USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 44
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 44
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 44
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
rison in 1840, and often served as delegate to the whig conventions. His death * occurred March 20, 1880, at the age of eighty-five years. Socially he was a Royal Arch Mason, and served as master of the lodge, No. 82, at Hills- boro, Indiana.
Our subject is the third in order of birth in the family of ten children, eight sons and two daugh- ters, as follows: Watson lives on a farm in Ur- bana, Missouri; Edward is a farmer of Ralls county, the same state; George is an agricul- turist of Johnson county, Missouri; Israel oper- ates the old home farm in Dearborn county, In- diana: Nelson lives in Danville, Illinois; Nora is the wife of Hartsell Abbott, a farmer of Dear- born county, Indiana; Eliza was formerly a resi- dent of Bureau county, Illinois, her husband being John Whiteford, now deceased, who was a soldier in the civil war. She has since married again : William died at the age of forty-six years; Shadrach died from exposure while serving in the Union army. He and George Young, a brother-in-law of our subject, enlisted in July, 1863, in Colonel Eggleston's Indiana regiment, and both returned home, but the former never recovered from the effects of his service.
The educational privileges afforded Mr. John- son, of this review, were very limited, and at an early age he became quite familiar with agri- cultural pursuits, which he made his life work. On coming to Bureau county in 1859, he located in Dover township, where he made his home until laying aside business cares, since which time he has lived in Princeton. He still owns over one hundred and seventy-four acres on sec- tion 18, and eighty-two and a half acres on section 6, Dover township, all well improved. In 1880 he removed to a small farm of forty-eight and a half acres on section 9, Princeton township, and to the city in March, 1895.
In Dearborn county, Indiana, Wednesday, October 29, 1851, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Johnson and Miss Minerva Ann Young, who was born September 1, 1832, and is a daugh- ter of Martin and Margaret Young, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively, who
for many years made their home in Dearborn county, Indiana. Mr. Johnson has been called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died December 3, 1884. She was a loving wife, a de- vout Christian lady, giving her time exclusively to her home and family, in which she took just pride, and was also a good neighbor and faithful friend.
Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, namely: Rev. Calvin, born September 28, 1852, died July 11, 1890; he preached his first sermon at Somonauk, Illinois, and for three years had charge of the Humboldt Park Baptist church of Chicago, where his death occurred. He was a minister of much promise, and gained the love of all who knew him. He married Anna May Coon, who died in 1891, and their only child was Cary; James H., born November 10, 1853, is in the real estate business at Omaha, Nebraska; he married Leonora L. Cook, a resi- dent of Princeton, who died in January, 1895, and they had four children, two still living- James Cook and Lyle; William H., born August 23, 1855, wedded Mary J. Bowen, and they re- side in the township of Bureau, Illinois, with their seven children-Harry, Clay and Gray, twins, Frank, Homer, Calvin, and Almira; Watts A. is county attorney, whose sketch is given else- where in this volume; Mary U., born April 6, 1858, is the wife of M. J. Munday, of Furnas county, Nebraska, and they have four children -Frank, Claudius, Virgil and Darlina ; Nora A., born October 10, 1860, is the wife of Samuel Harris, by whom she has two children-Berna- dine and Watts A .; Maggie E., born May 18, 1863, is a music teacher of Omaha; Florence, born October II, 1865, died at the age of twenty- three years; Alice, born October 9, 1867, is the wife of R. S. Walker, of Belvidere, Illinois; Leo- netta, born February 2, 1869, died at the age of eighteen ; Herbert, born October 2, 1870, resides at home: Arstella, born June 22, 1873, is keep- ing house for her father: Minnie L., born No- vember 16, 1877, is at home.
In religious belief Mr. Johnson is a Baptist, socially is a member of the Masonic order, and in
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politics is an ardent republican. He has held some minor offices, including that of school di- rector, but cares nothing for political prefer- ment. He is now living retired from active busi- ness, having accumulated a sufficiency of this world's goods to enable him to pass his remain- ing years in ease, surrounded with the comforts of life, and enjoying the respect and confidence of his fellowmen in the highest degree.
