USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 62
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 62
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 62
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passed. He gives his exclusive attention to his farming interests, owning six hundred and thir- teen acres of valuable and productive land and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place plainly indicates that it is under the supervision of one who thoroughly understands the business which he is following. On political questions he affiliates with the democratic party, and has served as school director in district No. 3. Mrs. French, a most estimable lady, holds member- ship with the Christian church.
F RANCIS MARION BRAUGHT, deceased, was for many years a prominent and highly respected citizen of Princeton, where his birth occurred on the 2d of October, 1843. a son of John Braught, a native of Warsaw, Indiana, who became one of the early settlers of Bureau coun- ty. Two members of the family still make their home in Illinois, William F. Braught, a brother of our subject, being a resident of Ohio, Bureau county, and a sister, Emma, now the wife of A. C. Henry, trainmaster at Mendota.
The subject of this memoir spent his early life in his native town, where he learned the print- er's trade, being employed in the offices of the Bureau County Republican and the Bureau County Tribune. During the civil war he worked in the United States government printing office. He had joined the union service, becoming a member of Company A, One Hundred and For- ty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but on ac- count of his feeble constitution was transferred to the printing bureau. On being discharged from the service, September 5, 1865, at Nash- ville, Tennessee, he returned home and later he went to Chicago, where he was employed on the Daily Times for a period.
Mr. Braught was twice married, his first wife being in her maidenhood Miss Emma J. Mon- roe, and of the four children born to them all are now deceased. On the 28th of April, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Euphemia J. Sharp, a daughter of Sylvester and Mary E. (Bunn) Sharp, of Princeton. For four years her father faithfully served his country during the
rebellion, and in one of the great battles of that terrible struggle was wounded in the calf of the leg. He died February 6, 1895. Mrs. Braught is one of a family of five children, two still living, her brother being John H. Sharp. One sister, Eliza K., died at the age of thirteen years. Mrs. Sharp died when her daughter Emma was only five years old and two years later the father broke up housekeeping and Mrs. Braught went to live with the family of Alonzo West, of Princeton. where she was reared, and from whose house she was married.
On the 6th of September, 1890, Mr. Braught passed away, after eight years of illness, six years of which time he was confined to his bed. He bore his sufferings with great fortitude, was pleasant and patient through it all, and his mem- ory will long be cherished by his many friends and acquaintances. He was a valued and es- teemed citizen, one who gained the confidence and love of those with whom he came in con- tact, and his circle of friends was indeed wide. Mrs. Braught, who is a most estimable woman, tries to look on the bright side of life, and by her gentle ways and courteous manner has, like her husband, gained the love and respect of the entire community. She now receives a widow's pension from the government.
H ORATIO CHURCHILL has been identi- fied with the business interests of Buda, and is one of the self-made men of Bureau county. Genuine success is not likely to be the result of mere chance or fortune, but is something to be labored for and sought out with consecutive ef- fort. It comes as a reward of earnest endeavor, and it is thus that Mr. Churchill has gained the prosperity to which a well spent life justly en- titles him.
Born in the town of Moose River, Somerset county, Maine, April 1, 1843, he is a son of Asa and Mary (Holden) Churchill. The family is of English origin and was founded at an early day in America by three brothers, one of whom set- tled in Maine and another in Ohio, but the lo- cation of the third is not known. Our subject
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was but four years old when his father died, and he then made his home with Ozaias H. McFad- den until he had attained the age of eighteen, when he started out in life for himself as a farm hand. He obtained a fair common school edu- cation in his native state. After being employed at farm labor for some time he entered a saw- mill, where he continued to work until coming to Bureau county in 1867, during which time he succeeded in accumulating one thousand dollars.
On his arrival in this state, Mr. Churchill be- gan the manufacture of brick at Buda, in connec- tion with C. P. Mason, which partnership con- tinued for one year, when he purchased Mr. Ma- son's interest. He then sold out a half interest to J. N. Pervier, who remained in the business for three years, when he sold out to John Churchill, the latter remaining in the firm for three years. Samuel Bager then bought out John Churchill's interest and held the same for about three years, when the subject of this sketch be- cante sole proprietor, and removed the plant to its present site just south of the town of Buda.
