USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 28
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 28
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 28
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ISAAC MCDUFFIE, deceased, was for many years one of the most active and highly re- spected agriculturists of Bureau county. His was an honorable and useful life and his sterling worth and strict integrity gained for him the con- fidence and esteem of all with whom he came in contact in the various walks of life.
He was born September I, 1803, a son of Archibald and Eleanor McDuffie, and his early life was mostly spent in a village in Schoharie county, New York, where he secured a good COMMm1011 school education. At Sloansville,
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Montgomery county, that state, he learned the trade of a blacksmith with Walter B. Sloan, and during his apprenticeship received only his board. Subsequently he went to Rochester, where he worked as a journeyman for a number of years, later resided at Bath, Steuben county, and still later at Cameron, the same county, where he opened a shop of his own.
At Cameron, Mr. McDuffie became acquainted with Miss Cynthia Baker, with whom he was united in marriage on the 10th of March, 1829. She was born in Athens, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1804, and is a daughter of Samuel and Esther (Fields) Baker, who removed to Cameron, New York, when she was about five years of age. By occupation her father was a miller, lumber- man and merchant, and was ever known as Cap- tain Baker, having served with that rank in the Revolutionary war. He also served in the war of 1812, and was captured by the British at Sackett's Harbor, and carried to Quebec, Canada, where he was held a prisoner for eighteen months, or until peace was restored. His son, Urbane, was drafted for service in the war of 1812, but the father thinking he was too young, took his place and faithfully served in that strug- gle. His oldest son, Daniel, was also drafted and was commissioned lieutenant in the war of 1812.
Mr. McDuffie continued to reside in Cameron, New York, until 1853, where he followed black- smithing, lumbering and wagon-making. He also became connected with the New York & Erie railroad as a machinist, furnishing a great deal of their iron work, and succeeded in accumulating considerable property, but met financial misfor- tune by the failure of the Blossburg & Corning branch of that road, at the time when they owed him a large sum of money. Being left in rather limited circumstances he brought his family to Concord township, Bureau county, Illinois, where Mrs. McDuffie owned one hundred and sixty acres of land which she had inherited from her father, who died in 1851. From Cameron they traveled by railroad to Dunkirk, New York, thence by lake to Detroit, then on to New Buf-
falo, from there by boat to Chicago, then to Earlville. In Lee county they spent the fall of 1853, while a house was being erected on the farm in Concord township. It is still standing and is now used as a buggy shed. Here Mr. McDuffie continued to make his home until called from this life, January 10, 1892. He ac- ceptably served as road commissioner and su- pervisor, and in politics was an ardent republi- can, which party his sons also support. In the family were four sons and three daughters, name- ly: Eleanor E. McDuffie, born January 21, 1831, is now the wife of Edwin Bryant, a farmer, living three miles south of Princeton, and they have five children. Mr. Bryant is a son of Col- onel Austin Bryant, and a nephew of William Cullen Bryant, the illustrious poet.
Valeda E., born August 21, 1832, is the wife of Leonard Van Patter, by whom she has four children, and they live on a farm near Hubbard, Hardin county, Iowa.
William Henry, born June 29, 1835, received a fair common school education in New York, and was eighteen years of age when he accom- panied his parents to Bureau county. He ren- dered much valuable assistance in clearing and developing the wild prairie farm, while his father erected a little shop and did blacksmithing for the farmers of the neighborhood, manufacturing many breaking plows. The latter also estab- lished the first lumber yard at Sheffield, which he conducted for a time, but this venture did not prove a success as he was too good natured for a collector. William still remains on the old homestead with his mother and has placed the land under a high state of cultivation. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism he donned the blue on the outbreak of the rebellion, enlisting as a priv- ate in Company E, Second Iowa Cavalry, but a month later was honorably discharged and be- came a member of Company D, Seventh Kansas regiment, commanded by C. S. Merriman. In June, 1862, he was injured by the fall of a horse and was sent to the Union City hospital, in Ten- nessee. While there General Forrest made an at- tack. He was always found at his post of duty
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gallantly defending the old flag and the cause it represented until wounded at Black River Bridge, in July, 1862, in Tennessee. He was then taken prisoner, and sent to Mobile, where he was held by the rebels until the following August, when he was exchanged and sent back to Hickman, Kentucky, thence to Columbus, and later to St. Louis hospital, where he was hon- orably discharged in September, 1863. He is now one of the prominent and representative farmers of Concord township.