S AMPSON T. ROWE, a leading farmer of Marshall county, resides on section 23, Whitefield township, having in his home farm six hundred and sixty-three acres. In addition, he owns two hundred and forty acres on section 16, and sixty acres one mile southwest of his home. A native of the county, he was born on the tract where he now lives, April 13, 1837. His parents, William and Harriet (Peters) Rowe, natives of county Cornwall, England, emigrated to this country in 1834.
On arriving at New York William Rowe, with his family, proceeded directly to Cincinnati, Ohio. A younger brother of his had some time pre- viously emigrated to America, and visiting Illi- nois with the view of locating, was well pleased with the country, and therefore advised William not to stop in Ohio but proceed directly to the Prairie State. Procuring teams at Cincinnati, the brothers started for Illinois. En route they met Charles Knock, who was also on the way to Mar- shall county, and in company they finished their journey.
Arriving here, William Rowe first selected government land on section 13, Whitefield town- ship, but not being accessible to market, he squat- ted on a claim near the present village of Henry. Mr. Knock settled two miles below Henry, on the present line of the railroad, and lived and died there, but leaving no family. The brother of Mr. Rowe first located where the village of Henry is now situated, but subsequently re- moved to Sugar Grove, in Whitefield township. After a residence there of about twenty years, he sold out and removed to Missouri, where he re- mained until after the war, when he again re-
turned to Marshall county, and here died some years ago.
On coming to this county William Rowe was in very moderate circumstances, but he came to this free land that he might better his condi- tion in life, and the better provide for those de- pendent upon him. He was a hard working and industrious man, economical in his habits, and with a steadfast determination to succeed. Suc- cess did crown his efforts, and year after year he continued to add to his landed interests until he owned one thousand and forty-five acres at the time of his death. His land was mostly timber land, which in the early day was thought more valuable than that of the prairie, but this fact was disproved in later years.
The first house in which Mr. Rowe lived was a log structure of the regulation pattern. There most of the children were born, and in front of the log fire many an air castle was built "as the days were going by." Some years later he erected the brick house which still stands on the place, and where his latter days were spent. This house was built in the latter part of the 40's and is now about fifty years old, but in a good state of pres- ervation. Major Thompson, well known to all pioneers, made the brick required in its con- struction.
To William and Harriet Rowe were born ten children-Carolina, wife of William Payne, of Lucas county, Iowa; Sampson T., our subject ; Mary A., wife of William Manchester, of Clin- ton county, Iowa; Roger T., residing on a part of the old homestead; William A., of Henry, Illi- nois; Emma Harriet, who married George Har- ris, and died in Henry, leaving five children; Ellen Maria, wife of Robert Ward, of Lamar. Buchanan county, Iowa: John P., a farmer of southeastern Kansas; Elizabeth Rebecca, who married Jacob Manchester, and moved to Clin- ton county, Iowa, where she died, leaving two children; and Joseph Henry, who died at the age of nine years.
From the organization of the party until his death, William Rowe was an advocate of repub- lican principles and voted the party ticket. As
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a citizen he was always up with the times, and served his townsmen in various local official po- sitions. He at all times had the confidence and respect of those with whom he was associated, and his death was a sad loss to the community in which he lived. He died in August, 1863, when but fifty-four years of age. His good wife survived him over twenty years, dying in 1885 at the home of one of her daughters in Iowa, where she had resided for several years.
Sampson T. Rowe, our subject, has spent his entire life in Marshall county, and was educated in the public schools. Under the instruction of his father he learned every detail of farm work, and determined to make that calling his life work. He remained at home, assisting in the cultivation of the farm until the death of his father, when he took entire charge, and for ten years operated it. The heirs then being of age, it was divided, and Sampson moved to his present residence, the farm comprising three hundred and ninety acres, which included the portion of a younger brother, from whom he purchased it. Other tracts were subsequently added, making the home farm, as stated in the beginning of this sketch. For some years he gave much attention to feeding cattle, but at the present time the raising of hogs is his specialty, though not confined to that branch. He carries on general farming, devoting about one hundred acres to corn, which he uses prin- cipally in feeding his own stock. The sheep in- dustry has been in times past fairly profitable, and he now has about four hundred head.
