USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Records of the olden time; or, Fifty years on the prairies. Embracing sketches of the discovery, exploration and settlement of the country, the organization of the counties of Putnam and Marshall, biographies of citizens, portraits and illustrations > Part 59
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Records of the olden time; or, Fifty years on the prairies. Embracing sketches of the discovery, exploration and settlement of the country, the organization of the counties of Putnam and Marshall, biographies of citizens, portraits and illustrations > Part 59
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ROBERT MOSMITHI.
Mr. McSmith is a blacksmith hy trade, horn in Brown county, Ohio, in 1834 and came with his parents to Putnam county the same year. He married Isalbah Ring in 1868, who was born in Louisiana and brought np in New York. They have two children, Charles G. and Mamie Belle. They are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. McSmith is a member of the town council. Is also a member of the A. F. and A. M Mr. McS. entered the three months service in 1861, served four months and re-enlisted in the 104th Ill. Volunteers in 1863 as regimental blacksmith, but was taken sick and upon recovery detailed for hospital duty. At the trial of Bowles Milligan and others for treason he served as messenger and private detective and performed valnahle service. On one of his adventures the train on which he embarked was run into and al; but himself and attendant killed, He was mus- tered out of service in 1865.
ELI V. RALEY.
Mr. Raley is a farmer and stock dealer, living on section 9 of Granville township. He was born in Washing- ton county, Pa., in 1823, and came to Illinois in 1840. When the discovery of gold in California was heralded over the land, he joined a party of explorers, and with suitable outfit journeyed across the plains. They endured severe hardships, lost much of their stock, hut finally made Southern California, and remained several years in the conn-
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RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
try, meeting with varied success. His love of adventure satified. he returned to the States. content to become a tiller of the soil, and settled in Putnam county. In;1855 he married Miss Frances A. Murphy, born in Jefferson connty Ohio, who became the mother of five children-Charles R., Arvilla K., Harry E., Howard B. and Franklin Hyatt. Mr. Raley is a Democrat in sentiment, and has represented his district in the General Assembly, where he proved himself a clear-headed, intelligent Representative, opposed to class legislation and monopolies, and ready to lend his influence and vote for whatever was promotive of the public good. He has served his township as supervisor, and in other capacities is a promoter of peace, and stands high in the community. His farm and surroundings are among the pleasantest in the county and indicates both wealth and culture. He owns 220 acres in Granville, and considerable land in Kansas, attends personally to the details of business, and buys and sells large quantities of cattle, hogs etc.
THEODORE HOLLY.
Mr. Holly is a farmer and drain tile manufacturer, whose residence is in Granville township, and his post- office Peru. He was born in Butler county, Onio. in 1845, came to this county in 1849 with his parents, and married Miss|Bertha Brenneman in 1869. They have five children, Julius D., Willie, Eliza H., Laura H. and Clara M. Seeing the great advantage of thorough draining. and finding by experiment his farm was underlaid with clay of remark- able tenacity and adaptability he embarked in the business of manufacturing, and turns out a large amount yearly. acknowledged to be withont an equal in the vicinity. He manufactures and keeps on hand in large qnan- tities the following sizes at these prices:
2% inch per M $11 00
3
14 00
3%
.
4
.6 .. 21 00
5
.4
30 00
6
..
45 00
SILAS HURIN.
Mr. Hurin was born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1822. and died in 1877. He was married in 1850 and came to Pntnam county in 1863. His wife's maiden name was Mary Lane, her native place is Brown county, Ohio, where she was born in 1827. They had eight children born to them, Albert, Martha B., Charles I .. Jeremiah T .. William W., Purdy M .. Jennie N. and Ida L. Are members of the M, E. church, Mr. N. held various minor offices and was well thought of in the community. Mr. H. owns 130 acres under good cultivation.
JAMES A. HARPER.
