USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 52
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 52
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 52
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Some five years after the death of the father the family removed to the school section in La Prairie township, and together improved the farm on which James Smith now resides. One by one they each went to farms of their own in due time. Andrew remained at home with his widowed mother and tenderly cared for her until her death, August 13, 1886, when nearly eighty years of age. He never married. His own death oc- curred September 25, 1890.
Andrew Smith was an active and thorough- going business man, attending strictly to his own private affairs and never thrusting himself upon the attention of others, but was always ready to aid with his influence and means all projects for the material interests of his adopted county and nation. In the establishment of the woolen mill at Lacon he was an active participant, and to- gether with Archibald Riddell became the heav- iest stockholders and served as a director, retain- ing his interest in the manufactory until his death. He was also one of the original stockholders in the Lacon bank, and for years was one of its board of directors. As a farmer, he ranked among the best in Marshall county, everything around him betokening thrift and a watchful eye. There was no detail of the farm work that he did not give his personal attention to, and as a stock raiser he was eminently successful and for some years annually fed many head of cattle and hogs. His investments were all carefully made and few mistakes were ever made by him. In addition to his landed interests in Marshall county, he
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invested in land in Iroquois county, which he had improved and which he still owned at the time of his death. A liberty loving man, on the organization of the republican party he became a strong advocate of its principles. His death was deeply lamented by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
James Smith first saw the light of day in Dum- friesshire, Scotland, May 9, 1825, and came with his parents to the United States when but fifteen years of age. He remained at home and was in partnership with his brother until his marriage, March 14, 1858, with Miss Lucy Canterbury, a native of County Wicklow, Ireland, who came to this country when a young miss. She was a daughter of William Canterbury, who settled in Marshall county about 1855, some three years prior to her marriage.
Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Smith secured one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 9, La Prairie township, for which he paid nine hun- dred dollars. To this farm hc removed with his young bride, and there lived until just before the war, when he purchased a partially improved farm adjoining, of one hundred and sixty acres, for which he paid nine thousand dollars. Here they resided until 1892, when he removed to the old home of his brother Andrew, who had died two years previously.
Mr. Smith still retains his farm on section 9, consisting of one half section, and also owns a quarter section on section 5, Steuben township. which he has rented. The old farm he person- ally superintends. Like his brother, James Smith has been a successful farmer and wise man- ager, giving personal attention to every depart- ment of farm work. He was also one of the first stockholders in the woolen mill, and also in the bank at Lacon, and has been a director in each. The former has not been a very successful insti- tution financially, but the latter has always paid reasonably well.
Mr. Smith has not confined his attention ex- clusively to Marshall county, but has invested largely in Vermilion county lands, owning there about nine hundred acres, divided into four
farms, which he leases to other parties. His faith in the land of his adoption is evidenced by his investments.
Mrs. Smith, who was of excellent character, a loving wife and mother, passed to her reward February 20, 1878, leaving a family of five chil- dren, three dying in early childhood. The living are Fanny G., now the wife of Lewis Calder, who resides near the old home farm; Mina, wife of Charles Monier, a son of William Monier, well known throughout Marshall and adjoining coun- ties; Mary B., Sarah and Lucy, all at home. The latter is a music teacher in Kendall College, Mus- cogce, Indian Territory. She was educated in and is a graduate of Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois.
In politics, Mr. Smith is a thorough and un- compromising republican, and while caring noth- ing for the honors of local office, has served at different periods for several years as supervisor from his township. He has also served in other local offices and represented his county in various county conventions. A continuous resident for over fifty-six years in Marshall county, our sub- ject has gone in and out among its people, at all times enjoying the confidence and respect of all. Coming to this country a poor boy, without friends, by his industry and careful management he has become possessed of much of this world's goods, and his success in life should be an incen- tive to all struggling youths and an assurance that the way to prosperity is open to cvery onc.
