USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 34
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 34
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 34
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Mr. Zearing is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth occurring in Cumberland county, Septem- ber 10, 1827, and is a son of Martin Zearing, who was born in Lancaster county, that state, July 4, 1794. His grandfather, Henry Zearing, who was also a native of the latter county, at thie age of sixteen, enlisted in the Continental army, and served through the Revolutionary war, vali- antly aiding the colonies in their struggle for in- dependence. The family is of German origin and was founded in America about 1725, the ances- tors of our subject at that time becoming resi- dents of the keystone state.
Martin Zearing was reared to manhood in Cumberland county, where he had removed at an early age and there married Sarah Sheaffer, whose family was also of German extraction and was established in Pennsylvania in 1751. By
trade the father of our subject was a mechanic and engaged in contracting and building in Cum- berland county until coming west in 1835 at which time he selected a location in Bureau county, and the following year brought his fam- ily to Princeton. Soon afterward, however, they settled upon a farm in Berlin township, being among the first to locate there, and making their hoine near the present village of Dover. To the work of developing and improving his land the father devoted his time and attention until called from this life July 24, 1855. He took a promi- nent and influential part in the early affairs of the county, and was called upon to fill several offi- cial positions, being the first justice of the peace elected in Berlin township. While a resident of his native state he had also held the same office. His wife, who survived him several years, passed away November 29, 1869, at the ripe old age of seventy-three years, and now lies buried beside her husband in Dover cemetery, where a substan- tial monument marks their last resting place.
Our subject is the fifth in order of birth in the family of five sons and seven daughters, one of whom died in infancy and another in early child- ' hood, and four sons and three daughters yet survive. Martin R. is now living, retired in Princeton. David S., a substantial farmer, also makes his home in that city. Samuel M., who was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, was killed at the battle of Champion Hill. John M. is a retired farmer of De Kalb county, Missouri. Caroline is the wife of Samuel Mohler of Dover, Illinois. Mary is the wife of Rev. Solo- mon F. Denning of Sterling, Illinois. Susan is the wife of A. L. Steele, of Princeton. Mrs. Sarah Foster, a widow lady, now resides in Chi- cago. Elizabeth, the third in order of birth, died in Princeton, and Catherine died when a young lady, in Dover, in 1850.
Louis Zearing was a lad of eight years when he accompanied his parents to Bureau county, and in the district schools of Dover acquired his early education, which was supplemented by a course in the Princeton high school. He re- mained upon the home farm until reaching ma-
LOUIS ZEARING.
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turity, but in 1850 left the parental roof, start- ing overland with an ox team for California. He walked the entire distance, which required one hundred and eighty days, and stood guard every night, arriving at his destination on the 30th of September, 1850. For over three years he worked in the mines, and in his search for the yellow metal was fairly successful. He returned by way of the Nicaragua route and New York city, arriving in Bureau county about the Ist of January, 1854.
On Christmas day, 1853, in New York city, Mr. Zearing was united in marriage with Miss Jean Cochran, a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, but who was reared and educated in the metropo- lis. Her death occurred on the Ioth of Novem- ber, 1868. For one year after his return Mr. Zearing engaged in the dry goods business in Dover, but on the Ist of April, 1856, purchased a tract of two hundred and fifty-three acres of raw prairie land, which he at once began to break, fence and improve, and to-day it is one of the most highly cultivated and desirable farms in Westfield township, pleasantly situated near the village of Ladd.
At Mechanicsburg, Pa., Mr. Zearing was again married in February, 1869, his second union be- ing with Miss Helen M. Whistler, who was born in the same village as our subject and was there reared and educated. For several years she suc- cessfully engaged in teaching. Three children were born of the first marriage-Louis F., a busi- ness man of Chicago; Jessie, wife of L. C. Mc- Kee, of Galesburg; and Martin, cashier of the Ladd bank. There is one child by the second union-S. Francis, a graduate of Oberlin col- lege, Ohio. Mr. Zearing has also lost two children-Margaret, who died in 1864, at the age of three and a half; and John D., who died in 1870, at the age of three years.
