USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 31
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 31
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 31
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ter. The first named has been a student at Eu- reka College, and at present Edward Lester is attending the same institution.
Politically, Mr. Held is a republican, and has taken more or less interest in political affairs since attaining his majority. He has been col- lector of Hopewell township, and is now serving his seventh year as a justice of the peace. He is also serving his twenty-first year as director of school district No. 2. No man in Marshall county has taken greater interest in educational affairs, and he has ever endeavored to make dis- trict No. 2, one of the model school districts of the county. In doing this he has aimed at all times to secure good teachers, and has always been willing to pay well for the same. Mrs. Held is a member of the Congregational church at Lacon, and takes an active part in the same.
W ALTER T. PLUMB, a wide-awake and progressive business man of Spring Val- ley, was born March 18, 1861, in Oneida county, New York, and is the only child of Thomas and Frances (Jones) Plumb, both natives of England. The father, who was a carpenter and contractor, died when our subject was only three years old, and the mother passed away October 3, 1892, at the age of sixty-three years. In religious be- lief she was an Episcopalian.
The Plumb family was founded in America by three brothers who came from England at an early day and located in the east. From them are descended all who spell the name Plumb in this country. The late Senator Preston B. Plumb, of Kansas, was a fourth cousin of the subject of this sketch, and to the same family be- longs Henry T. Plumb, a jeweler of Des Moines, Iowa, a prominent man, who is well and favor- ably known.
In the schools of Fulton and Utica, New York, Walter T. Plumb acquired his education, and at an early age began learning the watch-making and jeweler's trade, which he has followed con- tinuously since. He is an excellent workman of much ingenuity and aptness, and is said to be
one of the best connected with that business in Bureau county. On the death of his mother-in- law, in 1895, Mr. Plumb was called upon to take charge of her general store in Spring Valley, and he has added to the extensive stock already car- ried in his former business. He now has one of the largest and most complete general stores in the place, and carries a full assortment of dry goods, millinery, notions, jewelry, wall paper, sewing machines and bicycles. He is now at the head of a large and profitable trade and is assisted in the store by his wife.
On the 5th of March, 1890, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Plumb and Miss Lizzie Smith, daughter of the late Andrew and Sarah Smith, of Spring Valley. Mrs. Plumb is a lady of cul- ture and refinement, and her pleasing ways win her many friends.
Fraternally, our subject is connected with the Odd Fellows society, of Utica, New York, and is now serving as senior deacon of S. M. Dalzell lodge, F. & A. M., No. 805, of Spring Valley. He is quite prominent in Masonic circles, being a thirty-second degree Mason; belongs to the Peoria consistory, and is a member of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Although he takes no act- ive part in political affairs, he is a firm believer in high protection, and therefore an ardent admirer of William McKinley. His ballot is always cast in support of the men and measures of the repub- lican party. He is deservedly popular and has made hosts of warm friends since coming to Spring Valley, where he is numbered among the most valued and enterprising business men.
J JOHN S. SEARL. There is a peculiar inter- est attached to the history of the pioneers of any portion of our great state, and particularly of that part of it with which we are closely connect- ed. Mr. Searl arrived in Bureau county on the 20th of May, 1834, and has since been identified with its interests. On locating here he found an almost unbroken wilderness, the homes of the set- tlers widely scattered, but few towns or villages ; wild game was to be had in abundance, and the
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nearest market was Chicago. To that city the farmers would haul their grain, bringing back the needed supplies, and the trip required from seven to nine days. Our subject experienced all of the hardships and trials which fall to the lot of the pioneer who endeavors to make a home in the midst of the wilderness, but he overcame these and to-day is one of the most substantial and reliable citizens of Selby township, living re- tired upon his fine farm on section 32, surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life
Mr. Searl was born in Greene county, Ohio, July 28, 1830, a son of Brown Searl, whose birth occurred in the empire state. The paternal grandfather, Timothy Searl, was also a native of New York, where he was married and reared his family. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. When a young man, Brown Searl removed to Ohio, becoming one of the early settlers of Greene county, where he married Barbara Hosier, who was born near Wheeling, West Virginia, of German parentage. The father cleared, fenced and operated a farm in Greene county for several years, emigrating westward to Bureau county, Illinois, in 1834. Here he en- tered six hundred and forty acres of wild land, which he at once began to improve and develop, and erected thereon good buildings. He secured the land from the government when it came into market in 1836, and continued to make his home there until called to his final rest in 1869, at the age of seventy-three years. As an influential citizen, he took a prominent part in the early af- fairs of the county, holding numerous local posi- tions of trust and honor, and was instrumental in securing the state road through this section. He was a man of exemplary habits, upright and honorable in all things, and was held in the highest regard by all who knew him. His wife died at the home of our subject in September, 1892, at the advanced age of ninety-three years, and was laid by his side in the Ridge cemetery, where a substantial monument marks their last resting place.
