USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 68
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 68
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 68
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In attending the various district and state con- ventions, Robert Leech had won the friendship of many prominent men, and at one time was a candidate for the legislature. He was a man of much natural ability and was well read, but never cared for discussion and did not force his views on others. He was never involved in liti- gation, but still maintained his rights, and made no enemies.
Rev. James Templeton, who married Miss Mary A. Leech, was a native of Union county, Pennsylvania, and died December 3, 1843, after a short married life of only three years and a half. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, and his boyhood was passed in his native state, and at Jefferson college at Cannonsburgh, he secured both his classical and theological education. He at once entered the work of the ministry in Ohio. and in 1839 came to Illinois, organizing the Associate church at Granville, Putnam county. which has now disbanded. He devoted his en- tire time and attention to the Master's cause, and was a most earnest and devout Christian. He lies buried at Union Grove cemetery. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Templeton -- Samuel Rutherford, well and favorably known throughout the county, who died July 22, 1893, and Mary C. On coming to Putnam county, Mr. Templeton purchased several tracts of land, which are still owned by his heirs. His death was a sad loss not alone to the wife and children, but to the community and the church he loved so well.
W ILLIAM FOUNTAIN, deceased, was numbered among the Marshall county pioneers of 1852, and deservedly ranked high among the best citizens of the county. He was a native of Sussex county, New Jersey, born July 26. 1808. In his youth, he removed to Ohio, and there formed the acquaintance of Miss Jane Mc- Ginnis, a native of that state, born March 5, 1818.
WILLIAM FOUNTAIN.
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They were duly wedded, and in 1846 removed to Peoria county, Illinois, locating about one mile from Farmington, where he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. Having in early life learned the trade of a shoe maker, he did some little cobbling, and made all the boots and shoes in use by the family. This he continued for some years after coming to Illinois. He also learned the cooper's trade, and in dull seasons of farm work, he was employed in that line. Industri- ously inclined, and with an earnest desire to bet- ter himself in life, he let few moments go idly by. If he could not work at one thing he could at another, and so it was, as the years went by, he continually added to his possessions.
After remaining in Peoria county some six years, Mr. Fountain removed with his family to Marshall county, locating near the boundary line between Bureau and Marshall counties, and about one mile from the old village of Whitefield. He remained on that farm, however, but one year, removing in 1853 to the present family homestead, purchasing four hundred acres of wild prairie land, for which he paid fourteen dol- lars per acre. He at once commenced the im- provement of the place, and the house he there built is yet standing and in use by the family. It is a two-story brick structure, and Mr. Fountain carried the workmen all the brick and mortar used in its erection.
Mr. Fountain made the purchase of his land on time, using what little money he had in the erection of his dwelling and in other improve- ments. Grain was a profitable commodity at that time and he put almost the entire farm in grain of various kinds, including corn, wheat and oats. Success crowned his efforts, and in due time his farm was paid for and eighty acres added to it. He also bought a farm near Henry, on which he built a nice residence and there resided for a time. The change, however, was not satisfactory and he returned to the old homestead, where he con- tinued to reside until called to the upper and bet- ter world.