B ENJAMIN JUDD is a retired farmer living in Wenona. His father, Thomas Judd, was a native of Wilkes county, North Carolina, born in 1800, a son of John Judd, of English descent, who died in North Carolina. The latter came to this country as a soldier in the British army dur- ing the Revolutionary war, and at its close de- cided to remain in this country, and settled in North Carolina, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Thomas Judd, the father of our subject, mar- ried Elizabeth Darnell, also a native of Wilkes county, North Carolina, born in 1803. and a
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daughter of Benjamin Darnell, who came to Mar- shall county in 1828, locating on Sandy creek, in what is now Evans township. He was the first white man to settle in that township, and made his settlement in the edge of the timber. Before coming to Marshall county he had read medicine, and engaged in practice. He came to this county with his wife and ten children in a large panelled box wagon, with room enough in it for several to sleep. On reaching the county they camped at Crow creek at a place called Ben- nington's Grove. At that time his nearest and only white neighbor was Jesse Roberts, who had located in what is now Roberts township, some six miles distant. Indians were quite numerous and during the time of the Black Hawk war a fort was built on his farm, enclosing his log cabin. It was used as a refuge for families for miles around. Two of his sons served in Colonel John Strawn's regiment during that struggle. In 1839 he left his farm, went to Kendall county, Illinois, im- proved a new farm there and located his children around him. He died there in 1856. The chil- dren were Elizabeth, John, James, Enoch, Lark- ins, Benjamin, Abram, Mrs. Polly Adams, Mrs. Susan Hollenback and Lucy. The last named died at the age of fourteen years, and was the first death in Evans township and the first to be interred in the Cumberland cemetery located on the old Darnell farm. The others are also now deceased.
The parents of our subject were married in North Carolina, where the father engaged in farming until 1831, when they came to Marshall county and located in Evans township, adjoining the Darnell farm on the north. He built a log cabin in the edge of the timber on Sandy creek, and there remained until his death in January, 1848. The mother remained on the farm after the death of her husband and there reared her family. She died at the age of seventy-six years, and the remains of husband and wife lie side by side in Cumberland cemetery. They were the parents of ten children-Alfred, deceased; Mrs. Nancy Gants; John and Thomas, deceased; Ben- jamin, our subject; Mrs. Elizabeth French, de-
ceased ; Frances, deceased; Mrs. Matilda Brown, living in Wenona: William and Almira, deceased.
Before his death Thomas Judd greatly im- proved his farm, leaving it in good condition to his wife and children. He was a well educated man, an old school teacher, and served as county commissioner of schools at one time. He was also a justice of the peace for many years. On coming to this county he was comparatively a poor man, and in the few years of his life here ac- quired a competency.
The subject of this sketch is the only surviving son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Darnell) Judd. He was born March 14, 1829, in Wilkes county, North Carolina, and was but two years old when he came with his parents to Marshall county. He was terribly afraid of the Indians and many a time crawled under the bed when they came to the house. At one time the red men camped on Sandy creek, about twenty-five rods from the cabin of his father, and there remained for some time and often visited the house for provisions. Benjamin was reared on the old Judd farm in Evans township, and received a limited educa- tion in the subscription schools of pioneer days. At the age of nineteen years he began life for himself, working on the old home farm on the shares.
On the 20th of November, 1851, Mr. Judd was united in marriage with Miss Frances Talbot, a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Nathan Talbot, who came from Eng- land to America in 1830, locating in Pennsyl- vania, from which state he moved to Marshall county, Illinois, in 1842, settling in Hopewell township, where the mother of Mrs. Judd died. He subsequently remarried and moved to Evans township, in 1851, where he remained for a time and then returned to Hopewell township, and later went to Long Point, Illinois, where he died. By his first marriage there were ten children- John, Mathias, .Nathan, William, Peter, Mar- garet, Mrs. Judd, Elizabeth, Jane and Mrs. Ra- chel Lyons. Two of his sons, John and James, served in the civil war.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Judd lived
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on the old Judd farm until 1865, then moved to section 16, Evans township, there lived until 1886, when they removed to Wenona, and have since lived retired. Our subject was quite a success- ful farmer, and it is said that he raised more acres of corn than any other man in Evans township. He planted and harvested forty-two crops of corn in succession.
