USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 53
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 53
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 53
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There was yet much reality as well as poetry in the home life of Mr. Bryant. The farm work must be attended to, and every member of the family must do his part. No one was allowed to shirk, nor was it in the nature of John thus to do. With the others, he worked early and late, glad of the opportunity of attending school three months in the winter. His progress in school was for a time rather slow in consequence of weak eyes, caused by intently looking at an eclipse of the sun without the intervention of col- ored glass, when but four years of age. But he was a close student and made the best of his op- portunities, finishing his course at the academy in Cummington, and in the Rensselaer school, now the Rensselaer Polytechnic institute, at Troy, New York. Before attending the latter school, however, he had two winters' experience as a teacher in the public schools. A literary club in the neighborhood for the improvement
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of the young people in reading and composition was very helpful to him. In his spare hours he contributed to the Boston Philanthropist some special articles, and also some poems for the Williamstown paper.
In 1830 Mr. Bryant took the census for that part of Hampshire county lying west of the Con- necticut river, and in the winter of 1830-31 taught school in Plainfield at a salary of fourteen dollars per month and board around. The time had now come to trace his steps westward, where the opportunities were greater for success in life than in the almost barren hills of his native state. Accordingly, in the spring of 1831 he set out for Illinois, and in due time arrived in Jacksonville, having been five weeks in making the journey, and at a cost of sixty dollars.
At Jacksonville Mr. Bryant spent about a year in clerking and farming his brother Arthur's land, and in September, 1832, set out on horse- back for Princeton, accompanied by his brother Cyrus. They were induced to come here be- cause of the settlement of the Hampshire colony, which, however, had been scattered by the Black Hawk war. On their arrival they were directed to a spot now well known as the John H. Bryant place. The tract had been claimed by Michael Kitterman, but in his absence had been jumped by "Curt" Williams, who also left it. The Bry- ants erected a small cabin and began the im- provement of the place, but in their absence, one Sunday morning, Williams returned with his family and took possession of the cabin. He was eventually bought off and the brothers had no further trouble.
While residing in Jacksonville Mr. Bryant formed the acquaintance of Miss Hattie Wiswall. and in the spring of 1833 returned to Jackson- ville to claim her as his bride. The wedding ceremony took place June 7, 1833, and imme- diately thereafter the young couple went to Mere- dosia and took passage on a boat on the Illinois river for Hennepin, from which place they came "overland" to Princeton, arriving at the Bryant cabin June II, 1833. In that cabin they lived until the following spring, when Mr. Bryant
erected another cabin on the site now occupied by his present spacious mansion. All the work on the building, except the making of window sash and aid in raising, was performed by his own hands. At the raising of the cabin no in- toxicating liquors were used, which was a rather strange proceeding in those days. That cabin was to be an historical one. At its fireside sat many a negro man or woman fleeing to a land of freedom, for it was a station on the underground railroad. Preachers, politicians, temperance ora- tors, all were entertained by the hospitable own- er and his good wife. The home farm consisted of three hundred and twenty acres, which he en- tered in 1835.
Mr. Bryant has ever been an active man, and in the history of Bureau county the space filled by him is large indeed. Almost every office in the gift of the people has been held by him. Originally a democrat, he acted with that party until 1844, when, on account of its attitude on the slavery question, he became a member of the Free Soil party, and on the organization of the republican party in 1856 he united with that or- ganization. He was present as a delegate to the first national convention of that party at Pitts- burg in 1856, which nominated the great "Path- finder," John C. Fremont. Again, in 1860, he was a delegate to its national convention at Chi- cago, and assisted materially in the nomination of Honest Old Abraham Lincoln for the presi- dency. During the war following the election of Lincoln he was always foremost among those active in supplying men and means for its vigor- ous prosecution. In 1862 he was appointed col- lector of internal revenue for the Fifth district of Illinois, and served four years. The duties of the office he discharged with rare fidelity, and at a time when the internal revenue was very un- popular and when its strict enforcement was bound to make enemies.
