USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 70
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 70
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 70
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Silas H. Locke, Jr., the brother of our subject, enlisted in October, 1864, in Company D, Forty- seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. Subsequently he re- moved to Minnesota, where his death occurred October 30, 1872, at the age of thirty years. Mercy Victoria, the only sister, is the wife of E. H. Hutchins, a merchant of Henry.
In the schools of Henry, George M. Locke acquired his education, and in 1860 and 1861 en- gaged in teaching. On the 16th of August, of the latter year, lie became a private of Company D, Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry, but in 1862 and 1863, served as clerk at General Mower's headquarters, and was subsequently appointed sergeant major of the regiment, in which capacity he served until mustered out October II, 1864. He took part in the battles of New Madrid, Point Pleasant, Island No. 10, Farmington, May 9, 1862, and Jackson, May 14; siege of Corinth, May 28 and 29; Iuka, September 19; Corinth, October 3 and 4; the siege of Vicksburg, May 22, 1863; Mechanicsburg, 1863. Here he did a great deal of writing for General Sherman. He was taken seriously ill with malarial fever, and as he refused to go to the hospital was taken care of
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by three physicians at headquarters. He secured a leave of absence for a month, and came home, when he was so weak he was unable to walk. He was on special detail at Springfield in 1864 secur- ing and transferring substitutes and recruits for the service.
On being mustered out, Mr. Locke returned home, and was again offered the school which he had previously taught, but declined to accept it, and embarked in the hardware business at Henry. Owing to ill health, at the end of a year he disposed of the business, and removed to a farm in Putnam county, now known as the Un- dercliff Summer Resort. Later in connection with a partner he carried on the lumber and hard- ware business, and was the first to bring the Marsh harvesters, automatic binders, sulky and gang plows into the county. On the division of his father's estate, the old Planter House fell to Silas H., who kept it for a time, when our sub- ject purchased, running it about six months and then leased it to the present popular proprietor, who subsequently purchased and still runs it. Mr. Locke is now doing an excellent business as agent for metal monuments made of zinc, which are manufactured at Bridgeport, Connec- ticut and are noted for their durability. It is claimed for them that they never grow old or attract moss or lichens, and will be as good at the end of two thousand years as a stone monu- ment would be at the end of forty, while their ex- pense is not more than the best stone.
On the 10th of October, 1867, Mr. Locke was united in marriage with Miss Samantha E. Kitt- redge, the only child that grew up of Leonard and Miriam (Hurd) Kittredge, who were born near Bedford, New Hampshire. On coming west her parents located in the southwestern part of Mar- shall county, where Mrs. Locke was born. Her father, whose birth occurred June 22, 1812, is still living where he first settled, but the mother died July 1, 1895, at the age of eighty-two years.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Locke, namely: Clara V., married June 11, 1890, wife of James A. Speers, a farmer of Stark coun- ty, Illinois; Leonard, who died at the age of a
year and a half; George, also deceased; Latha Kittredge, Miriam H., and Bessie, who died at the age of five years. The parents and children are members of the Congregational church, and the family is one of prominence in Henry. Form- erly, Mr. Locke was a republican in politics, but now gives his earnest support to the prohibition party, and socially is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a worthy repre- sentative of one of the honored pioneer families of Marshall county, with whose interests he has been identified for half a century, and those who have known him longest are numbered among his stanchest friends.
W ILLIAM M. REPINE. One of the prominent representatives of the jour- nalistic profession in Bureau county is the gen- tleman whose name heads this brief notice, the well known editor and proprietor of the Tiskilwa Chief. He was born in Indiana county, Pennsyl- vania, January 18, 1865, a son of J. W. and Hannah Repine, the former of French and the latter of German descent. In the keystone state the father engaged in merchandising.
Our subject spent the first thirteen years of his life in his native state, and then accompanied his parents to Rock Island, Illinois, thence to Reynolds, afterward to Millersburg, and from there to Woodhull, Illinois, where he learned the printer's trade. At Reynolds he attended the public schools, and in 1882 graduated from the high school of Millersburg.
