USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 66
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 66
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 66
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Mr. Pichereau has ever been a lover of liberty. Even as a boy he rebelled against the demands of the Catholic church and the priesthood, and has always been an admirer of Tom Paine and Voltaire, and for what they stood in liberty and freedom from priestly domination. The United States has always been to him the home of the free, and he has ever had an unbounded faith in its possibilities. He has been a man of peace, and many quarrels have been settled by his in- tervention. Powerful in physique, his blow would have felled an ox. He was a dangerous enemy and outspoken in his views. A fluent conversationalist, he could at any time entertain a crowd of eager listeners.
A RTHUR L. TURNER, one of the prominent and influential agriculturists of Evans town- ship, residing on section 22, is at present the pop- ular chairman of the county board of supervisors. He was born in Hope township, La Salle coun- ty, Illinois, March 22, 1856, and is the son of B. F. Turner, whose sketch appears on another page of this work. He was an infant of but one year when brought by his parents to Evans town- ship, and was reared to manhood upon the old homestead farm on section 21. After completing the course in the district schools, he entered the high school at Wenona, and was later a student at Eureka college, where he completed his liter- ary training in 1877. For eight years he then engaged in teaching.
On the 26th of December, 1882, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Turner and Miss Mary T. Work, who was born in Osage township, La Salle county, April 7. 1856, and is the daughter of James B. and Sarah A. (Miller) Work, both natives of Pennsylvania, but who were married
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in Whiteside county, Illinois. Her father came to Marshall county in 1836, which was his home until the fall of 1855, when he moved to Osage township, La Salle county, locating upon a farm which he greatly improved. He had previously been married, having by the first union three sons-Albert, living in Oklahoma; William, of the state of Washington, and James, of Bloom- ington, Illinois. Albert and William aided their country in the preservation of the union during the civil war. The father, who was a life-long member of the Presbyterian church, in which he served as elder, died on the 7th of September. 1880. He was deeply imbued with the doctrines of abolitionism; his home became a station on the underground railroad, and he was one of three who formed the republican party in the locality where he made his home. He was quite an unas- suming man, but took a very active part in mat- ters pertaining to his party, and served as census enumerator in his township.
Mrs. Turner is the oldest in the family of six children, the others being Grace G., Maggie, Lizzie, Edward and Hattie P. She was educated in the Wenona high school and is a cultured, re- fined lady, who extends a hearty hospitality to their many friends. Around their domestic hearth is gathered their little family of three chil- dren-Benjamin F., Mary Maurine and Arthur Lynn.
Since 1883 Mr. Turner has made his home upon his present farm, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, and has placed thereon many useful and substantial improve- ments, which have added greatly to its attrac- tive appearance. He has ever been a firm sup- porter of the principles advocated by the repub- lican party, and has frequently served as dele- gate to the county, senatorial, congressional and state conventions, while he is at present a member of the county central committee from Evans township. He is now acceptably serving his third term as township supervisor, and was elected chairman of the board in the spring of 1895. A man of unswerving integrity and lionor, Mr. Turner has gained and retained the confidence
and respect of his fellow-men, and is distinctly one of the leading citizens of Marshall county, with whose interests he has always been closely identified. Socially, he affiliates with the Mod- ern Woodmen of America.
T THOMAS MONIER, who resides on section 9, Whitefield township, is of a family well known to almost every citizen of Marshall coun- ty. He was born on the Isle of Man, April 3, 1840, and came to this country when ten years of age with his parents, William and Jane (Quaile) Monier. (See sketch of William Monier for family history.) He grew to manhood in this county, in Saratoga township, and worked in common with the brothers until twenty-two years of age, when lie had set off for him eighty acres as his share of the land which had been pur- chased by the family. He remained, however, with the family for ten years longer, and is in- debted to his brother John and his mother for much assistance and advice.
