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 61
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 61
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CHAS. W. READ.
Mr. Read was born in New Bedford, Mass., in 1827, and was a son of Philip and Tryphena Davis Read. Mr. Read, senior, was a native of Dartmouth, Mass., and Mrs. Read of Fall River. Half a century ago Mr, and Mrs. Read left their old homes in Massachusetts and went west as far as Herkimer connty, New York. Leaving that State they came to Illinois and located in Putnam connty, and followed farming until Mr. R.'s death in 1813. Mrs. Read still survives in excellent health to enjoy the prosperity that has come to her and her children. Fonr are now living, namely : Mrs. Winship, Mrs. Wheeler, Roselia and the subject of this biography. In 1852 in company with Mr. Winship and other acquaintances left Princeton with an ox team, crossed the plains and the Rocky Mountains for California, and returned home in the autumn of 1855, having spent nearly three years: was engaged in mining, and had fair success in his operations. Has held the offices of collector several times, assessor, constable, and is a member of the Christian church, Senachwine.
WILLIAM HUNTER WILLIAMS.
Mr. Williams lives on section 19, township 14 west, range 10 east, Putnam connty, Ill. The ancestors of the subject of this sketch were John Williams, a native of Wales, and Ann Williams, his wife, a native of Plymonth, England, resided previous to the war of the American Revolution, in the colony of New Jersey. During the war their domicil was burned by the British army, causing a separation of the family, and at which time it is supposed their family record was lost or destroyed. Their son Thomas Williams was bound for a number of years to a farmer, after which he moved to the city of Philadelphia, Pa., where he learned the business of house painter, and on May 2. 1807, he married Frances Hunter, daughter of William and Frances Hunter. of Philadelphia, of which union was born on the 15th day of January, 1811, William Hunter Williams, the subject of this sketch. When he was about seven years old his father removed with his family to the city of Baltimore, Md., where on the 17th day of October, 1822, his father died, leaving a widow and four children, who returned to Philadelphia, where William H. attended the public schools of the city until about fourteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to William Ford to learn the business of silver-plating. In the month of May, 1837, in consequence of the financial convulsion of the country he sought to improve his circumstances by removing to what was then called the Western States. Accordingly in
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the fore part of Jnne, 1837, he reached the village of Hartford, Dearborn county, in the south-eastern portion of the State of Indiana. In the month of August of that year he made a prospecting tour on foot to Indianapolis, and thence west to the eastern part of Illinois, where his further progress west was arrested by fever and ague (his objective point being Alton, Ill.), and caused him to endeavor to retrace his steps to Hartford, Ind., which was ac- complished with great effort during some time in the mouth of September.
In the year 1838 he gained his first experience as a farmer joined with the disadvantage of a relapse of the agne and fever, having rented seven acres of land and raised a crop of corn, and in the latter part of the summer of that year took a position as clerk in a conntry general store. Late in the autumn of 1838 he was engaged as clerk and hand on a flatboat to take a cargo of flour and pork to the lower Mississippi River, having accomplished which he, in the spring of 1839, returned to Hartford, Ind., making a detour to visit his brother, who had preceded him to Putnam connty, Ill., upon which occasion he concluded to settle permanently in Illinois Returning to Hartford, he was offered a situation on a store-boat, and continued in the boating business nntil some time in Sep- tember, 1839, and on or about the 21st of September started on horseback from Hartford to go to Marshall county, Ill., arriving Oct. 1, 1839. On the first of May, 1813, he entered eighty acres of land and received the Government patent for the same, under the administration of President John Tyler, and on the 25th day of December. 1856, pur- chased eighty acres adjoining from Samuel C. Bacon. On the 29th day of June, 1843, he was married to Miss Theo- dosia Holmes Lyon, daughter of Abijah Lyon and Comfort Holmes Lyon, natives of Westchester county, New York, who removed from the city of New York to Marshall connty, Ill., in the spring of 1839. Mr. Williams has nine chil- dren as follows: Frances H., William A., Martha, Mary, John Howard, Emma E., James Albert, Theodosia Ann and David Herbert. Frances H., now Mrs. Samuel A. Wilson. of Adin, Modoc county, Cal .; Martha now Mrs. Charles M. Hobbs, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Mary now Mrs. O. H. Lincoln, of Marengo, McHenry county, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln are now professional teachers. Emma E., now wife of Rev. W. B. Berry, lives at Barry, Pike county, Il1 ; William A. resides in the town of Belvidere, Thayer county, Neb. ; John H. lives at home engaged in farming; Jas. A. is teaching in Bureau county, Ill .; Theodosia A. is in Conncil Bluffs, Iawa, and D. Herbert at home attending school, Mr. and Mrs. Williams commenced housekeeping on the first purchase of land in the spring of the year 1844, passing through all the experiences of a pioneer farmer incident to that period of the history of the State of Illinois. 'In 1847 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace of Senach wine precinct. holds the same office at the present time, and lives on his original location, was county judge for a period of six years, succeeding Joel W. Hopkins in that office, Mr. Hopkins being elected a member of the State Legislature; was postmaster at the village of Senachwine nearly ten years: was town clerk a number of years; was township treasurer of schools nearly thirty years; served one year in the office of town collector. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Henry Society of the New Jerusalem or Swedenborgian church for over twenty years. The jndge, as he is familiarly called, is now 69 years of age. His wife is 58 years. They with their large family of children enjoy a remarkable degree of health.
