USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 26
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 26
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 26
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Born in Licking county, Ohio, August 9, 1842, our subject was fourteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to La Salle county, Illi- nois, and there acquired his education. At the age of nineteen he commenced the battle of life for himself and has always turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, at first caring for the home farm. Coming to Marshall county in 1865, he settled on a tract of wild land on section 29, Evans township, which he at once began to improve and cultivate, but in 1872 purchased his present place which was partially improved. The farm comprises one hundred and six acres of rich and arable land, which he has placed un- der a high state of cultivation and thereon erected his comfortable residence and good barn in 1881.
In 1866, Mr. Parkinson led to the marriage al- tar, Miss Isabel Gibson, daughter of James and Lucy (Gaylord) Gibson, the former a native of Scotland, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Her maternal grandfather, Lemuel Gaylord, became a resident of Marshall county as early as 1831. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, in which struggle his father, Lieutenant Aaron Gay- lord, was killed at the battle of Wyoming. The parents of Mrs. Parkinson were married in Mar- shall county, settled upon section 8, Evans town- ship, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1855, and the mother in 1891. In their family were two children- Isabel and James, of Benton county, Indiana. Previous to her marriage with Mr. Gibson, the mother had been the wife of George Martin, who first came to Marshall county about 1830, and who participated in the Black Hawk war.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
To them were born two children-Aaron G., deceased, and Sylvia, widow of James Kirkpat- rick, who became a member of the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the civil war, and died in the service.
Mrs. Parkinson was born on section 8, Evans township, December 10, 1843, and was educated in the district schools of the neighborhood. By her marriage with our subject she has become the mother of six children, all of whom have been given good educational privileges. James W. completed the business course and graduated at the Northern Illinois school at Dixon. He also graduated at the Chicago Veterinary Col- lege and is now practicing his profession. Gin- son is deceased. Lucy J., who was also a stu- dent at Dixon and later became a teacher, is now the wife of James Hamilton, of Evans township. Edgar G. also took the business course at Dixon, and is now a student in the Normal at Valparaiso, Indiana. May E. is attending the Normal at Normal, Illinois. Grace A. completes the family.
The parents are both members of Evans Grange, No. 35, in which for two years he served as master. Mr. Parkinson has always supported the republican party and is a strong silver man. Himself a well-informed man, for over twenty successive years he has served as school director, for the same length of time has been secretary and treasurer of the Cumberland Cemetery asso- ciation, for two years was president of the Mar- shall County Farmers' Institute, and is its pres- ent secretary and treasurer. When he began life for himself his only property consisted of a fifth interest in one hundred acres of land which sold for twenty-seven dollars per acre, but he has steadily worked his way upward until he is now the possessor of a good farm, which yields him a comfortable income. He has made many friends throughout the county, and all who know him have for him the highest regard.
Under the auspices of the Katherine Gaylord Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution, in 1896, a beautiful monument was erected over the grave of Katherine Gaylord, the wife of Lieuten- ant Aaron Gaylord, and the great grandfather of
Mrs. Parkinson. In the erection of the monu- ment, contributions were made by descendants of the worthy heroine, Mrs. Parkinson being among the number contributing. The following inscrip- tion was placed on the monument :
"Katherine Cole Gaylord, wife of Lieutenant Aaron Gaylord, 1745-1840. In memory of her sufferings and heroism at the massacre of Wyo- ming, 1778, this stone is erected by her descend- ants and the members of the Katherine Gay- lord Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution."
H ENRY SARGENT, who resides upon sec- tion 15, Steuben township, Marshall coun- ty, has been a resident of the county for forty-one years. He traces his ancestry back to the twelfth century, one of the family being killed and an- other wounded at the downfall of Jerusalem in 1189. The first of the family to locate in this country was William Sargent, a native of North- amptonshire, England, who came in 1638, and located at Malden, Massachusetts. The ancestry of our subject, beginning with William, is as fol- lows: William, John, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Daniel, Charles and Henry.
