USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 89
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 89
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 89
USA > Illinois > Stark County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 89
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It was on the 8th of September, 1894, that Father McCarron came to Bradford, where he found the congregation somewhat in debt, but within a year had liquidated the debt one-half. The parsonage which Father O'Callahan had built was destroyed by fire, having become ignited through a defective flue. Over the ruins has been raised the present beautiful and commodious residence, which has eleven rooms and all modern improvements. Besides pay- ing for this parsonage, Father McCarron has
made many new embellishments in the church, among which a new organ-loft has been built and supplied with a grand Ferrand & Voty organ, manufactured in Detroit, Michi- gan. There are three magnificent chiming bells, two new altars, six statues and other embellishments for the sanctuary. Under the pastorage of Father McCarron the congrega- tions at Bradford and Wyoming have greatly increased. He paid off the debt on the Wy- oming church, besides putting a new bell in the tower and statuary which now adorns and beautifies the interior. The churches at Brad- ford and Wyoming have been very fortunate in their clergy, always being favored with men of a high order of scholarship, ability and high standing, and very popular among their own
H ARVEY PETTIT, deceased, was for a number of years one of the leading agriculturists of Stark county. He was born on the 4th of October, 1819, in Saratoga county, New York, a son of Joseph Pettit, and was reared in much the usual manner of farmer boys, assisting in the labors of the field and attending the district schools, where he obtained a good education for those early days.
On reaching man's estate, Mr. Pettit was married January 26, 1843, the lady of his choice being Miss Phebe E. Whitman, also a native of Saratoga county, New York, born September II, 1824, and a daughter of Arte- mas and Susan (Whalen) Whitman, whose births also occurred in the Empire state. She was also provided with an excellent common- school education. They began their domestic life in New York, but after a few years removed to Henry county, Ohio, where Mr. Pettit had one hundred and sixty acres given him by his father. It was all wild timber land, but he
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erected a log house thereon and at once began to clear and improve the place. Subsequently he sold and came to Penn township, Stark county, Illinois, where he rented for a few years, and then purchased eighty acres of land, on which he made his home for many , years. So successful was he in his under- takings that he was able to add to the original purchase until he had a valuable farm of two hundred acres of highly cultivated and pro- ductive land, improved with all the modern conveniences and accessories which go to make up a model farm of the nineteenth century.
Politically, Mr. Pettit was an independent democrat, and he acceptably served as con- stable in Penn township. His record was an honorable one, and his memory will long be cherished by the many who had the pleasure" of his friendship, for his sturdy worth and for his countless acts of benevolence and kindness. He was an influential man, and contributed liberally to all good enterprises. He always manifested a great interest in his adopted county, and cheerfully aided all schemes for its advancement. Religiously, he was a Con- gregationalist, a member of the church in Wyoming, of which Mrs. Pettit is also a mem- ber. On the 9th of November, 1894, he departed this life, and was laid to rest in Wyoming cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Pettit had ten children, as fol- lows: William Henry, born in Henry county, Ohio, June 21, 1844, for nearly one year was a faithful soldier in the Union army during the Civil war and is now married and lives in Ne- braska. Susan Ann, born in Peoria county, Illinois, February 22, 1846, married Abraham Buffington, by whom she had four children: Frank, Mary, Bertha and Culver. She died January 1, 1892, and is buried at Hill City, Kansas. Elijah B., born in Peoria county, October 14, 1846, is married and has two chil-
dren. He makes his home in Penn township, Stark county. Sylvester, born in Bureau coun- ty, Illinois, October 8, 1851, died in Denver, Colorado, leaving three children. Joseph, born in Marshall county, Illinois, October 23, 1853, is .married and has three children; he resides in Osage county, Kansas. Mary A., born in Jasper county, Iowa, May 29, 1855, married Charles Wyngate and is the mother of two children. George, born in Marshall county, Illinois, May 18, 1857, lives in Peoria, Illinois, with his wife and one child. Arthur, born in Stark county, Illinois, March 13, 1859, is married and has three children. They reside in Sterling, Colorado. Clara Belle, born in Stark county, August 22, 1862, married Ezra King and died in Wyoming, Illinois, leaving one child, Ralph. Alonzo, born in Stark county, June 10, 1865, makes his home at Ster- ling, Colorado. He is married and has two children.