The war ended, and other issues being before the people, Mr. Bryant could not agree with his republican associates on questions of currency and tariff, and therefore cut loose from that party and again returned to the democratic fold, the
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views of that party on the questions at issue more nearly coinciding with his own.
To Mr. and Mrs Bryant two children were born: Henry W., born April 17, 1835, died April 26, 1854, of typhoid fever; Elijah W., born December 2, 1836, married June 6, 1865, Miss Laura Smith, born March 27, 1846, and a daugh- ter of Sidney and Laura (Doolittle) Smith, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of New York. By this union the following- named were born: Frances E., Kate, John H., William C., Laura S., and John Howard, Jr. After a happy wedded life of fifty-four years, Mrs. Harriet E. Bryant died, October, 1888, at the age of eighty years. She was a woman of domestic tastes and habits, noted for hospitality and good management. Mr. Bryant's biograph- er, Mr. E. R. Brown, of Elmwood, Illinois, says of Mrs. Bryant that the last twenty-one verses of the last chapter of Proverbs fitly describes this worthy helpmeet of a noble man.
In his religious views, Mr. Bryant was always extremely liberal and never sectarian. Love to God and love to man embodies it all. Speaking of him as a poet, his biographer says: "As a poet, Mr. Bryant's writings are not numerous, but they cover a space of seventy years in time, and were written as the spirit moved, and at such odd times as ever busy man could take from the steady demands on his time and strength. His poems are characterized by good taste and a high and even flight, with nothing in them ap- proaching the sensational or morbid. There is no affectation, no trick of tinkling meter, but all is modest, manly, straightforward and genuine."
As a citizen, no man was ever more alive to the interests of his adopted city, county and state. He went at his own expense with one or two others in the winter of 1836 to Vandalia, then the capital of the state, and secured the division of Putnam county and the creation of Bureau county, and on its organization was made re- corder of deeds. In later years, for the erection of the present court house, he took the county bonds to New York, negotiated their sale and thus secured for Princeton the county seat for
all time to come. When the high school build- ing was needed he also went with the bonds ren- dered necessary and disposed of them to good advantage, with others personally guaranteeing them to the money lenders.
The familiar face and figure of John Howard Bryant is known by every man, woman and child in Princeton. A spotless life, thorough sympathy with the common people, and a perfect willingness to do all in his power for the better- ment of mankind has endeared him to all, and the example of his life is worthy of emulation by coming generations.
A MOS T. PURVIANCE, who for forty years has efficiently served as county clerk of Put- nam county, was born near Smithfield, Jefferson county, Ohio, March 6, 1823, and is a son of James and Margaret (Tipton) Purviance, the former a native of Redstone. Pennsylvania, and the latter of Baltimore, Maryland. In the kcy- stone state they were married, later removed to Ohio, and in 1846 became residents of Putnam county, Illinois, locating on a farm near IIenne- pin, where the father died in 1877, at the age of seventy-six years. A brother of our subject, Price Purviance, now resides upon the old home- stead in Granville township.
Amos spent his boyhood mainly upon the home farm, but at the age of sixteen years en- tered the office of the Steubenville Herald, then conducted by Judge Wilson, at Steubenville, Ohio, and during his three years' apprentice- ship only received his board and clothes. Soon after learning the printer's trade, in connection with a cousin, who was an attorney, he purchased the paper, which they published for about a year. and on selling out he came west.
Previously Mr. Purviance was married August 7, 1845, in Jefferson county, Ohio, to Miss Mary M. Ong, a native of that county, and to them were born two children. Margaretta, at home, was for one year engaged in teaching at Lacon, and has also done special work in the county clerk's office. Frank, who clerked for some time
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in Chicago, has for the past three years served as deputy county clerk in Putnam county.
Coming to this county in 1847, Mr. Purviance located on a farm of eighty acres, given him by his father and near the latter's farm in Granville township, and for seven years devoted himself to farming, but with not very flattering success. In 1854 he came to Hennepin, where for one year he clerked for a Mr. Pulsifer, who owned a warehouse on the west bank of the river, of which our subject took charge. He was then elected sheriff of Putnam county, in which office he served for two years, and the following year was a member of the firm of Grable, Coles & Purviance.
