USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 13
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 13
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 13
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In 1880, at the age of twenty-one, he left the farm and returned to Lacon, entering the office of Shaw & Edwards, and placing himself under their instruction, commenced the reading of law. He continued with this firm until his admission to the bar in 1882 after an examination before the supreme court at Ottawa. In the fall of that year he began the practice of law in the city of his birth and has continued in active practice since. He has never had a partner in business, but has always continued alone. His standing at the bar is second to none.
Soon after returning to Lacon, Mr. Richmond was elected township clerk, and served four years. While a strong democrat, he was twice elected on the union ticket, and served withi great acceptance at a time when the office was of some importance. In 1883, less than one year after his admission to the bar, he was elected attorney for the city of Lacon and served two years.
The year 1884 was a memorable one, being the year in which Cleveland was first elected to the presidency, his opponent being James G. Blaine. Mr. Richmond was in that year nomi-
E. D. RICHMOND.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
nated by the democrats to the office of state's attorney, his opponent on the republican ticket being Winslow Evans, then residing in Wenona, where he was in the enjoyment of a comfortable practice, and who later served as a county judge. The canvass was a warm one, but Mr. Rich- mond was elected by one majority. Serving the four years' terms of office, he was re-nominated in 1888, and again elected, but served only two years. In 1890 he resigned the office to accept the nomination for the office of county judge, his opponent again being Hon. Winslow Evans. who was then serving in the office, and who had been re-nominated by the republican party. His election followed, receiving a majority of two hundred and fifty votes, which he consid- ered a very handsome compliment. On the expiration of his term in 1894 he was re-nom- inated and re-elected, and is now serving his second term. During his entire service as county judge he has had but one decision appealed from; that being a case involving the question of the validity of a special tax for the construc- tion of water works in Wenona. His decision was adverse to the objectors. The case is now pending before the supreme court.
On the 28th of July, 1892, Judge Richmond was united in marriage with Miss Jennie M. Hoyt, a daughter of James Hoyt, one of the pioneers of Marshall county, now in his ninetieth year, and well preserved physically and mentally. With one exception, Mr. Hoyt is the oldest man living in Marshall county. Besides Mrs. Rich- mond he has five living children: Sarah E., the widow of Samuel Clifford, residing near We- nona; Julia, now the wife of John Bobbitt; Henry H. Hoyt, Greenfield, Missouri: Seymour Hoyt, a lawyer, and until recently county judge of Dade county, Missouri; and Charles E. Hoyt, of Lacon, Illinois. Mrs. Richmond was born July 28, 1862, in Marshall county. She is a grad- uate of the Lacon high school and also of the Boston Conservatory of Music, taking her de- gree in 1886. At the time of her marriage she was a teacher of music in Cornell college, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and as such had rendered great
satisfaction to her pupils and the college faculty. While not neglecting family duties she still keeps up her interest in musical studies and the musical world. To Judge and Mrs. Richmond three children have been born: Geraldine, Lyle Lee, and Paul James.
Fraternally, Judge Richmond is a member of Lacon lodge, No. 61, A. F. & A. M., and has taken an active part in the work of his lodge. He is now serving as worshipful naster of the lodge. The judge is also a member of Lacon chapter, No. 123, R. A. M., and has served two years as high priest. While politically a strong democrat, he has kept out of partisan politics and has ever enjoyed the confidence and respect of his political opponents. He stands squarely on the Cleveland platform on the monetary ques- tion and also in regard to the Monroe doctrine.
FRANK A. JOHNSON, superintendent of the gas works of Princeton, Illinois, was born in central Sweden, March 2, 1850, and is a son of John and Lena (Olofson) Samuelson, both na- tives of the same country. In that country the father engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in 1870 came to America, being still a resident of Princeton at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years. Here he has engaged in general labor. The mother did not come to the United States until three years after her husband's arrival, and here died at the age of fifty-six years. In relig- ious belief they were Lutherans.