Mr. Harper is yet a young man but a large farmer and extensive grower of fine stock. He was born in Gran- ville township in 1852 and in 1879 married Mary Darley, likewise born in Hennepin township. He owns 320 acres of fine tillable land, and is a son of James and Nancy Harper, who came here in 1832 and began improving the place where they afterward lived. His father died when his son was bnt a few months old and his mother in 1852, He is one of the most prosperous young men in Putnam county. . ..
MOSES A. ELLIOTT.
Mr. Elliott was born in Hubbardton county, Mass., in 1811, moved with his parents to New Hampshire, and thence to Vermont where he lived until 1834 when he came to Lorrain county, Ohio, He lived there thirty-three years, rearing a large family. He was married Sept. 17, 1853 to Louisa Holton, who became the mother of five o il- uren. Joseph B., Alonzo B., Hannah A., Fred G. and John E. In 1867 Mr. Elliott came to Putnam connty where he has since resided. He owns a very pleasant farm of 210 acres.
ADAM KUNKEL.
Mr. Kunkel is a farmer on section 33, and his postoffice address is Granville. He was born in Germany in 1812 and came to America in 1856. «He married Anna Mary Stouss in 1838 and to them have been given five children, John Mary, Peter, Tracy and Henry. They are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Kunkel is a large farmer and owns 300 acres of tillable, pasture and timber land. His home is very pleasant and finely situated.
JULIUS BRENNEMAN.
Mr. Brenneman represents a well known family, often met in the annals of Putnam connty. He was born in Germany but came here with his parents when three years old and was reared and educated in this county. In 1875 he married Emma Reinhardt, born in this county. and to them has been born one child, Myra, in 1877. He is a farmer by profession and is enterprising and industrious.
C. C. PENNIMAN.
Mr. Penniman was born in Bellows Falls. Vermont, in 1832, and was among the first to offer his services to his country in the dark days of 1861, enlisting in the Ninth Vermont Volunteers, Company K. He saw service in the Shenandoah Valley, and was captured by the rebels at the disgraceful surrender of Harper's Ferry by Colonel Miles, where 11,500 brava men laid down their arms. He was first sent to Annapolis, Md., and then to Chicago,
18 00
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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.
where he remained until exchanged. May 6th, 1863, he moved with his command to Little Rock, Arkansas. His regiment was the first to enter Richmond at the capture of that city. At the close of the war he settled in Putnam county, where he pays special attention to the breeding of fine horses.
MONS. OLSON.
Mr. Olson was born in Denmark, in 1840, and came to this country in 1857, locating in LaSalle county, where he still lives, and is engaged in farming. His residence is on section 6, Eden township, LaSalle county, but his postoffice is Granville. In 1876 he married Mary Leech, a native of Putnam county, by whom he has two children, Jennie Zu and Harry L. They are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Olson enlisted in Co. D, 104th Illinois Inf. in 1862, and served until the close of the war. He was captured at Hartsville, Tenn .. in 1862, and paroled on the field; was wounded at Petrie Creek, Ga., in 1864, and at Bentonville, N. C., in 1865, He owns eighty-three acres of land all under cultivation, with good improvements.
SAMUEL BROWN.
Mr. Brown is a retired farmer, living in Granville, who was born in Lexington, Ky., in 1799. He removed to this county in 1835, and engaged in farming, In 1821 he married Lavina Akers, of Shelbyville, Ky., who died in 1845. leaving eleven children, viz., Martha, William M., Sarah, Mary, Anna, Nancy, Lavina, Prudence J., Louisa, Achsa, and Albert. Albert died in the army from wounds received in the battle of Franklin; William M. from dis- ease contracted in the service, and his son Marion was killed in action. Besides his two sons, three grandsons lost their lives in defense of their country. Who can show such a record? All of the remaining children but one are married.
JAMES DUNN.
Mr. Dunn is a mechanic, and was born in Washington county, New York, in 1825. He came to Illinois in 1855, working in Granville at the carpenter and joiner business two years, and then embarked in the mannfacture and sale of carriages, continuing it until 1870. He married Lydia L, Whiting, in 1858, and to them one child, Charles H. was born in 1866. All are members of the temperance organization, and active workers and promoters of the cause. He owns two fine farms of 160 acres each, under cultivation, also his residence in town and other property.
