USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 2
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 2
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 2
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On their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Tanquary began their domestic life on a farm in Camping Grove, where they remained some two or three years, when they removed to the farm where Mrs. Tanquary now lives, and for nearly forty- two years their home was one of joy and happi- ness, with but little to detract from it. As already stated, Mr. Tanquary was a man of domestic tastes, and there was to him "no place like home." He cared nothing for the strife of this world, and in reality shrank from it. His farm, his home, and his church were his all in all. True, he was interested in educational matters and gave a part of his time to educational work, and, politically, he was a thorough-going repub- lican, attending party conventions and filling dif- ferent local offices. For some years he was justice of the peace, and was serving in the latter office when his death occurred, November 25, 1895.
But it was as a member of the church of God, a humble disciple and follower of the blessed Master, where his life shone at its best. Convert- ed and called of God at the age of eleven years he was ever afterward a consistent and devoted Christian man. On coming to Marshall county he united with the Bethel Methodist Episcopal church, in Steuben township, and for about forty years served it as class leader, steward and trustee, and in its Sunday-school was an indefat- igable worker. He was a great Bible reader and loved to dwell upon its precious promises. Two passages which he had marked in the blessed book and which he often quoted, give a perfect outline of his faith in the Word, and the spirit which characterized his life: "Even- ing and morning and at noon will I pray and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice." Psalms lv, 17. "Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy hill, for the Lord our God is holy." Psalms xcix, 9. Of an emotional nature, he showed his joy in church and at home, and in thanksgiving to his God. His home was ever the home of the ministers of the gospel, and he greatly enjoyed their presence at his fireside.
The Lacon Journal, whose editor was well acquainted with Mr. Tanquary, in its notice of his death, after speaking of the warm place in his heart that he gave to his stepsons and to his foster-son, said:
"But the supreme crowning to his beautiful life was his devotion to his wife. In all the forty- two years of their singularly happy wedded life they walked hand-in-hand, a pair of grand old lovers to the last; she returning his affection measure for measure. How fondly we cherish last words and last looks when friends are gone. Only last Friday he came into the office for his mail. He and his old friend, George Holler, stood talking together about their ages. We joined in, saying: 'Why, Uncle Jimmy, you are not old; you are not out of your honeymoon vet.' 'He is not likely to get out of it,' rejoined his friend. This little talk pleased him greatly. He went home and told his wife of it with much delight. This was the last time we saw him. So
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fresh and ruddy, so happy-looking he was that day. The next Tuesday Uncle Jimmy was gone and a hush of deep sorrow fell on the whole county and town.
"Forty-three years he has lived in Illinois, most of the time on the same farm, a few miles northwest of Sparland-a beautiful spot, by his hand made to blossom as a rose. 'Twas in his own home, in the midst of his neighbors and friends of a lifetime and in the quiet sacredness of the domestic circle where he was best known and most loved. His hospitality was without stint, without measure. Everyone loved to go to Uncle Jimmy Tanquary's, loved to linger, de- parted regretfully. His home was the Mecca, the happy playground of all his little grandchil- dren, especially the city-bred children-three of them of his son, N. Q., who came on annual trips to grandpa's to grow strong on the farm. With them he was a child again-no end of fun, frolic and chatter. They went with him every- where.
"James Tanquary was a man of positive char- acter, fixed principles, strong convictions. He shrank from humbuggery, imposture and false pretenses; loved his God and his church. Cold the day and hard the storm that did not see Uncle Jimmy sitting in his accustomed seat in beloved old Bethel church. With his going it seemed that the very keystone had fallen from its arch. Of his money he gave to it liberally ; of his influence, his all. In this sacred edifice his funeral took place on Thanksgiving Day at II a. m. His pastor, Rev. De Clark, assisted by Rev. E. K. Reynolds of the Baptist church, spoke comforting words to the bereaved ones. The singing was beautiful, falling like balm on the hearts of the mourners. His funeral attend- ance was large, friends coming from many miles distant. Tenderly, lovingly, he was borne from the church and laid in the Sparland cemetery."