In the family of nine children our subject is the fourth in order of birth, the others being as fol- lows: John A. married Lottie Freeburg, and resides on a farm in Des Moines county, Iowa; Charles A. Johnson married, Louisa Spake, the sister of the druggist in Princeton, and they live on a farm in Princeton township, Bureau county ; Emil married Sophia Anderson and operates a farm in Dover township, the same county; Emily Samuelson is the deceased wife of Charles A. Anderson, of Bureau county; Warner A. Sam- uelson lives in Princeton; Otto died at the age of nineteen years; William Samuelson is a dry goods merchant of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and
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Alma Samuelson makes her home in Princeton.
Frank A. Johnson had his literary training in the schools of Sweden, and completed his edu- cation in this country. Learning telegraphy, he became a good operator, and for four years was employed at that occupation in Princeton. He was next with the American Express Company for several years, after which he clerked in the grocery store of Delano & Son for twelve years, at the same time working at telegraphy. It was in 1892 that he became connected with the gas business, and is now the efficient superintendent of the gas works of Princeton.
On the 13th of September, 1880, Mr. John- son was united in marriage with Miss Christiana C. Dyke, daughter of John L. Dyke, who is still a resident of Sweden, where the mother died in 1895, at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. John- son affiliates with the Masonic order, in which he has taken the ninth degree, and belongs to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery. He is also a member of the uniformed rank of Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Knights and Ladies of Honor. In politics he is a republican and served for four years as treasurer of Princeton, while religiously both himself and wife hold membership in the Swedish Lutheran church. They have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in Bureau county and are valued and representative citi- zens of Princeton.
SAAC M. FORBES, general farmer and stock -
dealer, is one of the best known men in Mar- shall county, being a man of rare business tact and ability and one of the best judges of stock in the state. Often he is called upon to act as judge of Shorthorn cattle at state fairs and fat stock exhibits, and his judgment in such mat- ters is seldom called in question. He is a na- tive of Hopewell township, Marshall county, born on the farm where he now resides, September 19, 1847, and is a son of Peter and Sarah (Buck- ingham) Forbes, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Pennsylvania.
Caleb Forbes, the grandfather of our subject,
was of Scotch descent, but reared in North Caro- lina, where he married Elizabeth Lindsey, and there reared a family of four children. The fam- ily came to Marshall county in 1831, by wagon from North Carolina, and settled upon section 15, Hopewell township. The tract was all tim- ber land, none of which was of recent growth. The Indians and wild animals were numerous at this time. Caleb Forbes was the first settler in Hopewell township, and there lived peace- fully with the Indians, never having any trouble from their presence. He improved his farm, and there resided for many years, finally, however, retiring from active work and moving to Henry, where he died at the residence of his daughter, at the age of about eighty-three years. His wife also died at about the same age and their bodies were interred in the cemetery on his farm, known as the Forbes cemetery.
For some years after coming to Marshall county, Caleb Forbes operated a horse mill, the first in this locality. It was well patronized by the old settlers for many miles around. In early life he was a member of the Baptist church, but later became a Universalist and died in that faith. He was one of the best read men in scrip- tures and was well read in the general literature of the day. Of the four children born to Caleb) Forbes and wife, William, Courtney Martin, Mrs. Fannie Sawyer and Peter, are all deceased.
