USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 50
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 50
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 50
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young man of superior business capacity, as an official is prompt and faithful in the discharge of every duty devolving upon him, and is justly entitled to the high regard in which he'is univer- ยท sally held.
JOSIAH M. STARK, a prosperous and hon-
ored citizen of Princeton, was for many years one of the leading and representative farm- ers of Bureau county, but has now laid aside business cares, and is enjoying a well-earned rest. He dates his residence here since the 27th of May, 1849, and therefore has witnessed almost the entire development of the county. He has seen the lands transformed from an almost un- broken wilderness into good homes and farms, towns and villages spring up, and all modern in- ventions and improvements introduced.
Mr. Stark was born in Morris county, New Jersey, September 30, 1821, and is a son of Red- ding and Sarah (Munson) Stark, the former a native of Morris county, and the latter of Sussex county, the same state. John Stark, the pater- nal grandfather, was of English birth, and be- came an early settler of New Jersey. The father of our subject for many years carried on' agri- cultural pursuits in the county of his nativity, but in 1850 emigrated to Bureau county, Illinois, where his death occurred March 16, 1858, and his wife, surviving him a number of years, died November 10, 1869. Their bodies were interred in Oakland cemetery, where a neat and substan- tial monument marks their last resting place. Josiah M. is the second in order of birth in their family of five children, three sons and two daughters, the others being as follows: John M. married and spent his entire life in New Jer- sey; Jacob never married and died in Bureau county, and was buried near his parents; Lisba Ann married D. W. Skinner, and resides at Den- ver, Colorado; Marian married J. S. Kinnan, of Bureau county, but both are now deceased.
The boyhood and youth of Josiah M. Stark were passed in the county of his birth, but his school privileges were rather limited. He is, however, a well-informed man through reading
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and observation in later years. There he was married, October 28, 1845, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary H. Larason, a native of Mor- ris county, and a daughter of Thomas and Mary H. (Howell) Larason. Her maternal grand- mother, Rachel Howell, was also a native of New Jersey. Mrs. Stark has a piece of her grandmother's wedding dress, a striped and figured silk, which is now one hundred and six- teen years old.
For three years after his marriage, Mr. Stark engaged in freighting from Jersey to New York city, and in 1849 came to Illinois by way of New York & Erie canal and the lakes, to La Salle, and thence to Bureau county, arriving in Princeton on the 27th of May. There he spent the first year, working at any employment which he could find, and for the following two years operated a rented farm. He then purchased eighty acres in Selby township, to which he re- moved in 1852, and to its improvement and cul- tivation devoted his time and attention. He ex- tended its boundaries until it comprised one hun- dred and twenty acres, forty of which were un- derlaid with coal, and he enlarged and remodeled the house which he at first erected, built good barns and out-buildings, and converted the place into a valuable and productive farm. There he made his home until 1892, when he purchased his present comfortable home in Princeton, and has here resided. He is truly a self-made man, whose success is but the just reward of his own untiring labors.
Four children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Stark, one of whom died in infancy; George A., the oldest, is a substantial farmer of Harlan county, Nebraska. He married Emma Alford, and has one daughter, Mary H., now the wife of John Thompson, of the same county; Charles L., a prominent business man of Mal- com, Iowa, married Belle McDowell, and has two daughters, Nellie Maud and Lizzie Adelia; Josiah R. married Fannie B. Studyvin, and is a business man of Peoria.
Mr. Stark is an old Jackson democrat, always supporting the men and measures of that party,
and has himself creditably filled several local official positions. He and his wife, surrounded by loving kindred and friends, are now nearing the last milestone that marks the end of life's journey, and on the 28th of October, 1895, cele- brated their golden wedding, having for over fifty years now shared with each other their joys and sorrows, their adversity and prosperity. Their record has been an honorable one, their years have been fruitful with deeds of usefulness, and they have gained the respect and honor of the whole community. For over forty-seven years they have now resided within the borders of Bureau county, and no couple is more deserv- ing of mention in a volume of this character than Mr. and Mrs. Stark.