Mr. and Mrs. Judd are the parents of seven children -- Adeline, now the wife of Lutelus W. Kemp, lives in Evans township, and is the mother of five children: Nelson Perry married Eliza- beth Wilson, by whom he has eight children, and the family now reside on the Judd farm; James Ashley married Della Haws, by whom he had four children, and they too reside on the old Judd farm; Thomas D., who is a furniture dealer and undertaker in Wenona, married Ida Wilson, by whom he has one child; Clara Jane resides at home; Mary Frances married Alonzo D. Brown, principal of the Wenona grammar schools, by whom she has two children; Julia Dell also re- sides at home.
Mrs. Judd is a member of the Presbyterian church, and takes an active interest in the work of that body. Mr Judd is connected with the Masonic order, belonging to the blue lodge at Wenona and the chapter at Rutland, Illinois. He has passed through all the chairs of the for- mer and has been a delegate to the Grand lodge. He has always taken a deep interest in Masonry. In politics he is a democrat of the old school and has served in many of the local offices of his township. To each of his children he has given a good education and. has prepared them for use- ful lives. He is the oldest living resident of Evans township, and perhaps the oldest resident of the county.
G I EORGE R. PHELPS, who has long been identified with the agricultural interests of Princeton township, is a worthy represent- ative of one of the honored pioneer families of Bureau county. He traces his ancestry back to William Phelps, who, in 1630, came from Eng- land to Dorchester, Massachusetts, but about
five years later went to Windsor, of the same state, where his death occurred July 14, 1672. He became a prominent citizen of that place, serving as magistrate for many years, and he and his wife were members of Rev. Mr. War- ham's church. She died in 1689. In their fain- ily were seven children-William, Nathaniel, Samuel, Joseph, Timothy, Mary and Sarah.
The second of that family, Nathaniel P'helps, removed to Northampton, Massachusetts, ill 1650, and on the 17th of September, of the same year, married Elizabeth Copley, who died De- cember 6, 1712, and his death occurred May 27, 1702. He served as deacon of his church, and was the father of six children-Mary, Nathaniel, Abigail, William, Thomas and Mercy.
Of that family, Nathaniel Phelps was born April 2, 1653, and died June 20, 1719. On the 27th of August, 1676, he married Grace Martin, who died August 2, 1727. She was a native of England, and a woman of strong will and char- acter. Two children born to theni, Grace and Nathaniel, both died in infancy, and the others were Samuel, Lydia, Grace, Elizabeth, Abigail, Nathaniel, Sarah and Timothy.
Nathaniel Phelps, of the above family was born February 13, 1692, and died October 14, 1747. He married Abigail Burman, who died June 12, 1727, and May 25, 1730, he wedded Mrs. Catherine Heacock. By the first marriage four children were born-Charles, Anne, Nathaniel and Martin; and by the second, Catherine, Lydia, John and Mehitable.
The third of the first family, Nathaniel Phelps, was born December 13, 1721, and died ()ctober 29, 1789. In 1750 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Childs, of Deerfield, Massachu- setts, who died July 28, 1769, and in 1773, he married Mrs. Rebecca Childs. Their children were Burnham, Elizabeth, Abigail. Nathaniel, Elijah, Ann and Rufus.
Of that family, Nathaniel was born June 5. 1757, and died March 4. 1833. He was married June 5, 1781, to Lucy Strong, whose death oc- curred in 1834. To them were born the follow- ing children-Diana, Burnham, Ebenezer S.,
GEORGE R. PHEPHS.
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Nathaniel, Lucy, who died in infancy; Adelia, Lewis, Lucy, Lucinda and Charles.
The last named, Charles Phelps, was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, October 24, 1802, and became the father of our subject. He de- parted this life at Princeton, Illinois, July 2, 1874. On the Ioth of June, 1824, he led to the mar- riage altar Mary Strong, who was born Decent- ber 24, 1801, and died December 2, 1877. In June, 1836, they emigrated to Bureau county, Illinois, locating first on section 3, Princeton township, and later on section 10. He had en- tered his land in 1835, and devoted his entire time to farming. He was an upright, reliable citizen, and himself and wife were both faithful members of the Congregational church, of which lie was trustee for many years. In their family were eight children-Maria, who died in in- fancy, August 1I, 1826; George R., of this sketch; Harriet M., who married Isaac Car- penter and after his death John Lloyd, and now resides in Princeton: Ebenezer S., of Princeton ; Mary E., who wedded William Green, and later William Starkey, and died February 14, 1895: Charles P., a resident of Princeton; Elijah P., who died in childhood, and Lucy A., wife of Gilbert Spaulding, of Nebraska. Ebenezer S. Phelps, an uncle of our subject, was one of the first of the colony from Massachusetts to come to Bureau county, and was a leading member of the Congregational church here. He was born September 3, 1788, and on the 24th of February, 1812, married Anna Wright, who was born May 10, 1781, and died in 1873. His death occurred the year previous.
