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 62
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'While teaching, Mr. Phelps spent his spare hours in the law office of Hon. Chas. B. Waite, of Chicago, before then Chief Justice of Utah Territory, and he and other legal friends examined him in the law and wrote a letter in his favor, which he sent to Lewiston, with the accustomed fee therefor, and a license was issued him to practice law. On May 18, 1865, Idaho City was destroyed by fire, and his law license and almost everything else he possessed was burned. That fall he returned East on horse- back across the plains. His sight was then restored so that he could read a considerable portion of the time by daylight, and he continued to study law and was admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court of this State in the Spring of 1866, at Ottawa, upon ex- amination in open court, not being able to produce the license granted him in Idaho Territory. Thus, aside from the improvement of his general health, he had lost about four years of his life, and very im- portant ones, too, coming as they did just at the close of his college life.
On the 8th day of May, 1866, Mr. Phelps came to Monmouth and began the practice of law, his earthly possessions at that time consisting of a horse, blind in one eye, worth about $125. He formed a law partnership with Hon. C. M. Harris, of Oquawka, which was nominal, rather than otherwise, as he continued to reside in Oquawka. In the fall of that year he formed a law partnership with Hon. J. H. Stewart, which continued until he retired fiom prac- tice, in 1880.
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In 1868, Mr. Phelps was nominated by the State Democratic Convention for Presidential Elector, and challenged Hon. Henry W. Draper, of Carthage, Ill., Republican Elector, to a joint discussion of the questions at issue, at three points in each county in the District, which then extended from Quincy to Rock Island. Mr. Draper accepted for two points in each county, and the debates were held, usually before large audiences. While at Rock Island, hold- ing one of these joint discussions, he was nominated also for District Attorney. Both Districts were largely Republican and he was defeated; but these debates established his reputation as a brilliant and able speaker, and his name was frequently mentioned thereafter as a candidate for Congress, and in 1876 he came within two or three votes of being nomi- nated. In 1878 he was nominated by acclamation. Col. Frank B. Marsh, of Warsaw, Hancock County, was the Republican candidate, while Hon. A. B. Streeter, of Mercer County, formerly a Democrat, ran on the Greenback ticket. His candidacy di- vided the Democratic vote and defeated Mr. Phelps. In Mercer County Mr. Streeter succeeded in convinc- ing his old neighbors that there was no chance for Mr. Phelps' election, but that there was for his own on the then Greenback tidal wave, and he secured in that county 868 votes, while Mr. Phelps secured 898. The Democratic vote of that county two years before had been nearly equal to both these numbers. Col. Marsh retained his party strength and Mr. Phelps was defeated by 576 votes. In Warren County he was beaten by but 298 votes, while the usual Republican majority was from 700 to 800. In this campaign he had to contend against two other candidates. Had Mr. Streeter not been in the field Mr. Phelps would have been elected easily by 1,500 majority. In that campaign he probably delivered more public addresses than were ever made by any candidate in Illinois during the same length of time, making 38 speeches of from two and a half to three hours each in the last 23 days, or almost two daily, yet such was their character that a prominent gen- tleman declared to the writer that he "went to hear hin nine times during that campaign and that the last speech was the best of all."
Mr. Phelps is an ardent and uncompromising Democrat, and takes an active part in almost every political campaign, and had his lot been cast where
his party was in the ascendancy there is no position to which he might not have aspired. He was ever interested in the welfare of his city and neighbor- hood.
In 1875, the citizens of Monmouth, desiring to ob- tain some railroad competition, organized the Bur- lington, Monmouth & Illinois River Railway Com- pany for that purpose. Mr. Phelps was among the first subscribers, to the extent of $1,000. He was made a director of the company, and in 1879, when the enterprise seemed likely to fail, Mr. Phelps and Mr. William -Hanna assumed control and acquired the ownership of it, and, as will be seen in the no- tice of the Central Iowa Railway Company, pushed it to completion, until now it is growing to be one of the most important roads of the West.