Anna E. McDuffie, the fourth child, was born November 11, 1838, and is now the wife of Henry Myers, of Portland, Oregon, by whom she has four sons.
John V. McDuffie, born May 16, 1841, was attending school at Marshall, Marshall county, lowa, when the civil war broke out, and enlisted as a private in Company H, Second Iowa Cav- alry, remaining in the service until the close of the war. He was promoted from time to time until he became major. While serving on Gen- eral Granger's staff, that commander and Gen- eral Ross got into a quarrel and Major McDuffie interfered. General Ross turned upon him, using insulting language, and the Major told him that if it were not for his rank he would resent it. The general proposed to lay off his stripes and fight it out as citizens. This they did and the general was badly beaten. The major was court martialed and discharged, but was reinstated. On the close of the war he lo- cated at Selma, Alabama, where he studied law with General Granger, who willed him consider- able property. For twelve years he served as circuit judge in that state, and also served one term in congress. He married a southern lady and has two children.
James M. McDuffie, born April 9, 1843, was also a member of the union army, enlisting at the first three months' call in 1861, becoming a mem- ber of Company H, Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He saw much arduous service and was wounded at the battle of Pittsburg Land- ing, after which he helped to carry his captain from the field, and thus over-exerted himself.
He was sent to the hospital at Jefferson bar- racks, near St. Louis, where he died October 27, 1863. His remains were interred at Wyanet, Bureau county.
Samuel A. McDuffie, the youngest child, was born September 20, 1844, and he, too, became one of the brave boys in blue, also enlisting in Company H, Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infan- try. He served throughout the struggle, was taken captive by the rebels, but was not held long. For a time he acted as scout for General Thomas. A well-educated man, he has success- fully followed teaching, and also has engaged in clerking at Monroeville, Alabama, his present home. He lost his left arm in the railroad ser- vice.
William Henry McDuffie, in politics is a stal- wart republican. He has been school director for several years, and road commissioner. He has taken an active interest in educational matters, and in the development of his township. Is a pensioner.
D AVID HALL. The splendid farm of two' hundred and fifty-four acres on section 2, Evans township, owned by this gentleman, is a standing monument to his industry, enterprise and good management. He comes under the category of a self-made man, as on coming to Marshall county his capital consisted of but forty- seven dollars, and has succeeded only by the ex- ercise of steady, plodding labor. At present, however, he is one of the prominent representa- tive agriculturists of the locality.
Mr. Hall was born December 18, 1833, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, of which county his parents, Isaac and Nancy (Morrison) Hall, were also natives. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Hall, came to this country from Scotland, while the maternal grandfather, Francis Morrison, though born in this country was of English and Scotch descent. The latter was a seventh son, followed the sea during his active life and lived to the extreme age of one hundred and four years. His wife was the daughter of a Revolu- tionary soldier. The parents of our subject al-
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ways made their home in Fayette county, Penn- sylvania, where the father engaged in farming, and were worthy members of the Methodist church. In their family were eleven children, all still living with the exception of two. In order of birth they are as follows: David, Hannah, Rachel, Sabina, Andrew, Olive, Isaac, Eliza Ann, Julius, deceased, Nancy, and William Ambrose, deceased. Andrew was one of the brave boys in blue during the civil war.
At the age of eighteen years, our subject left the home farm in Pennsylvania, coming to Mar- shall county, Illinois, in 1851, and for two years worked on the Illinois Central railroad. It was in 1853 that he married Elizabeth Smith, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Asbury P. Smith, who settled in Evans township about the same time as our sub- ject. For about five years he lived upon his father-in-law's farm, and in 1859 was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died leaving two sons-Will Emmett, who married Josephine Foster, by whom he has five children, and now lives in California; and Robert C., of Wenona, who married Addie Ryder, and has two children.
