USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 29
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 29
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 29
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A native of Bureau county, he was born upon his father's farm in Selby township, December IO, 1855, and in the usual manner of farmer lads he spent his boyhood and youth. He attended
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the high schools of Princeton, and was also a student in the Dover Normal & Business college for a time, thus becoming well fitted for the prac- tical and responsible duties of life.
His father, Henry M. Johnson, was born in Campbell county, Virginia, December 18, 1814, and on attaining his majority walked all the way to the Ohio river, traveling at about the rate of forty miles per day, passing over the Blue Ridge mountains. At Wheeling he took passage on a steamboat down the Ohio river to Cincinnati, and from there he went to Xenia, Greene county, Ohio, where he made his home for about four years. There he wedded Miss Margaret Long, a native of Greene county, in January, 1841. She was a daughter of Henry H. and Mary (Walden) Long. In 1842 he removed with his wife and child by wagon to Bureau county, Illinois, set- tling upon a thirty-six acre tract of wild land in Selby township. His cash capital at that time consisted of but twenty dollars, but before his death he had acquired an estate valued at about fifty thousand dollars, all of which property was accumulated through his own unaided efforts, perseverance and good management. In 1880 he removed to Grundy county, Iowa, residing in Morrison for five years, after which he returned to Princeton and made his home on West South street for about six years. He then went to live with our subject, who at that time was residing upon a farm in Berlin township, Bureau county, and in the fall of 1893, they removed to Prince- ton, where the father's death occurred June 30. 1894. He was an unassuming man, upright and honorable in all his dealings, attending strictly to his own affairs, and had the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. His faithful wife still finds a pleasant home with our subject. Four children were born to them-Frances M., a resident of Princeton; Joseph Z. is living in Selby township, engaged in farming; James H., who died at the age of twenty-seven years, and Granville.
On the 8th of September, 1880, was celebrated the marriage of Granville Johnson and Sarah L. Ellis, amiable daughter of Miletus W. and Mary
E. (Coleman) Ellis, born July 2, 1862. Mr. Ellis was born in Dover township and was the son of Abbott Ellis, a native of Albemarle county, Vir- ginia. Mary Coleman was born in Wyanet town- ship. Mrs. Johnson was born in the same house that her father was born in. He died October 27, 1881, at Castle Rock, Colorado. His wife now lives at Boulder, Colorado. They were the parents of four children-Sarah, Frances M., Frank L. and Lucy L., all deceased. Frank and his wife and child met their death by fire in a railroad wreck at Aspen, Colorado. Four weeks later the young couple started by carriage for Grundy county, Iowa, while they shipped their household effects by rail. There Mr. Johnson purchased two hundred and forty acres of land at twenty dollars per acre, and engaged in farm- ing and threshing, owning the first steam thresh- er ever taken to the county. During his ten years residence there he wore out three new machines. He also operated a clover huller, and at one time hulled clover for ex-Governor Boies. He did an extensive and profitable business while a resident of that state, and on selling out in the spring of 1889 he had doubled the capital invested.
Returning to Princeton Mr. Johnson there lived until the spring of 1890, when he purchased the old Mckinstry farm in Berlin township, to which he removed, but the following year he bought the W. C. Henderson farm north of Princeton. In 1891 he purchased the George Barr farm in Berlin township, where he lived until December, 1893, when he again came to Princeton, buying the Stephen G. Paddock resi- dence on East Peru street, where he now finds a pleasant home. He has been eminently suc- cessful in all his financial affairs, to-day owning four hundred acres of fine land valued at from seventy-five to one hundred dollars per acre, besides several thousand dollars worth of valu- able property inside the corporate limits of Princeton.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two interesting children-Viola B., born July 30, 1885, and Henry E., born November 11, 1886. In politics
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Mr. Johnson is a republican. In his social re- lations our subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Temple Commandery, No. 20, of Princeton, and both himself and wife are members of the Eastern Star of Princeton. They hold a high position in social circles and their hospitable home is ever open for the re- ception of their many friends. As a citizen, Mr. Johnson meets every requirement and manifests a commendable interest in everything that is calculated to promote the city's welfare. He is an able financier, a business man of more than ordinary ability, and in manner is pleasant and genial, easily making friends wherever he goes.