While Mr. Fountain was a hard working man and never suffered his pleasures to interfere with
his business, he yet spent many a pleasant day in sport. There were few, if any, better shots in the country with a rifle, and game fared hard if within his rifle reach. In politics he was a strong and enthusiastic republican, and during the war was a firm supporter of the government. Two of his sons he gave to the service, one of whom died from quick consumption three months after his enlistment, brought on by ex- posure. The other, Orlando, raised a company for the Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, was commissioned captain, and later was pro- moted major of the regiment. He served three years and until the close of the war.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fountain seven children were born: Orlando, now resides at Santa Rosa, Cal- ifornia, where he is engaged in the boot and shoe trade; Elizabeth married William Proctor, and now resides in Lamoure county, North Dakota; Martha is the wife of Oliver Pearson, of Wabash, Indiana; Henry died in the army at the age of twenty-one years; Milton resides on the home farm; Edward W. is also deceased; and James is also on the home farm, which he operates in partnership with Milton. James married Miss Sarah E. Johnson, October 27, 1886, by whom he has one child, Luella. Her father, Francis M. Johnson, was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and there married Jane Brown, also a native of same county and state. Their marriage was celebrated November 8, 1849, in Licking county, Ohio, where they both then re- sided. In 1855, they removed to Marshall coun- ty, Illinois, locating on a farm near the old village of Whitefield. On that farm they remained a few years, removing thence to a farm across the line in Bureau county, where they lived about three years, and again returned to the old farm, but later purchased forty acres adjoining on the west, on which was a very nice residence, and where the remainder of their days were spent. They were the parents of seven children: George W .; William Oren, now residing near the old home farm; Sarah E., wife of James Fountain; John Wesley; Marietta, who married John Long, and resides near Afton, Iowa; Frances Emeline, who
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married John Townley, of Chesterville, Texas; and Luella Jane.
Mr. Johnson was a member of the Methodist church, and Mrs. Johnson of the Presbyterian church. She was converted at the age of twelve years, and lived a consistent Christian life to the end. Both died in the full assurance of faith. Mr. Johnson was never physically a strong man, but had a very strong mind. For years he en- gaged in buying and selling stock, shipping prin- cipally to Chicago. His control over cattle was marvelous, they seeming to recognize his mas- tery. He was also a good judge of horseflesh. His death occurred in November, 1885, while his wife survived him nearly ten years, dying Octo- ber 6, 1895. Their remains were interred in Whitefield cemetery. By his will the estate re- mained intact until the death of his wife, when it was divided among the legal heirs.
Mr. and Mrs. Fountain were zealous men- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he was a class-leader for many years. To the work of the church they gave much of their time and such talents as God had given them. When the end came they could each say, as did the grand apostle of the Gentiles, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, and henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me in that day." Mr. Fountain was the first to be called home, his death occurring November 3, 1891. Six
weeks later his wife followed him, dying Decem- ber 17, 1891. Side by side their bodies were in- terred in the family lot in the old cemetery in Whitefield township, there to await the resurrec- tion day. Kind and loving to family and friends, and loyal to their God, their memory is cherished by all with whom they were acquainted.
T HEODORE HOLLY, a prominent repre- sentative of the farming interests of Gran- ville township, Putnam county, is a native of the buckeye state, born in Butler county, April 30, 1845, but was only two years of age when brought to Illinois by his parents, Daniel and
Helen (Bender) Holly, both natives of Hesse, Germany. At the age of sixteen years his father had come to the new world, locating in Ohio, where he met and married Miss Bender, and on coming to Putnam county, Illinois, they settled in Granville township on section 33. There he owned several different farms, but about forty years ago purchased the place now occupied by our subject. Later he went to Peru, Illinois, and passed his remaining days at the home of a daughter in La Salle county, dying in 1888. There his wife is still living. All his property was the just reward of his own hard work and good management. He owned the farm of one hundred sixty acres now occupied by our sub- ject, a one hundred and seventy acre tract which he purchased soon after coming to the county, and one hundred acres in La Salle county, for some of which he paid ten dollars per acre, but part cost him as high as seventy-two dollars per acre. In his family were seven children, who grew to years of maturity: Mary, wife of Chris- tian Brennemann, of La Salle county; John, who lives on a part of the home farm; William, of Peru, Illinois; Theodore, of this sketch; Gustav, of Republic county, Kansas; Eliza, wife of Os- car Brennemann, and George, living in La Salle county.
Until attaining his majority, Theodore Holly remained upon the home farm, and was then employed in a store at Peru for about five years. He then rented his father's La Salle county farm, which he operated until returning to the old homestead on his father's removal to Peru. To- gether they had started a tile factory on the farm, which was conducted for about nine years, mak- ing about six thousand dollars' worth of tile per year and having in their employ seven men. They continued this business until the surround- ing country was pretty well supplied with that commodity, since which time our subject has de- voted his attention exclusively to general farm- ing and the breeding of Clydesdale horses. The latter business he has since carried on with satis- factory results for the past ten years. In his home farm he has one hundred and fifty-eight acres of
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valuable land, and in the vicinity also owns an- other good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he rents.