ELIJAH STEPHENS .- Stark county has many well-to-do and successful farmers and stock-raisers who have accumulated what they have of this world's goods through indi- vidual effort. Among this class the subject of this notice is entitled to a place. He is resid- ing on section 30, Osceola township, where he is industriously engaged in the prosecution of his noble calling, and is meeting with far more than ordinary success.
Mr. Stephens was born in Steuben county, New York, March 18, 1823, a son of Benja- min and Arthusa (Hamilton) Stephens. In the county of his nativity he grew to manhood, remaining there until August, 1845, when he started for Wisconsin. Walking to Danville, New York, he there took a boat for Rochester, and then proceeded by rail and boat to Mil- waukee. From that city he went to Albany,
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Illinois, on the Mississippi, then to Burlington, Iowa, and finally located in Peoria, where he made his home for seven years, working at whatever he could find to do.
While in Peoria Mr. Stephens was married, November, 1, 1849, the lady of his choice being Miss Susan Sanford, whose home was near Peoria. She was born at East Mardon, On- tario county, New York, April 5, 1830, and is a daughter of William and Hulda (Bush) San- ford, both natives of New Jersey. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr. Stephens with his wife and two children came by team to Stark county, where he had previously purchased two hun- dred acres of wild land, going in debt for the same. During the January previous to his re- moval he had split rails for fences and got out timber for his house, hauling some of it from Peoria and the remainder from Henry. Upon that farm he made his home for many years, but added to the original purchase until he is now owner of five hundred and twenty-three acres of fertile and productive land, which he has greatly improved.
Twelve children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, of whom eleven reached man and womanhood, and nine are still living. William, the eldest, is married and has one child; Arthusa married George Ferris and has five children; the next, a twin of Arthusa, died in infancy; Ellen is the deceased wife of Na- than Partlow; Alice became the wife of James Allhands and died, leaving two children; Eva is the wife of Herman Frederic Schrader, of Bureau county, Illinois, by whoni she has seven children; Mary Effie is the wife of Henry Hewitt and has three children; Lida is the wife of Cumberland Liggett, of Wyoming, Illi- nois, by whom she has three children; Emily married William Liggett and has two children; Mark is married and has one child, and lives in Osceola township; Carrie and Charles are
twins, and the former is now the wife of John Clausen, by whom she has one child.
Mr. Stephens voted for James K. Polk and Abraham Lincoln, but is independent in poli- tics, not being bound by party ties. For three terms he faithfully served as road commis- sioner, but has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his extensive business interests. He is a wide-awake, ener- getic man, and the success that he has achieved is but the just reward of earnest, persistent toil, guided by sound judgment. The various enterprises inaugurated for the general welfare of the people have invariably enlisted his sym- pathies and attention, and he contributes of his means accordingly. No man is more widely or favorably known within the limits of Os- ceola township than Elijah Stephens.
W ILLIAM JASPER HARMON, one of the well-to-do and prosperous farmers of Penn township, Stark county, residing on sec- tion 5, is one of those men who thoroughly un- derstand the business which he is pursuing, and is rapidly progressing toward a state of ample competence. He is a native of the county which is still his home, born on a farm adjoining his own in Osceola township, May II, 1846, and comes of one of the honored pioneer families of this state.
His father, John Harmon, who is still a resi- dent of Castleton, Illinois, was born in Penn- sylvania, July 8, 1816, was reared in his native state in the usual manner of farmer boys, and at a very early day came to Illinois, locating near Springfield, where he engaged in teaming and burning charcoal. Here he became ac- quainted with Margaret Dunn, who afterward became his wife, and they continued to make their home in Springfield until after the birth of their oldest child. Subsequently they came
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to Osceola township, Stark county, where Mr. Harmon purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining our subject's place on the north, and continued to make it his home until retiring from farm labor on his removal to Cas- tleton. He became quite well-to-do, owning at one time six hundred acres of valuable land. About twenty years ago the mother of our sub- ject died and the father was again married, having by the second union one child, while ten children were born of the first marriage.