Although he began operations on a small scale he soon enlarged his plant and facilities to nieet the demand of his growing trade, and subse- quently added the tile business. The capacity of the plant is about one million brick and five hundred thousand tile annually. Both brick and tile are of excellent quality, and for which he finds a ready sale. In connection with his busi- 11ess property, Mr. Churchill also owns twenty- five acres of fine timber land in Macon town- ship, Bureau county. He is a wide-awake, pro- gressive business man, and his honorable deal- ing and thorough reliability has justly made him a leader in manufacturing circles. His life has been one of industry and perseverance.
On the 12th of September, 1874, was solenin- ized the marriage of Mr. Churchill and Miss Me- linda H. Kealiher, by whom he had two sons, Daniel L. and Oscar W. For his second wife he chose Miss Mary H. Hodgetts, of Kewanee, their wedding being celebrated September 8, 1881. Three children have been born to theni- Mellie May, born September 12, 1883: Bessie
E .. born January 16, 1885, and Hazel M., born May 5, 1890.
Mrs. Churchill was born in England, August 13, 1861, and is the daughter of Edward and Mary (Shelton) Hodgetts, who emigrated to the United States in 1865.
Politically, Mr. Churchill adheres to the prin- ciples of the republican party, which he has sup- ported since casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, and religiously both himself and wife are members of the Uni- tarian church. He is a Master Mason and has served as tyler, junior and senior deacon and junior and senior warden of his lodge. With his wife he is also connected with the Eastern Star, in which she has filled the offices of Ruth and warden.
J. W. HOLETON, one of the energetic and progressive farmers of Evans township, re- sides upon a farm of one hundred and forty acres of well-improved land, which he owns on section 21, and is now devoting his attention to its cul- tivation with most excellent results. He is hon- ored and respected by the entire community, who look upon him as one of their most wide- awake farmers and model citizens.
His father, Francis H. Holeton, who was of Scotch descent, was born in Muskingum coun- ty, Ohio, in 1818, there grew to manhood and was united in marriage with Hannah Cockerell, whose birth occurred in Loudoun county, Vir- ginia, in 1814. She was the daughter of Elias and Sarah (Butler) Cockerell, with whom she removed to Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1824. After their marriage the young couple made their home upon a farm in that county until 1856, when they went to Iowa, but in the spring of the following year came to Marshall county, Illi- nois, where for six years they rented a farm. The father then purchased the farm now owned by the heirs of John Kane, then in its primitive con- dition, and he continued its cultivation and im- provement upon his removal to Vermilion coun- ty, this state. Upon his farm there he lived a comparatively retired life until his death on the
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4th of April, 1888. The mother, who still sur- vives him, finds a pleasant home with our sub- ject. Both were earnest and consistent members of the Methodist church and he took an active part in the Sunday school. Of the five children born to them, three grew to maturity-Edith, deceased, wife of Jacob M. Brenn, by whom she had one child, Hannah Thayer; J. W., of this sketch, and George H., of Omaha, Nebraska, who married Lizzie Ogle.
Mr. Holeton, whose name introduces this notice, first opened his eyes to the light April 23, 1845, in Muskingum county, Ohio, and was twelve years of age when he became a resident of Marshall county. After pursuing his studies for some time in the district schools, he com- pleted his literary course at the old seminary in Wenona, and he remained at home until reach- ing manhood. On the Ist of April, 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Edith Olive, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1846, and died in 1872, leaving two children-Walter O., of Vermilion county, and Jesse M., de- ceased.
Mr. Holeton was again married January 31, 1876, his second union being with Mrs. Susan Gage, née Washburn, a daughter of Ira F. Washburn, who was born at Sackett's Harbor, New York, in 1813, and became one of the early settlers of Rock county, Wisconsin. In his na- tive place the father married Jane E. Pratt, who was born in the same county in 1824, and in 1834 he emigrated to Wisconsin, where he opened up a new farm. His death occurred Oc- tober 31, 1889, and his wife passed away April 29, 1878. They held membership with the Bap- tist church, in which he served as deacon and took an active part in its work. In their family were four children, namely: Louisa, wife of James A. Millett, of Nebraska, by whom she has five children; George W., also of Nebraska. who was one of the brave boys in blue during the civil war; Mrs. Holeton, and Frank F., of Arkansas, who is married and has two children.