D R. OSCAR H. HUNTLEY. Go into any village, town or city in this great Northwest of ours; seek out the men who are the leaders in spirit, thought and action; learn the history of
their lives, and you will find that there is usually a striking similarity which leads to the inevitable conclusion that like conditions produce like re- sults. The story usually begins, "Born in New England, parents poor, self-made, etc." Now this fact, for fact it is, illustrates most aptly one of the salient features of our American civilization. There is an opportunity offered here under our emblem of liberty for every human being to work out and develop the best there is in him. The record of a self-made man, however, is always of interest and profit and the lessons learned there- from are valuable ones.
To this honored class belongs Dr. Huntley, a prominent physician and surgeon of Buda, Il- linois, who was born at Alstead, New Hamp- shire, July 4, 1830, and is a son of Amos and Betsy (Baker) Huntley. He traces his ancestry back to the Huntleys in the North of England, and his grandfather, William Huntley, on com- ing to the new world in the eighteenth century, located in New York on the Hudson, near New Amsterdam, where the father of our subject was born in 1800. Almost the entire life of the lat- ter, however, was passed in the old granite state, where he and his wife both died at ad- vanced ages. When our subject was about ten years of age they removed to the village of Al- stead in order to provide their children with bet- ter educational advantages; later, they went to Marlow for the same purpose, the doctor attend- ing the Marlow academy until fifteen years of age, when they removed to Keene, New Hamp- shire, where there were still higher grades of school. Here he prepared himself to enter the sophomore year of Middletown college, Con- necticut. At the early age of fifteen he began teaching, and in that way earned the money with which to pay his tuition at college, following the profession in New Hampshire, Massachu- setts and Virginia. He was obliged to give up his studies on account of ill-health and spent one year in the Old Dominion, and about the same length of time in Illinois in 1852-3.
Returning to Keene, New Hampshire, our subject began the study of medicine with Dr.
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George B. Twitchell, later took a course of lec- tures at Woodstock, Vermont; subsequently en- tered the Tremont Medical school at Boston, and later was graduated at Jefferson Medical col- lege, of Philadelphia, in 1856, receiving the de- gree of M. D. The same year he began practice at Pecatonica, Winnebago county, Illinois, where he remained until the outbreak of the civil war, when he raised an independent company of caval- ry, of which he was chosen captain. It was must- ered into the United States service in September, 1862, and afterwards assigned to the First Illi- nois Cavalry, with which regiment it did duty for a year and a half in Missouri and Arkansas. During the last year the company acted as es- cort to General Steele and the doctor was made surgeon for this command.
After leaving the service, Dr. Huntley became afflicted with bronchial trouble and went to Ne- vada with the hope of benefiting his health, and a year later went to California, where he re- mained four years. In the latter state he again engaged in teaching, receiving at one time one hundred and fifty dollars per month, which was quite different from the salary he had first re- ceived, which was only eleven dollars and he was obliged to board round among the scholars. In 1869 he returned east to take a course of medi- cal lectures in New York City, after which he re- turned to California, but on the 26th of Septem- ber, 1870, he located at Buda, Illinois, where he has since successfully engaged in practice. On his arrival here he had but one hundred dollars, but his skill and ability soon won recognition, and to-day he is at the head of a large and lucrative practice. He has since taken post graduate courses at Chicago, Philadelphia and New York, and is one of the best read and most efficient phy- sicians and surgeons of this section of the state.
On the 6th of February, 1878, Dr. Huntley was united in marriage with Miss Laura F. Swope, of Buda, daughter of John W. and Mar- garet (Templeton) Swope, of Macon township, Bureau county. They now have one son, Oscar Hubbard, born at Buda, December 28, 1887.
The doctor's father was an old line whig, and
later became a republican, but the doctor cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas, though he has since been an ardent republican. He has served as president of the village, a member of the village board, school board and board of health, and has been quite instrumental in secur- ing the good schools which Buda now possesses. He attends the Unitarian church, while his wife holds to the belief of the Congregational church. Socially, he became a member of the Masonic order before joining the army, belonging to the- blue lodge at Pecatonica, and he and his wife are also members of the Eastern Star, of which she has served as matron and associate matron. He also holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was instrumental in establishing Emery post, No. 198, G. A. R., of Buda, of which he was its first commander. As a physician he enjoys the honor of being a peer of any in Bureau county. His life has been characterized by energy, perseverance and un- tiring labor, and to these principles his success is due.