The family comprised the following named: Ann married William Harris and had two chil- dren, but both died when young. Louisa, who married David Dalrymple, lives in Chillicothe, Illinois, and is the mother of several children. William J. is next in order of birth. Cynthia, wife of Thomas Imes, lives in Osceola town- ship, Stark county, and has six children. Thomas Wesley, also of Osceola township, married Calista Brees and has six children. Hosea, a resident of Fillmore county, Nebraska, married Frances Longmire and has two chil- dren. James Marion, of Kewanee, Illinois, married Thankful Ames and has five children. Albert, of Castleton, Illinois, married Ellen Seeley and has two children. John E., who lives on the old homestead in Osceola town- ship, married Katy Nye and has four children. Ellen, a resident of Castleton, first married Joseph Gage, by whom she had one child, and for her second husband married Delbert Jake- way, by whom she has four children.
Mr. Harmon, of this review, has spent his entire life in the neighborhood of his present home, remaining with his parents until twenty- five years of age, and attending the public schools of the locality. On the 24th of Sep- tember, 1873, he led to the marriage altar Miss Sarah Longmire, who was born in Osceola township, May 13, 1855, and is the oldest of the seven children of George and Thankful
(Elston) Longmire. The father's birth occurred November 20, 1835. Two of their children died in infancy, and the others are Byron, who is still single; Frances, wife of Hosea Harmon, the brother of our subject; Homer, of Osceola township, who married Hannah Brees and has four children; and Jennie, wife of Adne Whit- cher, of Osceola township, by whom she has two children. Four children came to bless the union of our subject and his wife, but the eld- est died in infancy. Those living are Arthur, born April 9, 1875; William Clare, born Au- gust 25, 1876; and Jennie, November 3, 1883.
Mr. Harmon has been a firm adherent of republican principles since casting his first vote for General Grant in 1868, but he cares noth- ing for the honors or emoluments of public office. He has been quite prominently identi- fied with the interests of the community in which he lives, and assisted materially in the development of this portion of the county.
C OLONEL WILLIAM JACKSON .- One of the most prominent farmers of Elmira township is the subject of this biography, whose name stands high in the military records of the Civil war, as well as the annals of Stark county. By perseverance and industry in this locality he has gained a foothold in the world. He is a self-made man, having reached his present prosperous condition through his own unaided exertions. His fine farm is pleasantly located on section 28, Elmira township.
A native of the highlands of Scotland, the Colonel was born May II, 1834, and is a son of Thomas and Isabella (Hyslop) Jackson, who were also born in that country and were married in 1827. In 1850 the father, with his family, emigrated to America, embarking on a sailing vessel at Glasgow, and, after being on the broad Atlantic for about six weeks and three days, they finally landed safely at Que-
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bec. By way of the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes they proceeded to Chicago, and then on by team to Elmira, Stark county, where the father purchased land on section 27, and there made his home until his death, August 6, 1855. After surviving him for a number of years, the mother, too, was called to her final rest, August 8, 1882, at the ripe old age of eighty-four years, and they now sleep side by side in the Elmira cemetery.
Colonel Jackson is one of a family of six sons and two daughters, of whom the others are as follows: Mrs. Elizabeth Turnbull now resides in Osceola, Stark county; Adam is mar- ried and is a substantial farmer of the same county; our subject is the third in order of birth; John is an agriculturist of Stark county; James, who was a member of Company B, Nineteenth Illinois Infantry, was killed at the battle of Buzzards' Roost, Georgia, February 3, 1864, and his remains were brought back home and interred in the Elmira cemetery; Walter died at the age of fifteen years; David is residing on the old Jackson homestead in Elmira township; Ellen is the wife of David K. Fell, an old settler and prosperous farmer of Goshen township, Stark county.
The Colonel was a young man of about sev- enteen years when he came with the family to the new world, and in the arduous task of de- veloping the home farm he bore an important part. His education was mainly acquired in Scotland, but he also attended the common schools of Stark county for a time, and has be- come a well-informed man. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life for himself.
