. He followed "brass pounding " only a short time and engaged in the grocery business in partnership with a Mr. Hawkins. In 1881, he sold out his grocery and went to Black- foot, Idaho Territory, and there engaged in the butchering business, under contract to furnish meat to the United States Government. A few months of this life satisfied him, and Monmouth again became his home. He was connected with the Monmouth Merchant Milling Company, as their Secretary, about 18 months, and in 1883 embarked in his pres- ent business, taking in a partner in 1884.
Mr. Baldwin began life subject to all the difficul- ties incident to a young man wholly devoid of means, and has had his full share of the ups and downs,
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and, in fact, he has had occasion to feel that there were more downs than ups to his allotment, but not- withstanding it all, he has made a success of life so far, and has outstripped many who had inuch the advantage of him at the beginning. He owns the Joel Clothing-House Block at Monmouth, a large tract of land in Nebraska, is a stockholder and di- rector in the Monmouth Merchant Milling Company, at Mitchell, D. T., and has a half interest in the celebrated Portable Hay and Grain Cover, the new- est and most useful invention that has been intro- duced to the agricultural people for ten years.
He is a Republican in politics, and, religiously, attends the Presbyterian Churchı. Mr. B. is a mein- ber of the Odd Fellows Order. Mrs. Baldwin's maiden name was Laura W. Williams; she is a na- tive of Chester Co., Pa., where Mr. Baldwin made her his wife Feb. 15, 1872.
scar N. Kellogg, a gentleman who has met with more than ordinary success in life, a good farmer and respected citizen of War- ren County, residing on section 11, Cold Brook Township, was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., Jan. 4, 1846. Josiah Kellogg. father of the gentleman whose name heads this biographical no- tice, followed the trade of a harness maker until 1851, when he came West, and located in Kelly Township. He continued to reside there, following the vocation of a farmer, until the call was made by President Lincoln for soldiers to defend the cause of the union, when he enlisted, Sept. 2, 1862, as First Corporal in the 102d Ill. Vol. Inf., Co. B, under Capt. Elisha C. Atchison. The regiment in which his company belonged was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and Mr. Kellogg participated in all the battles in which it was engaged until March 13, 1863, when he was promoted to Third Sergeant. He held that rank until the battle of Resaca, when he received a shot from the enemy that caused his death.
Oscar N. Kellogg, whose life history we write, was but six years of age when his parents came to this county and located in Kelly Township. After the death of his father, he resided with his mother on the
old homestead, where he was engaged in its cultiva- tion and improvement. Oct. 31, 1871, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret, the accomplished daughter of Alex. and Martha (Richie) Armstrong, natives of the North of Ireland and of Scotch-Irish descent. Her parents were married in their native country and resided in Fermanagh County, where eight children were born to them. Mrs. Kellogg, wife of the subject of this notice, was next to the youngest in order of birth of her parents' family and was born in Fermanagh County, Ireland, July 2, 1849. Her parents emigrated to the United States and settled in Kelly Township, this county, where her father died, in May, 1876, aged 70 years. Her mother survives and is residing with her oldest son, James, in Kelly Township, aged 73 years.
After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg, they located on the old homestead belonging to the father of Mrs. K., on section 28, Kelly Township. Mr. Kellogg subsequently sold his possessions in Kelly Township, and, in February, 1884, purchased 120 . acres of good farm land in Cold Brook Township, the same being the farm on which they at present reside. It is under an advanced state of cultivation and pre- sents an appearance indicative of the push and en- ergy of its proprietor. Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which denomination Mr. K. is Steward and also Sunday-school Superintendent. In politics, he al- ways casts his vote with the Republican party. He has held the office of Road Commissioner for six years and School Trustee for the same length of time. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg, two children have been born-Bertha, Dec. 17, 1873, and Estella, Jan. 24, 1877.
ames W. Standley, M. D., a practicing physician in Alexis, established his rela- tions with the citizens of that place in 1880. He is a practitioner of the allopathic school and is thoroughly well read in his pro- fession. He has had a valuable experience and is steadily growing in the confidence of the com - munity where he has thrown his glove of challenge to fame and fortune.
Dr. Standley was born in Putnam Co., Ind., March
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18, 1846. His father, Thomas Standley, is respon- sible for the letter "d" which appears in the family name, as it was inserted by him to change its origi- nal name of " Stanley." The latter was a native of South Carolina and married Lydia Moss, a lady who was born in Indiana. The senior Standley removed his family to Wapello Co., Iowa, when his son was a child of nine years.