ALVIN PERKINS.
Mr. Perkins was born October 22, 1834, and was a son of Jesse and Amy Garton Perkins, who came from the State of Kentucky, and located in Bureau county in the year 1833. Six surviving children were born to them. namely: Elijah, Madison, Matilda. Jesse, Cirena and Alvin. Elijah and Jesse reside in Cass county, lowa. Matilda married William Wherry, and lives in Green county, Iowa. Cirena and Mrs. Jeremiah Drake live in Senach wine, and Madison in Page county, Iowa. Alvin married Miss Lydia Hamilton, daughter of James and Elizabeth Long Hamilton, of Ohio, in the year 1856. Has seven children living-Edward, Jennie, Carrie, Austin, Alvin Grant and baby boy. In the year 1860 he went to Pike's Peak, where he remained until Angust, when he returned home. In 1864 he went to Austin, Nevada, worked in the mines abont one year, then visited California, and returned home via the Isthmus. In 1867 he sold out in Bureau county, moved to Pottawatomie connty, Iowa, remained there one year and moved to Putnam county. He owns 315 acres of fine land.
JOHN F. M. PARKER.
Was a son of Ezekiel Parker and Margaret Ann Engle, formerly from Green Briar county, Virginia, and was born in Amity, Knox county, Ohio. In 1839 they moved to Effingham connty, Ill., where they resided for about seven years. Mr. Parker died in 1846 leaving six children, three sons and three daughters, the latter having since died. Samuel resides in Chicago, S. S. in Libbey, Oscella county, Ia., and the subject of this sketch in Putnam county, Ill. Mr. Parker resided prior to his residence in Senachwine, with his mother in Fulton county and in Beardstown, Cass county, Ill. Came to Senachwine July 13. 1857 and commenced life there as a clerk, school teacher and deputy postmaster. During his residence in this township he aided in founding and building Ithe Christian church, He is still connected with the church as pastor, and laboring at the same time as the evangelist of the Bureau and Putnam county Christian Co-operation society. Aug. 6, 1863 he married Marv A. Wherry, daughter of Elder John Wherry and Malinda Perkins, of Putnam county, from which marriage six children were born, namely: William S., Emma L., James E., Mary V., Walter C. and Anna Maud.
JAMES M. WINSHIP.
Mr. Winship was born in Lewis county, New York, October 2, 1825. He is a son of Ralph and Lucetta Cooley Winship, who came to Princeton, Bureau connty, in June, 1835. James M. moved from Princeton to this township in March, 1868, and has resided here ever since. In 1850 he married Mary Ann Read, daughter of Philip and Try- phena Read, of Senachwine. They have five children, -J. Orrin, Cora Eva (now Mrs. Martin L. Condit, of this town- ship), Orville W., Walter E. and Jessie M. In 1852 Mr. Winship left Princeton, crossed the plains and Rocky moun- tains with an ox team, visited California, remained there one year, and returned hame in the spring of 1853. He
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owns a fine farm of 192 acres, and is engaged in the manufacture of drain tile and brick. He has been supervisor of the town for two successive years, and school director for many years. Is a member of the Christian church. He has a vivid recollection of his frequent trips to Chicago at an early day, with grain and pork, bringing back Inmber at $8.00 per M for the building of the court honse in Princeton. In 1876 he made an extended tour through the east, visiting Philadelphia during the Centennial exhibition, Washington, Mt. Vernon, New York city, and old friends in Oneida county, New York.
ABRAHAM W. HOAGLAND.