On the 12th of May, 1861, our subject joined the Elmira Rifle Company, which tendered its services to the government at that time but was not accepted until the 17th, when it was mus-
tered in at Camp Douglas for three years, and assigned to the Nineteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Mr .- Jackson was made sergeant of his company and was later commissioned sec- ond lieutenant, and soon after first lieutenant, serving as such until mustered out on the ex- piration of his term of enlistment. He partici- pated in the attacks on the railroads, Northern Tennessee & Alabama Railroad near Pulaski; and the first general engagement in which he took part was the battle of Stone river. This was followed by Chickamauga, Rosville Gap and Missionary Ridge. The colonel received an order from General Grant to report to Spring- field as recruiting officer, and recruited during the winter of 1863-4. The following May he rejoined his command at Ringgold, Georgia, and later took part in the battles of Resaca and Big Shanty. When his term of service had expired he was mustered out in Chicago, July 9, 1864, and returned home with an honorable war record.
Until 1869, Colonel Jackson operated the old homestead, and then removed to his pres- ent farm, which was then but partially im- proved, but he now has three hundred acres under a high state of cultivation and supplied with an excellent residence and substantial out- buildings.
In Stark county, the colonel was married, February 3, 1869, the lady of his choice being Miss Louisa A. Stone, a native of Elmira town- ship, who was reared and educated in Stark county, and was a proficient teacher prior to her marriage. Her parents, Liberty and Julia (Winslow) Stone, were born in Massachusetts, where their marriage was celebrated, but about 1836 they came to Illinois, taking up their residence in Osceola township, Stark county, where he opened up a farm and they reared their family. Later he moved to Bureau county, Illinois, where he spent the last years
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of his life, dying in June, 1893, at the age of eighty years. The mother of Mrs. Jackson had died in 1853, and he later married Thank- ful Leason, who passed away in 1895 and was buried in the Osceola cemetery.
The Colonel and his estimable wife have seven children, namely: Rollo S., who was well educated, is now married, and is a clerk in the treasury department at Washington, District of Columbia; Walter T., who was educated at the Chicago University, is now in Arkansas; Will H. attended the Toulon Acad- emy and the Quincy Commercial College, and is now engaged in teaching in Stark county; Nellie M. was also provided with good educa- tional privileges and is now teaching; Julia W. is a student of the Toulon Academy; and Roscoe Chester and James E. are still attend- ing the home school.
Colonel Jackson is a recognized leader in the ranks of the republican party in his local- ity, and has been prominently identified with that party since casting his first vote for Abra- ham Lincoln in 1860, has served as a delegate to a number of county, congressional and state conventions, and has served in a number of important positions of honor and trust, being a member of the board of supervisors nine years and chairman of that body one year. He was also alternate delegate to the national convention which nominated James A. Gar- field for the presidency. For some years he was connected with the state militia, organ- izing the Elmira Zouaves in July, 1874. He was elected captain, and when the company was attached to the Fourth Regiment Illinois National Guard, Second Brigade, he was pro- moted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and on the 7th of April, 1880, was commissioned colonel of the regiment. During the strike of 1877 they were called into active service at East St. Louis, where they were on duty for
ten days, and greatly assisted in restoring order in that city. They were also engaged in a similar service at Galesburg and at other points along the lines of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad. Fraternally, the Colonel is a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to the blue lodge of Toulon and the chapter of Kewanee, and religiously he and his wife are prominent members of the Presbyterian church of Elmira. They are genial, hospitable peo- ple, and by their pleasant ways have greatly endeared themselves to the entire neighbor- hood.
R OBERT AINSWORTH BOYD, an influ- ential and prominent farmer residing on section 10, West Jersey township, Stark county, is a native of New Jersey, his birth occurring May 19, 1833, in Warren county. His father, Judge James Boyd, was born in Hacketts- town, the same county, in 1796, and was a worthy representative of one of its honored pioneer families. There the Judge grew to manhood and married Elizabeth Moore, also a native of that same place, who died when our subject was an infant, after which the father was again married. He survived his second wife several years, dying in his native state in 1889 at the extreme old age of ninety-three years. He was an extensive farmer of War- ren county, where he served as justice of the peace a number of years, and was also county judge for some time. A man of remarkable business ability, he was called upon to settle many estates and transact other public busi- ness.