On the 30th of September, 1869, Mr. Holly led to the marriage altar Miss Bertha Brenne- mann, and they now have five children, Julius D., who took a course in a business college at Bloomington and is now engaged in the opera- tion of the home farm; Willic, who was also edu- cated at the same place and is now located at Spring Valley, Illinois; Eliza, at home; Laura H., a graduate of the Normal university at Nor- mal, this state, now engaged in teaching in Chi- cago, and Clara May, who attended the Peru high school, and from there attended high school at Chicago. Willie has collected and arranged a fine cabinet of Indian arrows, axes, etc. All of the children are more or less musicians, and they have a piano at their pleasant home.
Formerly Mr. Holly was a republican in poli- tics, later for twelve years voted independent of party ties, but now supports the people's party. He has served as delegate from his congressional district at Omaha, was the fourteenth district delegate to the national convention at St. Louis. and has also attended many local conventions, in which he has taken an active and prominent part. In the fall of 1896 he was nominated for congress by the people's party, but made no spe- cial canvass for the position. In his views upon the national questions at issue before the peo- ple, he is outspoken and makes no uncertain sound. His position is that the rights of the people have been invaded, and that the people must come forward and take the reins of gov- ernment in their own hands, regardless of what the money power or the monopolists of the country may say or think. He is a fluent writer and has often served as a newspaper correspond- ent. He is a member of the Religious Confeder- ation of central Illinois, belonging to the church at Peru. This is a liberal organization similar to that of Miss Bartlett of the People's church at Kalamazoo, Michigan. He has ever been a friend of education and has given his children excellent educational advantages, which have
been improved by each. In all the relations of life he is upright and honorable, gaining the confidence of those with whom he comes in con- tact, and no man in Putnam county is held in higher esteem.
S AMUEL W. SKELTON, who after the la- bors of a long and busy life, is spending his later years in retirement in Toluca, Illinois, was born on the 5th of June, 1845, in Morgan county, Indiana, but since an early age has been identi- fied with the interests of Marshall county, Illi- nois, where for many years he was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. His parents were Joel and Jemima S. (Sutherland) Skelton. The father was born in what is now Clark coun- ty, Indiana, April 21, 1815, and from there re- moved to Morgan county, where he engaged in farming until 1850, which year witnessed his ar- rival in Marshall county, Illinois. In Benning- ton township he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government, and so suc- cessful was he in his farming operations that he became the owner of four hundred acres of valu- able and well improved land, although on com- ing to the state he was in limited circumstances. Here his death occurred April 20, 1896. He was twice married, his first wife, who died in 1881, being the mother of our subject.
Of the nine children born of this union, two died in infancy. Leroy graduated from the schools of Eureka, Illinois, became a Christian minister, and at the time of his death, at the age of twenty-five, was preaching in Bloomington. He was buried at Eureka. James S., who lacked one year of graduation from the schools of Eureka, enlisted as a private of Company G., Seventeenth Illinois Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Shiloh, Sunday morning. He too was buried at Eureka, where the parents had re- moved for the purpose of better educating the children. Five of the family are still living -- Sarah, wife of Elmer H. Ward, of Rutland, Illi- nois: Marietta, wife of Thomas Shockley, of Peoria; Samuel W., of this sketch; William H., who is married and living upon a farm at Blue
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Hill, Nebraska, and David F., who lives near Toluca.
The father was a natural musician, and for a time taught vocal music. Most of the family pos- sessed the same talent, some of them being able to carry a tune before they could talk. Joel Skelton was reared in the old school Baptist church, but became an active member of the Christian church. His brother was a Baptist minister, but ivas inclined toward the Christian faith, but his father, John Skelton, was a stern Baptist, until on his death, when he called his son to him and said, "You are right in your preaching, go ahead." In early life Joel Skelton was a whig, supporting Harrison in 1840, but in 1856 voted for John C. Fremont, and ever after- ward gave his allegiance to the republican party. He served as supervisor of Bennington township, but cared nothing for official distinction.