Our subject is the third in order of birth in the
family of four sons and one daughter, the others being as follows: Timothy, born in 1818, came with the family to Illinois in 1834, but later went to Kansas, and afterward to Page county, Iowa, dying at Clarinda, in November, 1895; Peter H. became a resident of Poweshiek county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. He met his death by a stroke of lightning, which struck the barn in which he had taken refuge during a thunder storm; William is now living in Hebron, Thayer county, Nebraska; Melissa is the wife of Jesse Hoskins, formerly of Bureau county, but now of Clarinda, Iowa.
Mr. Searl, of this review, was but a child of four years when brought by his parents to Bu- reau county, and for a time he attended the pub- lic schools here, but is mostly self-educated. He is an intelligent man, well-informed on the lead- ing topics and issues of the day. He remained under the parental roof, and after his father's death succeeded to a part of the old homestead, which he continued to improve and cultivate, and also purchased more land, now owning se eral good and well-improved farms in both Sel- by and Berlin township, Bureau county. He is a man of good business capacity, an able financier, and a practical and progressive farmer, so that the success that he has achieved in life has been mainly due to his good management, sound judgment and industry.
In Bureau county, August 28, 1851, was con- summated the marriage of Mr. Searl and Miss Amanda Miller, who was born, reared and edu- cated in Greene county, Ohio, where her parents died, and she came to this county with a brother. Ten children were born of this union-W. W., a farmer of Guthrie county, Iowa; B. F., a farmer of Selby township, Bureau county: Mary A., wife of William Rawson, of Guthrie county, Iowa: Andrew J., a farmer of Selby township; M. F., a farmer of Berlin township, Bureau county : Samantha, widow of Moses P. Fox, a substantial farmer of Bureau county, who died in February, 1894, leaving one son, Miles S., now twelve years of age : Samuel L., a farmer of Selby town- ship; Edwin Grant, also a farmer of that town-
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ship; Maria D., wife of Herbert Hassler, a mer- chant of Bureau Junction, and Sarah A., who died at the age of nineteen years. The wife and mother was called to her final rest February I, 1888, and her remains were interred in Ridge cemetery beside those of her daughter.
Mr. Searl is a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter at Princeton, into the mysteries of which order he was initiated in 1862. He has in his possession a Masonic apron which once belonged to his grandfather, Timothy Searl, and is now treasured in the family as an heirloom. Politically, Mr. Searl is a republican, and has been identified with the party since its organization, voting for its first presidential nom- inee, John C. Fremont. He has taken an active part in local affairs, and has held numerous posi- tions of honor and trust. For seven consecutive years he served as supervisor of the township, and has filled every township office, save that of justice of the peace. He has represented his township and county in various political conven- tions, and always with credit to himself and sat- isfaction of the people. While living in a demo- cratic township, he never ran for office but what he was elected. The winter of 1895-6, was most enjoyably passed by our subject on the Pacific coast, traveling from Seattle, Washington, to old Mexico, and spending five months in Cali- fornia. He is numbered among the honored old settlers of the county, where he is so widely and favorably known, and his sterling worth and strict integrity have gained him the warm friend- ship of the best people of the community.