After receiving the eighty acres, Mr. Monier commenced its cultivation and general improve- ment, and during the ten following years was so prospered that he was enabled to purchase an additional eighty acres, for which he paid thirty- four hundred dollars, or forty-five dollars per acre. He had also accumulated some money and was the owner of considerable stock. The time had now arrived for him to forsake the rank of bachelors and take for himself a wife. Accord- ingly on the 4th of February, 1874, he married Miss Charlotta Smith, a daughter of John T. Smith, a pioneer of the county, but a native of New Jersey, and who but recently passed to his reward. Mrs. Monier was born in Marshall county on the farm where they now reside.
Mr. Monier now began life in earnest and with a loving and faithful companion to aid and coun- sel, he has been successful even beyond his most sanguine expectations. For three years they re- sided upon the original farm of Mr. Monier, when feeling that he could better himself materially. he sold out and purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Whitefield township, for which
-
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he paid about eighty dollars per acre. With the additions and improvements since made the farm has cost more than one hundred dollars per acre. Soon after moving to his new place in 1877. he purchased sixty acres adjoining, and later one hundred and sixty acres one-half mile west, for which he paid nine thousand six hundred dollars.
On each of the farms, Mr. Monier has made great improvements, tiling many acres, and set- ting out good hedge fences around them. Some four years ago he erected a fine dwelling, which is furnished with all the modern conveniences of a country home. While devoting much of his land to grain, he has in time past given much at- tention to stock raising, feeding one or two car loads of cattle each year, together with over one hundred head of hogs and many head of horses. For some years he has practically lived a retired life, renting the place, which comprises four hun- dred and sixty acres of excellent land.
Two children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Monier. The eldest, Charles Clyde, born January 15, 1875, died June 19, 1893. He was a young man of exemplary habits, the pride of fond parents, and seemingly had a bright fu- ture before him when death called him away. The void thus left in the home of his parents call never be filled and the bruised hearts never healed. Thomas Floyd, the second born, came into their home June 25, 1881. He is now a sturdy youth, loved by parents and friends, and respected by all who know him.
E. R. Hannum, who was for some years a teacher in the school attended by Charles, gave the following tribute to his character 'at the time of his death: "As Charles grew to be a boy he early gave evidence of those manly, chivalrous traits that only left room in his loving parents' hearts for thankfulness to God for granting unto them the guardianship of such a noble spirit. Al- ways precocious, in an unassuming practical way, for one of his years, he became companion at once and son to his father, entwining himself about his heart and growing into his very life with a holy love that can only be surpassed in that haven of love where Charley is now peace-
fully resting. To his mother, O what weak words of mine can portray the gentle acts, the sunny smiles, the pure and holy serenity of character, that daily and hourly filled that mother's heart and life with a heavenly peace and joy, that trans- formed the mother love for the babe into a glo- rious, all-pervading adoration for the manly boy. Ah, blessed mother, for seventeen years you re- joiced in the sunshine of that glorious spirit, drank at that fountain of purity, learning ever a new lesson of love and loyalty from that boun- teous inspiration. In speaking of his school life we touch a chord that vibrates in our own heart. Noble, manly, energetic, generous hearted boy! We knew you as teachers and schoolmates, only to bless you. Unquestioning obedience, un- swerving purpose in application, constant acts of boyish respect and loyalty to our administra- tion was our portion as teachers, at your hands, while your daily school life, so free from guile, from faultfinding, from resentment, from vin- dictiveness, was a constant inspiration toward all that is pure and noble and generous in youtlì, to all your playmates.
"For seventeen years the good Father above granted to those worshiping parents, these lov- ing, admiring friends the presence of this noble spirit ; but kindred spirits in that land of constant love, of golden streets, of jasper walls, of fade- less flowers, would no longer be denied their own, and on the evening of June 19, 1892, he bade farewell to earthly friends and joined that ransomed throng. To the grief-stricken father his dying admonition was, 'Pa, don't worry for me; this world is but an empty dream.' Mother, will you mourn as one without comfort? Heark- en to his triumphant death song, 'Up among the shining angels there is room for me and plenty more.' Could those words fall from lips that were not fully attuned to strains that are only sung around the great, white throne? To the brother what a priceless heritage was in the words, 'Good-bye Floyd, be a good boy ; be hon- est and truthful.'