S OLOMON F. ROBINSON. This gentle- man ranks among the retired farmers who are now living at their ease in the city of Prince- ton, and who are enjoying the property which they accumulated in their younger years by un- tiring industry and the closest economy. He was born in Williamstown, Orange county, Ver- mont, May 13, 1823, and was but twelve years of age when he left his native state and started for Illinois with his parents, Captain David and Lenda (Farnsworth) Robinson, also natives of the Green Mountain state, but the family spent the summer in New York while the father went on to enter land. He obtained his title as cap- tain of a militia company in Vermont during the old training days, and also served in the war of 1812 under General Hull, being present at the surrender of Detroit, for which service his widow afterward received a pension. He was a son of Solomon Robinson, of whom but little is known, while the Farnsworths belonged to an old family of Rutland, Vermont.
In early life Captain Robinson had followed merchandising, but on coming to Bureau county, entered land two miles southeast of Princeton, in Princeton township, and the same fall brought his family to this state, driving the entire dis- tance from Vermont. Their first home here was a small place and the farm consisted of one hun- dred and twenty acres, but the father later owned
three hundred and twenty acres, all in Princeton township. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church in the city, in which for many years he served as deacon, and was known by every one as Deacon Robinson. Politically he was first a whig and later became a free-soil democrat. His death occurred in 1863, and the mother long survived him, dying in 1886, at the advanced age of ninety-two years, at which time she was still well preserved. She too was a faith- ful member of the Presbyterian church.
The paternal household included nine children who grew to maturity, five of whom are still living. Elvira, is the widow of Erastus K. Sher- win, late of Princeton township, who there locat- ed in 1835, and she still makes her home upon the old farm four miles southeast of Princeton. George, who died in 1891, was a ranchman of Colorado, where he had lived since 1860. Solo- mon F., of this sketch, is next in order of birth. David, who died January 10, 1896, had resided in Chicago since 1873, and there was conducting a livery and sale stable. Laura was the wife of Osman Smith, of Manlius township, Bureau county, and died three years ago. Eliza, who died December 16, 1878, was the wife of W. W. Baker, who went to California in 1863. Ellen, a resident of Denver, Colorado, is the widow of J. M. Thompson, a son of Colonel Thompson. Prentiss J. is a ranchman of Spring Hill, Mon- tana. Thomas M. is engaged in mining in Colo- rado. Only two of the family are yet residents of Bureau county.
Until he had attained his majority Solomon F. Robinson remained upon the home farm as- sisting in its operation, after which he engaged in the cultivation and improvement of an eighty acre farm for a time, but later returned home and conducted the farm until his father's death, when it became his. There he remained until selling out in December, 1864, when he came to the city of Princeton. He purchased two hun- dred and forty acres in the township, covered with a heavy growth of timber which he cut, and then disposed of the land. For a time he was a partner with his brother in the mercantile busi-
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ness at Neponset, Bureau county, but never re- sided there. Ten years he served as constable and for two years of that time was also town marshal, which positions he filled to the satisfac- tion of all concerned. His political support has ever been given to the democracy and his duties of citizenship are always faithfully performed but he takes no active part in political affairs. He is an upright, honorable man, one who has the esteem and confidence of all who know him.
On the 3d of September, 1879, was consum- mated the marriage of Mr. Robinson and Miss Sara A. Norton, of Cummington, Massachusetts, the old home of the Bryants. For about five years she engaged in teaching, following that profession for a time in Princeton, where her death occurred September 15, 1883. For his second wife. Mr. Robinson chose Mrs. Lydia M. Smith, and their wedding was celebrated Octo- ber 15, 1890. She is a native of Illinois, and first married Roy E. Smith, a shoe dealer, by whom she had a son, J. Clyde Smith, a piano tuner of Chicago. A portion of her married life has been passed in Princeton, and she is a faithful mem- ber and active worker in the Congregational church. In 1891, Mr. Robinson erected his pres- ent comfortable residence on the site of the old brick house of Andrew Smith, which had stood for fifty years.
