USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 45
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 45
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 45
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
The mother of these children died in England. March 13, 1870, at the age of fifty-two years. She was a most excellent woman, of a good education, and an active member of the Con- gregational church, of which denomination her father was a minister for thirty-five years. For twenty-five years of that time she was one of his teachers in the Sunday school, and was also a writer of some notoriety.
In his native land, Joseph Fletcher, the father of Mrs. Cotton, followed coal mining, being pit boss for many years. With his sons-in-law, John Glover, Joseph Vains and Joseph Heathcock, he came to the United States in December, 1869, taking up their residence in Bureau county, and in the following May the rest of the family ar- rived, including the wives of those gentlemen, Mary Ann and Joseph Fletcher. They settled in the coal valley of Selby township, where they opened up a mine on leased land. it being the first one operated in Bureau county. Here the father was employed until called from this life September 3, 1883, at the age of seventy-two years. He was an exemplary man, though not a member of any church, and was well and favor- ably known throughout the community.
On the 22nd of August, 1868, was celebrated the marriage of John Glover and Miss Alice Fletcher, and to them were born five children- Joseph Henry, of Seatonville, who married Liz- zie Gregg; William Thomas, who married Ella Herley, and also lives in Seatonville; John, a most reliable young man, who for the past few years has been clerk in the store of the Chicago, Wilmington & Vermillion Coal Company: George, who resides at home and is engaged in the butcher business; and Adaline May, who assists her mother. Mr. Glover was a good business man, prompt and reliable, and for ten years was superintendent of the mine for Isam & James Seaton. His employers disliked to
part with him and declared that they had lost one of their most valuable and honest work- men. He was a sincere and earnest Christian. a member of a church and teacher in a Sunday school in his native land, but here was con- nected with no religious denomination as there was no church of his choice in the community. In October, 1877, he brought his family to Sea- tonville, where they were numbered among the earliest settlers, and here our subject owns a large and substantial residence, where she has successfully conducted a boarding house for the past seven years. Mr. Glover died in Septem- ber, 1885. He was a son of Joseph Glover, also a coal miner, and one of a family of seven chil- dren, namely: Priscilla, now Mrs. Thomas Vaughn, of England; Joseph, also a resident of that country; John; James, of England; Lucy, who is married and is living in that country : Noah, of England, and William Thomas.
Mrs. Glover was again married March 5, 1888. becoming the wife of Thomas Cotton, also a native of Worcestershire. England, who in early life worked in a rolling mill, but since coming to this country has been employed in the coal mines. Mrs. Cotton is a lady of culture and pleasing presence-a most excellent wife, mother and neighbor, and stands deservedly high and is well and favorably known. She is highly re- spected by all and is a hostess of most excellent report.
L YMAN C. HUNT, an agriculturist of energy and ability, who is residing on section 15. Whitefield township, Marshall county, was born in Putnam county, April 20, 1835, about four miles above Magnolia, at the head of Sunday creek, and is the son of Richard and Ruth (Hor- rom) Hunt, both natives of New Jersey. The mother's birth occurred at Trenton, in 1812, and as early as 1832 she came to Illinois with her brother, Lyman Horrom. Her mother having died, her father, Dr. Timothy Horrom, came to Illinois soon afterward, and engaged in practice near Morris, but his last days were passed at the home of his son Daniel.
362
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
On the Ist of January, 1833, Ruth Horrom became the wife of Richard Hunt, and they be- came the parents of the following children-Ly- man C., of this review is the eldest: Mahlon L., who during the civil war became a member of Company B, Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, was wounded at Lookout Mountain, from the effects of which he died in the hospital in Oc- tober, 1862, at the age of twenty-five years, and his remains were brought home and interred six months later; Timothy owns and operates a farm which belonged to his father; Sylvia is the wife of A. J. Deihl, of Henry, Illinois; Eleanor is on a claim at Hennessey, Oklahoma; Jennie, who became the wife of R. H. Delmedge, died at their home in Lorimer, Iowa, July 26, 1894, at the age of forty-seven years, leaving a husband and three children to mourn her loss; Ruth is the wife of Benjamin Andrews, of Ford county, Illinois, and Mary is with her sister on a claim at Hennessey, Oklahoma.