In Hampshire county, Massachusetts, George R. Phelps, of this review, was born February 20, 1827, and attended the common schools of Bu- reau county, which in that day were not very efficient in promoting excellence in scholarly at- tainments. With the exception of two years in the furniture business with his brother, E. S., his entire life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and he owns a good farmi of sixteen acres on section 9, Princeton township.
On the 17th of May, 1871, he was united in
marriage with Miss Julia R. Phelps, who was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, Novem- ber 19, 1828, and is a daughter of Lewis and Asenath Phelps, both of whom died in 1872, at the age of seventy-five and seventy-seven years re- spectively. The former was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and the latter of the Con- gregational church. In early life the father was a clothier, but later engaged in farming, and was well and favorably known throughout the com- munity where he made his home. The wife of our subject was one of a family of nine children, five of whom died in infancy. The others are Fanny E., widow of Horace Augur, and a resi- dent of New Haven, Connecticut; Calvin W., of Northampton, Massachusetts, and Adelia C., wife of William E. Augur, of West Haven, Connecticut.
One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Phelps, Grace M., a graduate of the Princeton high school, who has been engaged in teaching in Bureau county for several years. The family are worthy members of the Congregational church. Mr. Phelps is a demitted member of the Masonic order, and in politics is a republican. He has satisfactorily filled the offices of assistant supervisor, commissioner of roads, and for many years has been a member of the board of school trustees, taking a deep and commendable interest in educational matters. In early life his father supported the whig party, and later became an abolitionist, being in close sympathy with the movements of the underground railroad in Bu- reau county.
C HARLES WESTON. Prominent among the citizens of Concord township, Bureau county, mentioned in this work, is the gentleman of whom this history is written. He is one of the energetic and enterprising farmers and stock- raisers of this portion of the county. His home is situated on section 22, where he carried on agricultural pursuits with good success, and where he has one of the most highly cultivated farmis in the locality.
Mr. Weston comes from the far off state of
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Maine, his birth occurring in Bloomfield town- ship, Somerset county, May 3, 1831. His pa- rents, Joseph and Hannah (Webb) Weston, emi- grated to Illinois in 1856, locating near the vil- lage of Buda, in Bureau county, on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres which the father purchased. There he spent his remaining days, dying January 29, 1886, and his remains were interred in Hopeland cemetery, west of Buda, beside those of his wife, who died two years pre- viously. In their family were six children, of whom our subject is the fourth in order of birth, and of whom five are still living. Joseph W. lives at Plymouth, Pennsylvania; James W., is a well known grocery merchant of Buda; Mrs. Gratia A. Burns is a resident of the same place, and Mrs. Emily R. Waite died, leaving four children.
The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed on his father's farm in Maine, and he ob- tained his literary education in the country schools of the neighborhood, which he attended for about six weeks of each year. On attaining his majority he went into the pineries in the northern part of the state, where he was em- ployed for six years, and thus obtained his start in life. In 1857 he came west to Illinois, and passed the following two years at the home of his father.
In 1858 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Weston and Miss Lydia Cummings, by whom he had two children-Lyman W., now a resident of Cando, Towner county, North Dakota, and Sher- man, who assists in the operation of the home farm. The wife and mother died October II, 1876. Mr. Weston wedded for his second wife Leah Jane Bates, whose death occurred August 22, 1893. On the 9th of October, 1894. he mar- ried Mrs. Elizabeth Aker, a native of Archibald. Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of William and Martha (Morgan) Jerman. By her former marriage she has one daughter, Martha.