M ICHAEL SKEFFINGTON. The well- appointed farm of this gentleman is finely located on section 15, Westfield township, Bu- reau county, within whose borders he arrived in 1850. About 1867 he located upon the land which he now occupies, a valuable tract of two hundred and forty acres, and to which he has given his close attention with results that can hardly fail to be satisfactory to himself, and where his labors have met with success.
Ottawa, Canada, was the early tramping ground of our subject, and there his birth took place December 15, 1837. His father, Patrick Sheffington, was a native of Ireland, born in county Meath, about 1814, but when a young man he emigrated to Canada with two brothers. He sawed the first lumber in Ottawa with whip saws, which was used in building the city and the canal. There he married Nora Stockpole, a na- tive of County Cork, Ireland, and they began their domestic life upon a farm of one hundred acres which the father cleared and developed. In 1850 he brought his family to Bureau county, Illinois, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of raw land in Westfield township on which he located. He prospered in his undertakings here and at his death owned over a section of land. He was numbered among the most active, enterprising and successful farmers of Bureau
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county, and was called upon to serve in a num- ber of local positions of honor and trust. His death occurred in 1876, at the age of sixty-two years, and his wife passed away in 1882. Both lie buried in La Salle cemetery, where a neat and substantial monument marks their last resting place.
Michael Skeffington is the oldest in the family of eight sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, and five sons and two daugh- ters are still living. The others are as follows: Maria, wife of Patrick Nolan, of Seymour, Champaign county, Illinois: Ann, who died in girlhood; Peter and Patrick, both farmers of Champaign county; William, John and Joe, all deceased; Dennis, a resident of Kansas City ; Frank, a farmer of Westfield township; and Martha J., who is married and resides in Canada.
Mr. Skeffington, of this sketch, was a lad of thirteen years when brought by his parents to . Bureau county, where he grew to manhood and completed his education in the common schools. He early became familiar with farm work, and continued to aid in the cultivation of the home farm for several years. He was married in La Salle county, Illinois, on the 5th of March, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth Coakely, a native of Bureau county and a daughter of Cornelius Coakely, one of the old settlers of this state, who came when a young man to La Salle county, but after- ward took up his residence in Bureau county. His death occurred at Peru, July 3, 1859. IIis daughter was reared and educated in that city, and for a time was a successful teacher.
Upon his marriage, Mr. Skeffington located upon his present fine farm, which he now has under a high state of cultivation and improved with a substantial two-story residence, good barns and out-buildings. In his undertakings he has been uniformly successful, and is num- bered among the energetic and stirring men who operate to such good purpose in Westfield town- ship. Besides his farming interests, he estab- lished a dry goods store at Arlington, in 1890, which he conducted for about three years, and was also engaged for two years in the same busi-
ness at Ladd, his son John managing the store at the latter place.
To Mr. and Mrs. Skeffington were born the following named children: Eleanore, who died at the age of two years; John, who completed his education at Niagara college, and is now assist- ing his father in the operation of the home farm; Patrick and Theressa, who are also at home: Elizabeth, who is attending the Sister's school at Utica, Illinois; Eleanora, Joseph, Cornelius and James, all at home; Henry, who died in 1894. at the age of eight years, and Cleophus, Gene- vieve, Michael Sylvester and William, who com- plete the family. The parents and children are communicants of the Catholic church at Arling- ton.
Politically, Mr. Skeffington is a stalwart sup- porter of the democratic party, takes an active part in its affairs, has served as chairman of the township central committee for years, and has been a delegate to numerous county, state and national conventions. He has acceptably served in several official positions, being supervisor six- teen years, township treasurer and school treasurer. To whatever position he has been elected he has proved a most competent and trustworthy officer, and always faithfully dis- charges every duty devolving upon him, whether public or private. During his long residence here he has gained the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact and he and his estimable wife have made hosts of warm per- sonal friends among their large circle of ac- quaintances.
JOSIAH BATY, a leading representative of the farming and stock-growing interests of Bureau county, pleasantly located on section 6, Concord township, is a native of Pennsylvania; his birth occurred in Indiana county, on Christ- mas day. 1821. His parents, David and Mar- garet (Caldwell) Baty, were also born in the same state, where the father worked as a me- chanic throughout life. He died when our sub- ject was only three years old, leaving a family of nine children in very limited circumstances.