Mrs. Holeton, who was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1846, was educated in the district
schools and at the seminary at Fulton, that state. By her former marriage she has one child, Georgia Leone, wife of Eugene Cusac, of Ben- nington township, Marshall county, and the mother of one child, Beulah. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Holeton-Frank H., Eddie W., Edith M., Edna S., Gracie E., and Winifred M.
It was in 1870 that our subject settled upon his present farm, then all raw prairie land, but has now placed it under a high state of cultiva- tion and devotes his time and attention exclu- sively to his farming interests, raising principally grain. His ballot is cast in support of the men and measures of the republican party, has served as road commissioner and school director, and is an intelligent, industrious man, who well de- serves the regard of those with whom he has so long made his home.
JACOB SUCHER, who, after the labors of a long and busy life, is spending his later years in ease and retirement in the village of Gran- ville, Putnam county, was born on the 6th of March, 1829, in the village of Lopsann, Alsace, France, now a part of Germany, and that section of the country where the battles of the Franco- Prussian war were fought. In 1845, with his parents, George B. and Margaret (Knopf) Sucher, he came to America, already having two brothers and a sister in this country. The form- er had located in Du Page county, Illinois, eight- een miles from Chicago, and there the parents also settled, the father purchasing a farm, on which he resided until his death. For ten years our subject operated that farm, but soon after his father's death he sold out and in 1855 came to Putnam county, where his wife's parents were living.
On the 15th of September, 1850, Mr. Sucher was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Krebs, the ceremony being performed in Du Page county, where the lady was visiting at the time. When sixteen years of age she was brought to America by her parents, Jacob and
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Sophia (Bender) Krebs, who lived on a farm near the Rhine, in Alsace, and emigrated to this country in 1847. They located upon a farm in Putnam county, a half mile southeast of Gran- ville, on section 10, Granville township, where they resided until well advanced in years, when they removed to Tonica, where the father died August 26, 1875, while the mother survived him but six months, and they were both laid to rest in Granville cemetery. In the family were three daughters, the sisters of Mrs. Sucher being Sa- lome, now the wife of Henry Kammermeyer, of Peru, Illinois, and Caroline, widow of Fred Knopf, and a resident of Pontiac, Livingston county, Illinois. On coming to the United States Mr. Krebs brought with him five thousand francs in his trunk in the hold of the vessel, and he paid for his land in five franc pieces, carrying the money in a sack on his back to the court house in Hennepin.
Mr. Sucher had about fourteen hundred dol- lars on his arrival in Putnam county, which he paid on an eighty-acre farm, the cost price of which was two thousand and fifty dollars, and he later paid fifty dollars per acre for one hun- dred and sixty acres. His half section of land lies partly on section 12 and the remainder on section 13, Granville township, and while en- gaged in active business carried on general farm- ing, but since 1878 has lived retired, having pur- chased a house and seven acres of land in thè village of Granville, while his sons carry on the farm.
To Mr. and Mrs. Sucher were born seven chil- dren, six of whom are now living. Mary is the wife of Fred Bender, of La Salle county, Illi- nois. Frederick operates the farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres on section 13. Jacob, now a resident of Peoria, for many years carried on the farm on section 12. Anna is the wife of Wil- liam Henshaw, of Peru. George B., a graduate of Knox college, for two years taught school in Auburn, Illinois, was admitted to the bar, and in 1895 was elected police magistrate in Peoria, being the only democrat on the ticket who was elected. Mrs. Caroline Gunn, who lives at home
with her parents, has one little daughter, Ger- trude.
Mr. and Mrs. Sucher were reared in the Luth- eran church, but are quite liberal in religious belief, holding membership with no church or- ganization. She is a lady of culture and intelli- gence, and like her husband, has many friends throughout Putnam county. He always casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the democratic party, and is a straightforward, reliable citizen, who has gained the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact.
A NDREW W. WALTON. Few men are more prominent or more widely known in Bureau county than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He has been an important factor in business circles and his popularity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an un- bending integrity, unabating energy and in- dustry that never flags. He is public-spirited and thoroughly interested in whatever tends to pro- mote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of his adopted county. He is one of the promi- nent business men of Selby township, residing on section 17, and is extensively engaged in the manufacture of tile and in coal mining, be- sides the operation of his fine farm.