"There was a strong attachment between the brothers, and while the loss to the parents is so
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great, what can be said to cheer and comfort the lonely brother? We can only repeat the dying admonition : 'Be good, be honest and truthful,' and the reunion will come by and by."
With the exception of the first three years after marriage, and the time the family lived in Henry, the life of Mrs. Monier has been spent upon the farm where they now reside. She is a lady well known throughout Marshall and sur- rounding counties, and with her husband enjoys the respect and good will of those with whom they have been brought in contact. In politics Mr. Monier is a republican, with which party he has acted since attaining his majority. As a citizen he is ever willing to do his part in ad- vancing the best interests of his adopted coun- try, and no American has those interests more at heart.
The history of Marshall county would be in- complete without full reference to the Moniers. and none are more worthy of mention than the subject of this sketch.
JOHN TAYLOR, now living retired in We- nona, presents in his life a splendid example of downright hard labor, close application to business and perseverance. He commenced life at the foot of the ladder, but is now able to live comfortably in the enjoyment of the fruits of his early industry. He has met with many trials and adversities, but being an industrious, temperate and moral man has risen above these and now in his declining days is peacefully waiting the time when he shall be called to join the loved ones gone before.
Samuel Taylor, his father, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a son of Berial Taylor, whose birth occurred in New Jersey, but was of Welsh descent. In the keystone state the father wedded Eleanor Thirkeel, also a native of Pennsylvania. He followed the cooper's trade in early life, but later turned his attention almost exclusively to farming, and in 1842 brought his family to Illi- nois, locating in Putnam county, about three miles south of Florid, where he purchased an in- proved farm. At the end of three years, how-
ever, he sold out and became the owner of a tract of raw prairie land one and a half miles north of Magnolia, and there spent his remaining days. His loving wife, who was a faithful men- ber of the Methodist church, died at the home of her eldest daughter in Bureau county, and they both lie buried in the cemetery at Magnolia. He was an upright, moral man, who attended strictly to his own affairs and was the architect of his own fortune. In the family were eight children, namely: Charles, and Mrs. Louisa Wilson, both deceased ; John, of this sketch; Samuel J., of We- nona; Mrs. Eleanor Kimber, of Dade county, Missouri; William Henry, deceased; Mrs. Emily Fullerton, of Page county, Iowa, and Mrs. Clar- issa Kenyon, deceased.
Our subject was born in Fayette county, Penn- sylvania, June 29, 1817, was there entered in the district schools, learned the trades of a cooper, tanner, blacksmith and shoemaker, doing his own smithing and shoemaking for many years, and proving himself a genius in many lines. He also engaged in farm and carpenter work during his early years. His life has been an eventful one and during his long and busy career he has met with several painful accidents, in several of which he nearly lost his life. The first of these was caused by disobedience when at the age of fourteen years. His father had told him not to take up the ax during his absence, but he did so and in striking a blow it struck a knot, slipped and cut him at the knee joint. On the outside it healed up, but gathered inside, confining him to his bed for three months, and the doctor said the limb would have to be amputated. A woman of the neighborhood persuaded them to try a slippery elm poultice, which healed the wound, but the knee remained stiff. However, he later fell upon it, and it was relieved somewhat. Dur- ing his apprenticeship in a tan yard, while pulling a hide to the vat, he slipped and fell in, dislocat- ing his right shoulder, which several times since has been thrown out of joint. While living in Pennsylvania, his horse ran away and in jump- ing from the wagon, he became entangled in the lines and was dragged a considerable distance,
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and badly bruised before the horse stopped. At another time, while in a sleigh, his horse ran away, going through an apple orchard, and when passing under a tree a limb struck him in the mouth, knoeking out three of his upper teeth and eausing him to lose eonseiousness. He was thought to be dead, but finally revived. At one time he was caught in the fly-wheel of the engine and only eseaped instant death by aceidentally putting his hand on the eut-off rod, which shut off the steam and stopped the engine. Now, at the ripe old age of seventy-nine years, he is in almost perfeet health and in the possession of all his faeulties. This he attributes to his tem- perate, religious and upright life.