FRANK WHITING, Attorney at Law.
Mr. Whiting is a farmer and lawyer, born in Lockport, New York, in 1836. removed with his parents to Mich- igan in 1838, and to Putnam county in 1853. He married Caro'ine Packingham in 1856, born in Granville. In 1861 he was a soldier in the rebellion, enlisting in the 20th Illinois Volunteers, and was elected Lientenant. He served nntil discharged through disability, Occasioned by disease contracted on duty. He has five children, Fred. H., Mary L., Lincoln E,, Lncy A. and Cornelia J. He has filled various offices, has a Incrative practice, and is regarded as a safe advisor and a rising man.
ENOCH F. HINMAN.
Mr. Hinman is a native of Massachusetts, where he was born in 1813, and came to Illinois in 1849. In 1844 he married Paulina Ingersoll, born in New York. The fruits of this union were Geo. E., Albert F .. Marshall, Ella and Lansing. Mr. H. had one son by a former marriage, who was killed in battle at the seige of Vicksburg the night preceding the surrender Albert F. married Maggie Batten in 1877, born in Canada. They have one child- Harry. Mr. and Mrs. Hinman are members of the Congregational church, and have long resided in the neighborhood.
JAMES HANNING.
A native of Ireland, born in County Antrim in 1826. In 1845 he immigrated with his parents and other mem- bers of the family to this conntry, locating first in Chester county, Pa., whence he came to Putnam county in 1849, returned to Pennsylvania, and located here permanently in 1855. He is a farmer, residing on section 22, and owns 300 acres of land all nnder cultivation, with good improvements, beside an additional tract of forty acres, which he recently purchased. He is one of the most enterprising farmers in the county.
JEREMIAH CLEMENS.
A farmer residing on section 16. Postoffice, Florid. He was born in Lebanon connty, Pa,, in 1819, located in Rockingham connty, Va., in 1835, where he married Elizabeth Brock, a native of that county, in 1843; in 1854 moved to Madison county, Ind., and thence to this county in 1865. They have eleven children living-George W., B. Franklin, John E., Samuel P., Sarah E., Jacob P., Mary A., William H., Charles A,, Rebecca A. and Jeremiah, and one dead. Mrs. Clemens is a member of the German Baptist church. He has been a school director several terms. Owns 214 acres of improved land, and 464 acres of land in Roy connty, Missouri.
PETER DAHL.
Mr. Dahl is a Dane bv birth: having been born in Denmark in 1838. He left his native country in 1861 and located in Granville in that year. His wife was formerly Mary Blake, born in Granville. They have three chil- dren-Nettie T., Mary L., Percy E., and are members of the Baptist church, of which he is one of the trustees, like- wise a member of the town council three years. During the war he enlisted in the 104th Ill. Volunteers and was discharged through disability in 1863. J. P. Dahl, a brother of the above, was born in 1822, came to the United
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RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
States in 1866 and to Granville in 1879. He married Abigail H. Davis in 1868. They have one child, Adda J. He was formerly a shipwright and sailed in a Danish ship to Anstralia, where he followed mining several years and then made several voyages between Boston and China in an American vessel: Was shipwrecked on his last voyage and went to Vermont where he bought a saw mill, sold it in 1879 and with h's brother went to keeping bees in Gran- ville. They deal in Italian bees, hives and pure honey, at wholesale and retail.
JOHN FOLEY.
A farmer, residing on section 20. Postoffice, Granville. He was born in Alleghaney county, Pa .. in 1819. in 1845 married Rachel Burnside, a native of the same county, and in 1851 immigrated to this county. They have eight children living-Mary D., James B., Henry M., William C., Mattie H., Annie M., Elmer E. and Edward F. They are all members of the Presbyterian church. in which Mr. Foley has been an elder for the last 21 years. He has also been school director some fiteen years, and road commissioner six years. He owns 267 acres of land.
