USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 80
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 80
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 80
USA > Illinois > Stark County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 80
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In the family were ten children, seven of whom reached mature years and six are still living. (1) Elizabeth is the widow of John M. Haggerty, a Union soldier during the Civil war, by whom she had nine children. She now lives in Brooklyn, New York. (2) Lewis A., born in Sussex county, New Jersey, April 17, 1844, was reared on the farm and received a fair common-school education. In his native county he was married, December 27, 1867, to Miss Amanda D. Stockbower, who was also born in that county, and they have one child, Elsie L. Lewis A. Young carried on farming in Sussex county until twenty-eight years of age, when he engaged in the meat business in Stanhope, New Jersey, for a number of years,
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but in the spring of 1882 emigrated to Stark county, Illinois, where he was also engaged in the same business for four years. He then conducted a hotel until February, 1896, and met with a fair degree of success in his under- takings. He has been a life-long democrat in politics, casting his first ballot for George B. McClellan in 1864. (3) Hannah A. is the wife of Naam B. Lee, by whom she has three children, and they live on a farm in West Jersey township, Stark county. (4) Mary C .. a resident of Sussex county, New Jersey, is the widow of W. W. Misner and the mother of one child. (5) John died without children. (6) Anson A. is the next in order of birth. (7) George O., a farmer of Andover, New Jersey, is married and has three children.
The common schools of his native county afforded A. A. Young his educational privileges, and on starting out in life for himself he there engaged in the meat business, but since 1876 he has made his home in Stark county, Illinois. Here he was married, September 12, 1877, to Miss Mary J. Leigh, who was born in West Jersey township, Stark county, a daughter of Samuel and Rachel (Mitchell) Leigh.
After coming west Mr. Young followed farm- ing for about twelve years, renting a place for four years of that time, and then purchasing eighty acres of land in West Jersey township, where he continued to reside until 1888, when he sold out and removed to Wyoming, em- barking in the livery business, which he has since carried on with good success. In poli- tics he is independent, reserving the right to vote for the men and measures of his choice regardless of party affiliations. For two terms he served as road commissioner in West Jer- sey township, and was also school director for several years. He is a trustee of the Method- ist Episcopal church, to which he has belonged since 1887, while his wife has held membership
with the same denomination since sixteen years of age. They are held in the highest regard by all who know them, and have many warm friends throughout the county.
R OBERT PARKER, one of the most ener- getic and progressive farmers and success- ful breeders of Clydesdale horses in Stark coun- ty, is pleasantly located on section 28, Penn township. He was born on the 15th of March, 1853, in Maybold, Ayrshire, Scotland, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (McDowell) Par- ker, who both followed weaving in that coun- try, where the father died when our subject was about nine years old. Subsequently, with her three sons, the mother sailed for America on a steamer which was fourteen days in crossing the ocean, and they came at once to Illinois, locating in Knox county in 1865. The oldest son, John, died soon afterward, and the other brother of our subject, James, is now one of the prominent agriculturists of Stark county. About 1869 the family moved to that county and purchased a farm in Valley township. A few years later the mother was again married, it being the third time, as she was twice mar- ried in Scotland.
At the age of seventeen Robert Parker started out to make his own way in the world, and after renting land for about a year he and his brother James (a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work) formed a partnership which continued until 1896. About 1874 they purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, in which they invested their entire capital of two hundred dollars, and went in debt for the remainder of the amount, but so successful were they in their operations that they soon paid off the indebtedness and secured another one-hundred-and-sixty-acre tract, which they sold when they dissolved partnership in 1896. On the former place our subject still lives. In
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1882 they began breeding Clydesdale horses, bringing the first full-blooded animal to Stark county, and they have been greatly instru- mental in improving the stock of horses in this and surrounding counties. They have been awarded many premiums, receiving the first premium at both the State Fair and American Fat Stock Show, and also the second premium at the World's Fair on Handsome Prince.