Having mastered his trade, Mr. Repine estab- lished the Woodhull Gazette in 1885, which ven- ture did not prove a success, and he removed to New Windsor, Illinois, where for a year and a half he published the New Windsor Gazette. On the expiration of that period he came to Tiskilwa, where in 1887 he established the Chief, which en- tered at once upon a prosperous era, and to-day is recognized as one of the leading journals of the county. It has a circulation of six hundred copies as well as an extra large advertising patronage. It is published every Wednesday, and has now entered upon the ninth year of its existence. A
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well equipped job printing establishment is run in connection with the paper, which also enjoys a large patronage.
On the 3d of July, 1886, Mr. Repine was united in marriage with Miss Theodocia Burd, of Wood- hull, where she was educated in the public schools. Her father, Rev. J. W. Burd, was at one time a presiding elder, and was one of the bright- est orators of his day, while her mother was a descendant of the Hammond family of Pennsyl- vania, one of the oldest and wealthiest families of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Repine have two chil- dren-Etta, born February 13, 1889; and Ruth, born June 16, 1891.
On attaining his majority, Mr. Repine was a strong prohibitionist, and in 1884 ran for the legislature on that ticket, but for several years has been a conservative voter. He held the office of town clerk of New Windsor, and is now one of the school directors of the Tiskilwa public schools. A prominent member of the Masonic order, he is at present holding his membership in Grove Lodge, No. 824, F. & A. M., of Downers Grove, Illinois, of which he was the first worship- ful master, having organized the lodge under dis- pensation in 1892. He was installed under char- ter by Grand Master L. A. Goddard of Chicago. In religious belief he is an Episcopalian, belong- ing to St. Jude's church of Tiskilwa. He is one of the valued and prominent citizens of that place, highly respected by all who know him.
OHN SPENCER BURT, editor of the J Henry Semi-Weekly Times, is one of the ablest journalists of Marshall county, and one of the prominent and representative citizens of Henry. He was born on the 16th of March, 1834. in Hartford, Connecticut, a son of George Burt, whose birth occurred in New York, January 26, 1806. In early life the father was a tanner and currier, but after coming to Marshall county, Illi- nois, in 1846, turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Ile held several minor offices, includ- ing those of school director, tax assessor and town clerk, the duties of which he discharged in a most capable manner. He was a faithful mem-
ber of the Baptist church, with which he was officially connected, and by his honorable, up- right life gained the confidence and respect of all who knew him. He died at the ripe old age of eighty-two years.
In Hartford, Connecticut, in May, 1833, was celebrated the marriage of George Burt and Miss Jerusha Spencer, who was born in 1800, and died in 1882. She was reared a Presbyterian, to which belief she always adhered. Our subject is the oldest of their five children, the others being as follows: George, editor of the Henry Repub- lican; Clarence E., who operates the old home farm; Cornelia E., twin sister of Clarence, and the wife of George Losee, of Lake City, Iowa, and Elizabeth R., who died at the age of twenty- five years.
At Knox college and Lombard university of Galesburg, Illinois, our subject completed his lit- erary education, and later successfully engaged in teaching for some years in Marshall and Put- nam counties. While thus employed the civil war broke out, and he enlisted April 25, 1861, in Company D, First Illinois Cavalry, but was not mustered in until the following July. Being taken a prisoner at Lexington, he was parolled and sent home. Later the company was called into service by the officers, but were mustered out again when it was learned that they were parolled men.
Mr. Burt again followed the teacher's profes- sion until 1869, when he established a news and notion store in Henry, which he conducted until 1888, since which time it has been successfully carried on by his wife. In the latter year he pur- chased the Henry Weekly Times, and has ever since been engaged in its management. In May, 1894, he started the Semi-Weekly Times, which is issued Tuesdays and Fridays. It now has a large and constantly increasing circulation, which is certainly justly merited, as it is a bright, newsy sheet, neatly and well printed, and the editorials show deep culture. The Times also publishes the "Poultrydom," a monthly magazine devoted to the interests of poultry raising. It is now in its second volume and is successful.
On the 12th of April, 1868, Mr. Burt was united
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in marriage with Miss Julia Chapman, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Hiram and Eleanor (Rogers) Chapman. One son has been born of this union-Robert F., who was married in Janu- ary, 1896, to Elizabeth Smith, of Henry, and assists his father in the office.
