USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 82
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 82
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 82
USA > Illinois > Stark County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 82
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B ENJAMIN PACKER, who after the labors of a long and busy life, is spending his later years in ease and retirement in Toulon, Illinois, is a native of the Empire state, born in Saratoga county, August 23, 1818, and is a son of Benjamin and Mary (Johnson ) Packer, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York. The father, who was a natural mechanic, invented various things, erected
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many mills, and, in fact, did all kinds of me- chanical work. He began life for himself as a farmer, but at the age of twenty-one laid aside agricultural pursuits and turned his at- tention to mechanics. During the war of 1812 he was drafted, but before he reached the army the war had ended and he returned home. His father, Jeremiah Packer, a Baptist minis- ter of Bennington, Vermont, valiantly served all through the Revolutionary war, and at the end of that struggle conducted a large dairy in Vermont. Both he and his wife, Lucy Packer, were natives of England. The ma- ternal grandfather of our subject, Ebenezer Johnson, was also born in England, while his wife was of Welsh birth. He aided the col- onies in their struggle for independence during the Revolutionary war, and until his death, in 1840, received a pension in recognition of his services.
In 1853 the parents of our subject emigrated to Illinois, and settled in Toulon township, Stark county, on a part of the farm of our subject. The father died on the 8th of August, 1880, at the advanced age of ninety years and eight days, and his wife, who had long been a consistent member of the Baptist church, passed away in 1876, aged eighty-four years. Of their nine children six are still living- Harvey, a resident of Aurora, Illinois; Mary, wife of Elijah Mosher, of Buda, Illinois; Cynthia, wife of Frank Pierce, of Windsor Park, a suburb of Chicago; Elizabeth, wife of Elisha Mosher, of Lincoln, Nebraska; Nathan, of Saratoga county, New York; and Benjamin, of this review.
At the early age of fourteen years, our sub- ject started out in life for himself as a farm hand, and secured a position with one of the best farmers of Saratoga county, New York, at five dollars per month, but during the three years he remained in that employ his wages
were increased to fourteen dollars, which was considered very good for those days. His brothers, like their father, were all mechanics, but he chose the vocation of farming, and after leaving his first employer worked by the week for some time.
While still a resident of his native state, Mr. Packer was married, in the fall of 1839, to Miss Rebecca Legget, of New York, by whom he had five children, but only one is now living, Silva P., aged fifty-five years. She is now the wife of Henry Watton, a resident farmer of Blackhawk county, Iowa. The wife and mother died in June, 1850, at the age of thirty- six years.
On the 24th of April, 1851, Mr. Packer was again married, his second union being with Miss Hannah Lyon, who was born in New York, June 14, 1827, a daughter of Ezra and Hannah (Bass) Lyon, also natives of that state. Her father, who died in Northville, Fulton county, New York, at the age of eighty- four years, was for many years a deacon in the Baptist church, to which both he and his wife belonged. She departed this life at the age of fifty-one. In their family were five children-Caleb M. S., a resident of Toulon, who wedded Maria Cushman, and after her death married Eliza Rhodes; Samuel, who married Caroline Clark, and is now deceased; Elias, a resident of Toulon, who married Minerva Cushman; Mrs. Packer; and Jeremiah, who resides on a farm in Toulon township, Stark county.
Ten children were born of the second mar- riage of our subject, who in order of birth are as follows: Rev. Eli married Lydia Jordan and resides on a farm in Lucas county, Iowa. Rev. Mortimer A., who has been preaching for nine years, has charge of a church in Menomo- nie, Wisconsin. £ He married Avilla Hall, by whom he had four children, but only one is
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now living, Benjamin G., and after her death he wedded Mary Blackburn. Ezra L., a farmer of Toulon township, Stark county, married Mrs. Nellie Hill Briggs, by whom he has one child, Rose Hazel. Charles L., also a farmer of that township, married Ella Oakes and has four children-Bessie, Harry, Lulu and Lester. Camilla M. became the wife of Miller Patterson, a hardware merchant of Wyoming, Stark county, who was instantly killed in the Chatsworth disaster, in July, 1887, and she died November 8, 1893, at the age of thirty-four years. Both were members of the Baptist church, and in their family were four children-Iona F., a pleasing young lady, who makes her home with our subject; Everett J., Benjamin E. and Miller. Frances is the wife of Thomas R. Hartley, a farmer of Tou- lon township. Elmer B. attended school in Granville, Ohio, and is now pursuing a course in the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Burton J. died at the age of five years. Jennie died at the age of three years. Maggie E., who completes the family, is at home.