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Josiah Baty was next to the youngest, and on his father's death went to live with a maternal uncle, where he remained until seventeen years of age, during which time he acquired the rudi- ments of an education, becoming able to "read, write and cipher." By judicious reading in later years, however, he has become a well informed man. At the age of seventeen he started out in life for himself on a farm, and to agricultural pursuits he has since devoted his time and atten- tion. On attaining his majority he went to Cat- taraugus county, New York, where he could ob- tain better wages than he was receiving in Penn- sylvania, and became foreman for an extensive lumber dealer. During his ten years' residence in the empire state, he was enabled to save some money.
In Cattaraugus county, on the 15th of Novem- ber, 1847. Mr. Baty was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Lockwood, a native of that coun- ty, and a daughter of Thomas and Fannie (France) Lockwood, who were natives respec- tively of Brooklyn, N. Y., and Pennsylvania. One son was born of this union, William H., whose home is in Sheffield, Bureau county. He is mar- ried and has two sons. Clyde and Harry.
In 1855. Mr. Baty with his family arrived in Sheffield, Illinois, and soon afterward purchased a tract of eighty acres in Concord township, pay- ing thirteen dollars per acre. On that place he has since resided, making his home in the house already erected until 1865, when he built his present comfortable dwelling. Being a thorough and skillful farmer he soon had his land under a high state of cultivation and to the original tract added until he now has two hundred acres of fine land in Concord township, besides some in Nebraska. His has been a busy and useful life, and financially he has reason to be satisfied with the results of his labors. From a humble beginning he has made for himself a name and position among his fellow citizens, and justly de- serves the honorable American title of a self- made man.
Mr. Baty has been a stalwart democrat in politics since casting his first presidential vote
for James K. Polk, and his been elected to the offices of commissioner of highways and super- visor, which fact plainly indicates his popularity and the confidence reposed in him. He and his wife hold membership in the Unitarian church at Sheffield.
M AJOR ROYAL OLMSTED, who resides on section 2, Saratoga township, Marshall county, is a veteran of the late war with a most honorable record, and well deserves special men- tion in a work of this kind. He was born in Watertown, Jefferson county, New York, Sep- tember 7, 1838, and grew to manhood on a farm and received his education in the common and select schools of that locality. At the age of seventeen he commenced teaching in the public schools of New York, and taught four terms with great credit to himself and his employers. The greater part of his time, however, was passed upon the home farm, assisting his father in its cultivation. He remained at home as a dutiful son until he reached his majority.
Not being satisfied with life in the east, and believing his chances for future advancement would be better in the west, he determined on emigrating to Illinois. An uncle, Moses Knight, was living near Whitefield, Bureau county, and to his house he came in the spring of 1860. Being without capital, he could not purchase land, but worked by the month for Mr. Greg- ory for two seasons. The war for the union had now commenced and appeals were made for volunteers to put down the great rebellion. Ac- cordingly. in August, 1861, he enlisted as a pri- vate in Company D, Forty-seventh Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, and was mustered into the ser- vice at Peoria, and with the regiment went to St Louis, and was stationed at Benton Barracks, and at that place and Jefferson City, Missouri. the winter of 1861-2 was spent. Soon after his enlistment he was appointed sergeant, and later orderly sergeant of the company.
In the spring of 1862, his regiment was or- dered with others to Island No. 10, thence to New Madrid, then to Corinth, Mississippi, where
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it took part in the siege and battle following. From Corinth it was sent along the line of the Memphis & Charleston railroad, and later to Memphis, where it did garrison duty in the winter of 1862-3. On the 28th of January, 1863, Mr. Olmsted was commissioned second lieuten- ant, and with that rank went with his company and regiment back to Corinth and Iuka and took part in the second battle of Corinth. The regiment then joined Grant at Vicksburg, tak- ing part in that celebrated siege, resulting in the capture of the city and the opening of the Mis- sissippi river to our fleet of gunboats.