Mr. Walton was born in New Richmond, Cler- mont county, Ohio, September II, 1832, a son of Newell E. and Elizabeth (Connor) Walton, whose sketch is given on another page of this work. In the schools of his native county he acquired a good practical education, completing his literary course in the Parkers academy. In the fall of 1853 he came to Bureau county, Illi- nois, where for eleven years he followed carpen- tering on boats on the Illinois river, which trade he had previously learned in his native state. He then located upon his farm in Selby township, and actively and successfully engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. In 1873 he began coal min- ing, which has also proved a profitable business. In his mines are found three valuable veins of bi- tuminous coal, the second vein of which, at a
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
depth of one hundred and fifty feet, is four and a half feet thick, and the third, at a depth of four hundred feet, is three and a half feet thick. These yield a large quantity of excellent coal, which is sold mostly in the local markets, principally at Princeton. In 1879 Mr. Walton also embarked in the manufacture of tile, using a superior qual- ity of clay, and the product which he turns out is first-class in every particular.
In Selby township, in April, 1876, Mr. Wal- ton was united in marriage with Miss Charity WV. Long, a daughter of H. H. Long, of Bureau county, where she has spent her entire life. She is a talented, well-educated lady, holding a first grade teacher's certificate, and previous to her marriage successfully followed the profession of teaching. They now have one son. Andrew W., jr., who has been given good educational privi- leges, and now assists his father in his business.
By his ballot Mr. Walton upholds the princi- ples and men of the republican party, but for him- self cares nothing for the honors or emoluments of political positions. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason, and also a member of the Knights of Pythias. During the forty-three years of his resi- dence here, Mr. Walton has made many friends throughout the county and has gained the con- fidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. He is a man of broad capabili- ties, as his varied and extensive business inter- ests indicate, is straightforward and honorable in all his dealings, and his example is well worthy of emulation.
M RS. HARRIET N. BARNHART. During the pioneer days of a state the women bear no unimportant part, and among those who first settled in Bureau county this lady is especially worthy of notice in a work of this kind. She was born in the town of Pitkin, St. Lawrence county. New York, September 24, 1825, and is a daugh- ter of Levi W. and Eliza R. (Dickinson) Gleason, the former born in Langdon. New Hampshire, September 15, 1797, and the latter in Glossen- burg, Connecticut, November 19, 1802.
Our subject is one of a family of nine children.
eight of whom grew to maturity and all were liv- ing until December, 1895, when occurred the death of Caroline L., widow of Philemon Bing- ham, of Palo, Michigan, who was next younger than Mrs. Barnhart. The others are as follows: Mrs. Elizabeth Countryman, of Hastings, Min- nesota; George M., of Gouverneur, New York: Ephraim W., of the same place; Levi, of Dun- das, Minnesota; Mrs. Lydia M. Manchester, who is residing near Austin, Minnesota, and Mrs. Laura A. Manchester, of Ottawa, Illinois.
In 1844 Mrs. Barnhart accompanied the fam- ily of Luther Bullard to Bureau county, Illinois, arriving here on the 7th of November, and locat- ing at Lamoille. No railroad had yet been laid out through this section, and most of the land was still in its primitive condition. Where now are seen waving fields of grain at that time the land was either a swamp or covered with tall prairie grass and timber. No cities or villages had been established, and Chicago was a mere hamlet in the midst of a frog pond. She has watched with interest the wonderful changes that have taken place until to-day Bureau county ranks among the best in this great common- wealth.
On the 19th of February, 1848, was celebrated the marriage of Matthew L. Barnhart and Miss Harriet N. Gleason, at Lamoille. He was born in the town of Marlboro, Ulster county, New York, February 4, 1819, was a farmer by occu- pation, and died in La Salle county, Illinois, May 17, 1874. and his remains were interred in the cemetery at Lamoille, where a substantial monu- ment marks his last resting place. He was an active and consistent member of the Baptist church, and served as superintendent of the La- moille Sunday school for seven years. Mrs. Barnhart has had no children of her own, but adopted three, only one of whom is still living- William, who was born October 15. 1854, mar- ried, and is now a conductor on a through freight, running between Galesburg and Chica- go, with headquarters at Galesburg.