JOHN STRAWN THOMPSON, president of the First National bank of Lacon, Illinois, and senior member of the firm of J. S. Thomp- son & Sons, investment bankers, also of Lacon, is one of the most widely known of Marshall county's citizens. His record is a most unusual one and shows what a young man, without cap- ital, and without any natural advantages, can do to achieve success in life and at the same time maintain the good will and universal respect of his fellow citizens and all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact. A native of Marshall county, his entire life has been spent there, and his life's work is known and read of all men.
John S. Thompson was born in Hopewell township, about three miles east of Lacon, in a log cabin, December 26, 1840. He is the son of James and Mary A. (Strawn) Thompson, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this vol- ume. His boyhood was spent upon the home farm, and his education was commenced in the
JOHN STRAWN THOMPSON.
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country school. When about ten years of age, the family moved into the city of Lacon, and here he attended the public school for a time, that being all the educational advantages that he enjoyed. Notwithstanding this lack of knowl- edge to be obtained in the school room, there are few better informed men, especially in all the practical affairs of life. By reading and ob- servation he has ever kept abreast of the times.
As a day laborer he toiled in youth and early manhood, with probably little thought of the active, busy life he should later follow, or with but a dim idea of what the future had in store for him. He was always industrious, however, and had a laudable desire to be something more than a common day laborer, however honorable labor may be. On the 12th of February, 1864, he embarked in his first business enterprise, pur- chasing the grocery stock of William Wright entirely. on credit, not having a dollar in the world that he could invest. This purchase showed wonderful pluck and courage on his part, and the utmost trustfulness on the part of Mr. Wright. But with little more than a boy's mercantile experience, he commenced busi- ness, and in one year's time had paid off every dollar of indebtedness and had his shelves well filled.
From the very beginning he was prosperous. Accommodating and enterprising, trade natur- ally came his way. People liked to deal with him. They knew him to be honest and conscien- tious, and withal they admired his grit. With the increase of trade he was enabled to make other investments, to make loans in a small way. The profits from his grocery trade and the in- come derived from his loans was promptly in- vested in other loans, and this branch of his business rapidly increased, so that on the 12th of February, 1869, just five years from the date of his purchase, he sold his grocery stock and gave his entire attention to his loans and invest- ments.
At first the business was carried on under his individual name, and as his sons developed busi- ness abilities, they were taken into partnership,
and under the name of J. S. Thompson & Sons it has been carried on for some years. Year by year the business has grown, until at present an annual business of over five hundred thousand dollars is transacted, loans being made princi- pally on farm lands in Illinois. The plan of the firm is to make loans on farm property and sell the notes to persons desiring a safe investment, doing something unusual in cases of this kind, guaranteeing to the purchaser both principal and interest. Those dealing with this firm have only to send their interest coupons and principal notes when due to the bank, and they are instantly paid the amount, thus having no trouble or any- thing whatever to do with the mortgagor. After thirty years' successful business career the com- pany can point with pride to the fact that they have never suffered loss or been compelled to foreclose a mortgage in Illinois. This career is probably without a parallel. Farmers like to deal with the firm because they know they will be treated fairly, and investors know they are sure of safe returns. The firm have customers from Maine to California, and its reputation is A No. I. Its individual responsibility is $400,- 000.
In addition to his loan and investment business Mr. Thompson for a number of years has been interested in the First National bank of Lacon. and in 1884 was elected president of the con- cern. Since that time he has given considerable attention to its business, and his excellent busi- ness judgment and wise foresight has been of great service to the bank, which is regarded as one of the strongest and most conservative in this section of the state.
Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Eliza H. Norris, the wedding ceremony taking place at the home of the bride's parents in Lacon, May 12, 1863. She was a native of Ohio and a daughter of Ira and Elizabeth Norris, both of whom were natives of the same state. They came to Lacon at an early day, where their daughter grew to womanhood and was educated in its public schools. By this union were three children, all of whom grew to maturity. Charles
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Norris, the eldest, grew to manhood in his native town, and received a good literary and practical business education. He married Miss Ada Burns, a daughter of Judge John Burns. In his youth he entered the office of his father and in due time was taken into partnership, hav- ing shown rare business qualities. For several years he was a sufferer from tuberculosis, during which time he traveled extensively in search of a health-giving climate, spending two seasons at Colorado Springs, Colorado. Early in the winter of 1896 he went to Phoenix, Arizona, accompanied by his wife and parents, with the hope that its favored climate would be beneficial to him. But the end was near, and notwith- standing the faithful ministration of his loved wife and fond parents, death came to his relief the morning of February 22, 1896. He was amiable, forbearing, and a thorough Christian gentleman, his life and character affording no reproach to his professions of allegiance to the teachings of the Master, and his death was calm and peaceful-a fitting close to an exemplary life. He was conscious to the last. and as he fell quietly to sleep he seemed ready and willing to go and confident of the future. He was a Knight Templar Mason, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. His remains were brought to Lacon and laid to rest in the beautiful cemetery, there to wait the judgment day. Jen- nie Eliza, the second child, grew to womanhood and married Dr. C. E. Vernay, of Lacon, where they still reside. They have two children, a son and a daughter, John Strawn Vernay and Clara Eliza Vernay. John Ira, the youngest of the family, is now the junior member of the firm of J. S. Thompson & Sons, and is also a young man of good business ability. He married Miss Maud A. Goodrich, and they have one son. John Strawn Thompson, Jr. They, too, reside in Lacon. The mother of these children died January 1, 1876, of tuberculosis. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and died in the full assurance of faith. loved and mourned by all who knew her in this life-a woman of rare character.
On the 12th of October, 1877, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage with Miss Emma J. Norris, a sister of his first wife. Two children came into their home, the eldest, Ora James, dying at the age of ten months. The other, Emma Mai, yet resides at home, a bright little miss of thirteen years, a joy and comfort to all who know her; giving promise of useful and accomplished womanhood.
Mrs. Thompson was a woman of rare Chris- tian virtue, and in early life united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and was earnest, active and thoroughly loyal to the Master, giving of her time and talent to the advancement of the cause of Christ. Her death, which occurred July 30, 1884, of a tumor, was a peaceful one. She was ready to go and be at rest in the home prepared for the children of God.
In early life Mr. Thompson was converted and united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and has ever been a thorough and consistent fol- lower of the lowly Nazarene. Since commenc- ing life for himself, he has been a busy man, a very busy man, but business cares and respon- sibilities have never been so great as to take him from his accustomed place in the house of God. The work of the Master must be attended to as well, and time, talent and all must be given to his service. In the church he has filled nearly every official position, and in the Sunday-school he has been an indefatigable worker. This work may be said to be his special delight, and for twenty-five years he has been superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sun- day-school of Lacon, Illinois. That his labors have been appreciated is attested by his long service in that capacity. His zeal and ability in this direction have been recognized outside of his own church, and for several years he has been president of the Marshall County Sun- day School Union, and for five years president of the District Sunday School Union, comprising the counties of Marshall, Putnam, La Salle and Bureau. He is a good presiding officer, with unquestioned executive ability, and above all he has at heart a love for the cause and an
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earnest desire to save the children of this land. To the church and its work he has always been a liberal contributor. Taking into consideration the time required for his business and the work of the church and Sunday-school, it would seem that he could find time for nothing else. But it is the busy man who finds time to engage in any enterprise, or do anything that will benefit his fellow-men. In fraternal work Mr. Thomp- son has given more or less of his time. He is a Mason of high standing, holding membership with the blue lodge and chapter of Lacon, a thirty-second degree Mason. He is a member of the Peoria Consistory, and the Knights Tem- plar Commandery, and the Mohammed Shrine, also of Peoria. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Lacon, and has been connected with nearly every temperance society organized in Lacon. In temperance work he has always manifested a great interest, and has actively en- gaged in doing all in his power to suppress the great evil of intemperance.
