USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 79
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 79
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 79
USA > Illinois > Stark County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 79
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Politically, Mr. Ditewig is an ardent demo- crat, and he served as tax collector in Penn township for one season. In 1890 he took up his residence in Wyoming, and two years later was elected trustee of the village. Socially, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America; the Knights of the Maccabees, now serving as commander of the lodge in Wy- oming; and Wyoming Lodge, No. 244, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the chairs, and is the present representative to the grand lodge.
ROBERT M. BOCOCK, deceased, was one of the representative and prominent agri- culturists of Stark county, where he passed away on the 19th of January, 1886, leaving many friends as well as his immediate family to mourn his loss. He was born in Ohio, De- cember 19, 1825, and was about eleven years of age when he accompanied his parents, Eli- jah and Barbara (Mckinney) Bocock, to Illi- nois, settling in Fulton county, upon a farm
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about five miles from Canton, and becoming honored pioneers of that region where our sub- ject grew to manhood and received a fair, com- mon-school education. With his father he learned the cooper's trade, which he followed for about three years after his marriage.
On the 10th of August, 1848, Mr. Bocock was joined in wedlock with Miss Elizabeth R. Culton, of Fulton county, where she was born December 13, 1831, a daughter of John J. and Abigail H. (Mitchell) Culton. Her father was a native of Tennessee, but was reared in Kentucky, while her mother was born in the latter state and grew to womanhood in Indi- ana, where their marriage was celebrated. At an early day they came to Illinois, locating in Fulton county, whence they removed to Bradford, Stark county, where Mr. Culton died in 1890, but his wife, who was born May 4, 1809, is still living and yet quite active for one of her years. Mrs. Bocock was the sec- ond in order of birth in their family of eleven children, of whom nine yet survive.
For some time after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bocock continued to reside in Ful- ton county, where he operated a rented farm for two years, and then purchased eighty acres of partially improved land in Penn township, Stark county, which Mrs. Bocock still owns. Prospering in his undertaking he was able to add to the original purchase and became one of the most substantial and successful farmers of his community. He was reared a republic- an, to which party he always gave his sup- port, and acceptably served in a number of official positions. A great friend to the cause of education he was for some time a valued member of the school board, was justice of the peace in Penn township for sixteen years and his decisions were generally satisfactory. When he ceased to fill the latter position he was elected supervisor, which office he contin-
uously filled up to the time of his death. By extensive reading he had greatly added to the knowledge acquired in the school room, and was well posted on the leading questions and issues of the day. He manifested great inter- est in his adopted county and cheerfully aided all schemes for its advancement. He was in- fluential and popular with his associates, and had the confidence and respect of all who knew him.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bocock were born ten children and six still survive, namely: Thomas Jasper, a resident of Omaha, Nebraska, is married and has four children; William C., a stock dealer of Wyoming, Illinois, is mar- ried and has one child; Abigail J., of Wyo- ming, is the widow of Jefferson Francis, by whom she had two children; Sarah M. mar- ried Frederick Ditewig and has three children; James S., of Wyoming, is married and has one child; and Alva E., a resident of Peoria, is married and has one child.
Mrs. Bocock removed to Wyoming about 1890, and lives in a neat residence one block north of the Methodist church. She is a wor- thy member of the Congregational church of Wyoming, and is well and favorably known in the community.
C ALEB M. S. LYON, deceased, was for years a farmer and enjoyed more than ordinary success, but in later years lived retired from active labor, and in the enjoyment of all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He was born on the 28th of February, 1816, in what was then Montgomery, but is now Fulton county, New York, and is a son of Ezra and Hannah (Bass) Lyon, also natives of the Empire state, where they spent their entire lives. The father, who was a blacksmith by trade, died at the age of eighty-four years.
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Our subject was reared to farm life and also learned the blacksmith's trade with his father. In 1837 he left his native state and came to Illi- nois, first locating in Rochester, Peoria coun- ty, where he remained four years, and then moved to West Jersey township, Stark county, where he opened up a farm and also worked at his trade to some extent. Prospering in his undertakings he added to his original purchase until he was the owner of considerable land, which he has since divided among his children. He was a thorough and skillful farmer, ener- getic and progressive, and the success that he achieved was but the just reward of honest labor. His fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, elected him treasurer of Stark county, in 1863, and he at once removed to Toulon to assume the duties of the office, which he discharged in a prompt and faithful manner. On retiring from office he made that city his home, and was numbered among its valued and representative men. He served as supervisor a number of times and held other minor offices, with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. During the dark days of the rebellion, he favored the vig- orous prosecution of the war.