There is, perhaps, no more remarkable case upon record of as important a railway as this developing from so humble a beginning by force of judicious management. In this company and in the Peoria & Farmington Railway Company, which was its suc- cessor, the name of which was afterwards changed to the Central Iowa, Mr. Phelps held almost every po- sition of responsibility and trust; being its Vice-Pres- ident, General Manager, Secretary and Legal Counselor. He made the contracts, supervised the construction and directed its operations ; was instru- mental in consolidating it with the Central Iowa, of Iowa, of which company he became a director and assistant Superintendant, which latter position he now holds. He organized the Keithsburg Bridge Company, now building an iron bridge over the Mis- sissippi River at Keithsburg, Ill., and was until recently a director and secretary thereof. In addi- tion to his interests in these railways, which are large, he is a stockholder and director in the Weir Plow Company of Monmouth, and is a large land- owner in Warren County and in Iowa. What he has, he has made by his own efforts. While at the Bar, he was recognized as standing in its front ranks. As a trial lawyer, he perhaps had no superior, and as an advocate before a jury he was in a high de- gree eloquent and persuasive, while an indomitable will made him never despair of winning the most desperate cases. The practice of his firm is seen by reference to the reports of the Supreme Court, and was both lucrative and extensive. He abandoned it in 1880, because his time and energies were en-
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grossed in his railway enterprise. As a business man, he possesses good judgment and great execu- tive ability, as will be seen from his industrious and successful career.
On April 13, 1870, Mr. Phelps was married to Sarah Jeannette, daughter of Rev. Anson Tucker, of whom and of her mother and their ancestry sketches appear in this volume. Mrs. Phelps is a lady of rare accomplishments and virtues. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps occupy a delightful home, beautified by many works of art and' brightened by two lovely daughters-Eleanor Randolph, 12 years old and Claire Marguerite, eight years old. With a father's partiality, Mr. P. has given the names of Eleanor and Claire to two stations upon the line of the Central Iowa Railway in Illinois. Mrs. Phelps is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, of Mon- mouth. She is beloved by the poor and needy of that city as their active and earnest friend and as- sistant.
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Both Mr. and Mrs. Phelps are now in the prime of life, with promise of abundant years of usefulness and happiness in store for them.
phraim S. Swinney, one of the pioneers of Monmouth, was born at Bridgeton, N. J., June 23, 1817, and was the second in or- der of birth of a family of three sons of Daniel J. and Elizabeth (Seeley) Swinney, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey and of Irish and Welsh extraction respectively.
Ephraim S. Swinney was educated at Mansfield, Ohio, where his father removed in 1822, and where Daniel J. Swinney, who was a physician and also a preacher in the Baptist Church, died in 1858, at the age of 76 years: His widow died at the same place, surviving him only one month, aged 72 years.
Mr. Swinney of this notice came to Monmouth in 1837, and here he has since lived, and what he does not know of the early history of this now proud, little city will never be told. He began life here as a la- borer, worked at anything or everything, quarried the rock that laid the foundation of the present County Court House, and in 1839 went into Daniel McNeil's store and Postoffice as a clerk. In 1843 he was
elected Recorder of the county, and held the office eight years, or up to the day that office was abol- ished. In 1853 he was elected County Clerk, and held that office eight years, and since 1861 has lived a life of peaceful retirement.
On Dec. 21, 1843, he was united in marriage at Monmouth with Miss Mary Berry, whose father, B. Berry, of Flemingsburg, Ky., was killed in the War of 1812. The ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Swinney are Mary E. (Mrs. William G. Hutchinson), Miletus L., Ann M. (Mrs. W. D. Tresham), Daniel J., John Milton, Lucy . J., Catherine B. (Mrs. C. E. Cornell), Henrietta, Octavia G. and Richard Lee, and all living at the date of this publication (Febru- ary, 1886).
savid Dunbar Dunkle, Commander G. A. R. Post, No. 330, and at the head of the firm of Dunkle & Bristol, grocers at Mon- mouth, was born at Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. II, 1840. His parents, David and Margaret A. (Henry) Dunkle, were also Pennsylvanians. They were the parents of an only daughter, who grew to womanhood, married a Mr. Stewart, and died soon afterward in Pennsylvania. David was born a few weeks after his father's death, but his mother supplied him with a step-father in the course of time, who taught David how to farm, and the neighborhood pedagogue took advantage of such odd times as the farm could not monopolize, and taught hin the rudi- ments of an English education. When about 20 years of age he went to Bedford Co., Pa., and learned the moulder's trade, and on the 27th of August, 1861, enlisted as a private in Co. F, 100th Pa. Reg., known as the "Round Heads," and served three years. He was with his regiment in the secret expe- dition against Hilton Head, in November, 1861; participated in the engagements at Bufort, S. C .; James Island, near Charleston ; joined the Eastern army in July, 1862, and fought the enemy at Bull Run, Chantilla, South Mountain, Antietam, and through Gen. Burnside's winter campaign. The spring of 1863 found the regiment in the army of the Mississippi. After occupying Vicksburg, young Da- vid was taken sick, returned to Kentucky and left at
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Camp Nelson hospital. After his recovery he re- turned to the army of the Potomac, and participated in the early part of the Grant campaign, in the battle of the Wilderness, and on to Spottsylvania. During the whole service he was absent from duty only about four months.