Mr. Hoagland was born in Readington, Huntington county, New Jersey, son of Dr. C. C. and Gertrude La Bagh Hoagland, who had eight children-Francis E., Anna M., John E., A. W, Lucy R., Nellic W., Hattie R., and Henry M. Frark resides in Conncil Bluffs, Ia., Anna M., now Mrs. James H. Smith, and John in Jackson county, Kansas, and Lucy R. in Yuma county, Arizona, and is a teacher. The other children live at home with their mother. Dr. Hoagland died in March, 1868, in Iowa where he was employed as state agent of the American Bible Society. He was a man of great energy in every vocation of life. Was state superintendent of schools in New Jersey. Was editor of a weekly journal published in the town of Hennepin. Abraham W, enlisted in Co. I., 47th Regiment Ill. Volunteer» in the last year of the war, and was mustered out in December, 1865, at Springfield, Ill. His brother, Frank, enlisted in July, 1861, under General Rosecrans, served during the war, was in fall the engagements of his regiment and for a short time was prisoner of war. His brother John, enlisted at Maroa, Macon county, this state, and entered the army in the department under General Grant, All came home about the same time, having served their country faithfully and honorably. Abraham carries on the farm of 120 acres. Has served as school director.
GEO. E. SPARLING. Senachwine, Putnam County, Illinois .
JOHN SPARLING. Senachwine, Putnam County, Illinois.
GEORGE SPARLING. Senachwine, Putnam County, Illinois.
JOHN M. WILLIAMS.
Mr. Williams was born August 28, 1844, and is a son of John and Melinda Morgan Williams, well known citi- zens of Senachwine township. He enlisted January 26, 1865, as a private in company A., 148th Regiment Ill. Volnn- unteers was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee and in Angust received his discharge at the close of the war. In 1872 made a tour through the west, visiting Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri with the intention of locating bnt returned and May 25. 1876, married Eliza J. Downey, danghter of Francis and Jane Welch Downey, of this township, Has one child, Carrie E. In 1872 was the active agent, as well as a prime mover together with other citizens of Senachwine, in making a saving to the county of ten thousand dollars by stopping the issne of bonds for that amount which otherwise would have been issned in favor of the Kankakee and Illinois River railroad. Mr. Williams is a farmer by vocation and shells corn for grain men and others. Has been constable for four years, col- lector for one year and school director six years, and is also an ingenious mechanicand inventor, having secured patents on an invention that promises to become valuable.
WILLIAM BARNHART.
Mr Barnhart was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, June 25th, 1829,and is a son of Peter and Ann Hines Barnhart who came to the state in 1831 aud located at first near Lacon, then called Columbia. At that time there were but few white settlers in those parts. While hunting one day he discovered two dead Indians sitting side by side np- right within a small fenced inclosure. He lived there abont three years. During the Black Hawk war he served as captain, for which he received a patent of 160 acres of land from the government. His occupation was that of a farmer, althongh possessed of the genius of doing all things with facility At one time he owned about a thous- and acres of land in Senach wine township. Had nine children-seven sons and two daughters-Martha, now Mrs. Hoselton, of Adams connty. Iowa, James. of Clinton connty. Iowa, John, of Senachwine, Wesley, deceased, Ira and Asa. twins; Ira resides in Senachwine, and Asa in Colorado. Mary Elizabeth died January 26, 1864. Mrs. Barnhart died December 23, 1879, aged 82. Mr. William Barnhart grew up, followed the occupation of his father and resides on the old homestead. He made a prospecting tour to the Rocky Mountains and was one of the so-called "fifty niners." He enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, in the 113th Regiment of Ill. Volunteers, assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, served three years and was mustered out in Memphis, Tenn., at the close of the war. Was married Oct., 1878. to Martha Jacobs, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Scott Jacobs, of Mendota, Ill. Has two children-Clara May Um- ponhour and Frank Koestner.
JOHN WILLIAMS.