It was in 1851 that Mr. Packer emigrated to Stark county, Illinois, from his old home in the Empire state, and became one of the prominent, prosperous and representative farmers of this community. He is truly a self-made man, having made his own way in the world from the early age of fourteen years, and by the exercise of industry, perseverance, and good management worked his way up- ward from a humble position to one of afflu- ence. The comfortable competence which he secured through his own unaided efforts now enables him to lay aside the cares and respon- sibilities of business life and enjoy a well- earned rest. Public-spirited and progressive, he has always contributed liberally to all worthy enterprises, which have for their object
the upbuilding of his township and county, and he justly deserves to be ranked among the highly respected and valued citizens of the community. His first presidential vote was cast for General William H. Harrison, and since the dissolution of the whig party he has been an ardent republican. Conscientious and earnest Christian people, both he and his wife are faithful members of the Baptist church, and liberally support all charitable and benevo- lent work.
H ENRY INGRAM, a stalwart and sturdy representative of the noble yeomanry who make up the agricultural population of Stark county, is residing on section 12, Essex town- ship. He comes from across the sea, his birth having occurred in Kent, England, Jan- uary 26, 1827, and his parents being William and Margaret Ingram, farming people of that country. He spent the first eight years of his life upon the home farm, but at that tender age began learning the butchering business, at first receiving only three shillings per week, out of which he had to board himself. His wages, too, were paid in products of the shop. At first he was employed in delivering the meat and later in dressing it, for a time dress- ing one hundred sheep a week besides beeves, etc., which were shipped to London. His time being thus occupied he had no opportu- nity to attend school, and he is therefore a self-educated as well as a self-made man.
When twenty-three years of age Mr. In- gram came to America with three companions, and the vessel on which they sailed was six weeks and two days in crossing the ocean. They encountered a severe storm which lasted forty-eight hours and no one ever expected to see land. To prevent the passengers from going on deck they were locked below, but at last the vessel reached New York in safety.
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Going up the Hudson, Mr. Ingram then pro- ceeded by rail from Albany to Buffalo, but twice the train ran off the track and the pas- sengers were obliged to assist in putting it back on again. By steamer he proceeded to Chicago, where the cholera was then raging, so he remained in that city only a few months and then went to Peoria county, where he mixed mortar or did any work which he could find. After so many trials and difficulties he finally became established in the new world, and for three years worked as a farm hand in Peoria county, Illinois, during which time he was able to lay up some money. His first purchase consisted of eighty acres of land, which he sold a year later at a good advantage. In 1854 he purchased eighty acres, comprising the east half of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 12, Essex township, Stark county, on which he still resides. He at once began its improvement and cultivation, and to the orig- inal tract has added from time to time as his financial resources would permit until he now has an extensive and valuable farm of six hun- dred and forty acres, the result of honest, per- sistent toil and well-directed effort.
In May, 1857, Mr. Ingram was united in marriage with Miss Jane Wrigley, of Wyoming, Illinois, who died October 10, 1878, leaving six children, all still living, namely: Emma M., born May 19, 1858, is the wife of Charles McMullen, of Bradford, Stark county, by whom she has one child; Charles William, born Jan- uary II, 1860, lives upon a farm in Penn township, Stark county, with his wife and three children; Harry Louis, born May 29, 1866, is a farmer living in Wyoming, and has a wife and one son; Frederick Alvin, also a farmer, born December 12, 1868, is married and has one child; and Jesse Allen, born March 22, 1876, and Nellie Myrtle, born August 10, 1878, are at home with their father. For his second
wife, Mr. Ingram chose Miss Laura Strange, who survived her marriage only about nine years.
Mr. Ingram's sympathies have always been with the republican party, but he did not have out his naturalization papers in time to vote for Fremont in 1856, though he supported Lincoln in 1860. For many years he served as school director in his district, but has never been an office-seeker, preferring to give his un- divided attention to his farming interests, in which he has met with such remarkable suc- cess. He enjoys the esteem and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact and holds a leading place among the representative and prominent farmers of his community.
