USA > Illinois > Will County > Portrait and biographical album of Will County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 80
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In the accumulation of this handsome property Mr. Ryburn has been ably assisted by a devoted and helpful wife, to whom he was united in mar-
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riage in 1851. ller maiden name was Margaret Cochran, and she is also a native of Scotland. Five children have blessed their marriage to them, as follows: John S., a successful physician; Alexander C. and Thomas, practical and intelligent young farmers at home; Agnes, the wife of Willis Brain- ard, of Fairburg, Neb .; Margaret died at the age of fifteen.
Mr. Ryburn is well and favorably known in Will County with whose interest his own have been as- sociated for upwards of forty years, and his char- acter for probity, straightforwardness in all his transactions, and for unswerving rectitude is gen- erally recognized, and has gained him a name that is honored by all who come in contact with him either in a business or in a social way. His inher- ent Scottish traits of foresight, sagacity and excel- lent business habits have been potent factors, not only in gathering together a competenee, but have made him useful as a citizen in his adopted country. Le and his wife were reared in the Scotch Presby- terian Church, and have ever since consistently elung to the faith of their fathers. Mr. Ryburn is identified with the A. F. & A. M. as a member of Plainfield Lodge, No. 536.
ILLIAM GOUGAR. The Gougar family is widely and favorably known through- out New Lenox Township as having borne no unimportant part in the development of its ag- ricultural resources. The subject of this notice is one of the worthiest representatives of the family and was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, August 24, 1818. llis father, William Gougar, was a na- tive of Berks County, Pa., and was married in carly manhood to Miss Catherine Abel, who is likewise a native of the Keystone State.
The parents of our subject left Pennsylvania in 1818, and settled in Pickaway County, Ohio, where they resided eight years. They then emi- grated to Vermillion County, Ind., and sojourned there until June. 1831. That year witnessed their arrival in this county, which was then in -
eluded in Cook County, and they settled on section 18, in what is now New Lenox Township. The fa- ther followed farming all his life, and departed hence March 31, 1861. The mother had passed away January 6, 185 1, also dying at the old home- stead.
To William Gougar and his wife Catherine there was born a family of eleven children, nine sons and two daughters. William, Jr., was the fifth child and was twelve years old when his pa- rents came to Illinois. lle learned the art of farming in all its details, obtained a practical edu- cation in the commou school and remained a mem- ber of the parental household until a man of thirty-two years. About this time the California gold excitement was attracting large numbers to the Pacific Coast and Mr. Gongar decided to join the caravan, left home April 1, 1850, and set out overland to the Goklen State. Ile arrived at his destination early in July and engaged in mining, also the raising of vegetables for three years and three months.
At the expiration of this time, becoming satis- fied with his Western experience, Mr. Gougar re- turned home via the Isthmus and remained with his father until his marriage. This important event occurred December 28, 1859, the bride being Miss Clarissa, daughter of Baldwin and Hester M. (Bickle) Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins was born in New York State, forty miles from Rochester, while his wife was a native of Pennsylvania. After marriage they settled in Danville, IH., where they lived two years, then removed to a farm five miles west of Kankakee, where the mother died in 1852. Mr. Ilawkins survived his wife for a period of twelve years, his death vecurring at the same place in April. 1861.
To the parents of Mrs. Gougar there was born a family of six children, four of whom lived to mature years. Mrs. Gongar was the fourth child and was born in Kankakee County, February 19, 1839. She lived there until her marriage, acquir- ing a common-school education and becoming fa- miliar with all useful household duties. After her marriage with our subject they settled on a farm on section 20, New Lenox Township, where they have since lived. Mr. Gougar is a land-
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owner to the extent of five hundred and sixty acres. comprising one of the finest bodies of land in New Lenox Township. He has effected fine improve- ments, including a set of convenient modern build- ings, while he keeps himself posted in regard to all matters connected with agriculture and avails him- self of the most improved machinery in the culti- vation of the soil.