Politically, Mr. Burt affiliates with the demo- cratic party, and fraternally is connected with the Odd Fellows society, in which he has filled all the chairs, and is a member of the Lookout Moun- tain post, G. A. R., of Henry, of which he is the present adjutant. His genuine worth gives him a high place in the regard of his fellow citizens, and in social as well as business circles he holds an enviable position.
W ILLIAM W. TWIST, the present efficient postmaster of Toluca, is one of the most popular and influential citizens of that thriving little village, of which he is really the founder, and with whose interests he has been closely identified since it sprang into existence. He is a native of Marshall county, his birth occurring near the present town of Varna, April 2, 1842, and is a son of J. W. and Mary (Davison) Twist.
The father was born in London, England, but when a mere boy was brought to America by his parents, who located in New York city, where he grew to manhood, and with his father, John Twist, learned the cabinetmaker's trade. There he wedded Mary Davison, a native of that city, and soon afterward came to Illinois, becoming one of the early pioneers of Marshall county, and one of its well-to-do farmers. He was a worthy and prominent citizen, a democrat in politics, and was called upon to serve in various township offices. His death occurred in 1883, but his faith- ful wife is still living. Of the three children born to them James died in the spring of 1895, leav- ing a family, who still make their home in Mar- shall county, and Mary is the wife of Leander Burns, of Scotland county, Missouri.
Our subject, who is the oldest of the family, spent his boyhood days in much the usual mail- ner of farmer lads, assisting in the labors of the fields and acquiring his education in the public
schools. At the age of twenty-one he began life on his own account as a farmer upon rented land, but soon began speculating in property, in which venture he was very successful. In 1875 he invested in land on which the village of Toluca now stands, purchasing an eighty-acre tract be- fore the railroad was constructed, and carrying on farming. It was in 1887 that the railroad was built, and two years later he laid out the town, but in 1892 sold out to the Devlin Coal company.
At the age of twenty-four years, Mr. Twist was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Palmer, of Marshall county, who died in 1886. On the 10th of September, 1896, he led to the marriage altar Mrs. May Moffett, nee Saxton, a native of New York.
Mr. Twist is one of the leaders of the demo- cratic party in the community, has served as a delegate to its various conventions and labored hard for its success. He has filled all the town- ship offices with the exception of supervisor and justice of the peace, which he refused to accept. was made the first postmaster of Toluca, but after serving for fourteen months resigned. How- ever, he was again appointed in 1893. and is still filling the position with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the many patrons of the office. As a man of sound judgment and intelligence, he is well worthy of representation in a work of this kind, and his many friends have been attracted to him by his geniality and kindness. Those who have known him longest have for him the highest regard, a fact which certainly indicates an honorable and well spent life.
W ILLIAM R. STRATTON, a well known resident of Toluca, was born on the 25th of August, 1854, in Richland township, Marshall county, Illinois, and is a worthy representative of one of its honored and highly respected families. His parents, James and Marcia (Chalcraft) Strat- ton, were both natives of England, the former born in 1820, and the latter in 1826. When chil- dren they accompanied their respective parents to America, and both became, residents of In- diana, where they met and were married. The
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paternal grandfather, John Stratton, located near Evansville, where he engaged in farming until his death.
For some time after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Stratton continued to reside in the hoosier state, and there two children were born to them, while the birth of our subject occurred the year after their arrival in Marshall county, Illinois. For a few years the father rented land here, and . then purchased a tract on section 9, Bennington township, near the present site of Toluca. He became a well-to-do and prosperous farmer, mak- ing the most of his opportunities, and in politics was an adherent of republican principles. Hc has now passed away, but his excellent wife still survives him, making her home near Toluca.
Ten children were born to this worthy couple, nine of whom are still living, namely: Mrs. Ruth A. Ball, now a widow, living west of Toluca, and the mother of four children; James, who died at the age of eight years ; William R., of this sketch ; David, a resident of Memphis, Missouri, who is married and has four children; Mary E., wife of Marion J. French, of Evans township, Marshall county, by whom she has three children; Marcia Louisa, wife of Frank L. Carithers, of Benning- ton township, by whom she has three children; Sarah L., wife of J. P. Litchfield, of Toluca, by whom she has two children; Ada Naomi, wife of R. I. Litchfield; and James L. and Emma M., still at home with their mother.