JOHN F. KUHNE.
Farmer, Granville, Putnam County, Ill.
JOHN I. PETERSON.
A farmer, living on section 28. Postoffice, Hennepin. He was born in Putnam connty in 1839, being a son of the late Isaac Peterson, one of the pioneers of the connty, who died in 1876. In 1864 Mr. Peterson married Jane Elizabeth Waugh, a native of Pennsylvania. They have four children-Nellie A., William A., Armelia L. and Frank 1. He has occupied the position of road commissioner for the last three years. Owns in partnership with his brother 360 acres of improved land and 190 acres of pasture and timber land.
WILLIAM B. SILL.
Mr. Sill is a farmer living on sectien 17 Postoffice. Granville he was born in Monroe county, Ohio, in 1838, came to Illninois in 1852, locating in La Salle county and thence moved to Granville in 1860. In 1864 he went to Montana, engaged in mining four years, followed stock raising about eight years Brd in 1576 returned to Gran- ville. In 1874 he married Mattie A. Harper, a native of this county, They have one child, Minnie Montana. Mrs. Sill died in 1879. Mr. Sill is a member of the I. O. O. F. He owns a finely cultivated farm with first-class im- provements.
B. H. SMITH.
Farmer, born in New London, Conn., in 1803, he resided in his native state and in Herkimer and Orleans counties, New York, until 1847, when he came west and located in Magnolia township. In 1829 he married Philena Morton, who was born in Sonth Deerfield, Mass .. in 1811. They have had eight children, of whom there are now living Julia. (Laughlin), Charles E., Edward, Sarah A. (Warlaw), Chester M. and Angnsta. They celebrated their golden wedding in?1879 and have twenty-five grand children living. Mr. Smith was for several years commissioner of highways and a member of the board of school directors. He also served as commissioner of highways while a resident of New York. He has been a member of the Masonic order for fifty years. Owns 360 acres of land.
WILLIAM LIVINGSTON. Florid, Illinois.
GEORGE PACKINHAM. Granville, Illinois.
CHRISTIAN OPPER.
Mr. Opper, comes from the province of Hesse Cassell in Germany when he was born in 1838. He cmigrated to this country in 1855, locating in Granville began his present business which he has followed for twenty-five years. In 1858 he married Elizabeth Schneider, a countrywoman of his, and together they have five children living, Helen E., Emma A., Henry W . Mary A. and Bertha. Are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Opper is a hard worker and a good mechanic.
HENRY AND JASON L. HAWKINS.
These individuals are farmers on Section 9, and their postoffice address is Granville. They were born in Ver- mont and settled in Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1855 and in this county in 1862. J. L. Hawkins married Lydia Harkness in 1867, born in New York. They have one child. Himselt and father are in the creamery business and agents for Cooley's creamery. They make a very superior article of butter and are demonstrating that onr rich prai- ries are just the places for dairying.
STEPHEN HARRISON.
Mr. Harrison is a native of Dauphin county Pa., which scems to have furnished a liberal proportion of the citi- zens of Putnam county. He was born in 1824, came to the state in 1837, locating in Putnam county which has since been his home. In 1850 he married Mary E. Dunleavy, a man well known in the early history of the county. They have ten children-Ellen F., MaryC., Charles D., Clara E., Jas. D., Olive N., Richard H., Hattie V., Gracie F. and
1
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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.
Stephen R. Are members of the Congregational church in Granville in which Mr. Harrison has served as deacon for many years. He owns 868 acres in his home farm under thorough cultivation and 124 at Union Grovc. Mr, Harri- son's fine resideuce is very pleasantly located and the country surrounding is singularly beautiful.
JOHN HOLLY.