Our subject and his estimable wife are the pa- rents of four children-Joel W., who is farming in New Lenox Township; Ilester M., who died in in- fancy; Ilelen and Frank at home. The Democratic party finds a warm supporter in Mr. Gongar. Ile has held the various minor offices of his township and with his wife is a member in good standing of the Episcopal Church, together with their daugh- ter Ilelen and son Frank. Mr. Gougar in Decem- ber, 1888, revisited California and the scenes of his early operations in the mining district, return- ing the 1st of April, 1889.
We invite the attention of the reader to a lithio- graphic portrait of Mr. Gougar, which appears on another page of the ALBUM.
ATRICK BRISCOE has for many years been closely connected with the farming and stock raising interests of Will and Grundy Counties. Ile came to Illinois nearly forty years ago, and has not only been a witness of the marvelous development of this part of the country since that time, but he has had a hand in promoting it. Ile has by hard labor, directed by wise judgment and practical skill. improved a farm that is in all particulars, the choicest in the neighborhood.
Nicholas Briscoe, the father of our subject came to America from the land of his birth in 1850, and settled in Grundy County, Ill., and in 1855 he moved with his family to Minnesota, and took up a claim sixty miles above Minneapolis, which was at that time a small village, and in 1857 re- turned with his family to Grundy County. Ilis death occurred in that county, August 3, 1882, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. llis wife died at the age of seventy-four. the year fol-
lowing, and both are now sleeping their last sleep in Grundy County. There were twelve children born to them, of whom three daughters and two sons are now living. One brother died in Atchi- son, Kan., where his family of five children live. The youngest sister of our subject was married soon after the family moved to Minnesota, to William Harrison, and now lives in Little Falls. Ellen married Thomas Daly,and lives in Missouri; Mariah married James Meade, of Grundy County ; Peter is a farmer of Au Sable Township, where he has two hundred acres of land, and is at present Super- visor.
Patrick Briscoe was born in 1835, and after at- taining manhood he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Grundy County, which he sold afterwards and bought another in the same locality. In 1879 he came to Channahon Township, and here he purchased a fine farm, just outside the vil- lage, beautifully located on the DuPage River near its mouth. It is well fitted up with good buildings, the land is under excellent tillage and it has a fine orchard of apple and other fruit trees, and the place is also adorned with beautiful shade trees, and there are some fine springs on the place. One hundred and fifty-five acres of it lie in a body and he has one hundred and sixty aeres in Grundy County, and he operates it all with the assistance of his boys. Ile has always paid especial attention to stock raising and does a profitable business in that line.
Mr. Briscoe and Miss Julia Dempsey were united in marriage in 1868, and in the pleasant home that they have built up, nine children have been born to them, of whom, six boys and two girls are now living, namely, Nicholas P., aged, twenty-one, John nineteen, Mary A., seventeen, Michael J., fifteen, Ellen eleven, William J., seven, Richard A., four, and Edward T., the baby. Julia died at the age of three years. Mr. Briscoe is a sincere believer in the advantages of a solid education and is giving his children good opportunites for schooling. Mrs. Briscoe was born in Boston, Mass., in 1850, a daughter of Michael Dempsey, and came with her parents to Kendall County, this State when she was eight years of age.
Mr. Briscoe is possessed of far-seeing sagacity and
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energy so combined to those useful qualities of | Sarah Ketchum, a native of the same county as prudence, thrift and steadiness, that he could not himself, and going into Livingston County, the young couple built up a home there. They became the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only survivor. The father was a member of the State Legislature of New York, representing Livingston County. His record in war and peace is one to which his son can refer with just pride. He died in the Empire State in 1816, and the mother in 1833. fail to do what he has done to make life a success. He takes an active interest in the affairs of his adopted county and in 1888 was elected Justice of the Peace of the town of Channahon. and is still serving, discharging the duties of his office with ability and credit. In politics he sides with the Democratic party, though he often exercises the privilege of voting as he chooses without regard to party atliliations. Religiously, he and his fam- ily are devoted members of the Catholic Church of Minooka.
LFRED WARNER. Of honorable ances- try, Squire Warner has throughout his long life conducted himself so as to bring no discredit upon the name he bears, but, on the con- trary, add to its lustre. He occupies a high position in Wesley Township, with whose agriculturists he has long been numbered. Ilis farin comprises one hundred and twenty acres of improved land on section 21, a frame residence and all necessary farm buildings, and a due supply of orchard and shade trees, making it attractive, and adding to its value.