On the Ist of January, 1840, Mr. Lyon was united in marriage with Miss Maria Cushman, a native of Vermont, born in 1819, and a daughter of Joshua Cushman, of New Hamp- shire, where she grew to womanhood. She died in 1847, leaving two children-Lora Antoinette, deceased wife of M. P. Davidson, now of Minnesota, by whom she had four chil- dren; and Don Carlos, who at the early age of nineteen years enlisted in the one-hundred-day service during the civil war, and braved all the dangers incident to such a life. The son mar- ried Ettie Reidle, by whom he has six chil- dren, and also lives in the state of Washing- ton, where he manages a farm and sawmill.
Mr. Lyon was again married November 20, 1847, his second union being with Miss Sophro- nia E. Rhodes, who was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, in 1829, and is a daughter of Hugh and Julia (Kingsley) Rhodes, natives of Vermont and Massachusetts, respectively. Her parents were married in Trumbull county, Ohio, but later made their home in Meadville, Pennsylvania, whence they came to Illinois in I 839. They, together with their daughter, Mrs. Lyon, and son, Franklin Rhodes, were charter members of the First Congregational church of Toulon. In their family were eight children, six of whom are still living, but only Mrs. Lyon and her brother Charles are now living in Illinois. The father was born May 8, 1800, and died July 14, 1882, while the mother was born September 2, 1807, and died December 3, 1861.
Five children were born of the second mar- riage of our subject, namely: Effie is now the wife of Sylvester McKeegan, a farmer of Tou- lon township, Stark county, and has three children-Laura, Pauline and Effie. Frank W., a resident of Little Falls, Minnesota, married Nellie Thompson and has three chil- dren-Ethel, Helen and Isabel. Clyde R., who makes his home in Perry, Iowa, married Clara Grist and has two children-Morton G. and Ruth R. Dr. Morton, a practicing physi- cian of De Witt, Iowa, graduated at Rush Med- ical College, of Chicago, with the class of 1896. Maud E. is at home. She and her mother both hold membership in the Congregational church. Before her marriage, Mrs. Lyon suc- cessfully engaged in teaching in Stark county, and her daughter Maud has also followed the same profession to some extent in Toulon. The family is one of prominence, its circle of friends and acquaintances being extensive. Mr. Lyon died in Toulon March 19, 1897, at the advanced age of eighty-one years, after a
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long and useful life. Honored in life, his memory will be cherished by all who knew him.
D AVID R. GELVIN. - The subject of this sketch stands second to none among the wide-awake and progressive farmers of West Jersey township, Stark county, whose record it has been deemed proper to preserve in this manner for the perusal of coming generations. As a judicious tiller of the soil he has met with success, and as a man and citizen holds a high position among his neighbors. His life has been one of industry and through. his own efforts he has succeeded in accumulating a comfortable competence, now owning a fine farm of two hundred and thirty acres on sec- tion 34, West Jersey township.
The birth of our subject occurred August 8, 1834, in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, while his parents, William and Elizabeth ( Temple ) Gelvin, were natives of Crawford and Venango counties, Pennsylvania, respectively. In Mer- cer county the father opened up a farm, which he operated until his death, which occurred in March, 1840, when David R. was only six years of age. Upon the old homestead the mother reared her family and continued to reside until 1865, when she came to Stark county, Illinois, and spent her remaining days with her children, passing away on the 9th of February, 1875, at the age of seventy-nine years, beloved by all who knew her.
In the family were seven sons and one daugh- ter, all of whom married and had children of their own. Mary I., the oldest, is the wife of Sheldon Blakely, of San Francisco, California; John T. is a contractor and builder in Louisi- ana; William W. is a retired farmer of York, Nebraska; Ebenezer E. is a farmer of Clearfield, Ringgold county, Iowa; Daniel M. is a fruit- grower residing near Los Angeles, California;
David R. is next in order of birth; James R. is a farmer in Essex township, Stark county, Illi- nois ; and Aaron L. is an agriculturist of Okla- homa.