On the 20th of March, 1872, Mr. Rowe was united in marriage with Miss Ellen S. Tidmarsh, a native of Wilkeshire, England, who came to this country when but six years of age, with her parents, Abel and Elizabeth (Wilts) Tidmarsh. Her family located in the neighborhood of Rowes, but later moved to what they considered a better location near Varna, in Roberts town- ship, where her father yet resides. They were there residing when the marriage occurred. By this union seven children were born-William A., who married Bertha Leona Green, and now resides in Whitefield township; and Edward
Marshall, Ann Elizabeth, Henry Sampson, Charles Garfield, Francis Taylor and Eugene Lloyd, all of whom yet remain at home.
Mr. Rowe is a thorough and practical farmer and gives personal attention to every detail of the work in carrying on his splendid farm. His two oldest sons are also practical farmers, and are operating the two hundred and forty acre farm two miles from the old homestead. Politi- cally Mr. Rowe is a republican, and is thoroughly grounded in the principles of the party. He cares nothing for political honors or official po- . sition. Mrs. Rowe is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Henry. The family are all highly honored citizens of the county and re- spected by all who know them.
M ATHIAS M. JACOBY, an enterprising, thrifty and well-to-do agriculturist of West- field township, has a valuable farm of two hun- dred acres on section 14, where, besides general farming, he is also extensively engaged in stock- raising. He was born September 29, 1863, upon the place which is still his home, and here his entire life has been passed.
His father, Mathias Jacoby, Sr., was born in Luxemburg, Germany, June 29, 1824, and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to the new world, stopping first in Michigan for about a year, and then coming to Bureau county, where he was numbered among the early pioneers. For several years he worked upon farms by the month, and then rented for two years, after which he purchased an eighty-acre tract of raw prairie land, a part of the present farm of our subject. He immediately commenced its de- velopment and improvement, and as his financial resources increased bought more land until at one time he owned six hundred acres of rich and arable land in Westfield township. He was a man of superior business ability, strict integrity and sterling worth, so that he commanded the confidence of all with whom he came in contact. He now resides in Mendota, where he has lived retired for several years.
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In Bureau county was celebrated the marriage of Mathias Jacoby, Sr., and Miss Catherine S. Pantenburg, a native of Prussia, Germany, and a daughter of Peter Pantenburg, who brought her when a child to this country. Ten children graced this union, eight sons and two daughters, all of whom are still living-Frank and Mike, both farmers of Westfield township; John, who is engaged in mining and speculating in Idaho; Maggie, wife of Frank Sheffington, of West- field township; Mathias M., of this sketch; Charles, a jeweler by trade, now residing in South Carolina; Joe, who is also engaged in mining and speculating in Idaho; William, who assists his brother in the operation of the home farm; Henry, who is engaged in clerking in Mendota, Illinois; and Mary, wife of Tony Koester, a far- mer of La Salle county, Illinois.
In the usual manner of farmer boys our sub- ject was reared, assisting in the labors of the farm and attending the public schools when his services were not needed in the fields. He has never left the old homestead but devotes his time and attention to its cultivation and improve- ment. He also engages in breeding and dealing in standard-bred horses, having at the present time some twenty head of fine young horses up- on his place ready for market; also Shetland ponies, donkeys and mules. He also raises full- blooded Poland China hogs, and is prepared to fill all orders for those animals. He is well known throughout this section of the state as one of the most successful and reliable of breed- ers and dealers in fine stock.
On the 13th of November, 1894, in Lee coun- ty, Illinois, Mr. Jacoby was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie McGovern, who was born, reared and educated in that county, and is a daughter of Patrick McGovern. Both hold membership in the Catholic church, and have the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Jacoby casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the democratic party, and takes quite an active part in local political af- fairs, having often served as a delegate to the county conventions. For two years he filled
the office of collector, and being a friend of our public school system, most capably filled the office of school director. To whatever position, he has proved a faithful and efficient officer as well as a trustworthy and honorable citizen. Socially he is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters at Arlington.
I RA P. EVANS, whose earthly career was end- 1 ed October 20, 1864, was identified with the agricultural interests of Bureau county for a number of years, owning a fine farm near the village of Buda, a part of which is still in the possession of the family. At one time it be- longed to Daniel Webster, who entered it from the government.