After the war D. D. Dunkle made a flying trip to Colorado via Monmouth, where, after returning East, he settled down in the spring of 1866, since which time, up to engaging in his present business, he has alternated between farming and working at his trade. From 1880 to 1885 he was employed as foreman for the Pattee Plow Company, and in June, 1885, he embarked in the grocery trade.
In 1883. he was elected Senior Vice-Commander of the G. A. R. Post, and, in 1885, promoted to Post Commander. He has been appointed Aid-de-Camp on the staff of the present Commander-in-Chief of the G. A. R. He is a Past Master in Masonry, High Priest in the Chapter (No. 30), and member of the Oriental Consistory of Chicago. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., and in all the Orders to which he belongs is counted among the brightest and most active members. For the last three years he has also been special correspondent of this county for the Chicago Herald.
May 22, 1867, he was married at Viola, Ill., to Miss Jennie N. Ayles, who died Aug. 31, 1879, leaving three children-Harry, Maggie and Willie. On the 20th of December, 1882, at Monmouth, he married · his present wife, Mrs. Amanda Vine, nee Rodgers.
Mr. Dunkle is a Democrat in political affiliations, and has twice been elected to represent his Ward in the City Council.
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harles E. Blackburn, of the firm of Blackburn & Turnbull, undertakers and dealers in undertaking and embalming goods, also proprietors of extensive livery, sale and feed stables at Monmouth, was born in LaPorte County, Ind., Sept. 19, 1847. His parents, Alexander and Delilah (Polk) Blackburn, na- tives of the States of Virginia and Kentucky respec- tively, came to Illinois in 1853, and lived there several years, in McDonough County, where, and in
Monmouth College, where he applied himself to study for two years, he received his education.
In 1872, he came to Monmouth, clerked awhile in a hardware store, embarked in the saddle and har- ness business, and drifted into the livery business, in 1880. (See sketch of David Turnbull, in this volume.)
Mr. Blackburn was married at Monmouth, Nov. 2, 187 1, to Miss Olive Jewell, daughter of Jacob Jew- ell, and of this union three children were born- Bessie, Anna, and an infant son who is dead.
rof. Thomas H. Rogers, Professor of Mathematics of Monmouth College, was born at Banares, India, Sept. 2, 1836. His parents, Rev. William and Julia Ann (Riley) Rogers, natives respectively of the States of Ohio and New York, were married at Craw- fordsville, Indiana, and the children born of their union were one son and two daughters.
The Rev. Mr. Rogers, distinguished ministerof the Presbyterian Church, was a graduate of Miami (Ohio) University, and in 1836, sent as a missionary to In- dia, where he remained eight years. Returning to this country in 1844, he settled down at Oxford, Ohio, and spent the rest of his life.
Thomas H. Rogers, of whom we write, also a graduate of Miami (Ohio) University, from which institution he took first honors in Philosophy, class of 1856, has spent his life as student and teacher. Im- mediately upon leaving College he accepted a Pro- fessorship at Logansport (Ind.) Academy ; going thence at the end of a year to Monroe (Ohio) Acad- emy, where he taught the three succeeding years. From Monroe he took charge of Paris (Ill.) Acade- my, coming to Monmouth in 1864. Here he had charge of the Academy for some years before ac- cepting the chair of Mathematics in the College. (See history of Monmouth College )
From 1868 he has been officially connected as Sec- retary and Superintendent, with the Public Library ; first in connection with the Monmouth Free Reading Room, and since with the permanent organization of the Library, founded by the large and wise liberality of William P. Pressley. Much credit is due to Prof.
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Rogers, as to every one of the Directors of this, Mon- mouth's greatest public institution, for its unusual success, and its almost unparalleled and highly de- served popularity.