The days of the youth of Dr. Standley were passed in Iowa, and he was educated primarily in the pub- lic schools of the county whither his parents re- moved. He went to Putnam Co., Mo., for the pur- pose of commencing his studies preparatory to entering the medical profession, with his uncle, Thomas H. Moss, who was a physician of repute and influence, and under whose preceptorship he made satisfactory progress. On leaving his office, Dr. Standley matriculated at Rush Medical College in the city of Chicago and was graduated from that institution with the class of 1872. In 1869, he went to Plattville, Taylor Co., Iowa, to enter upon his professional career, and remained there six months. He operated in Adair Co., Mo., after that period un- til 1871, when he abandoned practice to give his entire attention to his collegiate course. After tak- ing his degree, he went to Greencastle, Sullivan Co., Mo., and practiced as a physician until he came to Alexis in the year named.
Dr. Standley was joined in marriage with Emma Bartlett Sept. 9, 1875. She is the daughter of Charles and Emeline Bartlett and was born in Newark, Ken- dall Co., Ill. The Doctor and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
on. Delos Porter Phelps, of Monmouth, Asst. Supt. of the Central Iowa Rail- way Company, is a son of Porter and Mary Ellen Phelps, notices of whom appear in this work. He was born about ten miles south of Monmouth, in Roseville Township, Warren Co., Nov. 16, 1837. In the sketch of his parents, in this volume, will be found an account of his ancestry.
His father moved from Knoxville, Ill., in the spring of that year, and there began the improvement of a small farm. He erected upon it a rude log house, covered with hand-riven boards, kept in place by
logs weighting them down, and beneath that roof the subject of our sketch first saw the light.
The whole country was then substantially a wil- derness ; only here and there along the timber could be found the rude beginning of some adventurous pioneer. He lived there until the spring of 1844, and many a time, as he has told the writer, has he seen the wolves come up to within hailing distance of the house, and the deer play like sheep within gunshot of the dwelling. For several direc- tions, as far as the eye could reach, there was not then an improvement, or the smoke of a chimney in view. He saw the prairie fires in the autumn sweep across the broad expanse of waving grass swifter than the speed of the fastest horse, and with a roar that could be heard a considerable distance, leaving blackness and desolation behind. During one win- ter, while residing there, two of his father's neigh- bors caught 46 wolves in one steel trap, and finally a large black wolf was caught that broke the chain and went off with the trap, and was killed the follow- ing spring 10 miles away, almost starved to death, with the trap still clinging to his foot.
At that time cooking stoves were substantially un- known, kettles were used in fire places instead, and each cabin, though rude without and within, had one of those great cheerful fire-places with its back log and fore log, andirons, and great chimneys, so beau- tifully described in Whittier's "Snow Bound." Mills were scarce and distant, and not unfrequently had he seen meal manufactured by grating ears of new corn upon the bottom of a tin pan punched full of holes with an awl.
He was taught at home a great deal by his par- ents, as no neighborhood had school to exceed three months in the year. School houses as described by him were made of logs generally about 16 ft. square, and seats were formed of hewn puncheons; or, if a saw mill was near or a whip-saw available, seats were made of slabs converted into benches by having four holes bored and rude legs placed therein. These legs generally protruded through the top far enough for a wedge to be driven into them to prevent them from falling out, and unfortunate was the unlucky. urchin who, in that small and usually crowded room happened to be assigned his seat over that uncom- fortable spot.
In the spring of 1844 the elder Phelps sold his farm for $300, moved to the vicinity of Berwick and
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rented a farm. There, he said, he remembered well with what pleasure and childish wonder he saw the iron thumb latches with which the doors were fur- nished. Usually at that time there was used a large wooden latch, to which there was fastened a string that passed through a hole in the door above it, and by pulling the string the latch was raised. At that time thieves were almost unknown, and this latch string hung out with a welcoming hospitality to every lost or belated traveler.
This year, 1844, was known as the rainy season. The windows of heaven seemed to be opened, and the storm king to rule with unrestrained power. More than once with his brothers and sisters he was put into the cellar, while his father and mother stay- ed above to hold the doors and windows. Often, too, with a common dipper, has he seen them dip water from the well, so saturated was the earth. In 1845, his father having bought the place four miles east of Monmouth, where he lived until his death, moving upon it in the spring of that year.
From Berwick there was the wide prairie that lies south and east of Monmouth. It was then supposed to be too wet to ever be valuable, and rash indeed was considered the man who would leave a point of timber and venture to make his home thereon.
The course thence to Monmouth was a straight line, and, in fact, to almost any other point, if one could cross the sloughs and streams which were gen- erally unbridged. The prairie spoken of was cov- ered with an immense growth of rank weeds, but a few feet apart, that grew to a height of from ro to 15 feet, and were covered on top and sides with yellow flowers. Many a time after he was large enough to hunt the cows, he had to stand up on his horse's back to see over the tops of these weeds, and would find them lying down not 100 steps away, when he could not see them while sitting on the horse. A great bunch of resinous leaves several feet in diameter grew at the foot of these tall weeds, and after frost were as inflammable as tinder. In the event of a prairie fire the wind would sweep them in a fiery cloud away in front of the bursting flames, and kin- dle the fire far in advance, which greatly accelerated the speed of the conflagration. Upon this prairie, when he was large enough to ride on horseback with safety, he attended two grand circular wolf hunts with his father and two older brothers, where the lines had been formed upon the borders of the county,
and the deer and wolves driven before until late in the day they were found in the circle or square that the encroaching horses formed around the prairie.