In 1840 Mr. Taylor was united in marriage with Miss Isabel Ann Murphy, who was born near Uniontown, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, but after a happy married life of ten months she was ealled to her final rest. At the time of his parents' removal to this state, he accompanied them, and on June 26, 1844, was here joined in wedloek with Miss Mary Ann Mills, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, June 15, 1819, and was the daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Railey) Mills, who located in Magnolia township, Putnam county, in 1840. By birth- right, Mrs. Taylor was a Friend, and at her death February 16, 1891, was laid to rest in the Friends' cemetery at Clear Creek, Putnam eounty. How- ever, for many years she had been a devoted member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
Six children graced the second union: Albert R., president of the Kansas state normal school at Emporia, Kansas, married Minerva Dent, by whom he has two children. Martha Isabel is the wife of Owen M. Seott, of Portland, Oregon. and they have two children. Joseph M. married Kittie Conant, by whom he has two children, and is now residing at North Marshfield, Massachu- setts. John Franklin married Lillian Cram, and lives at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Sarah is the wife of George Ewing, of Kansas City, Missouri, and they have three children. William Henry wedded Ettie Barber, by whom he has four children, and they also make their home in Kansas City.
After his marriage he lived near tlie old Grif- fith's sawmill, running it for six months, then moved into the old Mills cabin just north of Magnolia for a couple of years, then moved on to the George Griffith prairie farm for two years and finally loeated upon an unimproved prairie farm a mile and a half north of Magnolia, in Put- nam county, which he at onee developed, ereet- ing good buildings, setting out a fine orehard. During all these years he ran a threshing ma- chine, which he built himself, and did all the threshing for miles around. In 1860, however, he removed to Wenona for the purpose of manu- facturing a self-raking reaping machine, which he had patented. Business thrived and for sev- cral years he manufactured wagons, buggies and cultivators, also doing a general repair business in connection with it. He disposed of his busi- ness in 1885, and is now living a retired life. He owns several houses and some twenty aeres of land adjoining the city. He was the first man in the community to use a cultivator with a tongue, and two horses. During the first season spent in Putnam county, he took a load of wheat to Chicago by team, eamping out along the road, and on reaching there only received forty-eight cents per bushel for it. He is emphatically a self- made man.
Mr. Taylor has invented many highly-prized agricultural implements, ineluding a self-rake on a harvester ; a cylinder corn sheller ; a self-eleaner attachment for threshing machines; a riding cul- tivator, dodged by an adjustable frame in front; a walking cultivator of four shovels; a self-feed to a eorn sheller, called a direet feed; a window balaneer, with spring tops; a swinging wing windmill, which needed no regulator, and an ad- justable roller for rolling ground. He has some ideas peculiar to himself, one of which is his belief that the earth does not pass around the sun, but has an orb of its own, in which it makes its daily and yearly motions.
Mr. Taylor is an earnest and consistent men- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, in which he has served as elder for half a eentury, and has always taken an aetive part in its work,
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as well as in the work of the Sunday school, act- ing for a long time as teacher and superintend- ent. The cause of temperance has ever found in him an earnest advocate; he has been a member of the Red Ribbon society and the Sons of Tem- perance, was one of the founders of the Good Templars lodge at Wenona, and now on account of his views on that important question, since 1872 has been a stalwart supporter of the prohi- bition party. He has done all in his power to re- move the evils of the liquor traffic, which has injured so many worthy citizens in this fair land of ours. He was born a democrat, but voted for Lincoln for president and for twelve years affil- iated with the republican party. Although he has never cared for political preferment, he has served as a member of the city council of Wenona.
S MITH P. HILL is a retired farmer living in Henry, Marshall county, to which place he removed from his farm in Whitefield township, in 1883. He was born in Geneseo, Livingston county, New York, December 27, 1827. When but ten years of age he came west with his pa- rents, John and Leah (Ogden) Hill, both of whom were natives of western New York. The family located near Princeville, Peoria county, Illinois, on land purchased by the husband and father of a man who had served in the war of 1812, and had secured it by reason of such serv- ice, it being a part of the military tract. On this farm John Hill lived until his death in 1844, while in the prime of life.