In Marshall county, Illinois, on the 25th of December, 1873, was consummated the mar- riage of Mr. Parker and Miss Sara T. Whit- man, the ceremony being performed in the house where she was born. Her parents were Artemus and Ruth (Shaw) Whitman; and she is a cousin of Captain George Shaw, who led the first colored regiment in the Civil war, and was killed by a cannon ball during that strug- gle. Mr. and Mrs. Parker removed to their present farm about a year after their marriage, and their present comfortable residence was erected in 1892. Seven children have come to brighten their home. Samuel Artemus, born August 15, 1875, is a graduate of the Wyoming high school, and expects to com- plete the course at Knox College with the class of 1899; Robert, born January 26, 1879, grad- uated from the Wyoming high school in the class of 1896; Sarah Emma was born Decem- ber 19, 1880; Elizabeth was born May 27, 1883; James Alvin, born August 22, 1886, died September 30, 1896, and was laid to rest at Pleasant Valley church cemetery; Vesper Ella was born January 11, 1889; and Ruth Esther was born May 15, 1894.
Mr. Parker is a stanch republican in his po- litical faith, adheres closely to the doctrines of that organization, and cast his first presiden- tial ballot for Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876. He and his wife are consistent and active mem- bers of the Methodist Protestant church at Pleasant Valley, contributed liberally to the
house of worship, and he served as a member of the building committee. Their many vir- tues and pleasant, genial manners have gained them many warm friends, and they have the respect and esteem of all with whom they come in contact.
J ASPER N. KITTERMAN, the well-known county treasurer of Stark county, needs no special introduction to the readers of this vol- ume, but the work would be incomplete with- out the record of his life. He is an honored veteran of the Civil war, and for many years was actively identified with the business in- terests of Lombardsville and Bradford. His name is a synonym for honorable dealing, he is always mentioned as one of the invaluable citizens of the community, and on the rolls of Stark county's most prominent and influential men, his name should be found among the foremost.
A native of Illinois, Mr. Kitterman was born in Bureau county, March 23, 1844, and is a son of John and Mary Jane (Smiley) Kitter- man, who were born in Ohio. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, emigrated to Illinois about 1837, and took up his resi- dence upon a farm in Indiantown township, Bureau county, where he made his home until his death in 1850. He was a man of the strictest integrity and honorable, and his up- right life gained him the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. The mother, who was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, died in 1863, at the age of thirty-six years. There were only two children in the family, the younger brother of our subject being Joseph P., who married Gusta Hartley, of Bureau county, and lives on a farm in Kansas.
The educational privileges of J. N. Kitter- man were such as the public schools of Bureau
1
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and Stark counties afforded, and on leaving the school-room he continued to work on the farm where he was reared until his enlistment in the Union service February 1, 1864. Don- ning the blue he went to the front as a member of Company I, Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Bussell, and partici- pated in all the engagements in which his regiment took part. He was wounded at Al- toona Pass by a minie-ball in the right breast. He was with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea and on the Carolina cam- paign, and at Goldsboro, North Carolina, had the pleasure of witnessing Johnston's surren- der. Later he was in the grand review at Washington, D. C., which was one of the happiest and most enjoyable days of his life, as he knew that once more the stars and stripes waved over a united nation. At Louisville, Kentucky, he was mustered out in July, 1865, and returned home with an honorable war record before he had attained the age of nine- teen years.
On returning to civil life Mr. Kitterman worked on the farm for two years, and then entered a shop at Kewanee, where he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he successfully followed until 1884 in the village of Lombards- ville. In that year, while working with a corn- sheller, his left arm got caught in the gearing . and was so badly mangled that it had to be amputated at once. In 1886 he removed to Bradford and opened a shop, which with hired help he continued to conduct until 1894, when he was elected county treasurer for a term of four years. He has proved a most popular and trustworthy official, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. Since 1884 he has been officially connected with affairs of his township and county, serving as constable of his township from 1884 until 1894, and as city marshal, school director, etc.
On the 3d of December, 1866, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Kitterman and Miss Phi- linda Mix, a daughter of Samuel Mix, a farmer of Stark county, who came from Canada to Illinois many years ago. Two of the nine chil- dren of this union, Nellie and Maudie, died in infancy. The others are: Viola, wife of Frank Manning, a blacksmith, of Bradford, Illinois, by whom she has four children-Laura, Irene, Blanche and Glen; May, wife of William Dor- gan, of Bradford; Ora, wife of William Rib- ley, a farmer of Bureau county; John, also a resident of Bradford, who married Mary Rib- ley and has one son, William; Ross, who works in his father's blacksmith shop and resides at home; and Mabel, Jasper and Roscoe, who are attending the public schools.