Speaking thus of a Library at so small a city as Monmouth, may sound extravagant; but the unbi- ased stranger who visits such places from time to time in all parts of the Union and patronizes them, though only for selfish purposes, will never spend a week at this city and one hour each day thereof in its reading rooms, without comprehending fully the force of the language here used, and what is of more importance, appreciating its truthfulness. (See his- tory of Warren County Library.)
Prof. Rogers was married at Lincoln, Ill., Oct. 24, 1862, to Miss Lucinda R. Brainard, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Rev. E. Brainard, of the Presbyte- rian Church. Mrs. Rogers died Oct. 29, 1878, leav- ing two daughters-Amy and Ella, the first a gradu- ate of, and the second a student at Monmouth Col- lege.
illiam D. Johnson, whose entrance into life was coeval with that of the 19th Cen- tury, and whose silvered hair is strongly indicative of a life that has been replete with usefulness and honorable actions, was born in Sussex Co., N. J., Dec. 19, 1800. He is to-day venerated by all who know him as one of the worthiest citizens of Kirkwood, where he has been a resident for nearly 15 years.
The parents of Mr. Johnson, Samuel and Mary (Hall) Johnson, were natives of New Jersey and "there resided until their deaths. William D. re- mained an inmate of his father's household until he was 20 years of age, having in the meantime received a good common-school education in the district schools. At the age named he settled on a portion of his father's farm, which he cultivated until 1834. On the 12th day of May, 1834, Mr. Johnson started for the undeveloped West with two teams, contain- ing his family (whichi at that time consisted of his wife and six children) and such household effects as were portable under the circumstances. They came by way of Pittsburgh, through Pennsylvania
and through the Ohio Valley to Indianapolis, Ind. From the latter city they came to this State, crossing the Illinois River at Havana, and going thence to Canton, Fulton County. Arriving at the latter place Mr. Johnson concluded it was a good agricultural country and determined to make it his abiding place. He consequently purchased 80 acres of Government land and cultivated the same until 1836, when he sold it and purchased a 240-acre tract, moved his family, and at once engaged actively and energetic- ally upon its cultivation and improvement, with the determination at that time of making it a permanent home. He lived on that farm for some 21 years, erecting thereon a fine residence and a substantial barn and other necessary outbuildings, set out fruit and ornamental trees and otherwise improved the land, and by a subsequent purchase increased his landed interests in that county to 400 acres. In 1857 he purchased 320 acres in Henderson County, and during that year came to Kirkwood, purchased ground and erected the fine residence upon it which has been his home ever since.
The marriage of Mr. Johnson took place in 1821, at which time Miss Martha Shackleton, a native of New Jersey, became his wife. They have seven children living, namely : Pamelia; born Jan. 11, 1822; Samuel J., Aug. 27, 1823; Richard S., April 20, 1825 ; Theodore F., March 26, 1827 ; Oakley, Feb. 4, 1830 ; Mary J., Dec. 21, 1832 ; John H., Nov. 9, 1834; Andrew R., July 2, 1838; he was killed in the late Civil War. Pamelia married Sam- uel Brimhall and resides at Kirkwood; Samuel mar- ried Hester A. Rapalee ; six children are now living, the result of his marriage-William L., Elsena, Clayton, Perry . J., Andrew and Marilda. Of his second marriage one child has been born ; he now lives in Kansas. Richard was married to Lucretia Bruce, and Kansas is now his home; Theodore mar- ried Elizabeth Martin; John W. and Luella are the names of their children ; Oakley is married and liv- ing in Clay Co., Neb. ; Frank and Waldo, besides two deceased, are the children born to him; Mary became the wife of James Johnson; one child was born to them-Mattie L .; Mr. J. died Sept. 4, 1866; John H. married Kate Zook, and resides at Buslı- nell.
Mrs. Johnson died April 14, 1871, mourned by her family and a host of relatives and friends as a faithful, loving wife, a gentle and devoted mother
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and a generous, warm-hearted neighbor. In politics, Mr. J. is an earnest supporter of the principles ad- vocated by the Republican party. In his religious views, he coincides with the tenets of the Baptist Church, to which denomination he belongs. He has held many offices of trust within the gift of the peo- ple of his township, and now, as he lingers in the shadows of life, he can look back over the history of the past with satisfaction, and live in the enjoyment of that peace and plenty which a life of active indus- try has brought him.
illiam Wood, in mercantile business at Kirkwood, on Main Street, was born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, March 7, 1833, his parents being Martin H. and Sally (Nettle- ton) Wood. Martin H. Wood, father of the gentleman whose biography we write, came to Illinois from Ohio in 1837. His terminus in this State was Warren County, and on arrival here he purchased a farm on which he located with his fam- ily, and engaged in that pursuit which he has fol- lowed all his life, agriculture. He was one of the early settlers in this county, and has witnessed its development to the magnificent agricultural condi- tion it occupies to-day, and is yet living, at the ad- vanced age of 87 years, in Henderson County.