L EWIS C. EGBERT, a well-known repre- sentative of the agricultural interests of West Jersey township, Stark county, owns and operates a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 23. He was born in Warren county, New Jersey, May 25, 1846, but when only two years old was brought to Stark county by his parents, Thomas B. and Hannah (Chandler) Egbert, also natives of New Jersey. The father was a tanner and cur- rier by trade, but also engaged in farming in the east, and after coming to this state gave his entire time and attention to agricultural pursuits. In West Jersey township he opened up a farm on which he spent his remaining days, dying about 1877. The mother of our subject had died soon after locating here and the father was again married, his second wife surviving him for a few years.
Lewis C. Egbert is one of a family of four sons and one daughter who reached years of maturity, the others being as follows: James C., who was a young man on coming to Stark county, where he married and became one of the most active, prosperous and successful farm-
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ers and business men of West Jersey, where his death occurred in 1863; Mrs. John H. An- thony, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; and Charles and Robert, who left Stark county previous to the civil war.
Upon the home farm our subject grew to manhood, and was provided with fair common- school advantages. Although but sixteen years of age, he enlisted in the fall of 1861, in Com- pany K, Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and on the expiration of his three-years term re-enlisted, joining Company E, Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, and serving until the war had ended. Brave and fearless, he was always found at his post of duty, and took part in many important engagements, including the siege and battle of Corinth, Iuka, the capture of Vicksburg, the Red River expedition, the battle of Lake Chicot, and many others of lesser importance. When his services were no longer needed, as the south had surrendered, he was honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois, September 30, 1865, and returned home.
For two or three years after the war, Mr. Egbert worked as a farm hand by the month. He was married in Peoria county, December 31, 1868, the lady of his choice being Miss Frances M. Bryan, also a native of Warren county, New Jersey, and a daughter of Will- iam Bryan, who became a prominent farmer of Peoria county. Eight children blessed this union, -Charles T., a well-educated young man, who was formerly a teacher of Stark county, but is now learning telegraphy in Janes- ville, Wisconsin; Clayton W., who was edu- cated in the Toulon Academy; and Ralph, Walter, Ruth, Olive, Warren and Earl are all at home. Mr. Egbert has been called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 26th of August, 1896, respected by all who knew her.
For some time after his marriage Mr. Eg- bert worked rented land, but in 1876 bought eighty acres of his present farm, to which he has added another eighty-acre tract, and to-day it is one of the most highly cultivated and well improved places of the community-made so by his persistent and untiring efforts, guided by sound judgment. He is a thorough and skillful farmer, energetic and progressive, and the success which he has achieved in life is certainly well deserved, for he has made his own way in the world, receiving no outside aid.
Politically, Mr. Egbert is a stanch repub- lican, having always supported that party since casting his first vote for General U. S. Grant, and he has taken an active and prom- inent part in local politics, often serving as a delegate to county and state conventions. For seven years he was an efficient member of the county board of supervisors, has been collec- tor of his township, and was elected justice of the peace, but refused to qualify, and is the present assessor of West Jersey township. Fraternally, he is a member of W. W. Wright Post, No. 327, G. A. R., of Toulon, and the Modern Woodmen of America.
JAMES M. FLINT, who is now living re- tired in Toulon, was for many years prom- inently identified with the industrial and busi- ness interests of Stark county, where he has made his home since the spring of 1848. In 1839 he had come to the state, and he has therefore witnessed almost the entire growth and development of this region. The present generation can have no conception of what was required by early settlers in transforming the wilderness into a well settled and highly cultivated county.
A native of Massachusetts, Mr. Flint was born near the present city of Lawrence, May
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25, 1816, a son of Caleb P. and Sarah (Merrill) Flint, who were born, reared and married in the old Bay state. The father, who was a mechanic, carried on a shoe shop there until 1838, when he emigrated to Illinois, locating in Fulton county, where he entered a tract of government land, which was given him in recognition of his services in the war of 1812. In that struggle he held a commission as a drilling officer. After residing in Fulton county about eight years he came to Stark county in 1846, and here spent his remaining days, dying in 1863, at the age of eighty-three years. His faithful wife had died some years previously.