Peter Forbes, the father of our subject, was the youngest child of the family, and was twelve years of age when he came with his parents to Marshall county. His education in the schools was very limited, but he was a natural mathe- matician, and delighted in solving intricate prob- lems. He married Sarah Buckingham, a native ' of Greene county, Pennsylvania, born in 1820, and a daughter of Isaac Buckingham, who was of English descent. Her father removed to Woodford county, Illinois, in 1831, locating near Washburn, where Mrs. Forbes grew to lovely womanhood. After their marriage they settled upon the farm now owned by our subject and lived for some years in a sawed oak timber house. His father gave him eighty acres of
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land, which was then unimproved, and was by him cleared of timber and brought under culti- vation. In addition to his farming operations, he traded in stock and was for years one of the foremost business men in this locality. In the early day he used to haul wheat to Chicago and sell it there for thirty-seven and a half cents per bushel. He also drove many a herd of cattle to that city, and was a heavy shipper of stock. Suc- cess crowned his efforts and at his death he was the possessor of two thousand two hundred and eighty acres of land, the greater part of which was accumulated during the last ten years of his life. He died November 7, 1860, and his estate was valued at about eighty-seven thousand dol- lars. His wife survived him several years, dying March 9, 1871. They were the parents of ten chil- dren, six of whom grew to maturity. Mary Eliza- beth, who married John Kennedy, died, leav- ing seven children. William, who married Laura Mayes, now lives in Harper county, Kansas, and they have two children. Ruth, now the wife of Irving Broadus, lives in Lacon, Illinois, and they have five children. Isaac M. is the subject of this sketch. Caleb married Ellen E. Green, who died, leaving three children. Sarah Eleanor, now the wife of Samuel M. Croft, lives in Harper county, Kansas, and is the mother of six chil- dren. In politics, Peter Forbes was a democrat, and held many of the township offices, including supervisor. He was a well posted man, and his death was mourned, not alone by his family, but by many friends as well.
The subject of this sketch was born September 19, 1847, on the farm where he now resides. After receiving his primary education in the pub- lic schools of Marshall county, he entered Lom- bard university of Galesburg, Illinois, where he finished his course. From the time he was four- teen years old he handled and traded in stock, and was always successful in that line. After leaving college, he traveled for a year, and subse- quently, in 1870, married Miss Fannie M. Thorp, a native of Ohio, and daughter of James and Margaret Jane (Vance) Thorp, the former a na- tive of New York, and the latter of Virginia.
They were married, however, in Erie county, Ohio, and in 1857 came to Marshall county, Illi- ncis, making their permanent home at Henry, where both subsequently died. They were the parents of seven children, of whom four grew to maturity-James, who married Jane Irwin, now lives in Jewell county, Kansas; John, who mar- ried Elizabeth Klegg, now resides on a large farm in Livingston county, Illinois; William, who married Margaret Ford, now resides in Peoria, Illinois, and Fannie M. is now Mrs. Forbes.
Mrs. Forbes, who was born March 31, 1851, in Erie county, Ohio, received her education in the public schools of Henry, Illinois. After her marriage with Mr. Forbes, they settled upon the home place of her husband. But one child came to bless their union-Rankin Caleb, who was born January 4, 1882. For the past fourteen years Mr. Forbes has been engaged in raising thor- oughbred stock, especially Shorthorn cattle. At the present time he has a large herd upon his place, comprising upwards of a hundred head and he has made many sales in Chicago and elsewhere. Of his farm of seven hundred acres the greater part of it is used for grazing pur- poses. In addition to his home farm he and his brother Caleb have a farm of three hundred and fifty acres in Jefferson county, Iowa, the greater part of which is also used for grazing purposes.
Politically, Mr. Forbes is a democrat, and for years has taken an active part in political affairs in his township and county. He has been road commissioner, assessor and supervisor, serving in the latter office for three years. He has been urged by his friends time and again to make the run as a member of the general assembly, and also for the state senate, but has invariably de- clined the honor. For some years he has been in partnership with his brother Caleb in the stock business, in which line they have met with the best success. They are both business men of ac- knowledged ability and thoroughly understand the business in which they are engaged. Few men have the confidence of their fellow-citizens in a greater degree than the Forbes brothers. A
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daughter of Caleb Forbes, Miss Mabel, is a young lady of great natural ability as an elocu- tionist, and her rendering of "The Two Por- traits" is rarely excelled.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Forbes is an ideal one, both being highly educated and yet keep up their reading in the standard and current literature of the day.