William Warner, the grandfather of our subject. was a Revolutionary soldier, and after the war be- came possessed of much property. He had a large amount of Continental money, which became ut- terly worthless. He, therefore, being unable to pay his debts, was informed upon by Tories and im- prisoned for debt. His eldest son. Asaliel, was born in Columbia County, N. Y .. and being but a lad at the time of the Revolution, was not able to do soldier's duties, but accompanied the army, em- ploying himself in running bullets for those who could take part in the scenes of strife. During the War of 1812 he was able to exert his strength against the enemies of his country, and rose to the rank of Major.
After his father was imprisoned, it fell to Asa- hel Warner to support the family. and he earned money by hiring out by the month. ile married
In Livingston County, N. Y., May 19, 181 1, the eyes of our subject opened to the light of day. He was reared upon a farm but given most excellent educational advantages, first obtaining an academic education at Chittenango Polytechnic Academy, under Prof. Yates, and later attending college at Lima. He remained at home until twenty years of age, when his father divided the property among his children and our subject took possession of his patrimony, and therewith began his personal ca- reer.
Young Warner remained in the Empire State five or six years, then made a trip to Ohio, where he married, returning with his bride to his native State. After a sojourn of about three years they became residents of Medina County, Ohio, where they remained five years, Mr. Warner being em- ployed in mercantile pursuits during that period. In 1818 he came to Illinois, and having purchased land warrants in Chicago, he located four hun- dred and eighty acres in Kankakee County. The next year he brought his family hither and settled on a farm now owned by the sons of Asahel Warner.
After remaining there two years, our subject re- moved to his present farm, which was at that time raw land. The residence first occupied by the family was destroyed by fire in 1856. Mr. Warner had gone on a trip and his wife was alone at the time. She bought a store building at Rockville. five miles cast, had runners put under it and it was hauled to the Warner farm the same day. In 1853 Mr. Warner went to Australia, via New York and Cape of Good Hope, remaining there twenty three years. He returned via the Sand- wich Islands and San Francisco, again took posses- sion of the farm, and has since remained with his
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family. During his absence Mrs. Warner had charge of the farm and resided there until 1864. She then moved to Wilmington, sojourned there two years, and then went to Rockford, which she made her home until the return of her husband. Their affairs were in competent hands, Mrs. War- ner having business capacity and judgment.
Mrs. Warner bore the maiden name of Rachel L. Curtis. She was born May 24. 1819, in Marcel- lus, N. Y., was finely educated and prior to her marriage was a school teacher. Prof. John Mc- Gregor, of Scotland. President of the Sharon Acad- emy. at Medina. Ohio, was the instructor under whom she completed her studies. President Gar. field was at one time under the instruction of the same noted educator. Mrs. Warner possesses liter- ary talent of a high order, and the articles from her pen frequently find place in the newspapers and magazines. She became the wife of our subject February 11, 1839. They are the parents of four children -- Norman C .. Clara Elizabeth, Richard Allen and Harvey Alfred. The two latter were twins, and are deceased.
The son, Norman C., was born November 26, 1839. He finished his studies at Aurora, Ill. In September, 1861, he was enrolled in Company E. Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry-Yates Phalanx- and served until 1865. At the battle of Deep Bottom, Va .. August 16, 1864, he was severely wounded in the right lower limb by a minie ball. Amputation at the knee took place on the field and he fell into the enemy's hands and was carried to the hospital and returned to the Union lines again. lle was then sent to Hampton Hospital, Fortress Monroe, where his mother joined him, remaining two months and giving him her loving care. In 1866 he secured a clerkship in the War Depart- ment at Washington, spent the evenings in study. and entered Columbia Law School, from which he was graduated in due time. After being admitted to the bar, he settled in Rockford, Ill., where he still resides, occupying a prominent place among the legal fraternity and well known for his services as City Attorney. The daughter, Clara Elizabeth, is the wife of Everett E. Hudson, banker and insur- ance agent in Yankton, Dak.