After pursuing his studies in the common schools for some time, David R. Gelvin com- pleted his literary course in the academy at Meadville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania. He then turned his attention to teaching, which profession he successfully followed in his native state and in Illinois for about five years. In 1854 he came west, first joining a sister in Peoria, but in the fall of the same year he came to Stark county, where for a time he taught through the winter season and devoted his time to farm work in the summer. In 1858 he purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of raw land, which he has converted into his present fine farm. He has extended the boundaries of the place from time to time as his financial resources have increased, has added many useful improvements, including a large residence and substantial out-buildings, and to-day has one of the most desirable farms in West Jersey township. In connection with general farming he is also extensively inter- ested in buying, feeding and shipping stock, which business has added materially to his income.
On the IIth of March, 1858, in Stark county, Mr. Gelvin was united in marriage with Miss Eunice M. Trickle, who was born in what is now Ashland county, Ohio, and when a child was brought to Stark county by her father, Edward Trickle, arriving in 1836. Here she was reared and educated, and previous to her marriage successfully engaged in teaching. Three children have been born to our subject and his worthy wife, but Willie and Eddie died in infancy. Elvis L. is now married and engaged in business in Duncan, Stark county. Mr. Gelvin has always affiliated with the re-
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publican party, casting his first vote for Abra- ham Lincoln in 1860, and he has taken quite an active and prominent part in local politics. As a leading and influential citizen he has been called upon to serve in a number of official positions, being clerk of his township, justice of the peace four years, county supervisor three years, assessor and school director a num- ber of years. For forty-three years he has been identified with the progress and develop- ment of Stark county, and has witnessed the many changes that have taken place in that time, but Mrs. Gelvin has here made her home for over sixty years, and has therefore seen almost its entire transformation. They are widely and favorably known, and deserve an honored place in the front ranks of the county's representative and prominent citizens.
C APTAIN FRANK A. JONES .- Among those who followed the old flag on south- ern battlefields is this gentleman, who is now one of the most enterprising farmers of Stark county, his home being on section 30, Goshen township. He is also one of the honored pio- neers of the county, dating his residence here from 1839. He was born in Clermont county, Ohio, August 13, 1831, a son of Sheridan Jones, who was a native of Scotland, and on coming to America located in Muskingum county, Ohio, where he married Ann Meek, whose birth oc- curred in that state. For a number of years the father engaged in farming in Clermont county, but in the fall of 1839 came by team to Stark county, Illinois, locating at LaFayette, where he first purchased one hundredand forty acres of land and opened up a farm. Later he purchased one hundred and sixty acres on which our subject now resides, and he became quite well-to-do. He died on the old homestead in 1860, and his wife passed away in August, 1873.
Of the family of six children belonging to 32
this worthy couple, four were born in Ohio and two in Stark county, Illinois. They were as follows: Samuel M. married and settled in Goshen township, but is now deceased. John L., a successful teacher, also served through the civil war, and after that struggle located near Maryville, Missouri, where he was killed by lightning. Moses S. returned home from his service in the Union army, but died soon afterward from its effects. Margaret J. is the wife of Thomas L. Jones, a resident of Polk county, Iowa. Rufus S., a farmer and car- penter, lives in Brown county, Nebraska.
The Captain was a lad of nine years when he came with his parents to Illinois, locating in Stark county, where he grew to manhood and secured a fair common-school education. On the 20th of February, 1859, he led to the mar- riage altar Miss Maria Lacey, a native of New York, who on coming west with her father, Uretus Lacey, first located in Michigan, and later in Stark county, Illinois. They began their domestic life upon a part of the old Jones homestead, which the Captain operated until the outbreak of the Civil war.