Charles Sargent was a native of Worcester, Massachusetts. When the second war with Great Britain broke out, he enlisted in the mar- ine service and served until after the close of the war, being discharged at New Orleans in 1815. From New Orleans he worked up the Mississippi river about 1816, and settled on a farm near Kas- kaskia. He was soon after united in marriage with Sarah Smith of St. Clair county, and con- tinued to work the farm for some years after- ward. He then removed to Belleville, Illinois, where he engaged in mercantile trade, and for some years was sheriff of the county.
Henry Sargent, the son of Charles and Sarah (Smith) Sargent, was born on the farm of his parents in St. Clair county, Illinois, November 11, 1824. When he was seven years of age his parents removed to Belleville, where his boyhood and youth were passed. His educational ad- vantages were limited to the common schools of
HENRY SARGENT.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
that early day, and when old enough to be of ser- vice he was placed in his father's store. He next went to work on a farm north of Belleville, and subsequently worked in a mill in company with his cousin.
Having accumulated a little money, our sub- ject concluded to look around a little to see where he had best invest, and where he should make his permanent home. Accordingly, in 1853, he made a trip on foot through Missouri, Iowa and northern Illinois, taking in the far-famed city of Nauvoo, Illinois. He finally decided to locate near Lacon, that country suiting him better than any other visited. At that time the county was very thinly settled, those then living here having located near the Illinois river and smaller streams and in the timber districts. Two years later, in 1855, he took up his permanent abode here, pur- chasing a farm of George Drake, one mile west of Sparland. Mr. Drake was one of the pioneers of Marshall county, and was a brother-in-law of Asa and Samuel Ellis Thompson, who came from Athens county, Ohio, in 1834, being the first settlers to leave the river and take up their abode on the prairie. Drake subsequently removed to Texas, but the Thompsons lived and died here, the widow of Asa, Mary P. Thompson, surviv- ing until Thanksgiving day, 1895, being the last of the family to reside here. Of the number re- siding here when Mr. Sargent made settlement there remains but three-R. M. Frisbey, David Watkins and George Mead.
Mr. Sargent paid sixteen dollars per acre for his farm, it being partially improved. He could have gotten plenty of unimproved land at that time, but was afraid of the title. As soon as it came into his possession he commenced to make improvements, and as years went by the old house gave place to the new, and other tracts were added until at the present time his farm contains three hundred and three acres, with im- provements fully abreast with the times. He has always followed mixed farming, dividing his time between the cultivation of grain and the raising of stock, principally hogs and cat- tle. At one time he had a very large flock
of sheep, the wool industry of the coun- try being at its height. With the low prices prevailing for wool, it has made this business un- profitable, and for that reason he has disposed of his flock. In other stock he has endeavored to keep a good grade, and usually feeds about one hundred head of hogs. His farm, which is a very productive one, is underlaid with a fine vein of coal.
Mr. Sargent was married in St. Clair county, Illinois, when twenty-nine years of age, to Miss Amelia F. Williams, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, February 4, 1835, and to them was born a family of eight children-William H., of South Riverside, Cali- fornia; George F., of the same place; Charles T., of Barton county, Missouri; James, manager of the home farm; Sarah, at home; Electa, who married Augustus Garrett, of Steuben township, and Ellen and John, at home.
On account of advancing age Mr. Sargent has given the management of the home farm into the hands of his son James, who has shown him- self well qualified for the trust, having a practical knowledge of every detail of farm work, and an carnest desire to succeed. He is a young man of superior ability, one who will doubtless succeed in every undertaking. A member of Sparland lodge, No. 441, F. & A. M., he has taken inter- est in the work, and is well posted in the history and work of the order.
Our subject claims to be a dyed-in-the-wool republican, and his claim has been proved by his works. Since the organization of the party he has voted its ticket, and while mistakes may have been made by its leaders, he has never seen any reason why he should change his political views. Religiously, he is a Methodist "from the ground up," and has been a member and active worker in the Bethel Methodist Episcopal church for a period of thirty years. Mrs. Sargent was like- wise a member of that church, and died in the full assurance of faith, July 5, 1895. She was a woman of quiet, domestic taste, a lover of home and family, and her death was mourned by not only the family, but a large circle of friends.
II
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
In the almost half century in which Mr. Sar- gent has been a citizen of Marshall county, he has made many warm personal friends and but few enemies, and no man in Steuben township bears a better reputation for honesty and nobility of character.