It was in 1828, that Richard Hunt, the father of our subject came to Illinois, located a claim on Ox Bow prairie, and three years later the family removed to the place. Although born in New Jersey, from the age of nine years he had resided near Zanesville, Richland county, Ohio, whence he came to Marshall county. After a two years' residence here, his father, Enoch Hunt, went to Bloomington, where he made his permanent home and there died, but his sons, John, Cornelius and Richard, all made homes near the head of Sunday creek. There the uncles of our subject reared their families and spent their last days. For some time his parents lived on the Ox Bow, and for two years at the head of Sunday creek, after which they returned to the former place. In 1842, however, they settled on the west side of the river in Whitefield township, Marshall county, then but sparsely settled. He entered several tracts of land, which he would subsequently dispose of and in this way made considerable money. The land office was then located at Galena, a distance of one hundred and twenty-five miles, and the journey thither would occupy one day and two
nights, and he would generally reach the land office in time for it to open at nine a. m. He had many a race to that city in order to get ahead of some competitor. He dealt in land quite ex- tensively and still had at the time of his death one thousand acres, which were divided among his children. He improved two good farms of about one-half section. He participated in the Black Hawk war, being a member of a scout- ing party for four months and helped to bury the Davis family who were massacred and two of the Hall girls carried away. His death occurred in September, 1881, at the age of seventy-seven years. Originally, he was a democrat, but later supported the republican party, whose princi- ples he stanchly advocated, and did all he could to sustain the government during the civil war. Though not a member of any church, he was quite familiar with the Bible, and gave his sup- port to religious organizations. Mrs. Hunt sur- vived him until the summer of 1894, when she too was called to her final rest. They were buried side by side in Whitefield cemetery, where a nice family monument marks the spot.
Lyman C. Hunt, whose name introduces this review, spent his boyhood and youth in the usual manner of farmer's sons, and remained under the parental roof until thirty-five years of age, the last ten years having charge of affairs. He first settled on land adjoining the old homestead, which he had partly improved while at home, but since 1873 has lived upon his present farm, which consists of five hundred acres of valuable land. He has engaged quite extensively in stock raising, making a specialty of horses, and has had some imported Shire horses upon his place. He has also raised cattle and sheep in consid- erable numbers. Besides his home farm he has also invested in lands in Kansas and Nebraska.
In 1871 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hunt and Miss Mary Coan, daughter of David Coan, of Henry, and to them were born two children, but one died in infancy. The other, Ola Grant, is operating a farm near his father. In 1874 the wife and mother died, and on the 8th of March, 1882, Mr. Hunt was again married, his
363
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
second union being with Miss Maria Van Allen, who was born near Wenona, Illinois, in La Salle county, and is the daughter of J. L. and Sarah Van Allen. Previous to her marriage she had engaged in teaching in Marshall county. Three children grace the second union-Lawrence R. and Elmer Lee, both in school, and Estella, who for the past two years has been in ill health, and receives the watchful and tender care of her mother.
Although not taking an active part in politics, Mr. Hunt always supports the republican ticket and generally attends the county conventions. He and his estimable wife hold a prominent po- sition in the social circles of the community and have the confidence and esteem of all who know them.
JOHN MURPHY, whose home is on section IO, Roberts township, is a farmer whose identification with the interests of Marshall county is both long and honorable, and the part that he has taken in promoting its best interests has made him one of its valued citizens. He was born in New York city June 20, 1855, the only child of Dennis and Mary Murphy, natives of County Cork, Ireland. The father crossed the Atlantic in 1855, but soon after reaching New York was stricken with brain fever and died. He had sent money to his wife that she might join him, but when she arrived she found that her husband had passed from this life. Com- ing to Peru, Illinois, she worked for a short time in the family of Dr. Smith, then secured employment in the family of Lyman Horrom, on Ox Bow Prairie in Putnam county. She after- ward married William W. Holmes, who was born in Herkimer county, New York, in 1806, and was one of the pioneers of Hennepin. He bought a farmi east of Magnolia, where his death occurred in 1882, after which his widow went to Peru, and there died in 1887. They were both buried in Magnolia cemetery in Putnam county. Of their five children three are living-Char- lotte, wife of Robert Studyvin, of Henry, Illi- nois, by whom she has two children, Ralph and
Rollin; Margaret, wife of Calvin Studyvin, of Saratoga township, Marshall county, by whom she has four children, Blanche, Edna, Maynard and Gladys; and Oliver, of New York. The father of this family accumulated considerable property, and to some extent dealt in real estate. He took quite an active interest in politics and was a stanch republican, but always refused office. During the civil war he was a leader in the Union League.
