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 70
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Dr. Randall, of this sketch, was first married
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March 10, 1863, to Miss Caroline, daughter of F. G. and Adeline Snapp, who bore him four children -- George S., born Dec. 27, 1863 ; Channing C., Aug. 5, 1865 (deceased) ; Claud C., Jan. 8, 1870 (de- ceased) ; Clyde W., Oct. 6, 1872 ; she died May 20, 1875. The Doctor married Edwina C., daughter of J. W. and Sarah E. Bond, Feb. 26, 1879, and by this union there is one child, William B., born April 3, 1882.
In politics, the Doctor is a believer in the princi- ples advocated by the Democratic party. His suc- cess as a practitioner is due to his careful diagnosis of the diseases of his patients, and his constant at- tention to his cases.
Dr. Randall is a gentleman who not only reflects honor upon his profession, but is a credit to the com- munity in which he lives. His large and extended experience, his deep and abiding interest in his pro- fession and the general welfare of the community, make him both a valuable physician and citizen. He is as widely known and as highly esteemed as any practitioner in the county, and numbers among his patrons and friends many of the best people in War- ren County. As both a representative of his chosen profession and a citizen of the county, the publishers take pleasure in placing Dr. Randall's portrait in this ALBUM in connection with this sketch.
amuel Knox Crawford, M. D., prominent physician and surgeon at Monmouth, and Professor of Surgical Anatomy in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago, is a native of Fredericksburg, Ohio, where he was born, Jan. 22, 1835. His parents, Hugh B. and Rebecca (Knox) Crawford, were born in the Ligonier Valley, Pa., and traced their ancestry back to the North of Ireland, Protestant, and in the fe- male line, to a direct kindred with the famous John Knox. They reared to men and women three sons and five daughters, and buried in youth and child- hood, two sons and a daughter.
The subject of this notice, who was the youngest of the family, spent the first 20 years of his life, when not in school, upon his father's farm. He graduated from Fredericksburg (Ohio) Academy, when about 21 years of age, and three years later
entered the Medical Department of the Ann Arbor (Mich.) University, having in the interim completed a full course of the study of medicine with Doctor Timothy H. Baker, of Wooster, Ohio. His first course of lectures was attended at Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Michigan, in March, 1861, and from Ann Arbor went direct to Bellevue, (N. Y.) Hospital, and there spent the summer under clinical instruction from the distin- guished doctors, Flint and Clark, and passed the fol- lowing winter at Jefferson Medical College, Philadel- phia.
In May, 1862, Dr. Crawford entered the United States service as Surgeon, or Medical Director of the Hospital Steamer, "Sunny Side," and made several trips between Pittsburgh Landing and Cincinnati. July following, he became Assistant Surgeon of the 50th Ohio Vol. Inf., and was promoted to Surgeon of that regiment during the succeeding autumn. He served in this position until March, 1864, when he was detailed as chief of the Operating Board for the Second Division, 23d Army Corps. This duty placed him in charge of the Field Hospital, where we find him in December, 1864, when the 50th and 99th Regiments were consolidated, and he was by special1 order made Staff Surgeon to Brigadier General J. T. Cooper. This charge in nowise relieved him from his responsibility as chief of the Operating Board, and he discharged double duty up to April 26, 1865. Remembering the facts that Dr. Crawford was never absent from duty, but at his post while his conmand fought the desperate battles of Perryville, Resaca, Goldsboro, the Atlanta Campaign with its 100 days' fighting, Franklin and Nashville, and even an ordi- nary mind can imagine something approximating his experience, and the intelligent can know that in placing him in the chair of Surgical Anatomy, the managers and directors of the Chicago College of Physicians and Surgeons understood what they were doing.
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July 20, 1865, Dr. Crawford first landed at Mon- mouth. He is a member of the Warren County Military Tract, American and State Medical Societ- ies. For 10 or 12 years he lectured regularly to Monmouth College classes upon anatomy, physiol- ogy, and hygiene. He has for several years held commissions from various life insurance companies as Medical Referee of the State, and, in 1884, he
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was made Professor of Obstetrics in the Medical Department of the University of Wooster, at Cleve- land, Ohio, a position he was unable to fill by reason of the multiplicity of duties already claiming his time and attention. The Doctor is also a writer of repute, as attested by the popularity of his "Letters to a Young Physician," in the Obstetrical Gazette (Cin- cinnati), 1879 and 1882 ; an article on "Typhoid Fe- ver," Transactions Illinois Medical Society, 1874, and also an elaborate paper on Obstetrics.