J OHN W. BAILEY, Princeton, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 15, 1830; his par- ents, William S. and Caroline, having settled there some three or four years previous. His early years were spent in the common schools of that day, and when thirteen years of age he com- menced an apprenticeship in a Cincinnati job office. Having a liking for the trade, he applied himself diligently to its mastery. At that time he became interested in story and character
sketching for the daily papers, and for several years he held a reportorial position on several daily papers. In 1855 Mr. Bailey assisted a friend in the establishment of a republican paper at Connersville, Indiana. In 1858 he bought a half interest in the Tiffin (Ohio) Tribune, and was there married to Emma D. McClelland, March 27, 1860. A few days later he sold his interest in the Tribune to a brother of his wife, and purchased a third interest in the Toledo Daily Commercial. Here he was so much afflicted with the fever and ague that after less than three years' experience he came to Chicago, and there learned from Joseph Medill, of the Chicago Tri- bune, that the Princeton Republican, owned by Mrs. J. G. Hewitt and John H. Bryant, was for sale. The trip to Princeton was immediately made, and the paper purchased by him in the fall of 1863, and he has remained the editor of the paper from that day to this. In early life Mr. Bailey was identified with the abolition party of Ohio, and had considerable to do with the "underground railroad" business. He was well acquainted with many of the old friends of lib- erty in behalf of the slave, and shared with some of them the. exciting trials incident to assisting fugitives to escape to Canada. Mr. Bailey cast his first vote for General Winfield Scott, in 1852 -although strongly sympathizing with the free soil party, under the lead of John P. Hale, real- izing full well that either Scott or Pierce must be elected at that time. He vigorously, as a journalist, opposed the repeal of the Missouri compromise law, in 1854; voted for John C. Fre- mont in 1856, and for every republican candidate for the presidency from that day to the present, and will vote for William McKinley in November 3, 1896, if life is spared him to get to the polls. Mr. Bailey was always an uncompromising op- ponent of slavery, and the firm advocate of lib- erty for all. For forty-eight years he has been actively identified with newspaper work as a writer, and thirty-three of these years were spent in Princeton. He was among the first to advo- cate the policy of arming the negroes to help put down the southern rebellion against the
J. W. BAILEY.
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government, and later he favored the right of the colored people to citizenship and the ballot as a matter of self-protection. His motto has been an honest ballot and a fair count. The best energies of his life have been devoted to what he believed to be the proper conduct of the Bu- reau County Republican during the last thirty- three years. Under his editorial management the Republican has been the unwavering friend of our public school system and schools in general, and the Princeton high school in particular. He has always favored every progressive movement for the betterment of Princeton's public conveniences, such as water works, electric light, sewerage and street railway. He spent the winter of 1861-2 in Washington as a clerk in the folding department of the house, thus giving him good advantages for hearing the debates of members of congress ; and in 1880 and 1890 he served the government of the United States as supervisor of the census for the Third Illinois district, embracing the counties lying between Bureau county and the Mississippi river. He also served the state as first assistant secretary of the Illinois senate for two terms (1887 and 1889), and previous to these dates held positions of honor in the Illinois Press association, such as president, vice-president and member of the executive board; and was, in fact, one of the organizers of this association, which first met at Peoria February 22, 1866. Mr. Bai- ley has been prominent in political matters in Bureau county and Illinois during the period of his residence in Princeton, and served the party to which he belongs on many important com- mittees, and for some time was chairman of the republican county central committee. He is a member of Bureau lodge of Masons, No. 112, Princeton chapter and council, of Temple com- mandery in Princeton, and of Oriental consist- ory, Scottish Rite Masons of Chicago. Himself and wife have been blessed with good health ever since they left Toledo, and they have three sons and two daughters, who have grown to their majority at the Princeton home, namely: William J., now a resident of Chicago; Harry U., and Howard J., at home; Ella C., the wife of
Thornton B. Boyer, a resident of Keokuk, Iowa, and Mabel, who is also at home. Two children died in infancy.
Harry U., having purchased the interest of the late Charles P'. Bascom in the Republican, is now associated with his father in the publication of that paper, while Howard J. is connected with the paper as foreman.