Our subject was reared by his step-father, a well educated and competent business man, and attended the schools of Magnolia. On the 23d of January, 1884, he married Miss Ida I. Rob- erts, a daughter of Livingston and Margaret (Dent) Roberts. Her grandfather, Jesse S. Rob- erts, was the first settler of Marshall county. He was born in Kentucky, and married Miss Davis, a native of South Carolina. They removed from Smithland, Kentucky, to Montgomery county, Illinois, in 1827, and the three sons, Livingston, Obed and Jesse, planted crops that year. The grandfather selected the land on which Mrs. Murphy is living, in 1828, and Roberts Point be- came a famous place in pioneer days. He made a clearing, erected a rude log cabin without doors or windows, and removed his family to the new farm in 1829. They went through the usual experiences and hardships of pioneer life. Corn ground in a hominy block served as breadstuff, and Pekin was their nearest trading point. Jesse Roberts served as a soldier in the war of 1812. His death occurred in 1841, and his wife then went to Du Quoin. They had six children- Mrs. Jane Phillips, Obed, Jesse and Livingston, all deceased; Mrs. Margaret Winters, of Du Quoin, and Mrs. Martha Gray, deceased.
Livingston Roberts was born March 24, 1812, in Livingston county, Kentucky, and was a youth of sixteen when with the family he took up his residence upon the farm which is now the home of Mrs. Murphy, there spending his remaining days. His wife was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, July 18, 1814, a daughter of John Dent, who came to Magnolia, Illinois, in 1833, and made a permanent location. The parents of
364
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mrs. Murphy began housekeeping in a new cabin, which they occupied until 1840, when it was replaced by the present brick residence. The bricks for this house were burned in the timber here, the lumber was hauled from Chicago, and the sand from Starved Rock, in La Salle county. The home was then on the direct road between Chicago and Peoria, and early became a stage station, where the horses were changed and the passengers procured meals. It was in this way that Mr. Roberts earned the one hundred dol- lars with which he first purchased land. Rob- erts Point was also the general stopping place for the many movers who passed through this region and no one was ever turned from their door. They furnished dinner for as many as eighty-nine persons and during one summer the least number that sat down at their table was twenty-seven. The hospitality of the Roberts household was proverbial and a hearty welcome was ever extended to the guests. Mr. Roberts was a peace-loving, honorable man, who was never concerned in any lawsuit, and his word was so implicitly trusted that, although he signed papers for the amount of one hundred thousand dollars he was never asked for security. In the early days he carried one end of the sur- veyor's chain, laying out the state road from Springfield to Chicago. He was a strong, vigor- ous man and tireless worker, and never failed to be present to assist his neighbors at a house raising. He served as an officer of the regulars, and was one of the fifty men who drove the Reeves gang from the country. Although his home was not a regular station on the under- ground railroad, he never turned a negro from his door hungry. He served as a lieutenant during the Black Hawk war, and during those troubles a stockade was built around the Roberts cabin. His early political support was given the whig party, but later he became a republican, and for many years served as postmaster, also as school director and road commissioner.
This honored pioneer, who was so prominent a figure in the development of Marshall county, died March 27, 1889, and his wife passed away
January 28, 1892. On the 24th of January, 1883, they celebrated their golden wedding, issuing seven hundred invitations. Four persons who attended the wedding fifty years previous were present on this occasion. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts had twelve children: Thomas D. married Thene Compton, who died, leaving one child, and for his second wife wedded Dora Ellsbury, by whom he has three children; Alonzo, deceased, mar- ried Almira Stateler, and they had one son ; Melissa J. is the deceased wife of Joseph Tag- gart, by whom she had a son and daughter; Jesse L. married Josephine Neal, and has five children; Zilphia L. is the wife of John Burns and has one son; John A. wedded Mary Finley and has one daughter; William G. wedded Mary Glenn and has five children; Elizabeth E. is the wife of Jerry Trone; Henry died in infancy; Riley B. married Minnie Haws and has four children; Mrs. Murphy is the eleventh of the family, and Mary H., the youngest, is the wife of Dr. J. W. Evans, and has one daughter.