Nov, 2, 1865, Dr. Crawford was united in marriage at Fredericksburg, Ohio, with Miss Maria Irvine, daughter of the late Samuel Irvine, D. D., of that place, who has borne him eight children-Ada L., born Oct. 8, 1866, died Dec. 7, 1874; Charles, a stu- dent; Mary I., Samuel K., Hugh B., who died in infancy ; Fannie C., Grace May and John Jay.
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obert A. Elliott, owning 160 acres of good farm land under an advanced state of im- provement in Lenox Township and reşid- ing on section 34, of the same, is one of the energetic and successful farmers of Warren County. The parents of Mr. Elliott, Thomas H., and Ellen A. (Helvestine) Elliott, were natives of England and Virginia respectively. They were married in the latter State and removed from there to Jackson Co. O., where the father still resides. His wife died May 5, 1880, leaving to the care of her husband 11 children, whose names were William H., Margaret, Mary J., Eliza, John Q., George, Charles, Sophia, Thomas, Ellen, James and Rob- ert A.
Robert A. Elliott of whom we write, was a native of the Buckeye State, having been born in Jackson County, Jan. 8, 1849. He lived with his parents, at- tending the common schools and assisting in the la- bors on the farm until he attained the age of 17 years, in 1865, when he came to this county and since that time has continued to reside here. His life to the present has been passed in agricultural pursuits in which he has met with success. In 1869, four years after arriving in this county, he had accumu- lated sufficient to enable him to purchase 80 acres of land on section 34 Lenox Township. On this farm he settled with his bride and they unitedly 'en-
tered upon their separate tasks of improving and beautifying their home and cultivating their land. As the years rolled by, their savings enabled them to purchase an additional 80 acres, making their to- tal landed interests in Lenox Township r60 acres, all of which is under an advanced state of cultiva- tion, and is supplied with a good residence, and all necessary farm buildings.
The marriage of Mr. Elliott took place March 14, 1869, in Lenox Township, at which time Miss Sarah, the accomplished daughter of John and Clarinda J. (Ray) Shirley, became his wife. Her parents were born in Kentucky and their children were four in number, Sarah being'the eldest, after whom Hiram, Malinda and Annie were born. Sarah, Mrs. Elliott, was born in Lenox Township, this county, and re- sided with her parents until her marriage with Mr. E. They have become the parents of seven child- ren, Nettie A., Sophronia J., Nora M., Annie H., Eletha S., William E. and Ethael P. Mr. Elliott has been School Trustee and Treasurer in his town- ship and he and his wife belong to the Baptist Church. In politics he votes with and is a supporter of the principles advocated by the Democratic party.
ames C. Morris, a farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 9, Ellison Township. He was born in Gloucester County, the name it bore at that time, but now known as Atlantic Co., N. J., on the 14th of March, 1827. His father, Amos, was a native of New Jersey and married Phobe Campbell, who was also born in that State. Both were of English and Scot- tish extraction. The parents of Mr. Morris had seven children, he being the fifth child of the family. He lived at home and attended the common schools up to the date of his marriage, when he resolved upon removing to Madison Co., Ohio.
Our subject was only three years old when his parents first arrived in Madison County. In the same place his marriage was celebrated on the 26th of March, 1851, the lady's name being Miss Mary C. Moore, a native of Madison County, born March 26, 1832. She was the daughter of John and Cath- erine (Coon) Moore, of Virginia. The father was
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born near Harper's Ferry, Va., the latter in Ross Co., Ohio. Mrs. Morris was a baby of 18 months at the date of her father's death. The mother and daughter always lived together up to the date of the latter's death. Mrs. Moore's demise took place at her res- idence July 28, 1884, at the advanced age of 78 years. Mrs. M. was the younger daughter of five children, herself being the mother of 12 children, six of whom are now deceased. There are at present still living-Alice, Emery F.,George B., A. R., Jesse E. and Walter T. Mrs. M. received a good com- mon school education, and before her marriage was a great favorite with her companions and school- mates.