In politics, Mr. Zearing is an uncomprising republican. He cast his first presidential ballot for Winfield Scott, in 1852, while residing in California, and since that time has never failed to vote for each republican nominee. He is one of the prominent and influential citizens of the
community, taking an active part in local politics, and has held many positions of trust and honor, the duties of which he has ever discharged with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He has been a delegate to coun- ty, congressional and state conventions, was a member of the board of supervisors, and in 1891 was elected to the state senate, being a worthy member of that honorable body for four years, and serving on a number of important commit- tees, some of which he was chairman. He is a charter member of Crystal Fount lodge, No. 178, I. O. O. F., of Dover, and religiously is a Baptist, while his estimable wife is a member of the Lutheran church. During the sixty long years of his residence in Bureau county, he has watched with interest the wonderful changes that have taken place within its borders, and in the work of development and progress he has al- ways borne his share, assisting in transforming the wild land into good homes and farms. He is public-spirited and progressive, energetic and industrious and does all within his power to advance the material, moral and educational in- terests of the community. He justly deserves the high esteem in which he is held by all, and his many friends in Bureau county will read with interest this brief record of one of its oldest and most valued citizens.
D AVID G. STEWART, one of the leading and influential citizens of Seatonville, is now acceptably serving his second term as mine inspector of Bureau county, a position which he is well qualified to fill, as during his entire busi- ness career he has been connected with mining in all of its various departments. Besides receiv- ing a good common school education in the schools of Will county, Illinois, he also attended a mining school for four years, thus becoming thoroughly conversant with the business, and now holds a certificate of competency which en- titles him to hold any position connected with the mines in Illinois.
Mr. Stewart was born in Ayrshire, Scotland,
14
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July 27, 1857, and is a son of James and Janet (Gray) Stewart, also natives of Ayrshire, where their marriage was celebrated. The father was born February 26, 1834, and in 1868 emigrated with his family to the new world, locating at Braidwood, Will county, Illinois, where he en- gaged in mining for twenty-five years, but since 1893 has made his home in Seatonville, where he is held in the highest respect by all who know him. For a quarter of a century he has affiliated with the Odd Fellows' society, filling the office of vice-grand for two terms, and he and his wife hold membership in the Rebecca lodge. They were reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, to which they have always adhered, and are earnest, consistent Christian people. Their family constitutes the following children, name- ly: David G., of this sketch; Mary, wife of J. W. Patterson, of Braidwood, Illinois; James, who is married and is living at that place; Maggie, wife of James Stirrat, of Braidwood; John, who is married and living in Seatonville, and Katie, wife of James Fleming, also of Seatonville.
At an early age our subject became connected with mining operations, first acting in the capa- city of the boy who attends the door, later drove a mule, was then advanced to laying tracks, was subsequently made night manager, and for four- teen years filled the important position of man- ager, having charge of different mines in this state. It was in 1889 that he came to Seaton- ville, to take charge of a shaft as underground manager, and continued to hold that position until elected mine inspector of Bureau county.
Mr. Stewart has been twice married, his first union being with Isabella Robinson, who died in Seatonville, leaving five daughters-Georgi- ana, Mary, Janet, Pearl and Mabel. They also lost one son. On the 20th of May, 1894, Mr. Stewart was united in marriage with Miss Alice Phelps, a daughter of C. C. Phelps, of Selby town- ship, Bureau county. A lady of culture and re- finement, she was born, reared and educated in this county, completing her literary training in the Princeton high school.
Fraternally, Mr. Stewart is a Royal Arch Ma-
son, belonging to Braidwood Lodge, No. 704, F. & A. M., and Princeton Chapter, R. A. M. He is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and both himself and wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian church: of Seatonville. Almost his entire life has been passed in Illinois, and in its welfare and advance- ment he takes a commendable interest, being one of the most public spirited and enterprising citi- zens of Bureau county. In all the relations of life he has faithfully discharged every duty de- volving upon him and is justly deserving the con- fidence and esteem in which he is held.
L OTON FRISBEY, residing on section 6, Henry township, Marshall county, is the old- est living settler in the northern part of the coun- ty, having been a continual resident of the vicinity in which he lives for a period of sixty-one years. In fact he has lived on the same section of land the entire period of time, and on his present farm for sixty years. At the time of his settlement here-just three years after the close of the Black Hawk war-the inhabitants were few and far be- tween, and he had but two or three neighbors within a reasonable distance from his cabin. Benijah Mallory, an uncle of his wife, lived on the place now owned by Mrs. Harney, and Col- onel Henry Snider moved in the next year.