JAY L. SPAULDING, city attorney for Princeton, Illinois, is one of the prominent and successful young lawyers of the place. He is a native of Bureau county, born September 24, 1870, and is a son of Rev. J. P. and Kate (Walker) Spaulding. The birth of his mother occurred in Ohio, but at an early day she came to Illinois with her parents, James and Eliza Walker, and experienced all the hardships and privations in- cident to pioneer life.
The father of our subject was a native of Ver- mont, and grandson of Philip Spaulding, a dwarf, who fought in the French and Indian war, and also in the Revolution. The old Spaulding homestead, still occupied and owned by mem- bers of the family, is located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, almost in sight of the present ruins of the old forts Ticonderoga and Crown Point. Arnold sank his fleet in the lake off the shores near this farm, and the family have many relics of the fleet. In the French and Indian war, Philip Spaulding was taken a prisoner to. Quebec, and made his escape, but passed through untold hardships before getting back to civiliza- tion. Hiram Spaulding, the grandfather of our subject, who was engaged in the wool and tallow business, was a man of much influence, and rep- resented his district in the state legislature of Vermont. He died at the age of sixty years of heart disease.
During the dark days of the rebellion, Rev. J. P. Spaulding enlisted in a Vermont regiment. serving under General McClellan in the army of the Potomac, and took part in the battles of Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Frazier's farm and the seven days' fight in front of Richmond. At the last named battle he was taken prisoner, and for
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many months was incarcerated in Libby prison. On being released he returned home, but again attempted to join the army, but was rejected on account of his disability, as his health was com- pletely broken down, the effects of his prison life. He immediately came west to Illinois, where for about twenty-five years he was connected with the ministry of the Wesleyan Methodist church, during which time he did much to advance the cause of the Master. Since 1888, he has lived upon his farm in Selby township, Bureau county, and has reached the age of fifty-seven years, while his wife is about fifty-five. Our subject is the third in order of birth in their family of eight children, the others being as follows: Sylvia, who was for some years a teacher of Bureau county, and is now the wife of Andrew Staulter, a farmer of Selby township; Everetta, wife of Charles Carbaugh, of Rockford, Illinois; Loa, wife of C. J. Pierce, a farmer of Berlin township, Bureau county ; Alma T., who is now successfully engaged in teaching at Bureau Junction; Orin and Warren, twins, and Len D., who is about fifteen years of age. The mother is also a con- sistent and active member of the Wesleyan Methodist church.
After attending the public schools for a time, Jay L. Spaulding was a student in Dover Acad- emy, and Wheaton College, Illinois, where he completed his literary course. He then read law under the direction of R. M. and George S. Skinner, of Princeton, studying under each for a year, and was admitted to the bar on the 5th of December, 1893, after which he at once began practice. He has met with marked success in his chosen profession, and is now at the head of a good practice, which is constantly increasing. In April, 1895, he was elected on the no license ticket as city attorney, for a term of two years, and is now filling that position with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned.
On the 13th of January, 1894, Mr. Spaulding was united in marriage with Miss Clara M. Walker, daughter of George and Emma (Patter- son) Walker, now residents of Princeton, where they have made their home for more than thirty
years, and are well and favorably known. In their family were five children, who grew to years of maturity. For many years the father was connected with the business interests of the city. His father, Elder Walker, was one of the pioneer ministers of the Methodist Episcopal church of Illinois. To our subject and his wife has been born a daughter, Lillian K., now the joy and pride of the home. Mrs. Spaulding holds membership in the Congregational church, and with her husband occupies a prominent position in social circles.
M ICHAEL GUENTHER, a representative farmer and stock raiser of Hall township, Bureau county, was born in Wurtemburg, Ger- many, January 27, 1830, of which country his parents, Christian and Eva (Miller) Guenther, were also natives, and there spent their entire lives, both dying before our subject came to America. The father, born in 1800, died in 1857, and the mother, born in 1804, died in 1847. They were the parents of ten children, of whom one son and six daughters were still living in Germany, when Michael visited there in 1892. He had one brother, John, who also came to the new world in 1854. By trade the father was a blacksmith, but also engaged in farming and stock raising. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church.