It was in 1857 that he was first elected county clerk, and he has been repeatedly re-elected until he has now filled the office for thirty-nine con- secutive years, which will be extended to forty- one before his present term expires. His con- tinuous service well indicates his faithful dis- charge of duty, always being found at the office, and was without a deputy until within the last three years, when his son, Frank, has served in that capacity. He has been the regular candi- date of the republican party, twice having no opponent, but several times there has been a close contest, he at one time receiving a majority of only sixteen votes. He has never taken an active part in politics, devoting his entire time and attention to his official duties, but is well informed on the leading issues and questions of the day. He was reared in the Society of Friends. but has never identified himself with any religious organization. Socially, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1895 Mr. Purviance and his estimable wife celebrated their golden wedding, one hundred and fifty guests being present, and were enter- tained at their home in the woods. His friends presented him with a handsome gold-headed cane, in token of their respect and esteem.
In 1869 Mr. Purviance purchased a wooded tract of about thirty acres, including an isle of several acres in the river-the site of the old Hartzell trading post, which was established in
J817, and is now marked with a suitable stone. There are about a dozen depressions, where it is said the Indians would cache their corn where Mr. Hartzell could watch it. These holes are nearly all filled with leaves, still they are yet plainly visible.
Mr. Purviance has expended considerable time on the improvement of his place, but en- deavors to leave it as near a state of nature as possible, allowing no trees to be cut, and has added many varieties of trees and plants. He has brought here hundreds of rocks which show peculiar formations, especially from various parts of Putnam county, has erected several choice rustic seats, platforms, etc., from which one gets a grand view of the river. In fact it is one of the most beautiful and attractive spots to be found for miles around. He has many interest- ing relics of the Indians, the stone age and of pioneer life, and his room at the court house also contains an interesting collection, many of the relics having a value from some local connec- tion. Courteous, genial, well-informed, alert and enterprising, Mr. Purviance stands to-day one of the leading representative men of the county, holding a high place in the hearts of the people whom he has served so capably for forty years.
W ILLIAM SMITH, who resides upon sec- tion IO, La Prairie township, has been a citizen of Marshall county since 1840, a period of fifty-six years. He is a native of Dumfries- shire, Scotland, born May 4, 1823, and is a son of William and Wilhelmnina (Scott) Smith, both of whom were also natives of Scotland. (For matters of family record see sketch of James Smith, elsewhere in this volume.)
Our subject came to this country with the family, and in partnership with his brothers. helped improve the farm upon section 16, now owned by James Smith. He then improved a farm in Saratoga township, where he remained until February 15, 1870, when he removed to his present farm, which he secured from his wife's people. Soon after he traded his Sara- toga farm for one hundred and sixty acres ad-
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joining and still later added the Bell farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Each of these farms were improved, but he has added much in the way of barns and outbuildings, making them equal to any farms in the township with respect to improvements.
Mr. Smith has engaged in general or mixed farming, raising vast quantities of grain, much of which he has fed to his stock, and what was not required for that purpose disposing of in the general market. He usually feeds a large num- ber of hogs and some cattle, and has engaged more or less in breeding a fine grade of horses, both draft and roadsters. With his brothers, he invested somewhat extensively in the woolen mills at Lacon and was one of the original stock- holders in the bank at that place. He has, how- ever, disposed of all his stock in both institu- tions, and of late years has given his attention almost exclusively to his farming interests.
In politics Mr. Smith has been a republican since the organization of the party, and formerly was quite active in political affairs, attending conventions and assisting with his influence and means in perfecting party organization and dis- cipline. While never in reality caring for the honors or emoluments of public office, for al- most his entire life he has served his fellow- citizens in some official capacity. For about twenty years in Saratoga and La Prairie town- ships he served as justice of the peace to the sat- isfaction of all concerned. For some years he was supervisor and road commissioner in Sara- toga township, and also school trustee. He was the first township clerk of La Prairie township, and was also township assessor in the early days of the township organization.