Mr. Holly lives on section 33, in Granville township. He was born in Germany in 1822 and emigrated along with his parents to this country in 1832. living in Butler county, Ohio, until 1840, when he came to Putnam connty. In 1855 he mrrried Eliza Noffzinger, a countrywoman of his who bore him seven children, Emma, Helen, Albert, Theodore, Ida, Charles aud William. He has served several ycars as school director, and owns a fincly cultivated farm of 110 acres. He is an intelligent and enterprising German American.
JOHN MOORE.
Mr. Moore was born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1809, came to Bond county, Ill., in 1819 and to Putnam county in 1830 Ile was one of the first settlers in the county and lives upon the farm he located fifty years ago. He Owns 240 acres of land nnder good cultivation. Alexander Moore, a brother of the above,, likewise was born in Ohio in 1815 and came to Illinois in 1831. He married Mary Bowman in 1879, born in Washington county, Pa. I hey are members of the Presbyterian church. He owns 180 acres of land. Andrew Moore, father of the above, was born in Pennsylvania, moved to Putnam county in 1832 and ard died in 1845, leaving nine children.
MICHAEL SKOWENA.
The subject of this sketch lives on section 35, and was born in Germany in 1844 and came to the United States 1868. He first located in La Salle county and remained there eight years after which he settled in Putnam. In 1857 he married Effie Novolk, born in Poland. They have four children, John, Joseph, Martin and Frank. Are mem- bers of the Catholic church in La Salle. He owns one hundred acres under cultivation and in timber, and has very good improvements upon it.
C. W. DYSART.
Mr. Dysart was born on the place he now oceupies in 1847, his father being one of earliest setllers of Putnam county. His wife was formerly Mary E. Haywood, a native of Massachusetts. To them were born four children, Hannah J .. Archibald H., Lucy M and Joseph W. They are communicants of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. D. is an influential member, being trustee and elder. Ile owns two hundred acres of land under good culti- vation .
HENRY SCHNEIDER.
Mr. Schneider is a Prussian by birth, from whence he emigrated in 1857, when thirty-one years old. His wife was a fellow countrywomen with himself, to whom he was married in 1859. They have two children, John and Katie, and are members of t e Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Schneider is a teacher in the Sabbath school, and takes a deep interest in church and educational matters. He owns a good farm of 80 acres, and is an unnsually in- telligent and well read German American farmer.
DAVID L. PACKINGHAM.
The father of Mr. Packingham came to Putnam county in 1834, and shared in all the hardships attendant up- on settling a new country. The subject of the present sketch was born in 1850, and in 1879 married Myrtie Fuller, born in Sansfield, Massachusetts, in 1861. He owns & well cultivated farm of 120 acres.
JAMES C. PACKINGHAM.
Mr. Packingham lives on section 16, and was born in Granville township. His wife was formerly Miss Graeie Penniman, and her native place Vermont. They were married in 1872, and two children bless the union, Frank F. and Lucy May. He owns 120 acres of finely cultivated land, and is thrifty, energetic and successful.
TALLMAN SELLEY.
The subject of this sketch is a farmer, born in Oneida county, New York, in 1844. When the war broke out he was living in this state, and was one of the first to offer his services, going out in the 13th Ill. Vol., and partici- pating in all the hard fought battles in which it was engaged. When his term of service expired he went into the Board of Trade Battery, Chicago, and served until the close of the war. Receiving his discharge, he returned to Illinois, and settled in Granville, where he married Cornelia Ham and turned farmer. They are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. 8. cultivates 140 acres of land, and proves that good soldiers make good neighbors and generally succeed in their undertakings.
JOHN PIERCE BLAKE.