In his native land, Michael Guenther spent his early life, attending the schools near his home and becoming familiar with the labors of the farm, in which vocation he has met with such wonderful success in later years. His father also tried to teach him blacksmithing, but gave it up as he would swing the sledge in his left hand, being naturally left-handed. Although a Ger- man by birth, Mr. Guenther possessed the true American spirit of adventure, and in 1854, with his wife, embarked for America. His means were small, but he was young, strong, full of hope, and believed in the old adage "Where there is a will there is a way." The sailing vessel in which he and his wife crossed the Atlantic was forty-nine days in making the voyage, during
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which they encountered some storms, but none of an alarming character.
On landing in New York, Mr. Guenther came at once to Peru, Illinois, where he arrived ten days later. Here his brother John was living with his uncle, Michael Guenther. Our sub- ject secured employment at twenty dollars per month with Mr. John L. McCormick, who furn- ished a house for himself and wife, and there he remained for three years. In connection with his brother, he then rented land and in this way secured a start in life. His present valuable property is all the result of his own industry, en- terprise and good management, as on arriving at Peru his capital consisted of a Mexican quar- ter. After renting for a number of years, the brothers purchased one hundred acres in Hall township, Bureau county, adjoining the farm which is now his home. As his financial re- sources increased he secured more land and is now the owner of four hundred and fifty acres of rich and fertile land, mostly underlaid with an excellent quality of coal. He has a large pasture, some of which he rents, plants two hun- dred acres in corn and also raises some oats and rye. The buildings upon his place are neat and substantial, and its thrifty appearance invariably attracts the eye of the passing travel.
In Germany, Mr. Guenther wedded Miss Mary Hengel, a daughter of Stephen and Sophrona Hengel, and to them have been born six children, as follows: Christian, a prosperous farmer of Bureau county, married Emma Linger, by whom he has three children, Lydia, Ella and Charles; Frederick is still with his father upon the home farm; Minnie is the wife of Fred Zimmermann, by whom she has two children, Freddie and Le Roy; Anna, who is living in Peru, Illinois, is the widow of Augustus Breining, who, in Au- g11st, 1892, was struck by lightning and instantly killed, while taking shelter from a storm under an elm tree. She has four children, Minnie, Emma, Charlotte and Robert; Christianna, the next in order of birth, is at home; Catherine married Martin Sack, a farmer of Hall township, and they have three children, Freddie, Barn-
hardt and Samuel. The entire family are mem- bers of the Lutheran church. Living with our subject is also William Guenther, his brother's son. John Guenther was born in 1834, and died on the 28th of December, 1874. He was buried at Peru on New Year's day, 1875. His wife still lives in that city at the age of fifty years. He left three sons, William, John and Christian, to whom our subject is deeply attached.
Politically, Mr. Guenther generally adheres to the republican party. To give proper care to his extensive farming interests absorbs the greater portion of his time, but as a public-spirited citi- zen, he pauses between his pressing duties to interest himself in the welfare of his adopted country and assist as opportunity offers the en- terprises tending to the development and prog- ress of his town and county.
JOHN HARTLEY, who is well and favorably
known throughout Marshall county, is now the efficient county clerk, making his home in Henry. He was born at Henry, in January, 1859, and is the son of Philip Hartley, a native of County Kilkenny, Ireland, who, on becoming a resident of Henry, there conducted a blacksmith shop until his death, in August, 1864. In the family were two sons, the brother of our subject being James, who succeeded to the business of his father.
The boyhood of John Hartley was passed in Henry until seventeen years of age, when he went to Chicago, where he was engaged in the grocery trade for five years. Returning to Henry he was then in the coal business until 1885, when he was appointed by President Cleve- land as postmaster of that place and held that position for nearly five years. In the fall of 1890 he became the democratic candidate for county clerk, and was elected over James C. Long, also of Henry, who had previously held that office. He was re-elected in 1894, at this time the repub- lican candidate being Stern A. Wooley, of Henry, and is now serving his sixth year with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. As he reads and speaks Gernian he often acts
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