Loton Frisbey is a native of Vermont, that state which was the birthplace of Stephen A. Douglas, the "Little Giant," who beat Lincoln in the race for the senate in 1858, but who was beaten by "Honest Old Abe" for the presidency two years later. Of his native state Douglas often humorously remarked that "it was a good state to be born in if you only emigrated soon enough." Mr. Frisbey was born in the village of Middletown, Rutland county, October 15, 1807. He grew to manhood, receiving but a limited education in the primitive subscription schools, and at the age of twenty-three married Miss Rhoda Mallory. Five years later he fully made up his mind that Vermont was a good enough state to be born in, but that if he would prosper as he most earnestly desired, he must
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seek other fields where the opportunity for ad- vancement was much greater. Illinois, the far- famed prairie state, was then favorably spoken of by emigrants from the east, who had penetrated its wilderness, and here he determined to come. The wisdom of his choice is not to be questioned, for no state ever gave greater evidence of what the future would be, and none has more fully redeemed the prophecies made of it by its friends.
On reaching Marshall county, Mr. Frisbey de- termined here to "set his stakes," and that time would be illy spent in looking farther. The change from the green mountains of Vermont to the wide prairies of Illinois, then so thinly set- tled and so far from the markets of the world, was great indeed. But the "Rubicon" was crossed, and with a stout heart and willing hands he went to work to make for himself and family a home in what was then the far west. In this undertaking he was ably assisted by his young wife, and toiling and suffering together they lived to see the wild prairie blossom as the rose, and neighbors gathered thickly around them, while evidences of civilization sprang up on every hand. But life was not all a burden. There came to gladden their home from time to time children, seven in number, of whom six are now living, as follows: Amanda, wife of Asa Putnam, of Madelia, Minnesota; Eliza, now Mrs. Culver, of Minnesota; Hiram, of Wabasha, that state; Elvira, wife of Henry Borland, also of Madelia, Minnesota, and Henry, of the same place. It will be seen that all of the children have left the home nest and are now living in Minnesota.
After some thirty-eight years of a joyous wedded life, the mother was called to her heaven- ly reward, leaving behind a precious memory that is hallowed by those who remain. One year later Mr. Frisbey . married Mrs. Rachel Motheral, of Bureau county, Illinois, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Paul and Elizabeth (Laughrey) Riley. When she was but eight years of age her parents removed to Bureau county, locating where the village of Sheffield now stands. There she grew to womanhood and
married William Motheral, and by that union were born six children, of whom five are yet liv- ing. The children were Elizabeth, widow of Charles Studley, of Neponset, Illinois; Martha, widow of Samuel Conant, of Van Meter, Iowa; Lavina, wife of Adam Norton, of Westboro, Mis- souri; James V., of Webster City, Iowa; Emma, who married Henry Frisbey, and died, leaving one child, who is now deceased, and Jennie, wife of George Biedleman, of Kewanee, Illinois. In 1857, Mr. Motheral removed with his family to Anderson county, Kansas, took up a claim, and one year later died. Soon after his death his widow returned to Bureau county, Illinois, and was residing in the vicinity of her old home when she married Mr. Frisbey.
Our subject and his wife, while yet residing on the old farm, are practically living retired, rent- ing the farm and making their home with the family. Few men of his age are so well pre- served, and few now living have witnessed so many and so great changes. When he settled in this locality, what is now Marshall and Put- nam counties, were then Putnam county alone. Chicago, which now has one million, seven hun- dred and fifty thousand inhabitants, was then an insignificant village with but a few hundred peo- ple. Railroads were then unknown here and the means of transportation were of a primitive order. In early life he was a whig of the old school, and since the organization of the republican party he has voted that ticket.
ENOCH STRAWN, residing in section 32, Hopewell township, is one of the oldest living settlers in the southern part of Marshall county. His father, Colonel John Strawn, was a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Isaiah and Rachel (Reed) Strawn, both of whom were also natives of Pennsylvania. The grandfather, with his family, came to Put- nam county, Illinois, about 1835, locating on a farm where the parents both died. Their re- mains were interred in the cemetery south of the present city of Hennepin.