The subject of this sketch was born in Warwick, Franklin county, Mass., July 2, 1803. He attended the ordin- ary schools of the place, and after two years of preparation at the academy in Mendon, N. H., he entered Amherst College, but severe attention to studies ruined his health and compelled him to leave after three years study. He chose surveying as a pofession and removed west at an early day, and was appointed trustee of school lands by the circuit court of Putnam county in 1833. He was also elected trustee of Granville township school funds, which po-
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RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
sition he held until 1877. Was commissioned judge of probate court in 1833, was appointed deputy surveyor in 1836, and served either as official or depnty surveyor up to 1867, and was actively engaged in the business 31 years, until obliged by increasing infirmities to discontinne his labors. Has been twice married, his first wife being Zilpah At- wood, whom he wedded June 11, 1833. She was born in Warwick, Mass. They had eight children, John A., Aaaon A., (killed in the Confederate army in East Tennessee), Mary A., (Mrs. Dahl). Edward E., Theodore D., Ellen C., Amelia and Jeannette. Mrs. Blake died March 8, 1845. In 1847 he married Mary Smith, his present wife, born in Lancaster county, Pa., 1823. They have five children, Kersey S., a graduate of Oberlin College, and now a teacher in a school for boys in New York : Martha D .. a graduate of the Woman's Medical College of Philadelphia ; Orella, a gradnate of Wheaton College ; Ellen C. and Theda Pierce. Mr. Blake has been a prominent member of society in church and school for many years, has been actively connected with Sabbath schools all his life, and having per- formed his full dnty is ready to lay aside the harness when his Master calls. He gave his children the benefits of a thorongh education and provided for them in other ways. Few men can show a more honorable record than he.
BEECHER W. NEWPORT.
A farmer, born in this township, in 1825, on the farm he now occupies, in section 32 Postoffice. Hennepin. In 1875 he married Nettie Gunn, also a native of the township. They have two children .- Mary Irene and Leander Collins. Mrs. Newport is a member of the Congregational church. He owns 200 acres of land, all under cultiva- tion. His father was one of the first settlers in this county.
PRICE PURVIANCE.
This gentleman was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, January 5, 1830, and when fifteen years of age came with his parents to this county. They located on section 33, Granville township, and the claim and dwelling are still oc- cupied by the subject of this sketch. His parents were James and Margaret Purviance, the former of whom was born at Red Stone, Pa., and died in 1877. Mrs. Purviance, who is still living with her son on the old homestead, is a native of Maryland Mr. Purviance is a member of the school board and clerk of that body. His postoffice ad- dress is Hennepin.
R. S. ROBINSON.
Mr. Robinson was born in Bond county, Illinois, in 1830 and came here with with his parents in 1831. The county was a desert then and roaming bands of Indians peopled the river bottoms. In 1852, Mr. Robinson having arrived at man's estate, married Sarah Weeks, born in Caldwell county, Ky., They have ten children, Henry, Lee, Frances W., Robertus S,. Mary A., Helen M., John W,, Charles MI., Joseph E .. Silas M. and William L. Mr. Robin- son is a large farmer, owning 280 acres of land under cultivation.
THOMAS C. THORN.
Mr. Thorn is a tinsmith by trade and carries on the business in connection with the sale of groceries at his store in . Granville. He was born in Trenton, N. J., in 1835 and came west in 1855. In 1857 he maarried Mary E. Zenor, of Hennepin, and to them eight children have been born. John, George, Lanra, Elizabeth, Willie, Absalom, Flora and Harley. Mr. Thorn has long filled the office of town clerk, has served as justice of the peace, member of the town council and director of schools. He is a good citizen, well informed upon matters of public importance and comfortably supplied with this world's goods.
D. L. CHILD.
Mr. Child (deceased) was born in Windsor, Vt., in 1818. He came to Putnam Co. in 1836, and purchased the place where he afterward lived in in 1841. Two years previous he married Margaret L. Dysart, born in York county, Pa., in 1813, and there was born to them six children, Susan E., Clarinda. Lucinda, A. P., Kate L. and David W., the lat- ter no longer living. A. P. married Miss Henshaw, a native of Athens county, Ohio, in 1872, and has three children, William L., A. B. and Edwin H. Mr. Child was a leading man in the community, served as justice of the peace many years, and held five offices at the time of his death. He presided at the Ramsay inqnest when the latter was hung by a mob, as detailed elsewhere. He served several terms as supervisor, and was a very popular auctioneer, in which capacity his son promises to excel him.
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