For one year Mr. Weston made his home in Henry county, Illinois, after which he sold out and returned to Concord township, Bureau
county, where he purchased ninety acres of good land, on which he has since resided. He has met with a fair degree of success in his chosen calling, and the neat and thrifty appearance of his places shows him to be a most progressive and energetic farmer. He is now an ardent democrat in politics, but was reared a republican and voted that ticket until 1884. He is highly esteemed and respected by the members of so- ciety that surround him and enjoys the confi- dence and regard of all.
ISAAC PARSONS, deceased, was for many years one of the leading and representative farmers of Ohio township, Bureau county. He was born in New York in 1833, a son of Isaac and Mary (Coon) Parsons, who were also na- tives of the same state. When quite young he was taken by his parents to Canada, whence they later removed to Illinois, locating first in Mc- Henry county, where they remained for two years. From there they removed to Lee county, and finally settled in Bureau county, where the father engaged in farming as long as he was physically able. With his wife and five children he went to California in 1867, being passengers on the first train that ran through to that state. There the deaths of both parents occurred.
Our subject was the eighth in order of birth in their family of thirteen children, and with them came to Illinois in 1850. He accompanied them on their various removals, until finally locating in Ohio township, Bureau county, where he opened up and improved a farm, devoting his time to agriculture until called from this life. He lived near Ohio and Palestine until about the close of the civil war, when he purchased the farm on which his widow yet resides, and there his death occurred on the 29th of April, 1891.
On the IIth of October, 1851, Mr. Parsons was united in marriage with Miss Fannie E. Hawkins, a daughter of John R. and Lucretia (Umpsted) Hawkins, who were born in New York, and became residents of Illinois. She has five brothers and sisters, one of whom is Celes- tia, now the widow of Lewis N. Parsons, a broth-
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er of Isaac, who died in 1893, greatly mourned by all who knew him. The union of our subject and wife was blessed by the birth of four chil- dren, yet living, namely: Electa A., Homer, Mortimer, and Estella, wife of Albert Garrett, of Chicago, Illinois.
A conscientious, earnest Christian, Mr. Par- sons was a faithful member of the Church of Christ. His integrity of character, unbounded benevolence and never-failing courtesy made him beloved by all who had the honor of his acquaint- ance, and in his death the community felt like they had lost a most valued and worthy citizen. He was one of the oldest settlers of Ohio town- ship and did much to promote its development and welfare.
Mrs. Parsons and her sister, Mrs. L. N. Par- sons, now reside on the Parsons homestead in Ohio township, and are surrounded by many warm friends who esteem them highly for their many womanly virtues. They are devoted mem- bers of the Christian church and take an active part in all benevolent and church work.
JOHN HOWARD BRYANT, who for sixty- four years has been a resident of Princeton, is held in the highest esteem by those who know him, and all admire him for his work's sake. He traces his genealogy back many generations, his ancestry on both his father's and mother's side coming from England in the Mayflower. Through all the generations that have since passed, the name of Bryant has been a familiar one in New England history, and those of the name have done much in moulding public opinion.
John H Bryant was born in Cummington, Massachusetts, July 22, 1807, and is the son of Dr. Peter and Sarah (Snell) Bryant. His father was of the fourth generation from Stephen Bry- ant and Abigail Shaw, of Plymouth, Massachu- setts. His mother was a descendant of Josiah Snell, who married Anna Alden, granddaughter of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins, who were immortalized by Longfellow. Dr. Peter Bryant was thoroughly educated and a most skillful phy-
sician. Though naturally a strong man physi- cally, his long rides over rough mountain roads and exposure in all kinds of weather doubtless shortened his life, he dying at the age of fifty- two years. His wife, who by nature and train- ing was a typical wife of a physician, died in June, 1847, in her eightieth year.
John H. Bryant has always had great love for his New England home, and in one of his earliest poems he thus writes :
"There stands a dwelling in a peaceful vale,
With sloping hills and waving woods around, Fenced from the blast. There never ruder gale
Bows the tall grass that covers all the ground; And planted shrubs are there, and cherished flowers, And brightest verdure born of gentle showers.
'Twas there my young existence was begun;
My earliest sports were on its flowery green ; And often, when my schoolboy task was done, I climbed its hills to view the pleasant scene, And stood and gazed till the sun's setting ray Shone on the height-the sweetest of the day."
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