James M. Flint, of this review, is the young- est and only survivor in a family of six chil- dren, four sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to mature years, married and became heads of families. The others were Caleb P., who first settled in Stark county, Illinois, but later removed to Iowa; Warner, who was a resident of Maine; Joseph L., who came to Illinois, but afterward removed to Iowa, where he died in 1894; Mrs. Sarah Jane Clemens; and Mrs. Harriet Warner.
In the state of his nativity, our subject at- tended the common schools for a time, but is almost wholly self-educated, gaining most of his knowledge by reading and observation since reaching manhood. Accompanying his parents to Maine in 1832, he learned the car- penter's trade in Athens, that state, serving about a three-years apprenticeship, and he later worked at his chosen calling in Bangor and Stillwater, assisting in the erection of the boarding house for the Theological Seminary at the former place. In 1839 he came west, locating in Fulton county, Illinois, where he helped to build a gristmill on Spoon river, a steam flouring-mill in Lewistown, a steam tan- nery and numerous other buildings.
On coming to Toulon in 1846, Mr. Flint found an insignificant little village of two or three stores and a few scattered residences. He assisted in the erection of a great many of the public buildings and residences in Toulon which are still standing, showing his architect- ural skill and handiwork. He aided in build- ing the first church in the county, which was owned by the Congregationalists. In 1854 he purchased a tract of eighty acres of land near near the village, and soon transformed the wild prairie into a productive and highly-culti- vated farm, to which he later added forty acres. He became one of the most active, enterprising and successful farmers of the lo- cality, but in 1878 sold his farm and removed to Toulon, where he bought a lot and erected thereon a neat and substantial dwelling, which has since been his home. There he is now resting after a long and useful career, enjoy- ing the fruits of his former toil.
In Fulton county, Mr. Flint was married, in 1843, to Miss Eliza Jane Long, of Knox county, Illinois, who died in Toulon, in 1851, leaving two children: George P. located in Stark county after his marriage, but later was em- ployed in the stock-yards in Chicago, and in that city departed this life in 1888. The daughter, Henrietta, is now the wife of E. P. Wright, and they make their home in Califor- nia, near Riverside. In 1852 Mr. Flint was again married, his second union being with Miss Margaret F. Hart, a native of Connecti- cut, who, when seventeen years of age, came with her father, Deacon Henry Hart, to Ful- ton county, Illinois, where both parents died. For some time Mrs. Flint was a successful teacher of that county. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children- Emma, wife of James Nicholson, a farmer of Goshen township, and Lucretia, a proficient teacher, residing at home.
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Originally Mr. Flint was a whig in politics, but on the organization of the republican party in 1856 joined its ranks, and has since been one of its most earnest advocates. For two years he has been a member of the board of aldermen in Toulon, and while living on the farm served a number of years on the school board. He and his family are faithful mem- bers of the Congregational church in Toulon, take an active part in its work, and Miss Flint is now serving as organist. Mr. Flint has now reached his eighty-first year, and can look back over a life well spent, and in his ripe old age, can truthfully state that what he has done he has done well, and that his life has been a suc- cess. He is surrounded by a large circle of friends and acquaintances who appreciate his sterling worth, and he enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.
JOSEPH C. BLAISDELL, editor and pub- lisher of the Stark County Republican, Bradford. Illinois, is well known throughout Stark and adjoining counties. He is a native of Illinois, born in Peoria county, July 14, 1850. His parents, Nehemiah and Louisa (Berry) Blaisdell, were natives of Kennebec county, Maine, where they grew to manhood and womanhood and were there married. Three years after their marriage they came to Illinois, making the entire journey in wagons, arriving in Peoria county in September, 1833. At that time there were but three farm houses in what is now the prosperous city of Peoria. The nearest mills, which were of the rudest description, were many miles away, and it was no unusual occurrence for the head of the family to be gone from four to seven days while getting their corn and wheat ground. The nearest market was Chicago, and farm produce taken there scarcely paid for the haul- ing. Sugar, tea and coffee were unusual lux-
uries. Salt sold at one dollar per peck meas- ure. While the closest economy and the most persevering industry were practiced by the pioneers, and many privations and even dan- gers met and suffered, yet they were happy and contented. When letters came, however, from the old New England home, there was a yearning for the home faces and the familiar scenes of childhood. The expense of letter writing, postage being twenty-five cents per letter, forbade the too often advent of these epistles.