The first year of residence upon this place, there was killed thereon almost 100 rattlesnakes, and over 400 other snakes. Often, in riding across that prai- rie several years later, he has encountered a wolf or deer, or heard the rattle of the disturbed rattlesnake, which horses seemed to avoid with instinctive fear. Here young Delos also attended school for a few months in the year in the primitive log school house. The privileges of school were valued, because scarce in those days. There he first studied Latin under the tuition of his sister Ellen, and also under that of Rev. J. W. Butler, who afterward became Presi- dent of Abingdon College. President Butler was at that time a student at either Knox College, Ill., or Bethany College in Virginia. His father, Major Pe- ter Butler, was almost, if not quite, the first County Surveyor of Warren County, and lived about four miles east of Monmouth. A block house stood up- on his farm that had been built there for protection against the Indians. But Mr. Phelps was indebted to home instruction for much of his learning, espe- cially for his love of poetry and eloquence. Extracts from Scott and other standard authors were taught him by his mother, who brought them stored in her memory from New York, and taught them to him years before he ever saw them in a book. She taught him so early that he has no recollection of learning to read. He always had a desire to go through Col- lege, and in 1856 the establishment of Monmouth College gave him an opportunity, and he told his father that if he would let him go he would relin- quish all interest in his estate, and in September, 1857, he started. The father did not intend that such should be the price of his son's education, but justly considered that those things desired and ob -- tained with difficulty, were the most prized. The young student pursued his studies at home and rode on horseback to Monmouth to recite, staying out oc- casionally to teach a term in order to get money to aid in the expenses; and thus he really earned more money than he spent while attending College.
Mr. Phelps graduated in the classical department in 1862, having been in college five years. His was the last class that graduated from the old college building. He studied French under the instruction of his cousin, Miss Annie Stevens, afterwards the
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wife of A. G. Kirkpatrick, as an extra study. He also studied law during vacations, and at all spare moments, getting the books from A. G. Kirkpatrick, then a leading lawyer of Monmouth.
In February, 1862, however, four months before he graduated, he was attacked with acute opthalmia. For weeks he was confined to a darkened room. At one time the sight of one eye was pronounced by his physician as lost, but fortunately he was mistaken. Mr. Phelps was determined to graduate with his class, however, and his sister Annie read his lessons to him, and when he got able to endure the light, with a heavy shade over his eyes, he rode to the col- lege and recited them. He dictated his commence- ment oration to the same sister, who wrote it down and read it to him until he had learned it. He was chosen by his class to deliver the valedictory ad- dress, and delivered that and his oration while so nearly blind he could not recognize his friends half way across the Church, where the commencement exercises were held.
He always had a great love for oratory, and many eloquent passages of great orators and statesmen were familiar and delightful to him, and while in college he rarely missed the Friday night meeting of the Philadelphia Literary Society, of which he was a member. Their debates, orations and essays were continued, often, to the "wee sma' hours," and were to him a source of great pleasure and improve- ment. For three successive years, during his college course, he was chosen by his society to represent it in its annual literary contest with the Eccrittean Society, its rival in college. The writer of this has heard him say that to the discipline there received in that society, he attributed much of whatever suc- cess he may have attained afterwards at the bar. For two years after he graduated he vainly tried, by the help of divers physicians, to recover his sight, so as to go on with the study of his chosen profes- sion, until almost in despair; and though usually cheerful under the disappointment thus suffered, he was wont to attribute to it whatever of a sombre hue there might be in his character.
In the spring of 1864, Mr. Phelps, despairing of being able to go on with his studies, being still un- able to read for ten consecutive minutes, or even look upward, and hoping to make a little money to aid him in his studies when able to prosecute them, went across the plains to Idaho Territory, where he
.began digging gold, with, however, indifferent suc- cess, except as to health. The change of climate, exercise and being in the open air invigorated his health, and did much to strengthen his sight, and having lost, in purchasing a mine, what money he had, he concluded to go to Idaho City and teach school .. At that place in the winter of 1864-5 he rented a small house, bought some lumber, bor- rowed tools, made seats and desks and opened a school, at one dollar per week per scholar. His school swelled' to 55 in number, and finding his quarters too small, he raised, by subscription, nearly $1,000, and built the first school-house erected in that Territory outside of Lewiston, and possibly in advance of any built there. This school-house he afterward gave to the school authorities there, and it was one of the few buildings that escaped the fire which destroyed the city.
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