Mrs. Barnhart only lived for a few years in La Salle county, when she returned to Bureau
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
county, and has since made her home in Prinee- ton. She, too, is a faithful member of the Bap- tist church in Princeton, and is the center of a wide cirele of friends and acquaintances, who have for her that love and regard which only a worthy life ean establish. Few of the old set- tlers who were here on her arrival are still living, and she realizes that the time will soon come when their voices will all be hushed in death, and while such is the case, she can look back over a well spent life, knowing that she has not lived in vain, and that the world has been made better by her presence.
D AVID G. PALMER. Among the young men of Bureau county who have selected agriculture as their vocation in life, and judging from their present indications, are bound to sue- ceed in their ehosen ealling, is the subject of this biographieal notiee, who is a resident of Dover township. He was born on the farm which is still his home, February 11, 1869, a son of George N. and Ellen M. (Russell) Palmer. The father, who is a native of New York, on coming west stopped first in Ohio, and later became a resi- dent of Bureau county, Illinois, for many years successfully engaging in farming in Dover town- ship. Since 1894, however, he has retired from active life, and makes his home in Princeton. He and his estimable wife are in excellent health and are enjoying the twilight of their lives in peace and happiness.
They became the parents of six ehildren- Charles A., a practicing physician of Princeton : Frank R., now engaged in mining in Colorado; Jennie M., who became the wife of Elijah Hay- den, of Dover township; Aliee B. was married to David Milliken, of Walnut township; the sub- ject of this biography, and Fannie A., at home.
The primary education of our subject was se- cured in the district sehools near his home, and he subsequently attended the Princeton high school for two years. In the usual uneventful manner of farmer boys he spent his childhood and youth, early becoming familiar with the du-
ties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and under the able guidance of his father became a thorough and skillful farmer. He is operating two hundred and forty aeres of highly cultivated land in Dover township, improved with excel- lent modern buildings, and he is successfully en- gaged in raising grain, stoek and fruit.
In this stoek business he is associated with his brother, Charles A., under the firm name of Palmer & Palmer. They are breeding the Aber- deen-Angus stoek, and are very successful.
February 7, 1894, Mr. Palmer was united in marriage with Miss Alta Bowlus, a daughter of J. H. Bowlus, of Ohio, Illinois. They, by this union, have two children-Edith and Ethel, twins, the joy and pride of the household. Mrs. Palmer is a consistent member of the Methodist Protestant church, while socially our subject is connected with the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, Princeton camp, No. 208. He is strong in his faith in the principles of the republican party. and never falters in his allegianee to that or- ganization.
N EWELL E. WALTON, who is now living retired upon his farm on section 17, Selby township, Bureau county, was born on the 28th of July, 1805, in Bracken county, Kentucky, and is a son of Edward and Elizabeth (Black) Wal- ton, the former a native of Virginia, and the lat- ter of Kentucky. They were married when but eighteen and fourteen years of age, respectively, and at the early age of twenty Mrs. Walton was left a widow.
In the state of his nativity our subject grew to manhood, there securing a good education, and on attaining his majority went to Clermont county, Oliio, where for a time he worked at the tanner's trade, after which he engaged in mer- chandising for a number of years at New Rich- mond. He led to the marriage altar Elizabeth Connor, who was born in Pennsylvania, but was reared and educated in Clermont county. Ohio, where her father, Andrew Connor, was num- bered among the early settlers. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812.
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
In 1852 Mr. Walton brought his family to Illinois, and began operating a rented farm in Selby township, Bureau county, where he later purchased a wild tract, which he soon trans- fornied into one of the most highly cultivated farms in the locality. For many years he was numbered among the active, enterprising and substantial farmers of the county, but has laid aside business cares, living retired for the past twenty years. At the age of ninety-one years he is now resting in the enjoyments of the fruits of his former toil. His faithful and devoted wife passed away February 10, 1885, at the age of eighty years, and was laid to rest in Princeton cemetery, a substantial marble monument mark- ing the spot.
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