J AMES A. McGONIGLE, a well known agri-
culturist of Ohio township, Bureau county, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1859, and is a son of James and Nancy (Brownewell) McGonigle, also natives of that state, where they continued to make their home until 1895, when they re- moved to Kasbeer, Bureau county. Our sub- ject is the oldest in their family of eighteen chil- dren, sixteen of whom are still living. For almost half a century the father successfully engaged in teaching in the keystone state. The McGonigle family is of Irish origin, while the Brownewell family was early founded in Pennsylvania by emigrants from Germany. Both are noted for longevity, many of their members living to the ages of eighty-five and ninety years.
Until about sixteen years of age, James A. McGonigle was able to attend school during the winter season and thus acquired a good practical education. He began his hand-to-hand struggle with the world when a lad of nine years, and has since been dependent upon his own resources. At the age of seventeen he came to Illinois, spending the first two years in Ogle county, and then took up his residence in Bureau county, where he has since remained with the exception of one year spent at his old home in Pennsyl- vania. He has always turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, is a thorough and skillful farmer, and through his own exertions has suc- ceeded in accumulating a good property, owning a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Ohio township, which he has improved with good buildings and placed under a high state of cultivation.
In February, 1881, Mr. McGonigle wedded Miss Mary J. Hinkle, daughter of George Hinkle, a native of Pennsylvania, where also occurred the birth of Mrs. McGonigle. Eight children have been born to them, as follows: Clarence E., Jessie F., Harry, William, who died at the age of five years: Nellie I., Maud, George and James C. The wife and mother is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. McGonigle uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democratic party. and cares nothing for the honors or emoluments of public office, though he has served as school director. He is largely interested in any move- ment that is for the improvement of the township and county, or that will elevate or benefit the people among whom he lives.
M ERRILL K. AUSTIN, a boiler-maker, now in the employ of the Spring Valley Coal company, is numbered among the worthy and upright American citizens of this locality. who is deserving in every way of honorable men- tion among the best people of Bureau county. He was born in Windham county, Vermont, Au- gust 13, 1833, of which state, his parents, Arnold and Pattie (Morse) Austin, were also natives.
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By occupation the father was a farmer, but passed his last days in retirement. His death occurred in 1894, at the age of ninety years, and his wife passed away in 1878, at the age of seventy-four. They were well-known and highly respected citizens, and belonged to that class of eastern people to whom we are indebted for the high de- gree of civilization and enlightenment it is our privilege to enjoy.
In the family were eight children, namely : Melvin, born April 25, 1826, served as a union soldier throughout the civil war; Martha Ann, born January 25, 1829, married Mr. Stebbins, but both are now deceased; our subject is next in or- der of birth; Helen Fidelia is the wife of Elliott Wetherbee, of Townsend, Vermont; Addison Ar- nold, born November 28, 1836, was a lieutenant in the union army, married Helen Hall, and now re- sides at Worcester, Massachusetts; Catherine C., born June 13, 1839, was married, but is now de- ceased; Augusta C., born January II, 1841, mar- ried Ashley Wiswell, and lives in Paxton, Massa- chusetts, and Henry, born April 15, 1844, is mar- ried and is still living at Townsend, Vermont.
For the past thirty years, M. K. Austin has devoted his attention to boiler-making, which trade he learned in Worcester, Massachusetts, and for sixteen years of that time was in the em- ploy of Charles Brunner, of Peru, Illinois. He has been connected with the Spring Valley Coal company for ten years, and as a boiler-maker has few equals and no superiors. As a business man he is upright, and honorable in all his deal- ings, and is well qualified with practical experi- ence, willing hands and honesty of purpose.