JAMES HENSEL, now living retired at Princeton, was born in Milford township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1807, and is a son of Frederick and Julia (Shaffer) Hen- sel. The father entered the United States ser- vice in the war of 1812, and was killed in that struggle. His mother afterward became the wife of Henry Shaffer, who was in early life a slave owner, but took his slaves to Pennsylvania, where he gave each a piece of land and their freedom. The mother's death occurred in Ohio.
When quite small our subject accompanied his parents to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where he continued to make his home until coming to Bu- reau county, Illinois, in October, 1853, at which time he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Dover township, five miles northeast of Princeton, that had first been settled by Sylvester Brigham. He added to his original tract and is now the owner of one thousand and fifty acres in Dover township, Bureau county, and in Iowa, much of which is worth about seventy-five dol- lars per acre. On coming to the state he had about seven thousand dollars, which he invested in land, and throughout his active business career carried on general farming and the raising of hogs, which business proved very profitable. In September, 1892, he left the farm, and has since passed his life in ease and retirement at Prince- ton, where he is surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. Besides his farming operation he at one time conducted a store at Dover, but that enterprise did not prove a paying one.
Mr. Hensel has been thrice married, his first union being with Lydia Fackler, who died in Ohio, leaving five children. After her death he wedded Mary Frease, who died some nine years ago. For thirty years they traveled life's journey
together and became the parents of seven chil- dren. On the roth of February, 1889, Mr. Hen- sel was united in marriage with Mrs. Katherine Whitney, of Pottawattamie county, Iowa, widow of Joseph Whitney. Her maiden name was Frease, and she was a sister of Mr. Hensel's sec- ond wife. For fifteen years she had resided in Bureau county. By her former marriage she had three children, namely: Mrs. Alice Brownlee; William, and Charles, of Weston, Iowa. With the exception of one all of the twelve children of Mr. Hensel are still living. Those by the first marriage are: Philip, Henry, of Dodge county, Nebraska; Sarah Ann, Enoch, and one who died when young. By the second union they are John, of Lincoln, Nebraska; Madison, George, Cyrus, Eliza, Elsie and Harry. All but the two specified are residents of Bureau county.
Mr. Hensel cast his first vote for Andrew Jack- son, but since that time has never supported a democratic nominee, and is now a stalwart re- publican. He was the second man in the coun- ty to engage in the construction of gravel roads. With his neighbor, a Mr. Frazee, they began that work in Dover township, each giving one hun- dred dollars, and has always taken an active in- terest in their construction. He held the office of road commissioner of his township for some time, and is one of the most public-spirited and progressive men of the county. He is a consistent member of the English Lutheran church, in which faith he was reared, and is now one of the oldest members of the congregation to which he belongs, as well as one of the most liberal and active.
L EWIS ERASTUS SKEEL, a worthy repre- sentative of one of the honored pioneer fam- ilies of Putnam county, Illinois, was born at Xenia, Greene county, Ohio, June 22, 1824, and is a son of Nathan and Olive (Bacon) Skeel, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Vermont. The Skeel family is of Welsh extrac- tion, descended from three brothers who came from Wales at an early day.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
The parents were married in New York, where the mother had gone when a child of six years, later became residents of Greene county, Ohio, and when our subject was three years old re- moved to Cincinnati. After three years spent in that city they started by team for Illinois in the fall of 1830, and was accompanied by their eld- est daughter, then Mrs. Peter Ellis, and her child. A brother-in-law of Mr. Skeel, Ezekiel Stacy, had come to Illinois four years previously, locating near Springfield, in Sangamon county, where part of the family spent the winter, while the remainder came to Ox Bow Prairie the same fall. In the spring of 1831 they were accom- panied by Mr. Stacy to Putnam county. He lo- cated first on Ox Bow Prairie, and later removed to the west side of the river, where he laid out the little town of Webster near the present club house, which was quite a village at one time, but has since disappeared. There Mr. Stacy died.