After the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Moore, they took up their residence in Madison County, and commenced to farm, which occupation they contin- ued until 1856, when they came West to Mercer County, where they resided for four years, thence to Warren Co., Ill., where the parents had first arrived in 1854. In 1863, when Mr. Morris purchased 80 acres of land, he decided to settle his residence where he at present lives. Besides this, he owns 160 acres of prime land, which from time to time has been considerably improved.
For more than ten years our subject has filled the office of Township Assessor, a position in which he has shown himself well fitted not only for this office, but any other ordinarily falling within the scope of men in his position. He is a consistent Democrat in politics, and a warm advocate of right, no matter what cause or in whatever form appearing.
apt. Richard A. Howk, farmer, ice dealer and general speculator, residing at Monmouth, is a son of Horace and Fanny (Crouch) Howk, natives of the State of New York, and of German descent. Richard was born in Washington Co., N. Y., Feb. 22, 1834, and was the eldest of three sons of his parents' family. His mother died in 1838, and his father in 1881, both in Washington County.
The father of Capt. Howk was born in Washing- ton Co., N. Y., in 1817 ; the mother in the same county, in the year 1820. The brothers of Capt. Howk were John, who died in infancy; and the third
brother was also named John, and now resides in Wayne Co., N. Y. He was married to Catharine Whitcomb, a native of New York State,and to them have been born five boys, viz. : Leon, Edward, Jud- son, Horace and Jay.
The subject of this notice was brought up to manhood upon his father's farm, and educated at the comnion schools of Granville, N. Y .; came to Mon- mouth in 1858; began work as train baggageman for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (then Peoria & Oquawka Railroad) and was directly appointed Freight Conductor, and followed the business alto- gether for about two and a-half years. He then turned stock shipper for a few months from Peoria and Quin- cy, Ill. In April, 1861, he enrolled as a private in Co. G, Ist Ill. Vol. Cav., and with that command fell into the hands of the enemy at Lexington, Mo. Be- ing at once retired, he joined the 11th Ill. Vol. Cav. as First Lieutenant of Co. K, and followed the for- tunes of Col. "Bob," Ingersoll's regiment about a year and a half. Leaving the 11th at Memphis, Tenn., he returned to Illinois and raised Co. L for the 12th Cavalry, and went out as its Captain, and in 1862-63 was a member of Gen. Wallace's staff.
From first to last while connected with his regi- ment, Mr. Howk had participated in all its engage- ments. With the Ist Cavalry his term was brief; with the 11th he was in Tennessee at Ft. Donelson, Donelsonville, Shiloh, Corinth, Stone Ridge, etc .; with the 12th he was in the far South and up the Red River, that stream which the poet says "Damned poor Banks forever." The Captain was about a year and a half upon detached service as a Quar- ter Master at New Orleans, and left the army in August, 1865.
At the battle of Shiloh the Captain received a bul- let in his leg, which still remains there, through a period of 24 years, and continues to annoy him. He received another wound by his horse running away at Baton Rogue, which almost disabled his right arm.
Returning to Monmouth after the war closed, Mr. Howk engaged in business, and has since been one of the most active and enterprising men in the coun- ty. He is an ardent Republican and a member of the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R.
Capt. Howk was married at Monmouth, Jan 12, 1866, to Miss Margaret Harper, the daughter of
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Parker B. Harper. Her parents were natives of Ohio. She was the third in order of birth of a fam- ily of nine children, viz. : Harvey, who was killed at the battle of Stone Ridge, Mo .; Eliza J., Sarah, James, Thomas, Walter, Charley, and one deceased. Mrs. Howk was born in Greene Co., Ohio, in 1848. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Howk are men- tioned as follows : Albert, a graduate of Monmouth College, is now connected with the engineering de- partment of the Union Pacific Railroad ; Edward is engaged in the grocery business at Monmouth, and Mamie resides at home.
Capt. Howk is purely a self-made man; what he has of this world's goods, and his fortune is ample, he has acquired by his individual effort and in- dustry.
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ohn McClanahan. To the present gener- ation of Warren County, the statement that the name which leads this biographical notice was one of the most honored in the records of the county, will be acknowledged by all, so identified with the best interests of the people was he who is represented in this sketch. He was a native of Virginia, where he was born in 1794. His parents went, in his youth, from the Old Domin- ion to Highland Co., Ohio. They were pioneers there and there they reared their family.