A native of Rhode Island, Mr. Evans was born at Chepachet, March 20, 1819, and there grew to manhood. He received a good practical education, which would fit him for the respon- sible duties of life.
In 1842, at Colchester, Connecticut, Mr. Ev- ans was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Perkins, a most estimable lady, who was born at New London, Connecticut, and on both the paternal and maternal sides is descended from good old Revolutionary stock. Her parents were Luke and Betsy (Otis) Perkins, natives of New London, Connecticut. In the common schools Elizabeth received a good education. Mr. Perkins was in the war of 1812. He was the son of Obadiah Perkins, who served in the war for independence and was the only one of four brothers that was left after the battle of Groton Heights, Connecticut. Mrs. Betsy Perkins is living at Sharon, Connecticut, in her ninety- seventh year. Her husband, Luke, died in 1838.
To Mr. and Mrs. Evans were born seven chil- dren: Elizabeth P., now the wife of William H. Phillips, of Eureka, Kansas; Josephine O., at home; Frederick W., died in infancy ; Clara C., at home; Lucy A., who was married to Frederick A. Reynolds, now deceased; Robert P., who died young, and Edith H., who became the wife of Erwin R. Graves, now living at Braintree, Mass- achusetts.
IRA P. EVANS.
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Ira Pettiplace Evans, Jr., was the youngest son of Ira P. Evans and Ann Phyllis Owen. He was a manufacturer and merchant in his earlier days and had received his education at Fruit Hill, Rhode Island, and at Munson acad- emy, Massachusetts. At an early age our sub- ject was with his father in business, where he learned merchandising. Subsequently he clerked for Parker & Pond, Providence, Rhode Island, and later was with the house of Nichols & Eddy, Norwich, Connecticut, where he was admitted to partnership. In 1844 he sold out his interest and removed to New York city and engaged in the wholesale grocery business until the spring of 1855, when he closed up his business and re- moved west, settling in Bureau county, Illinois, where he was satisfactorily engaged in agricul- tural pursuits until called from this life. He placed his land under a high state of cultivation, made excellent improvements upon his place, and was numbered among the most thrifty, en- terprising and successful farmers of the com- munity.
Originally Mr. Evans was a whig in politics, being a warm admirer of Henry Clay, and on its organization joined the republican party, ever afterward supporting the men and measures put forward by that party. He cared nothing for the honors or emoluments of public office, but was elected and served for one year as assessor. In religious belief he was a Unitarian, but was the only one of that faith in Buda. Upright and honorable in all the relations of life, he merited and received the respect of the entire community, and in his.death his fellow citizens felt that they had lost a valued member of society.
JAMES M. KIMBALL. Among the influen- tial members of the farming community of Princeton township, Bureau county, and now one of its prosperous citizens, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is entirely a self-made man in the truest sense of the word, having been the architect of his own fortunes, and has raised himself from a state of poverty to affluence, aided only by his own strong arms,
indomitable energy and laudable ambition. He now has a fine farm of two hundred and sixty acres on section 28, Princeton township, all under a high state of cultivation and well improved.
Samuel Kimball, the father of our subject, was a native of Henniker township, Merrimac coun- ty, New Hampshire, born January 22, 1776, and was a son of Samuel Kimball, of the same state. In that state the former married Jennie Mona- han, whose birth occurred at Bedford, New Hampshire, in 1780, and in 1830 they removed to New York, settling in Erie county, but in 1843 came to Bureau county, Illinois, where both died, the mother in 1850 and the father two years later. Their only child was our subject. The father, however, had previously been married, his first union being with Betsey Sargent, and to them were born seven children-Mollie, Betsey, Abigail, Lucy, Fannie, Catharine and Joseph, all now deceased. Joseph was a soldier in the Black Hawk and Seminole wars, and has never been heard of since.
James M. Kimball was born in Henniker, New Hampshire, August 30, 1819, and his early school privileges were quite limited, as his father lost his fortune before leaving that state. At the age of sixteen years he laid aside his text books and entered the Canadian war, training under Gen- eral Scott in 1837. On his return home he worked out by the day, and later received ten dollars per month. His health becoming impaired, he came west in 1842, purchasing forty acres of the farm on which he still lives and ten acres of timber land. The remainder of his valuable farm in Princeton township, Bureau county, was bought in 1850. His parents, who were then old and crippled, came to make their home with him, and it required much hard work to get along.