Samuel W. Skelton was but five years of age when he accompanied his parents to Marshall county, where he grew to manhood, receiving his primary education in its public schools. When eleven years of age the family removed to Eureka, where he attended school for five years, and then returned to the farm with his father, two years before he would have graduated. At the age of twenty, he engaged in teaching for one year, but did not like the profession, so gave it up, and turned his attention to farming.
On the 22d of February, 1871, was consuni- mated the marriage of Mr. Skelton and Miss Elizabeth H. Stevenson, of Bennington town- ship, a daughter of Joseph and Jane (Mc- Donough) Stevenson, who were from Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania, where her birth occurred. Two children grace this union: Myrtle, a music teacher, who is now taking her second year at the Conservatory of Music at Galesburg; and Charles L., a boy of thirteen years. The parents and daughter are faithful members of the Christian church, of which Mr. Skelton is deacon. He has served as superin- tendent of the Sunday school, and is now teacher in the same, while Miss Myrtle is an active worker in the Christian Endeavor society. The
family is one of prominence, holding a high posi- tion in social circles, and have the esteem of all who know them.
Mr. Skelton inherited forty acres of land from his father's estate, to which he added by purchase eighty acres, but has sold the eighty acres to the Devlin Coal company, and still owns the original forty and is now living retired. Since casting his first presidential ballot for General Grant in 1868, he has been an ardent republican in politics. In1 1879 he was elected sheriff of the county, which office he acceptably filled for one term, and has also filled the position of school trustee, and been a delegate to various county and senatorial con- ventions of his party.
J JOHN W. PARKER. There are no rules for building characters and no rule for achieving success. The man who can rise from the ranks to a position of eminence is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that surround his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same, the surroundings of individuals differ but slightly; and, when one man passes another on the highway to reach the goal of prosperity before others who perhaps started out before hirn, it is because he has the power to use ad- vantages which probably encompass the whole human race.
Among the most prominent business men of Marshall county to-day is Mr. Parker, teller and stockholder in the First National Bank of To- luca. He was born in Evansville, Indiana, Oc- tober 25, 1850, and is a son of Edward and Sarah (Ruston) Parker, both natives of England. When a child the mother was brought to America by her parents, but the father grew to manhood in his native land. Their marriage was celebrated in Indiana, where the mother died when our sub- ject was but thirteen years of age, and two years later the father broke up housekeeping.
Thus at the early age of fifteen years John W. Parker was thrown upon his own resources. Coming to Livingston, Illinois, he worked on a farm for a year at ten dollars per month, and in 1867 came to Marshall county and obtained em-
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ployment upon a farm located where the village of Toluca now stands, but at that time there was not even a railroad through the place. Here he worked for a number of years as a farm hand.
In the public schools of Evansville Mr. Parker had begun his education, and as the opportunity was afforded attended school in this state, thus acquiring a good common school education, which he supplemented after attaining his ma- jority by a course in a commercial college of Evansville, from which he was graduated in 1872. Returning to Marshall county he con- tinued to work by the month until the spring of
1877, when he began the operation of rented land. At the end of four years he was able to purchase eighty acres in Bennington township, which he cultivated for seven years, and then re- moved to the little village of Toluca, where he embarked in general merchandising, conducting the first store in the place, and continuing opera- tions along that line until 1893. He was very successful in this venture, but in the latter year sold out, and became a stockholder and one of the charter members of the First National bank, of which he has been the first and only teller. He is also the owner of a good farm of one hundred sixty acres in Calhoun county, Iowa.
On the 22d of November, 1877, Mr. Parker led to the marriage altar Miss Sarah A. Litchfield, a native of Marshall county, and they now have two sons: Lawrence G., who graduated from the Rutland schools in 1895, at the age of fifteen years, and Roy S., who is still a student in the public schools.