Loyal and patriotic, our subject enlisted in 1861 in Company B, Thirty-seventh Illinois In- fantry, and participated in the engagements of Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Arkansas, the siege of Vicksburg, and after the capture of that city went down the river to Texas. When his two years term of service had expired he veter- anized at New Orleans and returned home on a furlough. He rejoined his command at the mouth of Red river and remained in the service until hostilities had ceased, taking part in the siege of Fort Blakely, whence he proceeded to Montgomery and on to Mobile. He then re- turned home on a sick furlough, and was here honorably discharged on the close of the war. For meritorious conduct he was commissioned second lieutenant, later first lieutenant, and
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afterward captain and proved a most competent officer, having the confidence of those under him and the respect and esteem of his fellow officers.
Rejoining his wife and family, Captain Jones has since made his home on the farm where he now resides, but he has been called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died March 20, 1878. To them were born two children- Eddie F., who is now living on a ranch near Seattle, Washington; and Carlie E., who died in childhood. In LaFayette he was again married, April 17, 1879, his second union being with Miss Martha J. Ross, who was born in that village, and is a daughter of Thomas W. Ross, an early settler of Stark county, engaged in blacksmithing in LaFayette. There Mrs. Jones was reared and educated, later becoming a successful teacher of the county. By her marriage she became the mother of seven children-Lena B., who is a student in the Toulon high school; Fred R., Wilna M., Ella M., Hal Everett and Charles W., all attending the home school; and Louise, a bright little girl of five summers.
The well-tilled fields and neat and sub- stantial buildings on the home farm add greatly to the general appearance and value and indi- cate to the passer-by the thrift and enterprise of the owner. Politically, the Captain has been identified with the republican party since its organization, voting for Fremont in 1856, and he has never missed a presidential election, having cast his ballot for Lincoln in 1864 while in the army. For seven years he served as assessor of his township, and has been a member of the school board for several years. He affiliates with W. W. Wright Post, No. 327, G. A. R., of Toulon, and his estimable wife is a consistent member of the Congregational church. They are widely and favorably known throughout the county, where they have so
long resided, and their circle of friends is only limited by their circle of acquaintances. For the long period of fifty-eight years Captain Jones has been identified with the development and progress of Stark county, and is numbered among its valued and honored citizens, as true to the interests of his country in days of peace as when following the old flag to victory on southern battle-fields.
D UNCAN McLENNAN .- Among the well- to-do and successful farmers of Stark county who have accumulated a competency through their own exertions, and who are now enabled to lay aside business cares and enjoy the comforts which their former toil provided, is the subject of this biographical notice, an honored and respected citizen of Elmira. Like many of the best citizens of the county, he is a Scotchman by birth, born in Ross-shire, in 1831, a son of Alexander and Jessie McLen- nan, also natives of Scotland, where the father was extensively engaged in farming and han- dling stock. He died there January 25, 1845, and subsequently his wife, with her two chil- dren, came to the new world, spending her last days in Stark county, Illinois, where she died September 12, 1864, and now lies buried in Elmira cemetery. The sister of our subject is Mary, widow of Alexander Buchanan and a resident of Henry county, Illinois.
During his boyhood and youth Mr. McLen- nan, of this review, was provided with fair educational advantages, learning two different languages, and his business training was ac- quired on a farm and in a livery stable in Scot- land. When a young man he sailed from Glasgow to Quebec, Canada, and from Mont- real proceeded up the river to Kingston and Toronto, went round the falls to Buffalo, New York, by the lakes to Detroit, Michigan, thence by rail to Chicago, and finally arrived in Stark
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county August 25, 1853, joining two uncles, who had resided here for some years. He earned his first money in America by working on the railroad near Kewanee for about twenty days, and then worked on his uncle's farm by the month for over one year. With the money he thus acquired he purchased eighty acres of raw land, which he broke, fenced and im- proved with a little house and the necessary out-buildings, there making his home with his mother for five years, when she was called to the other world.
In Wethersfield township, Henry county, Mr. McLennan was married, November 29, 1864, the lady of his choice being Miss Cath- erine Murchison, who was born in Applecross, Ross-shire, Scotland, and when a child of eight years came to the United States with her father, Findley Murchison, in 1851. He was one of the pioneers of Henry county, Illi- nois, where his death occurred July 15, 1872. Of his family of twelve children, seven sons and three daughters becaine residents of Stark county. Mr. and Mrs. McLennan have three sons, namely: John Forbes, a substantial farmer of Bureau county, Illinois; Alexander F., who is married and operates the old home farm; and Donald William, who is also an agriculturist. The sons were all provided with fair educational privileges and are respected members of society.