The parents of Mrs. Warner were Col. Norman
and Elizabeth ( Lampson) Curtis, natives of Con- necticut and Vermont respectively. The father was a farmer, a soldier in the War of 1812 and a Colonel in the Ohio State Militia. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis spent the first few years of their wedded life in the Empire State, and then removed to Medina County, Ohio, where the wife died in 1854. Col. Curtis came to Illlinois in 1855, and died here in 1884, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. His family consisted of seven children, Mrs. Warner being the second; three of them are now living.
The labors of Squire Warner, aided by the good management of his wife, have resulted in securing to them a goodly share of substance, which they. employ in procuring reasonable enjoyments and aiding in good works. In Medina County, Ohio, Mr Warner was Assessor, and in his Illinois home he has long served as Justice of the Peace. Ile has always been interested in politics, votes the Democratic ticket and has been a delegate to county conventions. A reliable citizen, an intel- ligent and well-bred man, he is duly esteemed, while the womanly nature, fine talents and thor- ongh breeding of his wife give her a position fully equal to his own in the opinion and regard of those about them.
llarvey Warner, a brother of our subject. eame to Will County in 1849, settling on the farm now owned by the Linton family. Another brother, Asahel Il., came here in 1651. Both are now deceased.
OHIN T. DIXON. who now holds the official position of Supervisor of Florence Town- ship, has been identified with the agricultu- tural interests of this county since 1869. 1Ie was born in Wilmington Township, June 23, 1858, and spent the first six years of his life there. He then accompanied his parents to Grundy County, in that part of the Prairie State sojourning a few years. Farming was chosen by him for a life work, and well has he demonstrated his fitness for this line of employment. In Emmet County, Iowa, he owns one hundred and fifty-six acres of fine land that he rents to a tenant, while himself occupying
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and operating rented land in this county. The one hundred and twenty acres on which he carries on his enterprise is carefully managed and well repays the efforts of the operator. It is located on section 15.
The immediate progenitors of Mr. Dixon were John and Elizabethi (Singleton) Dixon, natives of England, who came to America and to this State early in the '50s. Their family comprised nine sons and daughters, of whom our subject was the second in order of birth. He has served as Clerk of Florence Township three years, and the estima- tion in which he is held by his fellow-citizens is shown by the fact that in the spring of 1890 they elected him to the office of Supervisor. He is a Republican of the deepest dye. His character is an honorable one. and his reputation admirable.
On February 15. 1888, Mr. Dixon led to the hymencal altar Miss Grace Morey, an estimable and educated young lady who makes of their abiding place a home indeed. She was born in Florence Township, and is a daughter of Smith R. and Louise (Smith ) Morey, natives of Pennsylvania and Illinois respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon have one son. a charming infant, named Ralph M.
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ILLIAM BEUTIEN. If genius is a capae- ity for hard work. as it has been defined by a noted literateur, then this gentleman deserves to be called a genius. Ile has been a hard worker all his life, and this combined with close economy, has given him possession of a fine farm. in which he may well take pride. It comprises two hundred and sixty acres on sections Il and 13, all in a body, and all under improvement and wisely managed. There are two residences upon the estate, that now occupied by Mr. Bentien and his family having been built in 1868 at a cost of $1,600. It is cozy and attractive. stands in fitting surroundings and is the center of a happy home life. The modern barn was put up in 1879, at a cost of 8817.
Our subject is the youngest of eight children born to Fred and Caroline ( Race) Beutien. The
father was a soldier in the Prussian Army, and both were natives of that kingdom. Mr. Beutien died in 1853, and in 1860 the mother came to Amer- ica, dying at a goodly age, in 1884. Four of her children are now living.
William Beutien was born in Prussia, February 22, 1836. During his boyhood and youth he ob- tained a common school education, and at the age of seventeen years took his father's place at the head of the household. In 1857 he emigrated to America, landing at the metropolis, whence he came direct to Chicago. IH., there securing a situa- tion as a farm hand in the county. For two years he remained at one place. then spent two months on another farm, next becoming a laborer on a railroad in Southern Illinois. Nine months later be resumed farm work on an estate in DuPage County, where he remained three years and eight months.
We next find Mr. Beutien in Will County pur- chasing a farm with the savings which close econ- omy had secured, and while working his estate, putting in more or less time on the Illinois Central Railroad. At the two employments he occupied himself three years, then selling the farm, which he had changed materially from the condition in which he took possession of it, he bought that on which he still lives. He carries on mixed farming. and raises standard bred stock, hiring help as he needs on the estate.