Religiously, Mr. Smith is a Presbyterian, and was one of the first and is now the only surviv- ing member of the organization perfected at the home of George Scott, early in the '50s. He has ever been a communicant of that church, and one of the trustees of the church in La Prairie township. His interest in the organization has always been maintained and his faith in the Christian religion has never wavered.
On the 18th of February, 1859, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Ottilia Fostbinder, of German ancestry, and birth, and a sister of Charles Fostbinder, of Wenona. Eight children came to bless their union: Mary, Christina, Wil- liam, Charles, Lottie, Minnie, James and Robert. Of this number, Mary wedded William Riddell, of Sparland, who is engaged in the grain busi- ness at that place; Christina is the wife of Frank Marshall, a farmer of La Prairie township; Wil- liam is a veterinary surgeon; Lottie is the wife of Estep Duncan, of Sparland, and Minnie is the wife of Wilbur Root, of La Prairie township. The sons all remain under the parental roof. No family in La Prairie township is held in higher esteem than that of William Smith, the subject of this sketch.
ACOB O. SWARTS is one of the highly re- spected and valued citizens of Bureau coun- ty, making his home upon a farm on section 5, Princeton township. His father, Jacob L. Swarts, was born in Morris county, New Jersey, November 15, 1828, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Blaine) Swarts, who died in that state. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Mary A. Alpaugh, was born July 27, 1830, and was a daughter of David and Rachael (Clouse) Alpaugh, both of whom spent their en- tire lives in New Jersey. In 1856 the parents emigrated to Illinois, making their home for two vears in the city of Princeton, and then removed to the farm on which our subject now resides. It was mostly all timber land, on which a clear- ing had been made and a log house erccted, into which the family moved, while the father at once began its further improvement and development. He died January 15, 1867, leaving the mother with two children: George Edgar, now of Chi- cago. married Sarah A. Fetrow, and has one child, Mamie; and Jacob O., of this sketch. The mother still survives her husband. Both were members of the English Lutheran church, with which he was officially connected and was an ac- tive worker in the same. Originally he was a democrat in politics, but later supported the re-
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publican party, and took a commendable inter- est in educational matters, efficiently serving as school director of his district. After coming here he worked some at his trade of carpentering, and all that he possessed was accumulated through his own unaided efforts and good management.
Upon his present farm, J. O. Swarts was born May 31, 1861, and was educated in the district schools of the neighborhood, while upon the farm he early became familiar with agricultural pur- suits. He was married September 8, 1885. to Miss Sarah C. Shugart, who was born May 5. 1863, in Wyanet township, Bureau county, and received a common school education. They now have three interesting children, namely: Clar- ence Jacob, Leroy Calvin and Ethel Mary.
Calvin A. Shugart, the father of Mrs. Swarts, was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, Au- gust 1, 1833, and was married after coming to Bureau county, to Caroline M. Coddington, who was here born June 10, 1843, and was a daughter of James and Catharine (Fear) Coddington, of Dover township. He took his bride to a farm in Wyanet township, but a few years later removed to Dover township, subsequently returned to his first farm in Wyanet township, but now makes his home in Princeton township. The wife and mother died November 23, 1872. She had four children-Sarah C., wife of our subject: James S., deceased: Myra B., wife of Fred Reese, of Chicago, by whom she has two children, Carrie and John, and Milford, of Princeton, who mar- ried Amanda Bodfish, and has one daughter. Caroline Margaret. The father afterward mar- ried Ellen Reynolds, now deceased, and they had one son, Marion M. He enlisted in the union army during the civil war, but did not serve long.
Mr. and Mrs. Swarts are conscientious and earnest Christians, taking an active part in the work of the United Brethren church, of which they are members, and assist in every enterprise that is calculated to elevate mankind. He stud- ied for the ministry and for three years engaged in the local work of the Free Methodist church. But is now connected with the United Brethren
church, and in 1890 traveled between seven and eight thousand miles in its interests, since which time he has preached at Dover, Princeton and Van Orin, being a member of the northern Illi- nois conference. He still operates his farm, how- ever, which comprises one hundred and ten acres of rich and arable land, and is serving as school director. He also has a class in the English Lutheran church of Princeton, and politically is an ardent prohibitionist, as that party embodies his views on the temperance question.