Our subject is the youngest of the five chil- dren born of the first marriage, the others be- ing as follows: John J., who married and set- tled in Stark county, Illinois, but now resides in Wethersfield, Henry county, this state; Mary, widow of George F. Dilley and a resi-
R. A. BOYD.
MRS. R. A. BOYD.
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dent of Hackettstown, New Jersey; Elizabeth, deceased wife of William Ayres; William, who married Sarah Jane Lozier, of Hackettstown, and resided in Stark county a couple of years, but at the end of that time returned to New Jersey. There were three sons by the second union-James, Augustus and Samuel.
During his childhood Robert A. Boyd was provided with good educational privileges, and he remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, assisting in the op- eration of the farm. In January, 1858, he came to Stark county, Illinois, locating upon his present farm, which his father had pur- chased a few years previous. About half of the land had been placed under cultivation, but to-day he has a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, all under the plow and im- proved with good and substantial buildings, the residence being one of the finest and most modern in architectural design in West Jersey township.
On the 3d of February, 1869, in Stark county, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Boyd and Miss Sarah J. Kissel, who was born near Harrisburg, in Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, and is a daughter of Jacob and Hester (Clowser) Kissel, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, but of German descent. In early childhood she accompanied her parents to Richland county, Ohio, where they resided for six years. From there they went to Henry county, Indiana, and after remaining there for a few years spent two years in Richland coun- ty, Wisconsin. Mr. Kissel next removed to Dodge county, Nebraska, but a year later set- tled in Fulton county, Illinois, subsequently went to Knox county, and finally bought a farm in Stark county, which he operated for a few years. On selling out he returned to Ne- braska, where he purchased three hundred acres of land, and there made his home for
eight years, but at the end of that time came again to Stark county, where he spent his remaining days, dying in 1889. His wife, who has now reached the age of eighty-two, finds a pleasant home with her daughter, Mrs. Boyd. They were the parents of ten children, one of whom died in infancy. Those who grew to manhood and womanhood were: Reuben, who now lives near Johnstown, Cherry county, Ne- braska; Nathaniel, now deceased, who resided in Saunders county, Nebraska; Mary, now de- ceased, who married David Whitmore, and resided in Fulton county, Illinois; Emanuel, who served nearly four years as a member of the Peoria battery, being principally with the western army, much of the time near New Or- leans, now resides near Dodge City, Kansas; Sarah J., now Mrs. Boyd; Arabella, who mar- ried R. H. Miller, of Wyoming, Illinois; Hen- rietta, who married James Swank, of West Jersey; George, now residing in Rockfort, Missouri; and Jehiel, a well-to-do farmer re- siding in Custer county, Nebraska.
Jacob Kissell was a No. I farmer, and took great pride in having everything around him of the very best. His specialty was in stock, and his horses were the envy of all, as he gave them the utmost care, as was evidenced by their well-groomed and sleek appearance. In early life he was in religious belief a Presby- terian, while his wife was reared a Lutheran. Later in life both united with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which communion he died. Mrs. Kissell, although in her eighty- third year, is quite active and in full posses- sion of all her mental qualities. In the piec- - ing of quilts she takes great pleasure, and in the past year or two has given evidence that her hand has not lost its cunning, and speci- mens of her needle work would do credit to any young lady in the land.
To Mr. and Mrs. Boyd two sons were born,
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one of whom died in infancy. The living one, Clyde H., is a young man of bright promise, and is now managing the home farm. After leaving the home school he attended the high school in Toulon three years, and then com- pleted his course in the Toulon Academy, where he spent one year. On the 25th of February, 1897, he married Miss Florence Olive Addis, daughter of Daniel O. Addis, and they now reside with his parents.
In 1885 Mr. Boyd, with his wife and son, made a trip east, visiting in Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as the cities of New York and Brooklyn. The fam- ily is one of the most prominent and highly respected in the community, and the parents are consistent members of the West Jersey Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally, Mr. Boyd affiliates with the Odd Fellows so- ciety of West Jersey, and politically is iden- tified with the republican party, being a be- liever in protection and sound money. He has never aspired to office, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business in- terests and his family.
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