The wife of Mr. Bentien was known in her mai- denhood as Miss Augusta Richter, and became Mrs. Boutien August 19, 1863. She is a daughter of Charles and Fredricka (Deugge) Richter, of Prussia. her father having been a carpenter. He died in his native land in 1862. Mrs. Beutien was born in that kingdom March 25, 1812, and received a common-school education. To her and her husband twelve children have been born, eight being now alive. These are: Amelia, wife of Henry Monk, of Peotone Township; they have four children; Augusta, wife of John Knapp, and mother of one child, their home also being in this township; Mina, Bertha, Victor. Alvina, Edda, and Julius, all at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Beutien belong to the Evangeli- cal Lutheran Church, in which he has been a
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Trustee. For eighteen years he has been School Director in District No. 1, and no member of the community takes greater interest in the cause of education than he. He saw to it that his offspring secured all that the public schools could give them. lle is now Pathmaster, and was Road Commis- sioner three years. For eighteen years he has been a Director of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Green Garden. Ile votes the Republican ticket, and is quite interested in the political questions of the day. We may mention that when Mr. Beutien arrived in America he was $7 in debt, and that. the sum which seems so small to him now, was at that time quite a weight upon his mind.
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S AMUEL RUSHI HAVEN, M. D. The de . mise of this distinguished member of the medical profession, scientist and traveler, took place at the liome of his brother. the llon. Dwight Haven, in New Lenox, and was learned with regret by the many personal friends he had made, as well as by hosts to whom his reputation had made him familiar. He was born in Sheridan, Chautauqua County, N. Y., January 29, 1827, and came to what is now the renowned city of Chicago, in the fall of 1834, with his parents in an emigrant wagon, little dreaming that in years to come he would become a prominent resident of the city which was to be built up there.
The parents of our subject settled on a farm in New Lenox, Will County, and there young Haven acquired his elementary education. His taste lead- ing him to desire to become a physician, he entered Rush Medical College, in Chicago, working for his board while pursuing his studies there and matricu- lating in 1817. In 1850. still owing debts con- tracted while attending school, he caught the gold fever and went to California, where he dug the precious metal, and also practiced his profession. Both occupations proved profitable to him, and he was enabled to pay the indebtedness, before alluded to, and establish himself well upon his return to the States.
After sojourning on the Pacific Slope until 1853,
Dr. Haven returned to Chicago, and formed a partnership with Dr. J. W. Freer. When the war broke out he volunteered on the first expedition, under Brig. Gen. Swift, to Cairo, April 21, 1861, subsequently becoming a Brigade Surgeon, with the Army of the Potomac. He gained distinction in the field, first under Gen. Grant and later under Gen. Heintzleman, being promoted to the position of Division Surgeon with the rank of Major, and finally becoming Corps Surgeon, with the rank of Colonel, under Gen. Hancock. He was through all the battles of the Peninsular campaign under Gen. McClellan and the other commanders of the Eastern Army. At the close of the war he was offered a Coloneley in the regular army by Presi- dent Lincoln, but refused,
After the war Dr. Haven retired from active practice and became a very successful real-estate dealer, displaying business acumen of a high order, and retrieving his fortunes, when the great fire in Chicago had left him almost penniless, by a quick appreciation of the needs of the time and a daunt- less pushing forward. The abundant means that he possessed enabled him to gratify his taste for travel and research, and he acquired a reputation as a scientist and student, fully equal to that he had obtained in the pursuit of his professional labors. His journeyings had included almost every part of the known world, and his investigations were par- ticularly earnest in the line of medical science.
Dr. Ilaven was a great lover of books, his read- ing giving him such a profound knowledge of general literature that he was regarded by his ac- quaintances as a veritable encyclopedia of interest- ing information. His conversational powers were far above the average, making him an entertaining companion. Hle was one of the band of early Ab- olitionists and Free-Soilers who helped to shape the politics of Northern Illinois. Although brought up in the strict faith of the Congregational Church, his religious views became largely modified and broadened in later years.
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