Soon after the surrender of Vicksburg the Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry was sent on the expedition up Big Black river, and in the spring of 1864 joined Banks' expedition up Red river under General A. J. Smith. It joined Banks at Alexandria and was with him in all his battles and skirmishes up the river. Returning, it was sent to open up the Mississippi river, where the rebels had blocked it at Greenville while the gunboats were up the Red river. At that point the rebel batteries had succeeded in sinking a number of gunboats and must be silenced. In the fight following three men in Lieutenant Olm- sted's company were killed.
Soon after the regiment was ordered to Mem- phis, and was in the fight at Tupelo against For- est. During the summer it was engaged prin- cipally in watching that general. In the fall of 1864 it followed General Price, who was mak- ing a raid through Missouri, and during that time it saw some pretty hard service, or until it reached Warrensburg in that state. It was then ordered to St Louis and later to Chicago, where it was thought that an attempt would be made to liberate the rebel prisoners then confined at Fort Douglas. From Chicago it was sent to Springfield, thence to St. Louis en route to Nashville, to Mr. Hood, who was operating in that vicinity. At Louisville, Kentucky, it was stopped and ordered to Bowling Green, where it spent the winter.
From Bowling Green, in the spring of 1865, the regiment was ordered to New Orleans,
thence to Mobile, where it assisted in the cap- ture of the city. From Mobile it was sent to Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, where it spent the summer of 1865. Notwithstanding the war was over, the Forty-seventh was retained in the service and was not mustered out until January 20, 1866, at Springfield, Illinois.
In all the moves of the regiment our subject participated, doing his duty fearlessly and satis- factorily to his superior officers and men. He was promoted captain of Company A, October II, 1864, on the re-enlistment and re-organiza- tion of the regiment. As such he served until May 19, 1865, when he was commissioned major and served as such until finally mustered out. During this time, on account of the colonel and lieutenant colonel being on detached duty, he frequently had command of the regiment. It was for a time in the pioneer corps, and after the close of hostilities, Major Olmsted was de- tailed to look after the government cotton in Montgomery, Alabama.
On being mustered out of the service, the major returned to Marshall county, and Febru- ary 22, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Townsend, a daughter of Captain John C. Townsend, formerly captain of Company D, Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which the major first served as a private. Imme- diately after his marriage, he rented a farm and commenced what has since been his life work. After renting some three or four years, he bought his present farm on section 2, Saratoga township, where he has since continued to reside. This farm adjoins the old Captain Townsend farm, and is one of the best in this section. Four children have been born to Major and Mrs Olmsted-Bessie, wife of James Croft, of Rock Falls, Oklahoma; Emily, wife of George Pace, of Bureau county; Edwin, now assisting his father in the cultivation of the home farm, and John, who died at the age of four years.
In politics, Major Olmsted is a thorough and uncompromising republican, and has ever taken an active interest in political affairs. He believes it not only a privilege but the duty of every legal
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voter to exercise his rights as such, attending the primaries, looking after the nomination of good men, and working for their election. For four years he served his township as supervisor, dis- charging the duties of the office in a satisfactory manner. In 1872 he was defeated for the office of county treasurer.
Major Olmsted is a practical farmer and car- ries on diversified farming, never having been carried away by any fad for this, that or the other specialty that so often leads captive the average farmer, frequently to his ruin. He is not a member of any church, but believes in every man leading such a life as will merit the good will and confidence of his fellow men.
H ENRY C. SMITH, residing on section 4, Princeton township, is a worthy representa- tive of one of the honored pioneer families of Bureau county, and on both sides is descended from good old New England stock. His father, Eli Smith, was born in Deerfield, Massachu- setts, in 1804, and is a son of Chester Smith, who was born March 2, 1771, and was married December 15, 1796. In their family were nine children: Fannie, Noadiah. Clarinda, Allan, Eli, Elijah, Melinda, Louisa and Ann. In his native state Eli Smith married Miss Clar- issa Childs, who was also born in Deerfield, in 1804, and was a daughter of David W. Childs. Her father was born November 17, 1778, and was married September 7, 1802, to Eunice C. Clapp, who was born in May, 1777. They had five children-Herrick, Clarissa, Sylvia, Eunice and David.