Mrs. Murphy was born February 27, 1857, on the farm, where her entire life has been passed and where she yet makes her home. She was married in this house, and here was born the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, Olney, whose birth occurred August 19, 1887. The farm is the oldest in Marshall county, and the house has stood for a half century. The place com- prises one hundred and twenty-two acres of rich land, all of which is under a high state of culti- vation. Mr. Murphy is a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America; in politics he is a republican and has served as road commissioner. For many long years both he and his wife have resided in this county, and are widely known among its settlers, many of whom are numbered among their warm friends.
C HARLES T. WIGGINS, a well known farmer residing on section 22, Princeton township, has for over half a century been identi- fied with the interests of Bureau county. He is a native of England, born at Clapton, Middle- sex county, January 29, 1824, and is a son of
365
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
William and Elizabeth (Oglive) Wiggins, the former a native of Northamptonshire, and the latter of Somersetshire. The father was a mer- chant as well as a farmer, carrying on opera- tions within nine miles of London, and in that country spent his entire life. His father, Joseph Wiggins, was also an agriculturist.
Our subject is the oldest in a family of five children, the others being Joseph, deceased; Elizabeth, living in England; Letitia, deceased; and William. The mother of these children died in 1831, and the father later wedded Mary Watts, a native of England, and to them were born ten children-Mrs. Mary Chubb; Ellen; Mrs. Emma Gray, a resident of Black Hawk, Colorado; Mrs. Eliza Robinson, of Denver, Colorado; Thomas and Aland, deceased; Watts; and three who died in infancy. The father's death occurred in .1849. The parents were both members of the Episco- pal church.
In his native land Charles T. Wiggins ac- quired his education, and at the age of seventeen years crossed the Atlantic, coming at once to Bureau county, Illinois, and locating at what was then Greenfield, but is now Lamoille. For one month he was employed by a Mr. Hopps, but for the remainder of the winter worked for his board, and in the spring of 1843 went to Galena, where he was engaged in tending a windlass at twenty dollars per month until June. Returning to Bureau county, he worked in the harvest field for David Wells, of Clarion township, for five dollars per month. During those early days he received a letter from home, which lay in the post office for three months, as he did not have twenty-five cents to pay postage.
Mr. Wiggins was next employed by Mr. Dun- ham at Red Oak Grove, taking care of sheep at seven dollars per month, after which he re- turned to Mr. Wells, with whom he made his home for some time. Until 1846 he then worked for different people and then went to Princeton, where he was employed in the brickyard of John H. Bryant, for whom he worked until 1861. He suffered much from fever and ague during his early residence here. By his last employer he
was appointed deputy United States revenue col- lector, and later he served in the same capacity under Henry R. Sanderson, of Galesburg, for about six months, when Mr. Bryant was again appointed, and he remained with him until the end of his term. It was on the 17th of March, 1856, that Mr. Wiggins located upon his present farm, comprising one hundred and sixty-eight and a half acres, one hundred and twenty-eight of which he has placed under cultivation. He is a thorough and skillful agriculturist and has been very successful in that occupation.
Mr. Wiggins was married September 12, 1851, the lady of his choice being Rhoda Bridges, who was born July 27, 1828, in Jackson county, Tennessee, and died April 7, 1881. They became the parents of five children : Mary Alice, who graduated at the Princeton high school in the class of 1875, is a teacher of recognized ability and a member of the People's Association of Princeton. Harry Walter is next in order of birth. John H. married Annie L. Wheeler, by whom he has one child, Margery Nell. Har- riet Eliza is deceased. William Charles, now a resident of Fairfield, Iowa, married Minnie B. Swift.
In his political affiliations Mr. Wiggins was first a stanch abolitionist, later a republican, and now a democrat, and for many years he has been an efficient school director. His industry in the pursuit of his own business, his spotless private life, and the character of the services he has ren- dered in his official capacities, have elevated him to the highest estimation in the community in which he has so long made his home.