On the 22d of February, 1887, Mr. Thompson married Miss Clara L. Vernay, a native of Lacon and daughter of James and Cynthia (Wilcox) V'ernay, and granddaughter of Dr. and Mrs. Levi Wilcox, who were numbered among the hon- ored pioneers of Marshall county. In Lacon she grew to womanhood, and received a good education. For ten years previous to her mar- riage she was a teacher part of the time in the schools of her native city, and was regarded as among the best teachers employed. A lady of taste and refinement, a Christian woman with the love of humanity at heart, she is a worthy helpmeet of one who himself delights in doing good.
Mr. Thompson has always used his wealth for the enjoyment of his family, town and church. He for thirty years has visited most of the in- teresting places of his native land and Mexico. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson made a European tour in 1889, visiting Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Norway and Sweden, together with the principal countries and cities of Europe.
Politically Mr. Thompson is a democrat, and while firmly believing in the principles of the party, has never been a partisan. The right of opinion asked for himself he has always been willing to concede to others. Of political favors he has asked none, and cares nothing for the honors of office. In 1891 he consented to make the race for mayor of Lacon, that he might be instrumental in securing a system of water works for the city. He was elected almost unan- imously and re-elected in the same manner in 1893, serving in all four years. Under his ad ministration was consummated the present effi- cient water works of the city, which are a credit to the municipality and to the honored mayor and council who superintended their construc- tion.
As a citizen, no man enjoys the confidence and respect of others more than the subject of this sketch. His election as mayor tested his pop- ularity with the voters of the city. Enterprising and progressive, everything calculated to build up and strengthen the business interests of Lacon and of Marshall county is encouraged by him. A friend of the poor and needy. his good work among such has brought upon him the bless- ings of many unfortunate ones, of which numer- ous incidents might be related. A Christian man, his entire family has followed his good example, and all are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and workers with him in the Master's vineyard.
H ENRY J. MILLER, a successful farmer and lumber dealer of Spring Valley, is one of the oldest, best known and most highly respected pioneers of the southeastern part of Bureau county. He was born in Dubois county, Indi- ana, November 30, 1823, and is a son of Henry and Sally (Hall) Miller, in whose family were seven children, who grew to maturity and were married, five sons and two daughters, namely: William, born in Kentucky, died in 1852, at the age of forty-two years: George W., born in Ken- tucky, died in 1838, at the age of twenty-four years; Eliza, born in Indiana, is the deceased
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wife of Edward H. Hall; Henry J., of this sketch ; Edward H., who was born in Indiana in 1825, died in 1887; Smith, born in Indiana, is a farmer of Hall township, Bureau county, where he has spent every winter since 1832; and Elizabeth, who was born in what is now Hall township, Bureau county, Illinois, in 1833, is now a resi- dent of Fullerton, Nebraska, the widow of Wiley H. Horn.
The father of our subject was a native of North Carolina and was one of the first perma- nent settlers of Hall township, Bureau county, where he arrived on the 24th of August, 1832. On the 21st of May of that year with his family he started for his new home in the western wilds of Bureau county, it being the same day on which the Indian creek massacre occurred, in which a number of their relatives were cruelly murdered by the Indians. This little colony, of which the Millers formed a part, consisted of three families. They were: Edward Hall and wife, Henry Miller, wife and six children, and Gilbert Killim, wife and two children, number- ing fourteen souls. They were compelled to rest several weeks on Ox Bow prairie, Putnam coun- ty, on account of the Black Hawk war, their teams being pressed into the government ser- vice to haul provisions for the troops, and the brothers of our subject, William and George, served as drivers. In that war two persons took part who in later years became noted characters in American history-Abraham Lincoln, the commander-in-chief of the Federal forces of the United States; and Jeff Davis, who held a simi- lar position with reference to the confederate forces of the seceding states. An uncle of our subject, Rezin B. Hall, and a cousin, John W. Hall, also took up arms against the hostile In- dians, who at the Indian creek massacre had murdered the father, mother, and youngest sister of the latter, together with about twelve others in La Salle county, Illinois. After much delay and annoyance, the three families, composing the colony of which our subject was a member, ar- rived in what is now Bureau county, August 24. 1832. His father subsequently purchased a tract
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