In 1858, Mr. Hall located upon his present farm, which at that time was nearly all wild land, but he at once began its improvement and culti- vation, and now the entire tract has been placed under the plow. The buildings there found have been erected at a cost of eight thousand dollars, and the land is all now fenced and tiled. The cereals which he raises are principally corn and oats, he handles a great deal of hay, and also gives considerable attention to the raising of horses, ยท cattle and hogs, having for a number of years imported French draft horses upon his place.
Mr. Hall was again married in 1861, his sec- ond union being with Miss Augusta Jones, a daughter of Augustus and Elizabeth (Parks) Jones, who were among the first settlers of La Salle county, but later became residents of Mar- shall county. Nine children were born to our subject and his estimable wife-Fannie, wife of George Merritt; Ross Orville, deceased; Katie and Susie, twins, the former the wife of Harrison
Whitney, by whom she has one son; Reuben; Lura, deceased; Samuel, Nellie and Jennie.
A firm supporter of our public school system, Mr. Hall has served for eighteen years as school director, and gives his aid to every worthy en- terprise calculated to promote the welfare of his fellow citizens. He donated the land upon which the school house of district No. 3 was erected. In politics he affiliates with the republican party. and religiously, Mrs. Hall is an earnest member of the Methodist church. Both are highly es- teemed and respected members of society, and enjoy the confidence and regard of all who know them.
E LDER EUGENE L. MOORE, the subject of this sketch, is a native of New Jersey, born in Sussex county, March 14. 1827, but when about eight years of age he emigrated with his parents, Benjamin G. and Mary B. (Cone) Moore, to Illinois and settled in Canton. They traveled by means of horse teams and were nine weeks making the journey. They lived in Can- ton several years during which time his father superintended the placing of the machinery in the first woolen mill in that city. While here Mr. Moore united with the Baptist church of Canton and has remained a member of the de- nomination ever since. He later moved to a farm near Monmouth, in Warren county. At this time our subject had already secured a good education, having completed a course in an academy and taken special lessons of Rev. Charles Button, then conducting a school in Canton and who afterward became a noted Baptist preacher in the west. There were eight children in the family, seven sous and one daugh- ter of whom Eugene was next to the youngest. It was the intention that the youngest son, John, should operate the home farm and care for his aged parents, while Eugene should complete his literary course and prepare for the ministry, but the former decided differently and entered Shurt- liff college, where he was graduated and became a minister. He had previously served an ap- prenticeship to the carriage maker's trade.
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Mr. Moore of this review was thus compelled to stay at home and look after the farm. How- ever, he did not give up his purpose of entering the ministry, but continued preparatory studies under several leading clergymen, and began preaching to the Union and Young America (now Kirkwood) churches in Warren county. In 1865 he removed from Monmouth to Kewanee and was ordained at that place, becoming one of the leaders of the denomination in the field of his activity.
In 1869 he removed to Neponset where he resided twelve years, seven years of the time occupying the position of pastor of the Baptist church, where he succeeded in building up a good church and the erection of a substantial house of worship. His fields of labor have been principally within a radius of one hundred miles of Buda. In nearly every place he has either built a church or repaired one already standing. He has labored long and earnestly in the Master's vineyard, giving his time almost wholly for the betterment of mankind and to advance the moral welfare of the communities in which he has re- sided. Not being dependent upon his salary, he has refused to accept many charges where financially he could have done better, in order to strengthen and give his support to weak and struggling congregations. Being compelled to retire from the pastorate on account of failing health he removed from Neponset to Buda in 1880, where he has since resided, part of the time supplying pastorless churches.
On the first of January, 1851, Rev. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Osee M. Alward, of Fulton county, Illinois, who was also a native of New Jersey. Eight children were born to them, three of whom died when young. The others are as follows: Laura E., who received her education in the Kewanee public school and academy, is the wife of Orson P. Bestor, a Baptist minister of Wisconsin, who is a graduate of Brown university and also the Theological Sem- inary of Chicago. They have two children. Hattie A., educated in the Kewanee and Nepon- set high schools, is the wife of Benjamin F.