G EORGE RACKLEY, ESQ., was for many years one of the prominent and representa- tive business men of Malden, but has now laid aside the cares and responsibilities of such a life and is living retired in that place, enjoying a weil- earned rest. He is also one of the honored pio- neers of the county, having here made his home for sixty years, and with its interests has been actively identified.
Born in Orange county, Vermont, November 2, 1821, our subject is a son of Nathan and Su- sanna (Judd) Rackley, also natives of the Green mountain state. On leaving his farm in Orange county the father removed to Genesee county, New York, where he resided for eight years, and in 1836 emigrated by team to Illinois, the family riding in a covered wagon. They stopped first at Joliet, where our subject spent his first 4th of July in the west. The city celebrated in grand style. among the many attractions being a free dinner and a fine military display.
On their arrival in Bureau county the Rack- ley family located in Berlin township, where the father purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, now adjoining the corporation limits of Malden. Here he opened up a farm and added to his original purchase until he owned three hundred acres of rich and arable land, which he placed under a high state of cultivation. He was one of the most prosperous and thrifty agricul- turists of the community, and continued the operation of his farm until eighty-eight years of age, when he rented it and removed to Malden. There his death occurred in April, 1895, at the
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advanced age of nearly ninety-five years. His wife, who died some years previously, was nine- ty-one when called from this life. Their re- mains were interred in Malden cemetery, where a substantial monument marks their last resting place. They were widely known and universally respected. Our subject is the oldest of their four children, the others being Louisa, deceased wife of Martin R. Zearing; Nathan F., who is also living retired in Malden; and Phoebe A., wife of D. K. Morris, of the same place.
During his boyhood and youth, Mr. Rackley, of this sketch, acquired a good practical educa- tion in the common school, and was reared to farm life. On reaching manhood he was married in Berlin township, March 24, 1842, to Miss Calista Abel, who was born in Erie county, New York, but when a young lady was brought to Illinois by her father, Thomas Abel. They be- gan their domestic life upon a farm in Lee coun- ty, Illinois, which his father had previously pur- chased, and which our subject cleared and devel- oped. After three years spent upon that place they returned to Berlin township, but for about three years Mr. Rackley was now engaged in ac- tive business. He then began dealing in grain and lumber at Malden, which he successfully car- ried on for over twenty years, and also bought and sold land and shipped live stock to the city markets. After a long and prosperous business career he sold out and is now living retired.
Mr. and Mrs. Rackley have one daughter, Julia. She is the wife of J. A. Perry, a merchant of Malden, and the only child born to thiem, George N., died in 1888, at the age of nine years. Mrs. Perry, a most estimable wife, has for sev- eral years been an active member of the Congre- gational church.
Our subject is prominently identified with the republican party, of which he was one of the or- ganizers in this locality, although his family were originally all strong democrats. Since casting his first vote for John C. Fremont, he has never failed to support its presidential nominees. He has taken an active part in local politics, and has served with distinction in several minor posi-
tions of honor and trust, among which were the offices of collector of his township and justice of the peace. The latter position he filled for eight years in Bureau county, and had previously held the same office in Lee county. For eleven con- secutive years he was supervisor, being first elect- ed in 1860, and later served for five years. He finally declined to accept political honors. He had also been a delegate to a number of county and congressional conventions, and discharged all public as well as private duties with prompt- ness and fidelity, thus winning the commendation of all concerned. Socially Mr. Rackley is a Knight Templar Mason, and a member of Dover lodge, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the chairs, and served as a delegate to the grand lodge, where he was elected grand deputy for sev- eral years. He is classed by his fellow-citizens as one of the public-spirited representative men of the community, and merits and receives the warmest confidence and esteem of all who know him.
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