During his boyhood and youth our subject at- tended the common schools near his home, and remained under the parental roof until thirty-four years of age. For his faithful service there his father gave him eighty acres of land, on which there was an indebtedness of one thousand dol- lars. For three years he continued its cultivation and improvement and then removed to Toluca, where he has now made his home for over five years. At first he was employed in a lumber yard.
On the 2d of November, 1887, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Stratton and Miss Martha J., daughter of John and Emily Litchfield, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Four
children have come to bless this union, namely: Arthur, born February 26, 1890; Lucile, born February 5, 1892, and Earl, born February 3, 1894.
Mr. Stratton has been a strong republican in politics since voting for R. B. Hayes in 1876, but cares nothing for the honors or emoluments of public office. He is a straightforward, honorable citizen, and has made many warm friends throughout the community.
W ILLIAM CRISMAN, residing on section 9, Macon township, Bureau county, Illi- nois, has been a resident of the county since April 7, 1855. He is a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, born in St. Clair town- ship, Denens' Creek, June 26, 1825, and is the sixth in a family of fifteen children born to William and Margaret (Wisecarver) Crisman, of whom six are now living-John, is a resident of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and is a farmer by occupation, is married and has seven children : Eve, is the widow of Solomon Beegle, is also a resident of Bedford county, as is also Eliza, widow of David Icakes; William is next in order of birth; Moses, is a farmer residing in Blair county, Pennsylvania, is married and has six children; Joseph, is also a farmer by occupation, and resides in Adams county, Nebraska, is mar- ried and has eight children.
William Crisman, the father of our subject, was also a native of Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, of German ancestry, as also his wife, and was educated in the primitive schools of his day. He was, however, practically a self-educated man, and followed the occupation of a farmer during his entire life. Politically he was a democrat, but never aspired to any official position. In addi- tion to his agricultural pursuits, he for a short time engaged in surveying, being a skilful sur- veyor. , Both himself and wife were carnest and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and died in that faith.
The subject of this sketch is a self-educated and self-made man, his school life being of very lim- ited extent. When he was seventeen years of
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age, with the consent of his father, lie left the parental home, November 2, 1842, to learn the trade of a millwright, going out from thence without a dollar and with but a single suit of clothes. He spent four years as an apprentice, commencing his trade under William S. Fluke, of Waterside, Pennsylvania, and finished under Robert Elder. When he completed his trade, he liad attained his majority and for two years worked as a journeyman in the village of Water- side. About this time he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bowser, daughter of John and Margaret (Hisong) Bowser, and a native of Bedford county, where her parents were born, and was born March 3, 1828. They were mar- ried on the 29th of April, 1848, and lived together as man and wife for thirty-seven years, her death occurring October 10, 1885. By this union eight children were born, of whom seven are yet liv- ing-Calvin, is an agriculturist, residing in Ma- con township, is married and has three children. In politics he is a republican and religiously is a Baptist; William A., also residing in Macon township, is married and has five children. Politi- cally he is a republican; Viola, is the wife of John Ober, who resides on the old homestead, and has four children. Mrs. Ober is a member of the Baptist church. Politically her husband is a republican; Mattie L. and Arthur B., twins, are both at home. Mattie was educated in the Buda public schools, and was also a student for a tine in the Princeton high school. She has been a successful teacher in Bureau county for some years, and is an accomplished young lady. Car- rie is the wife of Lewis Akin, who is connected with the foundry in Buda. They have three children: Anna is the wife of John G. Ander- son, and resides with her husband on a farm in Macon township.
In 1854 Mr. Crisman decided to move west and came on a prospecting tour, traveling through Iowa and Illinois, finally making choice of Bureau county. He then returned home and in April, 1855, with his wife and three children, bade good-bye to the blue Alleglianies and be- came a citizen of the prairie state. On first col1-
ing to this county he commenced work at his trade of carpentering at what is now the city of Buda, but which then contained but two or three houses, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy rail- road having just been finished to the place. He did not lose a day's time, and for three years re- mained in Buda, working at his trade. At the end of that time he rented land for two years, and finally purchased one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land, on which he made a payment of one hundred dollars. He had a friend who aided him at this opportune moment, which enabled him to make the required im- provements upon the place. As already stated, Mr. Crisman is a self-made man and by hard labor and strict economy he has become one of the well-to-do farmers of Macon township, as well as one of the leading agriculturists of Bu- reau county. He is a gentleman who shares fully the confidence and good opinion of all who know him, and has set a good example to his children, which will be remembered with pride in the years to come.
