USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 72
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 72
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 72
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The subject of this memoir and pastor of St.
REV. P. H. O'CONNELL.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Patrick's church of Sheffield, Illinois, was born at Dunmore, County Galway, Ireland, June 12, 1859, and was educated at St. Jarlath's college at Tuam, the same county, where he was gradu- ated with the class of 1879. Subsequently he came to the United States, and going to Troy, New York, took the theological course at St. Joseph's seminary. Completing his studies there in 1886, he was ordained at Rochester, New York, by Rt. Rev. B. McQuaid, D. D. After his ordination he was sent at once to Bishop John L. Spalding of Peoria, Illinois, where he be- came assistant to Very Rev. McHurley, vicar general of St. Patrick's church of that city, and where he remained for four years.
On the 27th of August, 1889, he took charge of the parish of Sheffield, to the building up of which he has since devoted himself. The Shef- field congregation has been constantly gaining under Father O'Connell's pastorate, and now has a membership of a hundred families. They have a fine commodious building, which was erected in 1883, at a cost of thirteen thousand dollars, most of which was donated by the pa- rishioners. The building was erected under the pastorate of Father Kelley, now of El Paso, Illi- nois, who had charge of the church for seven years. The elegant and very home-like parson- age was erected by Father O'Connell in 1893, at a cost of three thousand five hundred dollars.
The first priest who served at Sheffield was Father Hugh O'Gara McShane, who was fol- lowed by Father Smith. The first resident priest was Father Groggan, who was succeeded in 1880 by Father Kelley. The latter was suc- ceeded by Father Edward McCartney, and he by the subject of this sketch. In addition to his charge at Sheffield Father O'Connell holds serv- ices at Tiskilwa.
Father O'Connell is a man of good address and winning manners. He is a zealous, active and efficient worker for the church, and is held in high esteem not only by the people of his own congregation, but by the residents of Sheffield generally. In the pulpit he is especially gifted. His voice is rich and well trained, and his man-
ner of delivery pleasing. His discourses are scholarly and effective in their appeals to follow the teachings of the Master.
J OHN HEIM, the popular circuit clerk of Marshall county and formerly a leading butcher of Henry, was born in what was then Putnam, but is now Marshall county, Illinois, April 15, 1856, and is a son of Jonathan and Mary (Adams) Heim, natives of Pennsylvania. The father, a contractor and builder by occupa- tion, came to the west in 1853. locating at Henry, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1873, at the age of fifty-three years. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife has also been a lifelong member. At the age of seventy-seven years, she is still living with a daughter, Mrs. Mary Won- der, of Lodi, Illinois.
Our subject is one of a family of twelve chil- dren, eight of whom still survive, his seven sis- ters being Harriet, wife of John Heckert, of Peoria; Catherine, wife of Aaron Defenbaugh, a farmer of Kansas; Sophia, wife of Joseph Mer- dian, of Henry, Illinois; Sarah, wife of W. G. Snyder, of Wyoming, Illinois; Mary, wife of George Wonder, of Lodi; Bettie, wife of D. W. Horrom, of Henry, and Amanda, wife of Thomas Gilkerson, of Battle Creek, Michigan. The others all died in early life.
In the public schools of Henry, John Heim secured his literary education, and began his business career as a clerk in a dry goods store, after which he was similarly employed in a grocery store, both in Henry. In 1873 he em- barked in the meat-market business, which he has since successfully carried on. He is a man of high standing in financial circles, as he con- ducts his business on strictly honest principles, and is looked upon as a useful and honorable citizen.
In 1877, Mr. Heim was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Walter, daughter of Allen Wal- ter of Streator, Illinois, and to them have been born two children: Grace, a graduate of the Henry schools, and Lyla, who is attending
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school. The parents are both earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and socially, Mr. Heim is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, a charter member of the Com- mercial club of Henry, and a prominent member of the Odd Fellows lodge, in which he has passed all the chairs.
Mr. Heim was elected alderman of the first ward in the spring of 1895, the first republican ever elected in that ward. He was nominated by acclamation at the republican convention held at Lacon in August, 1896, candidate for circuit clerk, and was elected by a liberal majority over a popular candidate. Since old enough to vote, Mr. Heim has been identified with the republican party, in the success of which he takes a deep in- terest. He is one of the influential and promi- nent citizens of Henry, and is a man of much force of character, strong individuality, and his pleasant, social manner has won him a host of warm friends.