On the 8th of January, 1851, Mr. Kimball led to the marriage altar Miss Margaret Glasgow, who was born in Pennsylvania, November 14, 1819, and was the daughter of Matthew Glas- gow, who came to Bureau county about 1848, but later returned to his old home in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, where he died of cholera. The wife of our subject was called to her final
18
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rest September 25, 1890, and her death was widely and deeply mourned. Three children had been born to them, two now living-James W. and Ida J., now the wife of George Townley, of Princeton, by whom she has a daughter, Mar- garet; Frank died about 1863.
Mr. Kimball gives his attention exclusively to his farming and stock raising interests, in which he has been quite successful. In early life he was an abolitionist, being connected with the under-ground railroad, but now votes independ- ently, desiring to support the men best qualified for office, regardless of party ties, though he is a believer in high protection. He has always taken an active interest in educational affairs. doing what he can to promote the cause of edu- cation. In local affairs he is willing that others should hold the offices, but served as one of the first constables of Princeton township. He pos- sesses many of the worthy characteristics of the Scotch-Irish race, from which he is descended, and is a reliable, straightforward man.
C HARLES A. ANDERSON, a leading brick-mason and enterprising citizen of Princeton, was born in Jolmkoping, central Swe- den, February 2, 1852, and is a son of Andrew and Sarah Lena, who spent their entire lives in Sweden, dying before our subject came to Amer- ica, in 1868. He was eighteen days upon the water, experiencing a heavy storm on North Sea. and arrived here during Grant's first campaign, coming at once to Princeton. His brothers, Gustave A. and John P. Anderson, came to America the year previous. He still has a sis- ter, Hannah, wife of Charles J. Peterson, living in Sweden, but his older sister, Louisa, wife of Samuel M. Samuelson, died in 1895. at the age of sixty-four years. A daughter of a neighbor, who for many years had made her home in this country, persuaded the family to come to the United States, and here our subject has found a pleasant home.
Mr. Anderson learned his trade in Princeton with Joseph Jones and J. S. Smith, but began life for himself as a farm hand, for the first year
being employed by Marion Hight, then by He- man Downing and Ralph Wetherall, now de- ceased. Later he embarked in business as a mason, laying brick and stone, as well as doing plastering and everything in the line of that trade. He has worked at his trade in Princeton for the past twenty-five ycars, and has had the contract for the mason work of many of the prin- cipal buildings in the city. His work has given the best of satisfaction, as he has always faithfully performed his part of the contract.
Mr. Anderson led to the marriage altar, April, 1881, Miss Mary V. Anderson, and they now have five children-Emma Mabel, Nettie L., Or- line, Adalia and Clarence J. The parents are earnest members of the Swedish Lutheran church and are well known and highly respected citizens of the community.
The parents of Mrs. Anderson, John Valine and his wife, Cathrina, make their home in Princeton and are at the age of eighty and sixty- six years respectively. Their children were all born in Sweden, and in 1869 the family came to the new world, locating at once in Princeton. Of the children, Hannah, widow of Charles Sanders, resides in Chicago; Ida, wife of Gust Johnson, lives in DeKalb, Illinois, and the other two sis- ters of Mrs. Anderson reside in Princeton-Til- lie, and Lottie, wife of Otto Wilander. The father purchased a farm near the covered bridge south of Princeton, which he still owns.
M RS. THOMAS COTTON, proprietor of a hotel in Seatonville, Illinois, is a lady of large business capacity and marked intel- ligence, and is distinguished in the records of Bureau county for her straightforward, womanly course, no less than for the tact and energy she lias employed in her business affairs. She was born in Worcestershire, England, October 17, 1850, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Coutherrington) Fletcher, in whose family were the following children: Matthew Henry, a resi- dent of Hollowayville, Bureau county, who married Hannah Beckly: Ann, wife of William Smith, of Princeton; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph
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Vains, of Princeton; Maria, wife of George Heathcock, of the same city; Alice, whose name introduces this review; Mary Ann, wife of Jasper Holton, of Princeton; and Joseph, of Topeka, Kansas, who married Lavilla Wilhite.
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