A NDREW RAMSEY HANCOCK, of La- con, president of the Sparland Coal Com- pany, is one of the best known men in Marshall county, having been prominently before the peo- ple for a quarter of a century, and very active in the councils of his political party, the demo- cratic, having served as chairman of the county central committee, and is at present secretary of the same. He is not only well known locally, but throughout the state, having for many years attended every state and national convention of his party. A native of Marshall county, born in Hopewell township, November 23, 1848, he has here resided his entire life. His father, Wil- liam W. Hancock, was a native of Dublin, Ire- land, and came to the United States when a young man of twenty years. For a time he re- ยท sided in Pennsylvania, and later removed to Day- ton, Ohio, where he remained until the latter part of the '30s, when he came to Marshall coun- ty, and here resided until his death. Soon after coming here he formed the acquaintance of Eliz- abeth Orr, with whom he was united in marriage, and with whom he happily lived until separated by death. She was a daughter of James and Sarah Orr, natives of Maryland, and pioneers of Marshall county, the family locating in Lacon township, just north of Lacon. Her father died in 1867, at the age of seventy-eight, being born in 1787. Of the family only one now survives.
On coming to Marshall county, William W. Hancock worked for a time by the day and month until he had saved enough to purchase a small piece of land in Hopewell township, to which he removed and where he resided until his death. To his original purchase he subse- quently added other tracts until he had a fine
farm of six hundred and eighty acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation. He was an excellent farmer, a good judge of stock and made a specialty of fine cattle. In addition to his home farm, he was the owner of three hun- dren and sixty acres in two farms located else- where. When he made his first purchase his capital consisted of six hundred dollars, the sav- ings of years. By strict economy and careful attention to his business, he was enabled to place himself in comfortable circumstances and died the possessor of a fair share of this world's goods. His death occurred in 1890, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife survived him . one year, dying in 1891. They were the pa- rents of six children: Ann Louisa married Mor- gan Boys, and died in 1865, at the age of twenty- seven years; James Washington, while making his home at Lacon, is a storekeeper in the United States internal revenue service at Peoria; Wil- liam Emmett resides in Lacon; Andrew R. is the subject of this sketch; Alpheus died at the age of nineteen years, and Ira F. resides in Lacon.
In politics, William W. Hancock was a demo- crat of the old school, and was well posted in the political and general history of the country, and knew how to express himself clearly and forcibly upon all questions of public interest. He cared nothing for the honors or emoluments of public office, but did care for the principles of his party, in which he had the greatest faith and confidence. For years he served as supervisor of his township and also school treasurer, and was such at the time of his death. At the Balti- more convention in 1860, at which Stephen A. Douglas was nominated for the presidency, he served as an alternate delegate. He was strictly a temperate man, using no liquor or tobacco in any form. Reared in the Episcopal faith, in later years he attended the Presbyterian church, and died in the faith of a blessed resurrection. He was always an active, pushing and hard working man, and kept his business intact until the last, giving personal attention to every detail.
Andrew R. Hancock, our subject, remained at home until he attained his majority, assisting in
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the farm work from the time he was old enough to "drop corn" or follow the plow. His education was received in the public schools, but he has al- ways been a great reader and observer of pass- ing events, and is therefore one of the best posted men in the country. It may be said that he in- herited a taste for political warfare, and from the time he cast his first vote in the spring of 1870 he has been prominently indentified with the po- litical history of his county and state. For two terms he served acceptably in the office of super- visor from his township, and in 1880 was nomi- nated for the office of sheriff. Notwithstanding at this time the county had a republican majority of six hundred, he entered the canvass with a de- termination to win. The large republican ma- jority was not only overcome, but he received a majority of one hundred and forty-eight votes. Re-nominated, he was elected by over five hun- dred majority. During his term several import- ant murder trials occurred, and in the discharge of the duties of the office he displayed great ability. His abilities were recognized by the State Sheriff's association by his election as pres- ident of that body, an office which he filled in a most acceptable manner. About this time he served one year as deputy United States marshal. After serving his second term as sheriff, he was nominated for the office of county treasurer, but was defeated by a small majority.
It must not be considered from what has al- ready been said that Mr. Hancock is a politician pure and simple, for the fact of the case is he is recognized as one of the leading business men of the county, having for the past seven years been president of the Sparland Coal Company, and giving the business his personal attention. The company employs about one hundred miners and has a daily output of one hundred and twen- ty-five tons. Its main shaft is located near the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad at Spar- land, and the company is now working its third vein, which is thirty inches thick. In addition to his duties in connection with the coal busi- ness, Mr. Hancock is engaged in buying and shipping stock, and supplying stock feeders with
young animals. He has a fine farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres, five miles from Lacon, and also owns one hundred and forty acres of the old homestead. In looking after his various in- terests it can be conceived that his time is fully occupied.