William Wood, subject of this notice, remained . with his parents until he was ten years old, when he engaged as clerk in a store at Oquawka, where he remained a year. He then changed his position to another store, and followed the same occupation for four years longer, and then worked on the river dur- ing the summers, and clerked in the winter, for six years more. In 1856 he purchased 40 acres of land, which he subsequently added to by the purchase of 40 acres in Henderson County, and on which he re- sided, occupied in its cultivation and improvement for three years. At the expiration of this time he once more engagéd in the mercantile pursuits as clerk at Oquawka, and followed the same for four years, until 1868, when he came to Kirkwood, this county, and engaged in the grocery and provision trade. In company with a Mr. Thompson he bought out a Mr. Morris at that place, and after carrying on their
business jointly four days, they were burned out. The partners were not disheartened and immediately purchased another building and under the firm name of Wood & Thompson again engaged in business, which co-partnership lasted for one and a half years, when Mr. Wood bought out the interest of his part- ner, and continued the business two years longer. He also during that time was "mine host" of the Tre- mont House at Kirkwood for 18 months, and for a time followed the nursery business, which he merged into the green-house business, and was thus occupied for eight years. Disposing of the latter business, he engaged in a variety store at Kirkwood Village in 1880, and has since continued the same. He keeps a general stock of almost everything that is neces- sary to supply the wants of his customers, and is meeting with success.
In politics he votes with the Republican party, and in religion, together with his wife, belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In addition to his business at Kirkwood, Mr. Wood has a farm of 160 acres, in Boone County, Nebraska.
He was married Oct. 9, 1856, to Martha E. Tyr- ell, a native of Ashtabula County, Ohio.
The business qualities of Mr. Wood are such as to entitle him to be classified as one of the leading business men of Kirkwood, and his dealings are such as to entitle him to the respect of the citizens of the community in which he resides.
ames Watson, the only gentleman engaged in business at Ellison, where he is con- ducting a dry goods, grocery and general mercantile store, and is also Postmaster and School Trustee, was born in this county, Nov. 10, 1855. The father of Mr. Watson of this sketch, Lucius Watson, was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., and came with his parents when eight years of age to this county. They settled near Roseville, and live in Point Pleasant Township. Lucius was a farmer by occupation and married Georgia A. Forte, a native of Kentucky. After marriage he settled in Point Pleasant Township, where he has continued to follow his chosen profession until the present time. He is the proprietor of 280 acres of good farm land
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where he resides. The parental family comprised seven children, and Jantes is the third in order of birth.
James Watson, whose name stands at the head of this notice, was educated in the township of his na- tivity and there resided until he attained the age of 17 years, when he went to Abingdon and remained for three years. He afterward taught school four terms in the common schools of the county.
He was married to Miss Augusta, the accom- plished daughter of David and Jane (Brown) Brent, Oct. 30, 1877. Her parents reside in the county and her father is following the vocation of a farmer in Ellison Township. Mrs. Watson was born on the parental homestead in Ellison Township, Feb. 22, 1856, and was reared and educated in the town- ship of her nativity, having also attended college at Abingdon two years prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have become the parents of one child Any, born Jan. 27, 1885.
After marriage, Mr. Watson located on a farm in Ellison Township, and continued to reside thereon until December, 1881, when he moved to the village of Ellison. He purchased the stock of goods owned by Amos Pierce at that place, and since that time has continued to carry on the mercantile business. By fair and honest dealing with his patrons, he has established a good and paying business and is meet- ing with financial success. Soon after engaging in business at that place, Mr. Watson was appointed Postmaster, which office he continues to hold until the present time. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ellison, of which denomination Mr. Watson is Steward and Trustee. He has held the office of School Trustee for two years, and, in his political opinions, he affiliates with the Republican party, taking an active interest in local politics.
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