Mr. Kitterman uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the repub- lican party, and socially is a member of the Grand Army post of Bradford, in which he has filled all the offices, including commander. A courteous, genial gentleman, he well deserves the high regard in which he is universally held, and in days of peace has been as true to his duties of citizenship as when following the old flag on southern battle-fields.
JOSEPH J. SPENCER, an agriculturist of ability and prominence, residing on section 24, West Jersey township, Stark county, is a native of Ohio, his birth occurring February 20, 1833, near Zanesville, in .Muskingum coun- ty. His father, Edward Spencer, was born in Maryland, and when a young man went to Ohio, making a home for himself in the midst of the forests of Muskingum county. There he married Susanna McDaniel, a daughter of Greenberry McDaniel, another early settler of that county. Throughout his active business life Edward Spencer engaged in farming in
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that county, but spent his last days with his children in Frazeysburg, where he died in 1877, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. His first wife died when our subject was a mere child, and he was afterward twice married. Joseph J. Spencer is one of a fam- ily of two sons and seven daughters, all of whom married and became heads of families, but only two or three are now living.
In the county of his nativity our subject spent his boyhood and youth upon the home farm, and was provided with excellent school privileges for those early days, completing his literary course in the Martinsburg Academy, after which he engaged in teaching for a num- ber of years in Ohio and Illinois. In the mean- time he alsolearned the carpenter's trade, which he followed to some extent. Coming to this state in 1858, he first located near Blooming- ton, but the following year took up his resi- dence in West Jersey township, Stark county, where, for a number of years, he successfully engaged in teaching during the winter, while the summer months were spent in work at his trade. Numerous houses and other buildings in this part of the county are still standing as monuments to his architectural skill.
On the 29th of March, 1874, in Stark coun- ty, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Spencer and Mrs. Catherine Vulgamott, who was born in Essex township, Stark county, of which her father, Christian Gingrich, a native of Penn- sylvania, was a pioneer, locating here in 1837. He died in 1876, at the age of sixty-four years, but his estimable wife still survives him, and resides on the old homestead with a son, at the ripe old age of eighty years. Mrs. Spencer is one of their family of six sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to man and womanhood. She was reared in Essex town- ship, and first gave her hand in marriage to Calvin Vulgamott, a farmer by occupation,
who gave his life in defense of the old flag and the cause it represented during the Civil war. By that union there was one son, Calvin, now a farmer of Stark county. Mrs. Spencer also has a son by her second marriage, Lyman B., a well-educated young man, having pursued his studies in the common schools, the Toulon high school and the Gem City Business College of Quincy. He now assists his father in the operation of the home farm.
After this marriage, Mr. Spencer located upon his present farm, first purchasing eighty acres, on which was standing a good residence, which he remodeled, making an attractive home, but in December, 1881, it was destroyed by fire. He has since erected a commodious and comfortable dwelling, and has added to his land until he has three hundred and nineteen acres on sections 24 and 13. It is a valuable and productive place, whose neat appearance testifies to the thrift and industry of the owner.
On attaining his majority, Mr. Spencer be- came a Jacksonian democrat, was later iden- tified with the greenback party, and in the fall of 1896 voted for William J. Bryan and the free coinage of silver. Always interested in the cause of education, he was an influential member of the school board for many years, and he has ever given his support to all worthy enterprises for the good of the community. He is a charter member of the Stark County In- surance Company, and has been connected with the Home Insurance Company for a num- ber of years, serving as appraiser of losses for several years. Mrs. Spencer is a faithful mem- ber of the Christian church of Toulon, and, like her husband, has many warm friends through- out the community.
JOHN H. ANTHONY, one of the honored J
and highly respected old settlers of Stark county, is now living retired on his fine farm on
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section 15, West Jersey township, just a half mile north of the village of West Jersey. He was born in Hackettstown, Warren county, New Jersey, May 9, 1826, a son of Francis Anthony, whose birth occurred near London- derry, Ireland, in 1800, and who, when a young man of nineteen years, sailed for the United States and took up his residence in Warren county, New Jersey, where he married Elizabeth Hager. Her brother, John Hager, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was probably killed, as no news was ever after- ward received of him. Until 1853, the par- ents of our subject continued to reside in New Jersey, but in that year came to Stark county, Illinois, locating on a farm adjoining John H. Anthony's present homestead. There the father died in December, 1876, at the age of seventy-six, the mother in January, 1886, at the advanced age of ninety years, and they now sleep side by side in the West Jersey cemetery, where a substantial monument marks their last resting place.