John Strawn grew to manhood in his native
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state and married Mary McClish, of Scotch de- scent, but born in the Scioto valley of Ohio. They were married in Pennsylvania, and in 1813, moved to Perry county, Ohio, locating in Hope- well township, where he improved a farm of four hundred acres given him by his father. He built an immense barn there and otherwise improved the place, subsequently selling out, and coming to Marshall county in 1828. After selecting his land he returned to Ohio, and brought his fam- ily to this county in grand style with a six-horse match team. The outfit caused great astonish- ment all along the route.
The family arrived in Marshall county in Au- gust, 1829, and located on section 4, Richland township, where Colonel Strawn pitched a tent in which the family lived all winter. At the time of their settlement there were no other white fam- ilies in this locality. Indians were numerous and flocked in to see the family in great numbers. In the spring of 1830, the colonel built a double log cabin and lived in it for ten years. He made brick on the farm, and built the brick house, still standing, in 1839. It is the oldest brick house in the county.
Colonel Strawn mainly gave his attention to his farm, improving an entire section of land. From the very first he was prosperous and added to his possessions until he became one of the wealthiest men in Marshall county. His wife was truly a helpmeet to him. She was a noted woman in this locality, and was well and favor- ably known throughout Marshall and surround- ing counties. To Colonel and Mary Strawn were born eleven children-William, who mar- ried Helen M. Broaddus, who is now deceased; Rachel, the deceased wife of Jesse B. Bane, also deceased: Mary Ann, widow of James Thomp- son; Enoch, the subject of this sketch; Caroline, the deceased wife of William Thomas, of Lacon ; Emily, deceased wife of D. Holland, also de- ceased; Salome, the deceased wife of William Orr, also deceased; Susan, the widow of Enoch Owen; Levitia, the deceased wife of A. Pich- ereau, of Lacon, and two who died in infancy. The mother of these children dying, Colonel
Strawn married Miss Mary Hoskins, by whom one son was born-John, who lives in Chicago. This wife dying, he married Miss Ellen Calvert, by whom he had two daughters, Mary, the de- ceased wife of Eugene Watrous, and Helen, wife of Henry Hart, living in Chicago.
Colonel Strawn was a noted man in the early history of Marshall county, which he assisted in organizing. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which body his first wife was also a member, and was a class leader in the same for many years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and also commanded a regiment in the Black Hawk war, where he received his title as colonel. Politically, he was a democrat, but never an , office-seeker. No man in Marshall county occupied a more prominent position dur- ing the first and second decades of its history. He assisted in the organization of both Hope- well and Richland townships, giving names to each. During his life he accumulated three thousand five hundred and twenty acres of land, and as his children went out from under the home roof, he gave to each a farm.
The subject of this sketch, who is the only son now living of Colonel and Mrs. Strawn, was born in Hopewell township, Perry county, Ohio, January 18, 1822. When but seven years of age he came with his parents to Marshall county, and grew to manhood on the old homestead in Rich- land township. His school life was of short dur- ation, having attended but eleven days after his removal to Illinois. He remained at home until thirty-two years of age, assisting in the cultiva- tion of the farm. On the 7th of April, 1853, he married Hester Ann Van Buskirk, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Joseph Van Buskirk, a pioneer of Marshall county. Immedi- ately after marriage, with his bride he settled on section 33. Hopewell township, where he lived until he built his present residence on the Four Corners. His wife died January 10, 1857, leav- ing two children-Mary, the deceased wife of John Holland, of Iowa, and Mrs. Hessie Ong.
For his second wife, Mr. Strawn married Julia Gore, of Lacon, a daughter of John Gore, who
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was also a pioneer of Marshall county. By this union were ten children-Ada Cora, who mar- ried Edgar Myers, is now deceased; Enoch Lan- den lives in Iowa; Clara Alice, wife of Charles Day, lives in Hopewell township; George W. is at home; Milan is deceased; Marion is at home; Glenn is also at home; Levisa Julia is at home; Pearl is deceased; Matilda Myrtle is also under the parental roof.