On the death of her husband, Mrs. Leah Hill showed that she was the worthy wife of a pioneer, and that she had the will and ability to success- fully carry on the farm and properly rear a large family of children. Our subject was now seven- teen years old, and with the assistance of his older and younger brother the farm work was accomplished, and improvements made upon the place, increasing its value year by year. Of the seven children three are now living. Clark now lives upon the old homestead; Mrs. Emeline Mandel in Russell, Kansas, and Smith P., in
Henry. One daughter, Joanna, died at the age of nine years. James died in 1892, in Carbon- dale, Illinois, at the age of sixty-seven years. He resided for some years in Whitefield township. Marshall county, where he improved a farm, but removed from the township about 1865. One daughter, Mrs. Permelia Ware, died in Prince- ville, while the other, Mrs. Goodman, died in Champaign county, Illinois. The mother died on the old farm many years ago, greatly beloved by family and many friends.
Smith P. Hill grew to manhood in Peoria county, receiving such education as the schools of that early day afforded. He remained at home with his mother, assisting in the farm work until 1855, when he felt it his duty to go out from the old home and prepare a new one for himself and family. Six years prior to this time, he had married Miss Harriet Williams, a native of Peo- ria county, and daughter of Captain John Will- iams, the wedding ceremony taking place Jan- uary 22, 1849. Their home was blessed with the birth of seven children. John H. died at the age of eleven years. Josephine died at the age of seventeen years. James A. is a merchant, resid- ing in Paxton, Illinois. He married Ella Mock, and their five children are Walter, Grace, Bon- nie, Harry and Stella. Arobine H., wife of N. J. Webber, a commission merchant of Chicago. Their four children are Vade, Bert, Jessie and Ray. Joseph O. married Flora Brown, and they reside on the old homestead, and have two chil- dren, Roy and Elsie. Elizabeth is the wife of Harvey Divelbiss, and they reside at Brock, Ne- braska. Ina, Leslie and Florence are their three children. William C. resides in Peoria, Illinois. He married Miss Adda Stringer, by whom he has two children, Mabel and Jennie.
After careful investigation, Mr. Hill deter- mined to locate at Sugar Grove, Whitefield town- ship, Marshall county, where he purchased a tract of unimproved land. On this he erected a small house, into which the family moved and where they continued to reside while living on that farm. After residing there a few years, and making the wild land a finely improved farm, he
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sold out and purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres farther west on section 8, where his son now lives. That was his home until he removed to Henry.
Mr. Hill was a very successful farmer and while residing upon the farm attended strictly to business. On coming to Marshall county he had about six hundred dollars. Land had to be pur- chased, a house erected and farm stocked. It can well be seen that six hundred dollars would not go very far, but he made the best use of what he had. Of course it was necessary for him to go somewhat in debt, but in doing so he was very cautious, purchasing only such things as were absolutely necessary, and with the determination to pay every dollar of the debt at the earliest mo- ment possible. While success has crowned his efforts he has the satisfaction of knowing that every dollar accumulated was the result of hon- est toil. Of the old farm he has deeded his son eighty acres and yet retains the rest.
Mrs. Harriet Hill departed this life in 1871, at the age of forty-two years, while living upon the farm in the western part of Whitefield town- ship, and her body was laid to rest in the ceme- tery at Sugar Grove. She was a woman of ex- cellent disposition, a loving wife and mother, with many friends in Marshall and Peoria coun- ties. She was an active worker and devout mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The second marriage of Mr. Hill occurred February 1, 1872, when he wedded Mrs. Sarah (Heth) Adams, of Corydon, Harrison county, In- diana. She was a widow and was visiting in the family of Dr. Reeder, who was then living in Whitefield township, but later removed to York, Nebraska, where he has since died. By her first marriage. Mrs. Hill has three children living -- Benjamin Adams, now of Clear Lake, Iowa; Frank, of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Addie, wife of G. W. Self, an attorney of Corydon, Iowa.
Mrs. Sarah Hill's paternal grandfather, Rich- ard Heth, was the first county clerk in Harrison county, Indiana. This was in 1819, not long after the state was admitted into the union. After Richard's death Henry W. Heth, the father of
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