Mr. Austin was married in Vermont, in 1855, to Miss Olive Sparks, who was born February 8, 1835, and is a daughter of Aaron and Lucinda (Simpson) Sparks. She is a Daughter of the Revolution as her grandfathers, Thomas Simpson and Aaron Sparks, Sr., both served in that strug- gle. Mrs. Austin is the seventh in order of birth in a family of twelve children, the others being as follows: Orrin T., born December 17, 1823, died unmarried in 1860. He was a prominent man, one of the trustees of Saratoga Springs,
New York, where his death occurred. He had there resided since the age of sixteen and had ac- cumulated much valuable property ; Asa N., born January 30, 1826, was one of the brave boys in blue who laid down his life on the altar of his country, being killed at the battle of Shiloh, and now fills an unknown grave in the south; Henry D., born December 17, 1827, is deceased; John L., born February 13, 1830, lives in Grafton, Vermont; Lydia E., born April 19, 1831, mar- ried Alphonso Barrett, and is living in Wenona, Illinois; Luther K., born April 30, 1833, was also a union soldier, and has died since the war; Thomas M. died in infancy; Hannah M., born February 19, 1839, died at the age of fourteen : Martin A., born September 26, 1841, was a soldier and a lieutenant in the union army, re- sides in Townsend, Vermont: Mary J., born Sep- tember 23, 1843, married Richard Bullard, and lives in Grafton, Vermont; Lucy L., born Jan- uary 30, 1846, is the wife of a Mr. Stowell, of Grafton.
Mr. and Mrs. Austin have one daughter-Ida M., who was born at Mount Palatine, Illinois, October 16, 1855, and first wedded William Al- lington, by whom she has one son, Arthur. On the 27th of May, 1891, she married Albert Nor- ris, who for many years has faithfully served as conductor on the Chicago & Northwestern rail- road, and is one of the reliable and worthy citi- zens of Spring Valley. Mrs. Norris is an active and prominent member of the Congregational church of that place, and for many years has served as its organist, being the first to fill that position in a Protestant church in Spring Valley. She has also taught for several years in the Sunday school, and it was her class that paid for the communion service. Since early girlhood, Mrs. Austin has also been a member of the same denomination, and both mother and daughter have been most efficient workers among the poor, especially at their old home in La Salle county. The former has been officially con- nected with the leading societies of the church, now serving as secretary of the Ladies' Aid So- ciety, and does all in her power for the better-
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ment of mankind. She has proved a faithful helpmeet to her husband, sharing with him the trials and hardships of pioneer life during their early residence in Illinois, and although deeply attached to their first home here, came to Spring Valley, which removal was for his business in- terests. At that time there were only three houses in the village, and with its growth and development they have since been identified. Socially, Mr. Austin is a member of the Odd Fel- lows, and past grand of the lodge, of La Salle, and also the United Workmen, while in politics he is a republican.
M ICHAEL J. DOLAN, railroad postal clerk and insurance agent, residing in the vil- lage of Ohio, was born in Joliet, Illinois, Sep- tember 4, 1849, and is a son of William and Mary Dolan, natives of Ireland, who were married in Lowell, Massachusetts, and became early settlers of Illinois. By trade the father was a wool spin- ner, having learned the same at Lowell. He came to America in 1828, and on the 6th of May, 1844, became a naturalized citizen, ever taking a deep and commendable interest in the affairs of his adopted country.
On coming to Illinois, the parents located first at Joliet, but in 1836 they went to Palestine Grove, Lee county, to which he drove the cows, hogs and other stock, which he had accumulated, while he sent his wife and goods by team. She arrived in the evening at an old deserted cabin, where the teamster unloaded the wagon, leav- ing Mrs. Dolan and her baby alone. They took refuge in the cabin, but a storm came up, and about midnight the door was burst open and a drove of wild hogs came in. Taking in the dangerous situation at once the mother and child went out into the storm and remained under the trees till morning. This was one of the many adventures the family experienced in pioneer days. For six months she did not see a white woman, but at the end of that period met Mrs. James Daily, who lived about four miles west of Amboy. After an illness of three weeks the father died of cancer of the stomach, July 23,
1884, at the age of seventy-eight years. Both were devout members of the Catholic church, and at their home at Sandy Hill was held the first mass ever celebrated between Chicago and the Mississippi river, east and west and between Galena and La Salle, north and south. They used to go to the latter place, a distance of twenty-seven miles, in an ox cart to attend mass, traveling all night, and after the service would start for home in order that he would be ready for work Monday morning. He often walked a distance of seven miles every morning and even- ing to work, and endured all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. He was a loyal, patriotic citizen and induced many to go to the front during the civil war. His wife died March 3, 1885, at the age of seventy-six years. She was a most estimable woman, liberal and charitable to a fault.