Politically, Mr. Crisman was formerly a demo- crat and cast his first presidential vote for James K. Polk, and with that party he acted until the birth of the republican party in 1856. Since that tinte he has been an earnest advocate of its prin- ciples. He was a great admirer of Abraham Lin- coln and also of Grant and Garfield. Officially he has been commissioner of his township for years, and in him the public schools have always found an earnest friend, having served on the school board as director and trustee for a period of fourteen years. He has advanced ideas on the qualification of a teacher and does not stand on the dollar in engaging one. He has often been selected as a delegate to the state and county con- ventions of his party, and has worthily repre- sented it.
In the death of his devoted wife, Mr. Crisman was sadly bereaved and his children lost a miost excellent mother, who was ever ready to make sacrifices for their welfare. She was a devout member of the Baptist church, and died in the hope of the blessed resurrection. Her remains
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were interred in the Hopeland cemetery, west of Buda, where a beautiful monument has been erected, sacred to her memory. Mr. Crisman vet has his children around him, and is now enjoying that peace which is a Christian's herit- age. He is a member of the Baptist church at Buda, with which he has been identified since its organization in 1857, and aided materially in its advancement. Officially, he is a trustee and dea- con of the church, and takes an active interest in all its work.
The Crisman homestead is situated three and a half miles southwest of Buda and comprises four hundred acres of beautiful rolling prairie land, with good buildings, and all the improvements which betoken an excellent agriculturist.
I OHN I. WILKINS, M. D. Among those who devote their time and energy to the practice of medicine and have gained a leading place in the ranks of the profession is Dr. Wilkins of Tiskilwa. He is a man of broad mental culture and his deep research into the realms of medical science has made him one of the most able phy- sicians in this section of the state.
The doctor was born in Dublin, Ireland, on the 13th of September, 1827, and spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native city. Its public schools afforded him a good literary education, and he afterward took up the study of medicine with the view of making its practice his life work. Completing the regular course of study he was graduated from the Dublin Medical university and later from the Rotunda Female Institute and Lying-in hospital, completing the course in the latter institution in 1852. Soon after his gradua- tion the doctor received an appointment as phy- sician on one of the Atlantic passenger ships and in that capacity made several voyages across the ocean. He then determined to establish a home in the new world and made his way to Illinois.
In Bureau county the doctor joined four brothers who had already come to the United States. They emigrated to this country in 1842 and first located in Peoria county, Illinois. William W., the eldest brother of the family, was
an Episcopal clergyman and spent his entire life in Ireland. Of those who became identified with the interests of Illinois, Charles was the eldest. All were men of broad education, Charles being a graduate of Trinity college; Edward and Richard of the Royal School of Raphael, and George who was educated in Dublin. After several years' resi- dence in Peoria county, Edward Wilkins died, but Richard and George subsequently came to Bureau county, and later went to Henry county.
The doctor is now the only survivor of this family. He joined his brothers in Bureau county, and in 1852 established himself in the practice of medicine in Whitefield, where he remained until 1857, when he came to Tiskilwa. During the long years of his residence here he has not only won a liberal patronage but has also gained the high regard of all with whom he has come in contact. At the time of the civil war he put aside all personal considerations to enter the service of his adopted country, enlisting in 1862 as a mem- ber of the Eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry. Later he was commissioned assistant surgeon of the Fourteenth Cavalry, and served in that capacity until the close of the war. In the Stoneman raid in Georgia, on the 26th of July, 1864, he was captured and held a prisoner for six months. spending one half of that time in Libby prison. In the early part of 1865 he was exchanged, im- mediately thereafter joined his regiment and con- tinued at the front until July 18, 1865, when the war having ended he was honorably discharged in Pulaski, Tennessee. He at once returned to Tiskilwa, where he has since enjoyed a large and remunerative practice.
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