John McClanahan passed the years of his minor- ity in Highland County, and when the period ar- rived for him to take up in his own behalf the weapons of warfare with the elements of fame and fortune, he went to Adams County, in the same State, and there became identified with the devel- opment of the county by connecting himself with its agricultural interests. He located "in the timber," where he bought a large tract of land, cleared a patch for a house, and settled himself to carve out a home and fortune as so many had already done in portions of the country now far advanced in improve- ment. He was connected with the history of Adams County until 1837, when he sold his possessions there and went to Brown County, also in Ohio, and, in company with another party, bought an exten- sive tract of land. It was a valuable piece of prop- erty from the fact that it contained a water-power, grist and saw-mill. The owners managed their busi-
ness together about three years, when they divided the proceeds and acreage, and Mr. McClanahan took his share in land. Much of it was under par- tial cultivation, and he devoted himself with vigorous energy to the pursuit of agriculture until 1855. He had already made a considerable distribution of his land among his children, and, in the year named, sold all he had remaining and came to Illinois, lo- cating in Monmouth.
Mr. McClanahan took possession of the property known as the Thompson farm, which is situated about one mile west from the seat of Warren County, in the capacity of a renter. He continued to man- age the estate two years and at the expiration of that time he removed to Spring Grove Township, where he had bought a farm and on which he had made some improvements. He operated there as a farmer until 1862, when he could no longer resist the ele- ment that attracted and overwhelmed every patriotic citizen, and cast his fate in with the contending elements of the Civil War. In July of that year he raised a company of soldiers, and, on the organiza- tion of the command, was made its Captain. It was attached to the 83d Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf., and was designated Co. B. The regiment joined the forces in the field and participated in the engagement at Fort Donelson. Capt. McClanahan, while gallantly leading his men in a charge, fell at the head of his command, mortally wounded. He was taken into the hospital and tenderly cared for during a severe suffering of 19 days, when, on the 22d of February, 1863, he yielded up his life for his country's cause. His remains were brought back to the home he had given his life to defend. He sleeps the sleep of the just and fearless man who saw more than life in the defense of a principle, and more than the reward of the patriot who valued above all else an unsullied flag and a country intact, as the heritage from those who had erected the most glorious national structure in the history of all the ages.
John McClanahan was known all his life as pos- sessing the elements of true courage and chivalry. He was always the foremost in any enterprise that bore even the smallest promises of permanent ben- efit to the general well-being. While living in Ohio he was one of the most prominent of the business men of the Buckeye State, and he was for a long time the moving spirit in the Ripley & Hillsborough Stone Pike Company. He also, while in Ohio, held
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various public positions, and served two terms in the Legislature of the State as a Representative of Brown County.
Mr. McClanahan married Miss Margaret B. Wright, of Fall Creek, Highland Co., Ohio, and of their union 17 children were born. The race is of Scotch-Irish origin and is tenacious of life. Of the sons and daughters of John McClanahan, 14 yet survive, and worthily represent the honored name of their sire. The mother died in October, 1874, aged 74 years. Of her husband it may further be added that he was wholly self-educated, and that means a far more liberal cultivation than that afforded by the restricted curriculum of the schools. But he was a thorough student of books in a general way, and was a most successful teacher for many winter seasons in Ohio. In political connection he was by inher- itance a Democrat, but when the Republican party was organized, its tenets harmonized with his views and he enrolled under its banners. His brave and honored life terminated in defense of its fundamental principles, and " O'er his sacred dust shall wave the tree of liberty."
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D. Birdsall. This gentleman is a farmer and blacksmith, and resides in Tompkins Township. He was born Jan. 31, 1816, in Westchester Co., N. Y. His parents were John and Letitia (Fowler) Birdsall, both natives of New York. They went to Canada in 1820, where they continued to live until 1838, en- gaging for the time in farming. On coming to War- ren County, they settled in Ellison Township, and purchased 320 acres of land. On this they remained 15 years, when they sold the estate and moved into Henderson County, where they purchased 160 acres, on which the family lived until the death of our subject's father in 1863. The death of the mother took place in 1838, an incident that had a saddening effect on the whole household, and more especially to the boy, P. D). Birdsall.
Up to his twenty-fifth year Mr Birdsall remained at home, receiving in the interim a common school education, and assisting his father on the farm. Af- 1er leaving home he engaged in the flouring mill busi-
ness at Biggsville, and soon after removed to Oquawka, where in the capacity of blacksmith he worked for nine years, then returning to Warren County he set- tled in Tompkins Township, and purchased 120 acres, upon which he still lives, carrying on general farming and the blacksmith trade.