Waite, a merchant of Buda, Illinois; Emma J. received a liberal education in the high school, spent three years in the old Rock River universi- ty of Dixon, Illinois, and afterward pursued special lines of study under private instructors. She successfully engaged in teaching for a short time when she left the work and accepted the position of bookkeeper for B. F. Waite. She now, while holding an interest in the firm of H. M. Waite & Co., is presiding over the home. Carrie S., a graduate of the Buda high school, read medicine for two years then entered Way- land academy at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where she took a literary course. Subsequently she was a student in the University of Chicago, graduating with the class of 1896. She has been elected professor of science at Wayland, where she also holds the position of preceptress, but still intends to complete her medical course; Ida Eugenia, who is a graduate of the Buda high school and also Beloit academy is now attending school in Chicago. Cultured, refined and pleas- ant, the family is one of prominence, holding a high position in social circles where true worth and intelligence are received as passports into good society.
The wife and mother passed away in April, 1890, and her death was widely and deeply mourned.
Since voting for Fremont in 1856, Mr. Moore has been an ardent republican, though he was reared a democrat, his father being of that party.
G USTAVE OTTO, a farmer residing on section 27, Magnolia township, is a rep- resentative of that hardy race that has done so much toward the upbuilding of this country. He was born in Prussia, Germany, July 29, 1838, and there remained until nineteen years of age, re- ceiving a good common school education. While still residing in his native land, he learned the wagon maker's trade, at which he worked until coming to this country. In 1857 he crossed the ocean, coming west directly to Chicago, where he remained six weeks and then came to Mar- shall county, Illinois, and worked for Henry
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Weir one month. In the following spring he worked for John Myers, and then came to Mag- nolia township, Putnam county and entered the service of Captain William Haws as a farm hand at a salary of ten dollars per month.
Mr. Otto continued in the employ of Captain Haws from 1858 until 1865, and then rented the Phillips farm in British Lane, La Salle county for one year, after which he leased the farm of George Hildebrandt in Magnolia township, Put- nam county, for two years. In the spring of 1868 he purchased eighty acres, a part of his present farm and which was a part of the Joel Haws farm, where Mr. Haws settled in 1838. In 1862 he married Miss Eunice Haws, a daughter of Joel Haws, and a native of Putnam county, born in 1840. Her education was received in the pub- lic schools of Magnolia township. By this union seven children were born, all of whom are now living-James A., Helen M., Joel W .. Maud M .. Bessie, Alice and Lulu.
As stated the first purchase of land by Mr. Otto was eighty acres of the Joel Haws farm. With that industry and perseverance peculiar to his nationality, combined with habits of strict economy, he commenced the improvement of his place, and as his means would permit added to his possessions until he now has a farm of two hundred and sixty acres, in addition to which he owns forty-six acres of timber land in Marshall county. In addition to general farming he has made something of a specialty of stock raising, and has at all times upon his place a good grade of cattle, hogs and other stock.
Mr. Otto was reared a Lutheran and has al- ways been attached to the teachings of that church. He is a member of the Masonic order, holding membership with the blue lodge at Mag- nolia, and has served in all the chairs to junior warden. A friend of the public schools, he has taken much interest in educational matters, and for fifteen years has served as school director. Politically, he is a democrat, and has been hon- ored by his fellow citizens with local office, serving as road commissioner, township collector and for eight years a member of the board of
supervisors of the county, three years of which time serving as chairman.
On coming to this country, Mr. Otto found himself in debt to the amount of seventy-five dollars. To the payment of this debt he first turned his attention and was never satisfied until every dollar was paid. He then began to lay by a store of his hard earned means until he felt able to marry and afterward to purchase his farm. He can truly be said to be a self-made man, and never attended an English school. On the death of Captain William Haws he was ap- pointed one of the administrators of the estate and has faithfully discharged the duties of that important trust.