Politically, Mr. Strawn has always advocated the principles of the democratic party. He has been justice of the peace for a period of thirty years, and has performed the wedding ceremony of more couples than any other man in Marshall county. His farm of eighty acres is carried on by his sons, while he practically lives a retired life. A continual residence of sixty-seven years in Marshall county has brought him into contact with more persons than any man now residing within its borders.
W ILLIAM H. MESENKOP, one of the prominent and representative citizens of Princeton, belongs to a family of German ex- traction, and in tracing the genealogy we find that five brothers came to America in colonial times, four of whom settled in the southern states, while the fifth, the great-grandfather of our subject, located in New York state, but later settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
Our subject was born in Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania, November 13, 1834, and is the oldest of four children born to Lewis and Anna (Brenne- man) Mesenkop, also natives of the same place, the former born April 23, 1798, and the later April 12, 1812. In 1835, the father removed to Wayne county, Ohio, where he carried on a farm for ten years, but previous to this time he had carried on the harness business. On leaving Wayne county, he went to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and in 1854, removed to a farm in Bureau county, Illinois, and engaged in farming; but after ten years removed to Princeton where his death occurred, in March, 1875, at the age of seventy-seven years. He was a prosperous and
highly esteemed citizen, never caring for official position, and was a worthy member of the Luth- eran church, to which his wife also belongs. She is still living, and enjoys excellent health for one of her years, having the full use of her faculties, although she passed through all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, both in Ohio and Illinois. Of the children, Mary is the widow of William Whittle, and resides with her mother in Princeton; John enlisted in 1861, for three years as a member of Company H, Twelfth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, and served with the western army, taking part in the battles of Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth. Be- ing taken ill, he was brought home by our sub- ject, where he died a few weeks later, in the fall of 1862, at the age of twenty-five years. He was never wounded nor taken prisoner; Sarah A., widow of S. A. Penfield, is engaged in the music business in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In the common schools of Ohio, W. H. Mes- enkop acquired his education, and at the age of seventeen began teaching, which profession he followed for six winters, while his summers were devoted to agricultural pursuits. He began the newspaper business at Hennepin, Illinois, in 1858, as editor of the Putnam County Democrat, which he carried on for one year, and then came to Princeton, where he purchased the Bureau County Democrat, which he owned and edited for eight years, when he sold the paper. In 1872 he established the Bureau County Tribune, which he conducted for one year, and which is still in existence. He next owned a half interest in the Princeton Gas Light company, being its presi- dent for fifteen years. In 1863, while engaged in newspaper work, he began the insurance busi- ness, and for the past sixteen years has given his attention almost exclusively thereto, and to the loaning of money. He is a persistent worker, an able manager, sagacious and far-sighted, re- liable and energetic, and his success is well de- served, as he has attended strictly to his business interests. Mr. Mesenkop can read, write and speak the Swedish and German languages as well as his mother tongue, and is believed to be the
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only American in Bureau county who has mas- tered the Swedish language, which has been of great assistance to him in a business way. He has done much to promote the varied interests of his adopted city, serving as city treasurer nine years. and alderman twelve years. His support has always been given to the democratic party. Mr. Mesenkop has been a member of the county central committee for twenty years, of the state central committee four years ; has been a delegate to six state conventions, and was a delegate to the national convention at St. Louis, in 1876, that nominated Samuel J. Tilden.
On the IIth of August, 1858, Mr. Mesenkop led to the marriage altar Miss Kate E. Pelton, who was born October 11, 1841, in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and was left an orphan when quite small. Their home has been blessed by the birth of six children, namely: Jennie V., wife of Prof. Samuel T. Bowlby, of Rock Island, Illinois, by whom she has one son, Earl; Luna E., a millin- er, of Princeton ; Kate M., Minnie M., an invalid, now at Denver, Colorado; Alta, wife of Dr. H. D. Steele, of Moline, Illinois, by whom she has a son, William H .; and William L., who assists his father. The mother is an Episcopalian in reli- gious belief, while Mrs. Bowlby is a Presbyterian, and Mrs. Steele is a Congregationalist. Social- ly. Mr. Mesenkop is a member of the Masonic lodge of Princeton.
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