The summer of 1831 was spent by Mr. Skeel and his family at Paynes Point, and he made a claim where our subject now lives, erecting a cabin near the site of the latter's present home. There they removed in the following fall, their nearest neighbor being Samuel Patterson, a half mile distant, and a mile only from the Hartzell trading post, which was not in sight. In the fall the Indians began to gather and three or four hundred camped along the river near the trading post during the winter, but in the spring scattered again. They belonged to the Pottawattamie tribe, their chief being Shabbonie, while the chief Shirk Shak spent the winter at the mouth of Clear Creek four miles above Henry.
In the following spring the people became frightened about the Indian troubles and the Skeel family lived a part of the time in Harzell's building which had been removed to the village of Hennepin, and the women would mostly spend the nights there. Some of the time was passed at Fort Cribbs, which stood at Florid, and was so named on acount of being constructed from two old corn cribs and was surrounded by a stockade. They also spent a portion of the time at old Fort Caledonia. The Indians, however, never mo-
lested them and that year more settlers were added to the community.
The Skeel family were in limited circumstances and during those pioneer days lived quite fru- gally. In the first cabin erected upon his place the father died June 1, 1841, just four weeks after the death of General Harrison. He was an industrious, energetic man and had succeeded in placing eighty acres of his land under cultiva- tion. Wild game was found in abundance and furnished most of the meat used by the frontier families. In the winter of 1831 a man by the name of Gallagher started an ox mill near Florid which ground some corn meal and even flour.
At the time of the father's death four of the children, three daughters and one son, were mar- ried, while Lewis E., aged seventeen, and Louisa Jane, aged ten years, were still at home. The other son, Linus B. Skeel, married Minerva Payne, who died at the age of twenty-seven years, and he later wedded Miss Flora Morrison, a native of Scotland. He entered one hundred and sixty acres adjoining his father's farm, where he lived until 1846, and then removed to Paynes Point. He later returned to a farm near Florid, where the following twenty years were passed, and then went to Gibson City, Ford county, Illi- nois. He had served in the Black Hawk war. The sister of our subject, who was married on coming to this state, located at Paynes Point.
Another sister, Lucy Ann, was married in 1832 to Daniel Warren, of New York, who made a claim on Big Indian creek in La Salle county. and there died. She later became the wife of Peter H. Dick, who also lived in that county, is now a widow and makes her home at Ottawa. In May, 1832, with her first husband she located twelve miles north of Ottawa, and was there living when Black Hawk started on his cam- paign. The old chief Shabbonie, who was friend- ly with the family, notified them that some Sac and Fox Indians were on the way to that timber. When he arrived at the house, Mrs. Warren was alone, but she called her husband and his brother who were at work at the mill, and they at once started for Ottawa, while Shabbonie went on to
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
warn others. Two weeks later, Mr. Warren and his brother went back to see what damage had been done and a captain and young soldier vol- unteered to go with them. On reaching the cab- in they found that the Indians had disturbed nothing, and after resting they started back to Ottawa. When half way, on reaching Buck creek, they stopped to gather wild strawberries which were plentiful at that point, and let their horses graze. Mr. Warren suggested that they start on, as they might be attacked by the Indians, but the captain scouted the idea, and Mr. Warren and his brother started on ahead. Hearing the reports of guns they looked back and saw that the young man had been shot and his horse had escaped. The captain was also shot, the ball passing through his leg into the horse, which stood quite still for some time, and then started on a run until it reached the Warrens, when it fell dead. The young man was killed and fear- fully mangled, but the captain escaped with only the wound. The Hall massacre occurred about three miles from that point, further on up the creek.
After his father's death, in 1841, Lewis E. Skeel assumed the management of the home farm. He has hauled wheat to market in Chi- cago, where he would receive from thirty-eight to seventy-five cents per bushel, and the trip would require nine days. On his return he would bring freight, often hauling lumber. He has extended the boundaries of his farm, and in 1846, erected the main portion of his present residence.