G EORGE IDEN RICE, M. D., now a resi- dent of Princeton, has long been connect- ed with the medical fraternity of Bureau county. He was born at Solebury, Bucks county, Penn- sylvania, January 3, 1832, and comes of a good old Quaker family of Irish descent. He traces his ancestry back to Edward Rice, an Irish gen- tleman, whose son, Edward, Jr., came from the parish of Killman, county Tyrone, in the barony of Dunganon kingdom, Ireland, in 1736, to Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he reared his family of eight children. His old passport is now in the possession of the doctor. One son, Joseph Rice, was the grandfather of our subject, and he spent his entire life upon the old homestead in Bucks county. He married Letitia Hartley, of North Wales, by whom he had four children- William, Catherine, Letitia and Joseph.
Joseph Rice, Jr., the father of the doctor, be- came a farmer by occupation, and on reaching manhood was united in marriage with Miss Julia Iden, also a native of the keystone state, and a daughter of George and Hannah (Folk) Iden, who were of Welsh extraction, and in whose family were eight children, namely: Anna, John, Thomas, Greenfield, Jacob, Elizabeth, Paulina and Julia. Four sons were born to the parents of our subject-Joseph G., deceased: William H., George Iden and Lewis C., also a physician, now deceased. In Pennsylvania the parents spent
GEORGE I. RICE, M. D.
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their entire lives, the mother dying in 1861, and the father in June, 1863. Representatives of the family still reside at the old homestead in Bucks county.
At the age of fourteen years Dr. Rice left the parental roof, going to Doylestown, the county seat of his native county, where he learned the printer's trade, at which he worked until nine- teen, when he went to Jefferson county, Ohio, and there was employed at typesetting for about a month. He then entered William McLean's school for boys at Salem, Columbiana county, Ohio, where he pursued his studies for two years and paid his own way, while his vacations were spent in working in a nursery.
At the age of twenty-two years Dr. Rice was united in marriage with Miss Julia Newport, of Belmont county, Ohio, and daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth Newport. They became the par- ents of the following children-Elulia, now the wife of Randolph Morrison, of Colorado; Ger- trude C., wife of F. E. Flower, of Princeton, Illi- nois; George Iden, of the same place, and John, deceased.
From a boy Dr. Rice had wished to study medi- cine, as many of his relatives on the paternal side had followed that profession, and in 1856 his hopes were realized and he entered the Penn- sylvania Medical college, from which he was graduated two years later. For a time he then engaged in practice at Morrisville, Bucks coun- ty. On the breaking out of hostilities between the north and south the doctor was commis- sioned assistant surgeon of the Third Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Veteran Corps, entering the service in 1862, and was with the army of the Potomac until March, 1863, being on the battle- fields at the second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg. He assisted in carrying one of the twenty Brooklyn Zouaves on a stretcher for miles during a re- treat, which injured his own health, and he was compelled to give up field service. He was then sent to hospital No. I at Nashville, Tennessee, as acting assistant surgeon, where he remained until September, 1864, during which time he had
charge of the wards. In this way he gained much valuable, practical experience, which has been of great help to him in his subsequent prac- tice. He was always found at his post of duty and on leaving the service he was so broken down in health that he weighed only ninety pounds.
When the war was over Dr. Rice began look- ing up a location and decided on Arlington, Bu- reau county, Illinois, where he began practice in October, 1864, but in January, 1869, went to La- moille, a few miles distant, at which place he soon built up a large and paying practice. Since March, 1891, he has made his home in Princeton, but for the past three years has been compelled to lay aside his professional duties on account of ill-health-the result of his old army trouble. As a medical practitioner he stands high among his professional brethren and has been very suc- cessful and popular in his chosen calling. He holds membership in the various medical socie- ties of the state.
Both the doctor and his estimable wife are faithful members of the Congregational church, and politically he is an ardent republican. Soci- ally, he is a Mason, having served for ten years as worshipful master of Lamoille lodge, No. 383, F. & A. M .; is a member of the chapter at Prince- ton, and for eleven years attended the grand lodge. He cares nothing for political prefer- ment, but was elected coroner of the county in the fall of 1896, on the republican ticket.
G RANVILLE JOHNSON. While "the race is not always to the swift nor the bat- tle to the strong," the invariable law of destiny accords to tireless energy, industry and ability a successful career. The truth of this assertion is abundantly verified in the life of Mr. Johnson, a wide-awake, progressive business man of Prince- ton, junior member of the well known real estate firm of Cook & Johnson.
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