J AMES B. NELSON, county supervisor of
Hall township and a leading butcher and stock dealer of Spring Valley, is a native of Bureau county, born in Providence, July 12, 1863, but when six months old was taken by his parents, James and Mary (Barrett) Nelson, to Arlington, where he remained until coming to Spring Valley in 1886. His father, a native of Canada, came to the United States in 1852, and engaged in farming in Bureau county, but is now living a retired life in Spring Valley. He has been a lifelong democrat, but takes no active part in politics. The birth of the mother occurred in Zanesville, Ohio.
Our subject is the oldest in the family of six children, the others being as follows: Lizzie is the wife of J. C. Sitterly, a liveryman of Spring Valley; George died in 1876, at the age of four- teen years; Charles married Emma Miley and is engaged in the butchering business at Ladd, Illi- nois. He has two children: May Belle and Mar- guerite. W. G. married Malissa Anderson, and is operating the old homestead farm. Martha is the wife of M. C. McWicks, private secretary for
S. M. Dalzell, manager of the Spring Valley Coal company.
The education of James B. Nelson was ob- tained in the common schools of Arlington, and after its completing he devoted his time to agri- cultural pursuits until coming to Spring Valley in 1886, when he began his present business. Since the age of fifteen he has handled stock, and has probably done a more extensive business along that line than any man of his years in this section of the state. He has been quite success- ful in his undertaking, and is now doing the larg- est butcher business in the place.
On the 8th of December, 1887, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage with Miss Olivia, only child of Abraham and Margaret (Martin) Lance, who are eastern people by birth. Two children grace this union, namely: Lance Adelbert, aged seven years, and George H., aged five. The parents attend the Congregational church and are highly esteemed in social circles.
In politics Mr. Nelson is a republican, and has always taken an active interest in public affairs. In 1891 he was elected supervisor for Hall town- ship, which is strongly democratic, and has twice been re-elected without opposition, which fact plainly indicates his popularity and the confi- dence and trust reposed in him by his fellow citi- zens. He is one of the rising men of the county, prompt and faithful in the discharge of every duty, whether public or private, and is public spirited and progressive. Socially he is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and the Eastern Star, and also affiliates with the Knights of Pythias.
R EV. M. C. O'BRIEN, pastor of St. Annis Catholic church of Toluca, is a native of Ireland. After completing his theological studies in Troy, N. Y., he was ordained in Lowell, Massa- chusetts, in September, 1879, by Archbishop Williams, in the church of which his brother was assistant pastor. His first pastorate was in Champaign, Illinois, where he served as assistant priest, and also served in the same capacity at Monmouth. His first charge as pastor was in
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Ohio, Bureau county, Illinois, after which he was transferred to Lacon.
St. Annis church of Toluca was established through the efforts of Father O'Brien, then pas- tor of the Immaculate Conception church at La- con, where he had located in 1884. In October, 1893, he came to Toluca, where he succeeded in calling together a meeting of perhaps fifty per- sons, who were members of other parishes, and services were first held in a building in what is now known as the old town. In the following October he became a resident of Toluca and the regular pastor, holding services in the Fay hotel, which was not then completed. Father O'Brien raised the funds with which he erected the first house of worship, and mass was there celebrated for the first time on Christmas morning, 1893. The old building is still standing, but a much bet- ter church has since been erected. It is a beauti- ful, modern structure, one hundred by forty-four feet, with a seating capacity of six hundred, and was erected at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. This was raised through the efforts of Father O'Brien, who is an indefatigable worker in its in- terests. Here services were first held Easter morning, 1896, and on the 19th of the following July the church was dedicated, and a class of sixty confirmed by Bishop Spaulding.
Father O'Brien is a conscientious, earnest Christian, faithful in the discharge of his duties, a friend to the poor and needy, and he has the love and respect, not only of his parishioners, but of the community at large. Under his pastorate his present congregation has steadily increased. In politics he is a democrat, and an advocate of free silver.
G USTAVUS TIBBETTS, one of the well- known farmers of Neponset township, Bureau county, came to the county in 1854, and has assisted in its progress and development. He is entirely a self-made man, beginning life here empty-handed, but through industry, perse- verance and good management he has accumu- lated a handsome property, his home farm on section 29 comprising one hundred and sixty
acres of well-improved and valuable land, and also owning another tract of eighty acres on sec- tion 28, Neponset township.