On the 28th of October. 1847, Mr. Skeel was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Jones, who is also a native of Greene county, Ohio, and came to Illinois in 1831, with her parents, Abram and Mary (Hays) Jones, who were married in Greene county, where they lived in the neighborhood of the Skeel family. Her parents located at Evans Point, Marshall county, but in 1833 removed to Princeton, Bureau county, where the father died in 1858. Their farm included that part of Prince- ton where the depot now stands, and the brick house, in which Mr. and Mrs. Skeel were mar-
ried, stands one-half mile west of the depot. The mother died in 1885, at the age of eighty-three years. Only two of the family are now living- Mrs. Skeel and Barton Jones, of Columbia City, Iowa. One sister, Mrs. William S. Wilson, died in Ohio, Bureau county, and James, Daniel and John, all farmers, also spent their last days in Bureau county. No children have been born to our subject and his worthy wife, but from the age of eleven years they reared Huron Warren, a nephew, and have given homes to other chil- dren. The mother of Mr. Skeel died at the old home, September 30, 1879, being ninety years, three months and eleven days old.
Formerly, Mr. Skeel supported the republican party, but is now a strong prohibitionist, and often attends the state convention of his party. Both himself and wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, belonging to one organized in 1833, of which his mother was one of the original members. For over fifty-two years he has held membership in the same, and most of the time has been one of the officers, at the present time being class leader, steward and trustee. By his brother-in-law's will-Peter H. Dick -- he was appointed administrator of the estate, which was quite large and has since had charge of the loaning of his sister's money. He continued the operation of his land until eight years ago, since which time he has rented it, and now practically lives retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. His identification with the in- terests of Putnam county is as honorable as it is long, and is held in the highest respect and esteem by all who know him.
T HOMAS CROSSLEY, deceased, was for some time one of the leading and reliable business men of Princeton, being the proprietor of the Princeton City Mills, now owned and oper- ated by his three sons-Frank, Charles and Maro. In 1871 the mill was purchased by George Crossley, the father of our subject, in company with T. C. Holloway, and on his death, in March, 1892, passed into the hands of Thomas
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Crossley, who, however, had for four years previ- ous been connected with the business, the firm of George Crossley & Sons succeeding Crossley & Holloway. In partnership with himself and father was his brother Frank T. The old mill was destroyed by fire in 1874, and in that and the fol- lowing year was erected the present plant, at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. In 1886 it was remodeled by putting in the roller process, hav- ing ten sets of rollers, with a capacity of fifty barrels daily. "The Queen" is the name of their principal brand of flour. In connection with the operation of the mill, the brothers also do an ex- cellent general merchandise and exchange busi- ness. The present mill, which was erected by their grandfather, is a substantial three-story brick structure, and the product turned out is in every particular first-class.
Thomas Crossley was born in Clermont coun- ty, Ohio, August 18, 1840, and was fourteen years of age when brought by his father to Bu- reau county, Illinois. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, on the 12th of October, 1861, he en- listed in the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, Co. K, and was first sent to St. Louis, Missouri. Later he returned home as a recruiting officer, and much of his service was spent in that way. While on active duty he was taken ill and was confined in the hospitals at Helena, Arkansas, and at Jeffer- son Barracks, Missouri, and was discharged on a surgeon's certificate of disability, February 26, 1863, and returned home, but never recovered from the effects of his army service, being an in- valid for three years, on which account he secured a pension. He held membership with Ferris post, G. A. R., of Princeton. In politics he was a republican.
On the 13th of December, 1866, Mr. Crossley led to the marriage altar, Miss Lucy C. Jones, daughter of Cyprian and Harriet (Bassett) Jones. Her father, who was in the meat business, died in 1878, and her mother two years previously, while her only brother, Howard Jones, departed this life in Chicago, in 1888, so that Mrs. Cross- ley is the only one of the family now living. She. is a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, and was
five years of age when brought by her parents to Princeton, Illinois.
After his marriage, Mr. Crossley engaged in the meat business with his father-in-law until 1871, when he went into the mill as manager, and was connected with that enterprise until his earthly career was ended, February 2, 1895. He had made many friends throughout the com- munity, and his death was widely and deeply mourned. He was a conscientious and straight- forward business man, so that his life was above reproach. The family consists of the three sons before mentioned, all of whom belong to the Sons of Veterans, and Frank and Maro are mem- bers of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Charles married Clara McFarland; and Maro married Tillie Frederickson. They are promi- nent young men and undoubtedly have a bright future before them.
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