Nehemiah Blaisdell was a farmer by occupa- tion, and both parents were members of the Freewill Baptist church. They removed from Peoria to Bureau county in 1852, locating in Milo township, where he continued to re- side until his death in 1872, at the age of sixty-four years. On a portion of his farm a Freewill Baptist church was erected, for which he contributed liberally. After the death of her husband, the wife made her home with our subject until she, too, was called to her reward, her death occurring June 4, 1895, while in her eighty-fifth year. Both were active in church work, Mr. Blaisdell being a trustee of the church for many years. Their home was headquarters for the ministers of all denominations, as their house of worship was used by others as well as the Freewill Bap- tists, and their house was convenient to the church. Politically, Nehemiah Blaisdell was originally a whig, but in later life was a repub- lican. He was an active worker and co-laborer with Owen Lovejoy and others in the work of the underground railroad, and many a poor black owed his freedom to his watchful care and timely help.
Nehemiah and Louisa Blaisdell were the parents of six children, as follows: Diana, who died in infancy before the removal of the parents to Illinois; Irena, who married Francis
J. C. BLAISDELL.
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MRS. J. C. BLAISDELL
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Brooks in Milo township, removed with him to Phelps county, Nebraska, and there died February 8, 1896, at the age of sixty-one years; Horace B., now residing in Bradford, engaged in nursery and market gardening; Elizabeth, who is now the wife of J. N. Petti- grew, a farmer of Milo township; Joseph C., our subject; and Charles L., who died in 1872 at the age of twenty years.
The subject of this sketch was scarce two years of age when his parents removed to Milo township, and on the home farm he grew to manhood, and in his boyhood and youth did his share in all farm work. His educational advantages were such as were afforded by the common schools of the neighborhood, supple- mented by one term in the Prairie City Acad- emy, Prairie City, Illinois. Literary work came natural to him, and while yet assisting in the labors of the farm he corresponded with the Cincinnati Weekly Times and various lo- cal papers.
On the 28th of February, 1871, Mr. Blais- dell was united in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Blessing, a native of Bureau county, and daughter of John and Mary Blessing, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. They came to Illinois in 1850, locat- ing on a farm near Tiskilwa, where they re- mained until 1890, when they moved into the village, and are now living retired enjoying the fruits of a life well spent in the toils and la- bors of farm life. The father is now in his seventy-sixth, and the mother in her seventy- first, year. In December, 1895, they celebrat- ed their golden wedding, when they were sur- rounded by children, grandchildren and many friends, who sincerely wished them a long and happy life. In their family were fourteen children, seven sons and seven daughters, all of whom are yet living save one daughter.
To Mr. and Mrs. Blaisdell four children have
been born. Mary, the eldest, is now the wife of C. E. Gerard, of Bradford, and they have two children, Mark and Lyman. The second born, Edith, died March 18, 1887, at the age of seven years. Nellie and Ray yet remain under the parental roof.
In the fall of 1875 Mr. Blaisdell removed to Bradford and for two years was engaged in the meat business, and was then employed as editorial writer for the Semi-Weekly Herald, of Wyoming, for two years. In 1885, in part- nership with C. F. Hamilton, he commenced the publication of the Bradford Independent, and one year later purchased his partner's in- terest and continued its publication alone until 1891. He then engaged in farming in Osceola township one year, when he purchased of J. W. Pettigrew the Stark County Republican, which paper he is still running. The subscrip- tion list of the paper he has increased three hundred per cent. since assuming control, and in point of circulation it will compare with any country paper in the state, published in no larger place than Bradford. Politically the paper, as its name would indicate, is stalwart republican, and has wielded great influence not only in Stark county but in the congres- sional district of which Stark county forms a part. Soon after the close of the campaign Mr. Blaisdell received a letter signed by Mark Hanna and others of the national committee thanking him for the great service rendered the party in the campaign of 1896.
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