The wedding trip of the parents of our sub- ject was their journey to Illinois by way of the lakes to Chicago, thence by ox team to Bureau county, riding the oxen part of the way. With them came the father's brother, and they lo- cated upon the present farm of Henry C. Smith in 1831, entering the land from the government. They stopped for the first night at the cabin of Elijah Epperson, of Princeton township, and their first home was built of logs. By trade Eli Smith was a carpenter and erected the first
frame house in the village of Princeton. His first experience at farm labor was upon his wild prairie home, which he broke, improved and de- veloped, giving it his entire attention. He also made the first coffin in the county and was numbered among the prominent pioneers of this region. Twice he was driven from his farm during the Black Hawk war in order to save the scalps of himself and family.
Eli Smith took an active part in conducting the underground railroad through this section. owning an old sorrel horse named John, whose services were often required in carrying negroes on their way to freedom. His first experience along this line took place at the home of his brother, Elijah Smith, whose cabin stood just across the township line in Dover township. In the summer of 1835, two colored girls, be- longing to Major Dougherty of St. Louis, made their escape and found refuge at Mineral Point, Wisconsin. Some months later a professional slave catcher, named Harris, learned of their whereabouts and captured them, and was on his way back to St. Louis, where he expected to receive the large reward offered for them. He traveled on horseback, leading another horse on which were the two girls, and one cold Decem- ber night, with his two captives, whose feet were badly frozen, arrived at the home of Elijah Smith for entertainment. Eli Smith and wife. with another neighbor, were there spending the evening, and on hearing the girls tell their sad story became interested in their behalf and a plan was adopted for their rescue. The father of our subject hitched up his horse and brought them to his farm, where he hid them in the hay mow until he could take them north to the next station.
The parental household included eight chil- dren, of whom Eunice is deceased; Harriet, mar- ried Cornelius Denham, by whom she had five children, but both are now deceased; Mary Ann, is the wife of Henry McElfish, of Iowa, and they have three sons; Lucy has passed away; Owen Lovejoy wedded Mary Wood, and they have seven children: Allen married Mary Shu-
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gart, by whom he has five children, and they live in Iowa; Henry Childs, whose name heads this sketch, is next in order of birth; Eli, mar- ried Clarinda Cusic, by whom he has two chil- dren, and they live at Earlville, Illinois. One son, Allen, served in the union army during the civil war, as a member of Company I, Ninety- third Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The parents have both departed this life, the father dying August 30, 1871, and the mother January 17, 1892. They were members of the old "Hamp- shire Colony," in which he took an active and leading part. In politics he was first an abo- litionist and later a stalwart republican, and was a highly respected and valued citizen.
The birth of our subject took place Septem- ber 18, 1846, in the house which is still his home, and upon the farm he grew to manhood. In the local schools he began his education, which was completed at the Dover academy of Bureau county. Since the age of twenty years he has had charge of the old homestead, operating the one hundred acres of rich and fertile land, and has erected all of the buildings upon the place with the exception of the residence, which has now stood for half a century. He is also a stock shipper as well as farmer, and in this way adds not a little to his income.
On the 19th of December, 1867, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Anna M. Cusic, who was born in Dover township, Bureau county, August 4, 1849, and is a daughter of Dennis A. and Betsy (Cox) Cusic, who came to this county from Ohio, in 1840, settling in Dover township, where they made their perma- nent home. Her father died August 15, 1876, and her mother September 6, 1894. The latter was a member of the Methodist Protestant church. They were the parents of twelve chil- dren, nine of whom are still living, namely: Frank, married Sarah Lean, by whom he has two sons, and lives in Chicago; Thomas, now of Iowa, wedded Maria Sill, and has one daugh- ter; Albert, of Chicago, married Sallie Brown, and has five children; Mary A., is the wife of Henry Swartz, of Dover township, and they
have three children; Mrs. Smith is the next of the family; Oscar, of Princeton, married Emma Weirrich, and has four daughters; Clarinda J., married Eli Smith, a brother of our subject; Marshall M., of Chicago, married Luella Sapp, and has one child, and Lemuel S., lives in Bu- reau county. Three of the sons wore the blue during the rebellion. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born three children-Cora A., Virgil H., deceased, and Marshall H.
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