After his marriage, Mr. McLennan added to his original purchase until he had a fine farm of one hundred and ninety-six acres, improved with a comfortable residence and substantial barns and out-buildings, which stand as mon- uments to his thrift and industry. Besides his farm he is now the owner of a neat residence in the village of Elmira, where he is spending his declining years in that ease and retirement which should always follow a long and useful career. The success that has come to him has
been through his own efforts and the assistance of his faithful wife, who has proved a true help- meet to him. . They are worthy and consistent members of the Elmira Presbyterian church and have hosts of warm friends throughout the community. In his political affiliations, Mr. McLennan has always been a republican since casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. His sterling integrity, inflexible hon- esty and general high principles have won him the respect of all, and he is to-day one of the most honored and valued citizens of his community.
W. W. FULLER, the efficient and popular ยท county clerk of Stark county, residing in Toulon, was born in that county on the 16th of July, 1852, and is a son of Walter M. and Chloe M. Fuller, natives of Pennsylvania and Maine, respectively. They are still honored residents of Elinira township, Stark county, and are the only married couple who were liv- ing there in 1850. The father came to the county in 1839, and the same year the mother accompanied her parents to Fulton county. Subsequently she came with her parents to Toulon, Stark county, where their marriage was celebrated on the Ist of January, 1849. They at once moved to a farm in Elmira town- ship, where they have since continued to reside. The father has filled many minor offices, being town clerk from the organization of the town- ship until the spring of 1896, when he resigned in favor of a younger man. He has also been township school treasurer for many years, and has faithfully discharged every duty that de- volved upon him, whether public or private. With the Methodist Episcopal church both he and his faithful wife have long been connected, and in the same he has held office for many years. Our subject is the oldest of three chil- dren born to this worthy couple, the others be-
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ing Augusta, who is at home; and Louella May, who became the wife of George T. Oli- ver, and died January 30, 1895, at the age of thirty-three years. She was a consistent mem- ber of the United Presbyterian church.
In the common schools near his childhood home, W. W. Fuller began his education, but the knowledge there acquired was supple- mented by several years'attendance at Hedding College, Abingdon, Illinois. For about a year after the completion of his own education, he successfully engaged in teaching, and then for some time aided his father in the operation of the home farm. Subsequently for seven years he clerked in the store of his uncle, Clinton Fuller, at Elmira, Illinois, but in 1894 was elected county clerk, which office he is still acceptably filling, his present term expiring in 1898. Prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties, he has served with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents, who place in him the utmost reliance.
. Mr. Fuller was married February 9, 1874, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah F. Boggs, who was born near Charleston, West Virginia, and is a daughter of Elliott and Eleanor Boggs, of Knox county, Ohio. They have been residents of Illinois since 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller have two children-F. R., who is his father's assistant in the office, and is a most obliging and efficient clerk; and Lora L., a student in the Toulon Academy. The mother is an earnest member of the American Presbyterian church.
Socially, Mr. Fuller affiliates with the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, and the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all the chairs. In politics he is an ardent republican, and is a warm advocate of protection and reciprocity. He is one of the valued and influential citizens of Toulon, is public-spirited and enterprising, and does all
within his power to advance the interests of his town and county and promote the general welfare.
A NSON A. YOUNG, proprietor of a lead- ing livery, feed and sale stable at Wyo- ming, Illinois, is a native of New Jersey, born in Sussex county, June 22, 1855, and is a son of Michael and Elsie G. (Clawson) Young. On the paternal side he is descended from an old and honored family, whose founder in the new world came over in the Mayflower, and the great-grandfather of our subject was one of the Revolutionary heroes, having valiantly aided the colonies in their struggle for independence. He died at the advanced age of one hundred and six years in Morris county, New Jersey, to which place the family had removed at a very early day and where at least three generations of the family resided. There the father of our subject was born, reared and married, but later removed to Sussex county, the same state, where he engaged in farming throughout the remainder of his life, dying on the 23d of Sep- tember, 1894, at the age of seventy-eight years.
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