He was married, in 1842, to Miss Fannie Ryder, a native of New York, by which union 12 children are living : Charles E., Alexander, Mary, Nancy, John, George, Jacob, William, Flora, Fannie, Clara and Frank. Of these, seven are married, and altogether he has 15 grandchildren.
In politics, Mr. Birdsall is a prominent Green- backer, and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is one of the representa- tive men of Warren County, and considered a consistent member of his Church, and steadfast politician in principle.
harles Albert Hebbard, Editor of the Roseville Times, is a native of this State having been born at Oquawka, Hender- son County, September 1, 1844. His boyhood was spent in this section and when a lad of 16, he was apprenticed to learn the machin- ist trade in the C. B. & Q. R. R. shop at Galesburg. Here he remained industriously engaged at the em- ployment he had so early in life selected, from 1860 to 1863. He only then left the work-shop to go to the front in defense of his country's flag. He en- listed on Nov. 18, 1863, at Springfield, Ill., in Co. F, 113th Ill. Vol. Inf. He was sent to the front and did valiant service in the cause he esteemed so dear, and on the 10th of June, 1864, at Guntown, Miss. received a gun-shot wound in the left side. He continued in the service, however, until Septem- ber of the following year, when he was mustered out at Springfield, Ill.
Mr. Hebbard, like many other enterprising men of the North, felt that there were good openings for various enterprises in the States that were recently in rebellion. He was therefore persuaded to return to Arkansas and for the next two years was engaged running a gang of choppers in getting out wood for steamboats. This not proving satisfactory, he once more returned to Galesburg, and for a time engaged at his trade. Being ambitious and longing for a bet-
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ter education he made his arrangements for again entering the school-room. He entered the Grand River Institute, at Austinburg, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, a year later. From this institution he was graduated with the degree of B. S. Shortly after leaving the school-room as a student we find him in charge of the Jefferson High School, of Jefferson, Ohio. For two years he successfully, and to the satisfaction of the general public, managed that school. We next find him at the head of the Madison Seminary, at Madison, Lake Co., Ohio, where he remained for four years. He then returned to Ashtabula County and went into the service of the Western Lock Manufacturing Company, taking charge of the manufacturing de- partment. This position he held for four years, his education as a machinist proving invaluable to him.
Mr. Hebbard again resumed his profession as a teacher, and in the early autumn of 1884 came to Roseville and took charge of the schools at this place. So satisfactory has been his service here that he has been retained in the same position since. On the first of September, 1885, he purchased the Roseville Times. This he enlarged and by devoting to it his characteristic energy as a business man and ability as a writer, has made it one of the most valu- able and interesting local papers in the county. It is now a six-column quarto and not only ably edited but creditably printed. Mr. Hebbard is earnestly en- gaged in the efforts to give the people of Roseville and vicinity a good and valuable newspaper.
While living in Ohio, Mr. Hebbard was united in, marriage with Julia A. Williams, of Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co., Ohio. The date of this, to him very important event, is 1871.
C. VanRiper, a retired farmer, on section 16, Tompkins Township, was born in Hud- son Co., N. J., March 25, r830. His par- ents were Cornelius and Mary R. (Sickles) VanRiper, also natives of New Jersey. A. C. remained under the parental roof until he was 23 years of age. During that time he received a good common school education. After leaving home he engaged in the dairying business in New Jersey, which occupation he followed successfully for five years, and then followed other pursuits iip to
1855, when he came to Illinois. Then he commenced purchasing and selling land, but abandoned this af- ter 16 months, returned East, where he remained until the year 1861, when he revisited Illinois and occupied himself with the former business of land purchase and sale, at the same time pursuing farming more or less. He at present own 120 acres of land, 40 acres lying in the corporation of Kirk- wood, on which he now resides. A great portion of his time, however, is taken up in visits to the East.
He was married to Miss Cornelia Ackerman, a native of New Jersey, by whom he had six children --- Mary G,, Euphemia E., Cornelius, Abraham, Ed- ward and Jeannie. Mary G. married M. G. John- son, and by this union there are two children- Gertrude and Freddie. Euphemia E married New- ton Spence.
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