Section 31, Senachwine, Putnam county* Born in Philadelphia, Pa., May 16th, 1813, Son of Thomas and Frances Hunter Williams. Thomas served in the war of 1812. His father, John Williams, was a citizen of New Jersey, was taken prisoner by the British and died while in prison and was buried in what is now known as Wash- ington Square. William Hunter, father of Frances, was in the Revolutionary war and at the battle of German-
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town under Washington. In 1824 Mr. John Williams, then a lad of eleven years of age, shook hands with La Fayette in the old Independence Hall. Having learned the bricklaying business was employed in the year 1836 in building Girard college." During the autumn and winter he made a circnitous route from Philadelphia to New York City, New Orleans up the Mississippi to St. Louis and thence to Hennepin, Putnam county, In 1843 pre-empted a claim of 160 acres of land in tp 10,N.W.,section 3,and the ensuing spring, 1844, came to the farm they now reside on. Was married Oct. 22. 1843, to Melinda Morgan, daughter of Alanson and Melinda Peters Morgan, Warren, Lichfield county, Conn., formerly from Hebron, Mass. Have eight children, John M,, Thomas, Irvin 8., Melinda, Frances, George, Adaline and Martha Ann. John M. resides in this county. Frances, now Mrs. Lorenzo Brunt, lives in this county. The other children live at home with their parents, Mr Williams is a man of advanced opinions upon all questions relating to the welfare of the human family and does his own own thinking. He has been a leading anti-slavery man and in the days of the "underground railroad" often assisted fugitives on their way to freedom. He was an active instigator and assistant in driving the Reeves gang from the country, He is a good talker, clear headed and genial hearted, a warm friend to those worthy of it and a hater of shams.
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MARSHALL COUNTY.
LACON TOWNSHIP.
JAMES B. MARTIN.
Mr. Martin, president of the First National Bank of Lacon, was born in Wayne county, Ill., in 1824. His life demonstrates how a poor boy achieved wealth and distinction solely through his individnal exertions, withont the help or aid of relatives or influence. His early life was full of hardships and his education such as could be picked up in the poorest country schools. For several years he followed breaking prairie, and with the first money earned entered some land which he sold at an advance, and then entered more. His investments were carefully made and uniformly successful. He opened a good farm in Bennington township which he sold in 1857, and com- ing to Lacon embarked in the livery business, and went to loaning money. In 1849 he married Minerva Hedrick, who died in 1857, leaving three children-Frank, Lizzie and Clara. In 1858 he was married to Ann J. Norris, by whom he has five sons and daughters,- Herbert, Edwin C., Ada L., Florence and Chester II. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, and has held various offices of trust in city and township.
WM. M. PYLE.
Mr. Pyle is a watchmaker and jeweler in Lacon. He was born in the city of Richmond. Wayne connty, Ind., in 1843, moved to Keokuk, Iowa, in 1870, and located in Lacon in 1877. He was educated in the city of his birth, and there also received rudimentary instruction in the buiness in which he has made himself proficient by experience and the exercise of the unusual degree of mechanical ingennity with which he is endowed. In 1860 he married Matilda Robinson, a native of Greensburg, Ind. They have five children,-Wm. H., Charles R., Maud, Blanch, and Olive. He is a member of the Masonic order. Served three years as quartermaster of the 40th Ind. Vol. Inf. during the war of the rebellion. He is a nephew of Samuel E. Perkins, Jndge of the Superior Court of Indiana, and Mrs. Pyle is a sister of Hon. Milton S. Robinson, late member of Congress from the Sixth District of Indiana.
DR. ISAAC H. REEDER, Physician and Surgeon.
Dr. Reeder was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1824, and moved with his parents to Marshall connty in 1834, settling in Lacon, or Columbia, as the village was then called. He was educated in Lacon, was a student at Rush Medical College in Chigago, and graduated from that institution in 1852, commencing the practice of his profession in Lacon the same year, and has continued steadily in practice to the present time with the exception of three years spent in the army during the war of the rebellion, during which time he served as surgeon of the 10th Ill. Vol. Inf. In 1850 married Catherine D. Lncas, a native of Bloomington. They have one child living, Flora E .. and one deceased. Dr. Reeder and his wife belong to the Presbyterian church, and he is a member of the state and local medical societies.
REV. FATHER JOHN F. POWER.
Pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic), in Lacon. Mr. Power was born in the city of New York, in 1850, and two years later his parents moved to Illinois, locating in Chicago. He studied theology in Mount St. Marys college, Emmettaburg, Md., and was ordained for the priesthood by the late Bishop Foley. of Chicago, April 12th, 1875. He was first stationed at Beardstown, where he remained one year, was for a short time in charge of the parish in Bloomington, and in June, 1877, was placed in charge of the parish at this place, where he has since remained. He has established a school here in connection with the church, with Sisters of Charity as teachers, where children of Catholic parents can receive a thorough preparatory education in accordance with the doctrines of their church, and by his consistent piety and zealons efforts in behalf of the temporal as well as spirit- ual welfare of the communicants of his church, has endeared himself to those of his own faith and won the respect and esteem of the entire community. irrespective of religious affiliations.
RICHARD GELL.