Since voting for Tilden in 1876 Mr. Parker has been a stalwart democrat in politics, and has served his fellow citizens in several official posi- tions, being town clerk of Bennington township eight years, school trustee six years, was the first village clerk, which office he resigned in or- der to enter the bank. He has also been a dele- gate to various conventions of his party. He is a charter and prominent member of both the Knights of Pythias and Odd Fellows fraternities, joining the former in Varna and the latter in Rutland, but now belongs to both lodges in
Toluca. He has been master of exchequer, vice- chancellor and chancellor commander in the Knights of Pythias; and treasurer, vice-grand and noble grand in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at the present writing holding the highest offices in each. His life has been a suc- cess, and his honorable, straightforward course justly entitles him to the high regard in which he is universally held.
JOHN D. McVICKER, a valued citizen and D representative farmer of Marshall county, is now living a retired life in the city of Henry, where he is enjoying that rest which should al- . ways follow a long and useful career. He was born in Hampshire county, West Virginia, March 4, 1826, but when only two years old was taken to Miami county, Ohio, by his parents, Archibald and Susan (Custer) McVicker, the latter a cousin of General Custer. The father's birth occurred on the same farm in Loudoun county, Virginia, where his father, Archibald Mc- Vicker, Sr., was born and there made his home for half a century. Together they removed to Miami county, Ohio, and in 1844, came to Peoria county, Illinois, but subsequently the grand- father returned to the buckeye state, where he lived for a few years. His youngest son, Hugh, then went after him to bring him to this state, but he was taken ill on the way, and died and was buried in Evansville, Indiana. At the time of his death he was about eighty years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Burns, passed away in Ohio, in 1844.
In 1851 the father of our subject came to Mar- shall county and began the operation of a farm which he had purchased in Saratoga township. Here his death occurred when in his sixty-ninth year. He was widely and favorably known in this section of the state, and was called upon to fill several official positions of honor and trust in his locality.
Our subject is the oldest in a family of ten children, the others being as follows: David, a farmer of Eagle Lake, Iowa; William, also a resi- dent of the same place, who for fifteen months
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was in the union service during the civil war, enlisting in 1864, and serving in the army of the southwest until hostilities had ceased; Oliver, a farmer residing in Nebraska; Elizabeth, widow of Syric Fox, and a resident of Kansas; Mary Catherine, wife of Daniel Ketchum, who lives near Henry, Illinois; Martha, wife of Grotus Deyo, of Henry; Margaret, wife of Nelson Ken- drick, of Atkinson, Henry county, Illinois; Archibald, who died at the age of fourteen, and Joseph Portmus Burns, who was named for his two grandmothers, and died at the age of thirty- two. He married Abigail Essex, by whom he had three children, Charles, Hattie and Susan.
Throughout his business career, J. D. Mc- Vicker followed agricultural pursuits, and still owns the old farm in Saratoga township, where his father settled on coming to the county. His landed possessions aggregate five hundred acres of valuable land on sections 14 and 15, Saratoga township, which are now rented. A thorough and skillful agriculturist, he was very successful in his operations, and gave his undivided attention to his farming interests and stock breeding.
In 1873, Mr. McVicker crossed the ocean to France and imported the first Norman horses brought into Marshall county, which he success- fully bred up to the time he retired from active life.
On the 19th of April, 1849, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. McVicker and Miss Virginia C. Lytle, a native of Marietta, Ohio, and a daughter of George W. and Eve Lytle, who were born in Pennsylvania. Of the two children born of this union, Worth D. is a farmer of Saratoga town- ship, Marshall county. He married Louisa Neal and has two children-John D. and Bessie Marie. Gertrude Maude, who resides with our subject, is the wife of Edward Kane, and has one child, McVicker.
Politically, Mr. McVicker is an ardent sup- porter of the men and measures of the repub- lican party. He is one of the active and progres- sive men of the county, taking a deep interest in all matters calculated to enhance its value, or to benefit his fellow men. His wife is an earnest
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. A generous hospitality is shown at their comfortable home, which is the center of a cultured and re- fined society circle.
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