In the family of this worthy couple were three sons and seven daughters, all of whom reached man and womanhood and one is now deceased. John H. is the oldest. Jacob is en- gaged in business in Newark, New Jersey. Lydia became the wife of N. E. Pomeroy and is now deceased. Eliza is the wife of John Hazen, a substantial farmer of West Jersey township, Stark county. Mary Ann is the widow of David Coming, of Knox county, Illi- nois. Sarah J. is the wife of William H. Adams, a farmer of Peoria county, Illinois. Martha is the wife of William Cummings, of Dallas county, Iowa. Margaret is the wife of Robert R. Worley, of Kewanee, Illinois. Cyrus A. is a prominent attorney of Marysville, Missouri, and was twice elected a member of the legis- lature, and is now serving his second term as judge of his district. Caroline is the wife of
Robert H. Barr, a leading lawyer of Adel, Dallas county, Iowa.
In the county- of his nativity John H. An- thony was reared and acquired a good educa- tion, having pursued his studies for a time in an academy after attending the common schools. There he was married, November, 1848, to Miss Elmira Drake, also a native of War- ren county, New Jersey, and they began their domestic life on his father's farm, which he operated for two years. In 1851 they came to Illinois, by way of the New York & Erie Railroad and lakes to Chicago, and by the canal and river to Peoria. Mr. Anthony at once lo- cated in West Jersey township, Stark county, where he purchased the land on which he now resides, erecting thereon a small house in the fall of 1851, and at once began the improve- ment and development of his farm, which is now under a high state of cultivation and im- proved with good and substantial buildings. He commenced life in the west with very little capital, but has steadily worked his way up- ward until he has secured a comfortable com- petence, which now enables him to lay aside business cares and enjoy the fruits of his former toil.
Mr. Anthony lost his wife soon after locat- ing here, her death occurring in August, 1853. By that union there were two children-Ada- line, now wife of William O. Leigh, a sub- stantial farmer of West Jersey township; and Frances E., who is now living with her uncle, Judge Anthony, of Marysville, Missouri. In Peoria county, Mr. Anthony was again married, March 31, 1855, his second union being with
Miss Frances E. Egbert, also a native of War- ren county, New Jersey, who, when a child of thirteen years, was brought to Illinois by her parents, B. and Hannah (Chandler) Egbert, natives of New Jersey and Orange county, New York, respectively. After coming west
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in 1849, her father located in West Jersey township, Stark county, where his last days were passed. By occupation he was a farmer. Mrs. Anthony was reared in the southern part of Stark county, was educated in Princeville, and successfully engaged in teaching previous to her marriage. She became the mother of three children, but one died in infancy and Grace at the age of fourteen years. The only one now living is Harriet, wife of Charles L. Hazen, a farmer of West Jersey township.
Politically, Mr. Anthony has always affiliated with the Democratic party, and on that ticket has been elected to a number of offices of honor and trust. In 1857 he was first made justice of the peace, in which capacity he has served at different times for thirty years. He has also been trustee of his township, a mem- ber of the school board, and in 1852, under Franklin Pierce's administration, was appointed postmaster of West Jersey, but resigned before the close of his term. Mrs. Anthony is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church of West Jersey, and while not a mem- ber of any religious organization he attends church with his wife and contributes to its sup- port. For the long period of forty-six years he has been identified with the growth and prosperity of Stark county, and has cheerfully borne his part in its upbuilding, and well de- serves an honored place on the rolls of its rep- resentative and valued citizens.
C HARLES JANES, proprietor of a good farm pleasantly located on section 20, Goshen township, ranks among the self-made men of Stark county, who from a modest be- ginning has worked his way upward until to-day he is the owner of two valuable farms in that township, aggregating four hundred acres of rich and productive land. As a man of sound
judgment and intelligence, he is well worthy of representation in a work of this character.