This gentleman, member of the firm of Stire & Gell, merchants and clothiers of Lacon, is a native of England
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born in Huntingdonshire in 1818. Before coming to this country he received the business training of a ten years experience in the grocery business in the city of London. In 1851 he came to the United States, and located in Lacon, remaining here about seven years. He then moved on a farm in Stenben township, where he remained one year, lived in La Prairie five years, and then returned to Lacon, being connected with Fisher's flouring mill about four years. At the expiration of this connection he formed a partnership with Felix Kahn in the clothing business in Sparland which lasted seven years, when he again returned to Lacon and formed his present business partnership with Mr. Stire. October 18, 1816, he married, in London, England, Mary A. Wood a native of that city. They have one child living, Maria Nancy (now Mrs. Martin. residing in Tazewell county), and have lost one child by death. They are members of the Baptist church. * A few years ago Mr. Gell visited his old home in the city of London. and has consequently three times crossed the broad Atlantic. He is an estimable citizen, a man of sturdy integrity, honest, upright and straightforward in all his dealings, and enjoys in a high degree the confii- dence and esteem of his fellows.
GEO. W. TAYLOR.
Mr. Taylor is a conductor on the Western Division of the C., A. & St. L. Railroad, and resides in Lacon. He was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1849. In 1872 he married Sarah J. Farrayman, a native of Ohio, and together they located in Washington, Tazewell connty, from which place they subsequently moved to Lacon. They have one child, Archie, born November 25, 1874. Mr. Taylor has been connected with the O. A. & St. L. Railroad since he was a boy. He is a member of the Railway Conductors' Mutual Aid and Benefit Society of the United States and Canada.
FRED. PETERS.
Mr. Peters is a barber and hairdresser located and carrying on business on Main street in Lacon. He was born in Prussia, in 1843, where he remained until 23 years of age, when he came to the United States and located first in Springfield, Ill., moving thence to Lacon in 1875, and commenced in business for himself the same year. In 1871 he married Malinda French, a native of Missouri, by whom he has four children,-Emma, Charlie, Mary and Frederick. Mr. Peters is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is also a member of Co. H, 7th Reg't Ill. N. G.
WILLIAM GAPEN.
Mr. Gapen is a resident of Lacon engaged in the mannfacture of saddles and harness. He was born in Scioto connty, Ohio. in 1833, but was raised in Lacon, his parents moving here when he was but one year old. In 1857 he married Elizabeth Boyles, a native of Adams county, Ohio. They have six children,-Charles. Mollie. Sallie, Wil- liam, Emma Dell and Frank. He is a member of the I. O. O. F .; has been in business for himself since April, 1866.
JOHN HOFFRICHTER.
A resident of Lacon, a stock dealer by occupation and proprietor of a meat market. Mr. Hoffrichter was born in Prussia in 1829, came to the United States in 1854, and in 1859 located in Lacon. The same year of his set- tlement here he married Margaret Krach, a resident of St. Lonis, born in Bavaria. They have four children,- Louisa E .. Clara M., Anna T. and Bertha E. They are members of the Lutheran church. and Mr. H. belongs to the Masonic order and the I. O. O. F. He has been in business in the same location since 1859.
CARRIE C. GAGE.
Mrs. Gage was born in North Wolfboro, N. H., and is a daughter of Aaron and Mary (Bickford) Roberts, The family came originally from England, and in the days of the colonies settled at Dover and became farmers. Mr. Roberts, senior, was born and labored on a farm when a boy, afterward removing to this place, where he died after a long and busy life. He followed merchandising here, amassing a large property, which was equitably divided among his descendants. Here his children were born and grown np. the sons assisting in the store and gaining a thorough knowledge of the business. Five sons and daughters were born to them, viz., Snsan Abigail (Mrs. Blake), Alonzo and Porter D., living in Chicago, Mary B. G. (deceased), and Carrie C., the subject of this sketch. She married in 1854, Fred. Gage, and moved immediately to Kenosha, Wis., where they lived two years, and went to Manitowoc, where he engaged in business. Here he made the acquaintance of Phineas Stevens, and in 1860, along with him and A. and P. D. Roberts, removed to Lacon. and under the firm of Stevens, Gage, Roberts & Co. embarked in merchandising, the lumber and grain trade. They did a very extensive business for a number of years, and were quite successful. Mr. Gage retired from the firm about 1870, and purchasing a large farm west of Lacon, turned his attention to improving it. He also opened an exchange and loan office in Sparland. He had a first class aptitude for business, his investments were always safe, and he accumulated a large property. His mar- ried life was happy, and to them two children were born-a son that died in infancy, and a daughter -Maria The- resa, born March 6, 1873.
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