P ATRICK COLLINS, residing on section 4, La Prairie township, with postoffice at La Prairie Center, Marshall county, is a representa- tive of that class of men of foreign birth who easily assimilate the American ways and cus- toms, and, while always having a high regard and love for the place of their birth, yet believe they must give their best to the country of their adoption. He is a native of Ireland, born in County Wicklow, March 17, 1828, and came to
366
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
this country a youth of seventeen years, his par- ents having died some time previous. He was the first of the family to come to America, and accompanied by two neighbor boys, he crossed the ocean, and at once proceeded to Albany, New York, near which place he secured work on a farm for one month. At the expiration of this time he went to Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, where he worked at farm labor for about five years, four years of which time working for one man, receiving a salary of from nine to eleven dollars per month.
Leaving Pennsylvania, Mr. Collins came to Illinois, stopping for a time at Chillicothe, Peoria county, and later securing work with Mr. Stone on his farm at Lawn Ridge, La Prairie town- ship. Marshall county, where he remained one season. He then returned to Peoria county, where he remained one year, after which he came again to La Prairie township, and for two years rented a farm and raised two crops. The desire had long possessed him of being the owner of a farm, and with the accumulations of the years spent in America he purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Bureau county at a cost of eight hundred dollars. He pur- chased this land without having seen it. and when he came to look it over he was not well pleased and determined to sell, which he did at an advance of one hundred dollars on the purchase price. With the proceeds of this sale he purchased eighty acres where he now re- sides at a cost of one thousand dollars. This was all prairie land and partially improved, but all the land adjoining was in a wild state. His nearest neighbor, Francis Grady, lived one mile away and was one of the pioneers of the locality.
When Mr. Collins purchased the place he was yet a bachelor, and for one year after lived that lonely life and was then married to Miss Mar- garet Monier, of Saratoga township. In the little log house, 16x24 feet, then standing on the place, Mr. Collins took his young bride, and the two commenced together the battle of life. But little progress was at first made, the nearest market for his grain and produce being Chilli-
cothe, which was just then reached by railroad. By and bye the tide began to turn and an era of prosperity dawned upon our subject. Hard work and the practice of economy brought its results, and with their savings eighty acres lying on the north, then owned by Albert Powell, was purchased at a cost of one thousand nine hun- dred and fifty dollars. Mr. Powell, who was . a young man, had begun the improvement of the place, but thought it advisable to sell to Mr. Collins, who about this time also bought one hundred and sixty acres in Stark county, which he shortly sold at an advantage. With the pro- ceeds of this sale he bought other lands adjoin- ing his home farm, one hundred eighty acres of which cost him three thousand dollars. From this time on he continued to add to his posses- sions, securing next the Hill farm-of one hun- dred and sixty acres, for which he paid nine thousand dollars. This farm was well improved with good buildings. Another purchase of eighty acres about this time cost him four thou- sand dollars. He next purchased one hundred and sixty acres opposite the home farm, for which he paid ten thousand dollars. This also was well improved. Since then he, has added one hundred and sixty acres on section 32, pay- ing for it eleven thousand dollars. On section 31, Whitefield township, he owns a farm which cost him fourteen thousand dollars for one hun- dred and sixty acres. Both of these farms have fine houses and barns. All of these tracts of land yet remain in his possession and are oper- ated by himself and family.
Politically Mr. Collins is thoroughly independ- ent. He does not believe that all the intelli- gence, all the honesty, or all the rascality be- long to any one party, and in exercising the elective franchise he votes for the man he con- siders best qualified to fill the office desired. In politics he has always been interested enough to vote as the opportunity was given him. He has never had the time or inclination to serve in offi- cial position, but filled the office of road com- missioner for twelve years, because it was a position in which he felt a special and personal in-
2
367
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
terest. Farming has been his life long work and that he has always been a good farmer is proven by the great success which has followed him for a period of over forty years since making his first purchase of land in Marshall county. Stock raising has been a specialty with him, and upon his place at all times may be found one hundred head of cattle, a number of horses and many head of swine. He believes in keep- ing the best stock, and therefore you will find on his place Norman horses and the best breeds of cattle and hogs. He ships his own stock, and, having no commission to pay, his profits are usually satisfactory.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.