Mr. Hancock was married December 16, 1880, to Miss Phoebe A. Myers, a daughter of John and Mary (Wright) Myers, of Roberts town- ship. Her father, who now resides in Peoria, came to this county with his parents before the Black Hawk war, which occurred in 1832. His father, also named John, died here when past seventy-eight years of age, and the old home- stead is yet owned by him. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hancock-Tracy and Lura-both yet residing at home. Mrs. Han- cock is a woman of domestic tastes and habits, a member of the Congregational church, and is well known and universally esteemed.
Fraternally, Mr. Hancock is a Mason, a mem- ber of Lacon lodge, No. 61, F. & A. M .; of Lacon council, R. A. M .; of Peoria command- ery, No. 3, K. T., and also the Shrine at Peoria. In Masonic work he has taken an active part, and is well posted in the history and work of the order. He is a lover of fast horses, and is at present president of the Lacon Driving asso- ciation. As a citizen he has the best interests of his town and country at heart, and at all times is ready to give his influence in behalf of any good work.
F REDERICK HILDEBRAND, who for many years was one of the most active and energetic farmers of Hall township, Bureau county, is now living retired at Ladd, and there expects to spend his declining years in the en- joyment of the fruits of his former toil. He was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, April, 1829, there grew to manhood and received a good education in his native tongue. On com- pleting his literary studies he learned the lock- smith's trade, which he there followed until 1852, when he bade good-by to the friends of his youth and started for America. From Ham-
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burg he went to Liverpool, England, where he embarked on a sailing vessel, which carried sev- en hundred and thirty-four passengers and was thirty-four days in crossing the Atlantic. During the long and tedious voyage they encountered several severe storms, the vessel sprang a leak, many were ill, and seven who died were buried in the sea.
It was in December, 1852, that Mr. Hildebrand arrived in New York, from whence he went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he worked for two weeks, and then proceeded to St. Louis. After eleven days spent in the latter city he went to Peru, Illinois, where he secured work in the plow factory, and there remained for about eight years. During that time he was married in June, 1853, to Miss Dora Fenhold, who was born, reared and educated in Saxony, Germany, and came with her parents to the new world. They landed at New Orleans and came up the Mississippi to St. Louis, and on to Peru. Near that place, in La Salle county, her father, John Fenhold, engaged in farming.
Mr. Hildebrand purchased a residence in Peru, but about 1860 sold out and bought one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land in Hall township, near the present village of Ladd. He erected a good house thereon and at once began breaking and fencing his land, which he soon had under a high state of cultivation. He later purchased an adjoining farm, comprising one hundred and five acres, which is also well improved. Coming to this country in limited circumstances he has been the architect of his own fortunes and is deserving of the highest commendation for the wonderful success he has achieved. By the ex- ercise of industry, energy and excellent manage- ment he has secured an ample competence, and is now the owner of two highly productive and valuable farms, but is now living a retired life at his pleasant residence in Ladd.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hildebrand have been born eight children, who grew to maturity, namely: William, who grew to manhood and married, but is now deceased; Charles, who is married and is a leading business man of Spring Valley; John,
a farmer residing near Princeton; August, who is married, and is now operating one of the farms belonging to his father; George, who is mar- ried and is a lawyer of Chicago; Mary, the wife of Jack Warner, a farmer of Bureau county; Ettie, wife of Charles Cacher, of Racine, Wis- consin, and Bertha, wife of Henry Brantz, a farmer of Livingston county, Illinois.
Mr. Hildebrand advocates and supports the principles of the republican party, and being a warm friend of the cause of education, for two years faithfully served as a member of the school board. On the 26th of February, 1889, he re- moved to the village of Ladd and erected the first residence in that place. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery, and both himself and wife are connected with the
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