Mr. Janes comes from across the sea, born in Wiltshire, England, November 5, 1837, a son of Joseph and Mary (Fryer) Janes, who spent their entire lives in that country, where the father followed the trade of weaver through- out his active business career. In the family were six sons and two daughters, all of whom reached years of maturity, but three sons are now deceased. Those living are James, a resident of Connecticut; Mark, a farmer of Massachusetts; Mrs. Mary Freeman, of Mas- sachusetts; Mrs. Sarah Hancock, who still re- sides at Trobridge, Wiltshire, England; and Charles, of this review.
During his boyhood and youth our subject attended the common schools of his native land and also worked in a factory, remaining with his parents until seventeen years of age. With the hope of benefiting his financial con- dition, he came to America in 1854, leaving Liverpool on an old sailing vessel October 28, and after a voyage of thirty-three days, during which they encountered two severe storms, finally reached Boston harbor on the 2d of December. He joined an older brother in Massachusetts, near Boston, and there worked on a farm for two years, receiving twenty-five dollars for his services and the privileges of at- tending school during the winter term.
In 1857, Mr. Janes came to Illinois, spend- ing two years in farming in Peoria county, where he worked for Albert Dimick and Thomas Andrews. Since that time he has made his home in Stark county, working for the first three years for Jacob Emery, an honored pio- neer, who paid him one hundred and fifty dol- lars per year.
At Toulon, on the 30th of January, 1862, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Janes and Miss Christine Baglon, a native of Sweden,
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who came to Illinois when a child. Her fa- ther died in New York when en route for this state. Six children grace this union, as fol- lows: Alva, a farmer in Knox county, Illi- nois; Frank, a farmer of Stark county; Fred, who assists in the operation of the home farm; Minnie, wife of Frank Lindstrum, also a farmer of Goshen township; and Dana and Eddie, who are attending the LaFayette schools.
For two years after his marriage, Mr. Janes operated Mr. Emery's farm, and then rented the farm of James Ingles for the same length of time, after which he purchased eighty acres in Goshen township, where he made his home for four years. On selling out in 1870, he bought his present fine farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with a comfortable and commodious residence and good barns and out-buildings for the shel- ter of his grain and stock. To his original purchase he has added until he now has two hundred and forty acres in the home farm and another tract of one hundred and sixty acres, which is also well improved. His remarkable success may be attributed to his indefatigable energy, perseverance and industry, as on com- ing to the county his capital consisted only in a pair of willing hands and a determination to succeed.
Originally Mr. Janes was a republican in politics, but on account of his views on the temperance question is now an ardent prohi- bitionist, doing all in his power to drive the curse of intemperance from our land. Al- though he has never aspired to office, he has acceptably served as a member of the school board for fourteen years. With the Methodist Episcopal church of LaFayette, Mr. Janes, with his wife and children, holds membership, and is now serving as trustee of the church. The family is one of prominence in the com-
munity, holding a high place in social as well as business circles, where their sterling worth is widely recognized. After an absence of forty years, Mr. Janes returned to England in 1894, spending two months in visiting the friends and scenes of his youth. He also stopped in Massachusetts and Connecticut to see his brothers and spent a most enjoyable time.
C ARLOS B. LYLE, who is now living in the village of Elmira, was for many years one of the active, energetic and progressive farmers of Elmira township. He is a native of Stark county, his birth occurring in that township on the Ist of November, 1842. His father, Thomas Lyle, was born in Paisley, Scotland, near Glasgow, in 1809, but when a lad of six years was brought to the United States, locating in Vermont, where he learned the stone-cutter's trade, and wedded Mary Jane Craig, who was born in that state, of Scotch parentage. There the father continued to follow stone-cutting until 1837, when he emigrated to Stark county, Illinois, first locat- ing near Osceola Grove, and later taking up his residence near the present site of the village of Elmira. Purchasing two hundred acres of raw land he transformed the same into a pro- ductive farm, and subsequently became the owner of three other tracts of valuable farming land. He was one of the most enterprising and prosperous farmers of the county and a man widely and favorably known. Removing to Kewanee in 1877, he there purchased resi- dence property and continued to make his home until called to his final rest Decem- ber 26, 1887. His faithful wife had passed away several years previously on the old home farm, and his daughter served as his house- keeper during his declining years. For some time he served as postmaster, having the office
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