Our subject is the youngest in order of birth in the family of five children, the others being as follows: Edward, now engaged in mining in New Mexico, enlisted in the union service in 1861, and became a member of General Shields' staff, being with that officer until the latter was wounded at the battle of Winchester, when both reurned home. John enlisted in August, 1861, in Company F, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and remained in the service for two and a half years, when he was discharged on account of illness. At the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, he was wounded in the neck. He was the first male white child born in May township, Lee county, and in 1866 he wedded Margaret Dexter, by whom he has four children-Mary, Maggie, Lizzie and Frank. They reside at Denver, Colo- rado, where he is serving on the police force. Willie died at the age of seventeen. Mary wed- ded Charles McGuire, and died at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving two children-Willie and Bell, both of whom hold positions in the asylum for feeble minded children at Lincoln, Illinois.
Michael J. Dolan was baptized at Joliet, Gen- eral James Shields being present at the time and acting as one of his sponsors. After completing
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his common school course, he attended the State Normal university for two years, and success- fully engaged in teaching until 1885, since which time he has been in the mail service, his route being on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad between Chicago and Quincy, a distance of two hundred and sixty-three miles. For six consecutive days he is on duty for six- teen hours, and then is off for six days. During the night he distributes twenty thousand pieces of mail on an average while the train is in mo- tion, frequently running at a rate of a mile a minute as it is the fast mail.
So faithfully has Mr. Dolan discharged his duties that he has now been in the service for eleven years. Postal clerks are required to pass an examination every six months on post offices and post routes and to stand over ninety per cent. They are thus required to learn the names of three thousand offices annually. Mr. Dolan's last examination was on Colorado, taken right after being on duty for sixteen hours, but his average was ninety-eight and three-fourths. He has handled six hundred and ninety-one cards in thirty-two minutes, more than twenty-one a minute, and is in every way fully qualified to fill his responsible position.
On the 20th of May, 1874, Mr. Dolan was united in marriage with Miss Catherine O'Rourk, daughter of John and Ellen O'Rourk, natives of Ireland, where their marriage was celebrated. In 1844, her parents emigrated to Canada, where the father engaged in buying and ship- ping stock to the Montreal and New York mar- kets, and on leaving that country they came to May township, Lee county, Illinois, locating on a farm. They now make their home, however, in the village of Ohio, Bureau county, the father at the age of eighty years and the mother at the age of seventy-five. They are life long members of the Catholic church, and the parents of thir- teen children-Ella, who died in infancy; Pat- rick, an extensive stock dealer of Canada; Mary Ellen, widow of Duncan McDougal, and a resi- dent of San Francisco, California; Margaret, wife of George Dewar, of Virginia City, Nevada ;
Catherine, wife of our subject; John, a resident of Montana; Thomas, who married Margaret McFadden and resides in Oelrichs, Dakota ; James, who died in infancy; James, the second of the name, who wedded Mary Lannan, and is a farmer of Lee county; Jane, at home; Charles, of Mon- tana; Lizzie, who lives with her sister in San Francisco, and Agnes Mary, at home.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dolan, namely: Mary Ellen, who died in in- fancy; William John, who is taking a classical course at the state university, a member of the class of 1899; Mary Agnes, now a teacher in her county, who completed a three years' course at St. Clara's academy at Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, graduating June 25, 1896; Elizabeth and Charles Mark, who are attending the Ohio schools; and Edith Rose, who assists her father. The parents and children are all faithful members of the Catholic church, and are valued and highly re- spected citizens of the community where they make their home.
T THOMAS W. STONER is not only a promi- nent farmer in Hopewell township, but is likewise prominent and is a leader in the councils of the democratic party, taking an active part in the various campaigns, believing it not only the privilege, but the duty of every qualified voter to do all in his power to disseminate his political views and advocate the measures he regards as for the best interest of the people. He was born in Richland county, Ohio, February 2, 1841, and is a son of Henry and Catherine (Castleman) Stoner, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio.
Henry Stoner was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1796. He was the son of John Stoner, likewise a native of Pennsylvania. He married Catherine Castleman, a native of Jeffer- son county, Ohio, born in 1800, and a daughter of John Castleman, a native of Pennsylvania, but of German descent. They were married in Ohio, and settled in Richland county, where they made a permanent home and there died some years ago. Of their family of eight children, sev-
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