A native of the old pine tree state, Mr. Tib- betts was born on the 2d of May, 1825, in the town of Belgrade, Kennebec county, a son of Nathaniel and Hulda (Page) Tibbetts, whose births also occurred in that state. The father was a pioneer of Kennebec county, where he cleared and opened up a farm, reared his family and died at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife sur- vived him a few years. In their family of five sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to years of maturity, only two are now living: James P., a substantial farmer of Neponset township, Bureau county, and Gustavus, of this sketch.
The last named acquired a good education in the Belgrade academy of his native county, and remained at home, assisting his father in the labors of the farm until he had attained his ma- jority. For the following seven years he was em- ployed in an oil-cloth factory, but in 1854 came west to Illinois, joining his brother in Bureau county, who had come here some years previous- ly, and for whom he worked for three years. He then purchased eighty acres, where he now re- sides, and immediately commenced its develop- ment and cultivation, erecting thereon a small frame residence and other buildings. Subse- quently he added eighty acres to the original purchase, making a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and he has replaced his first dwelling by a commodious two-story residence. All of the improvements are of a substantial character, making the farm one of the best in the township. He is a progressive, thorough and skillful farmer, and his success is certainly well deserved.
Having obtained a home, Mr. Tibbetts next wished some one to preside over it, and, return- ing east, was married at Topsham, Vermont, February 23, 1860, to Miss Mary Caldwell, a na- tive of that state, where she acquired a good edu- cation and successfully engaged in teaching for a time. She also followed that profession for a time in Illinois previous to her marriage. Her
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father, James Caldwell, was a well-to-do farmer of Orange county, Vermont, where he spent his entire life. Five children have been born to our subject and his estimable wife, namely: James Henry, who is married and operates a farm of his own of one hundred and twenty acres, adjoining that of his father; Jennie, at home; Ida, who is a teacher in the Kewanee schools, and Minnie and Anna, also at home. The son has had three daughters: Mary M., Charity C. and Leila, de- ceased.
Politically, Mr. Tibbetts has been identified with the republican party since its organization, earnestly advocating its principles. He served as assessor of Neponset for eleven consecutive years, and has also filled the office of township trustee and been a delegate to a number of county conventions of his party. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance company of Neponset and Macon townships, in- corporated in 1872, and has served in the capac- ity of president and secretary, holding the former office for a number of years. He is an intelli- gent, industrious citizen, in favor of advance- ment and well respected.
S PENCER ELLSWORTH, the late well- known editor of the Lacon Home Journal, was born at Denmark, New York, June 10, 1824. His parents, Benjamin and Roxana Ellsworth, moved to Cattaraugus county when he was seven years of age. He only attended the common schools of the day, but was a student and lover of books all his life, and at his death left a library of several hundred volumes. At eighteen years of age he camne west and found employment in a general store at Galena, Illinois. Two years later, by strict attention to business and frugal use of his money, he was enabled to start a store of his own at Wyota, Wisconsin. In 1850 he married Lucy McCollum, daughter of Dr. Asa McCol- lum, of Leicester, Massachusetts, who survives him. Three children were born to them, the first, Lillian, living only sixteen months ; the other two are: Evelyn Ninetta, now Mrs. T. L. Jones, of Henry, Illinois, and Spencer Ellsworth, the pres-
ent publisher of the Journal. He removed to Elkader, lowa, in 1855, where he engaged in general merchandise until 1862. In 1862 he lo- cated in Lacon, and, associating himself with E. Il. Halsey under the firm name of Ellsworth & Halsey, continued in the dry goods business un- til 1866.
He had a facile pen and all his life up to this time he had written more or less for local papers, and for several years had used the nom de plume of "Crowquill." In 1866 he bought the Illinois Gazette, one of the oldest papers in Illinois, changing its name to the Lacon Home Journal. He loved his paper and his business, and he gave himself to it with a constancy that for eighteen vears never flagged, and under his management the Journal became popular and one of the best country papers in central Illinois. He was es- pecially interested in and instrumental in the or- ganization of the Marshall County Old Settlers' association. Ilis love of the old and primitive led him to collect a large amount of historical matter in regard to the settlement and organiza- tion of Marshall and Putnam counties, which he published in book form under the title, "Records of the, Olden Time," a work of real merit. He was public-spirited, ever interested in the ad- vancement of Lacon and was emphatically the father of the woolen mills, now in successful operation. He was a republican in politics, a Mason and a Knight Templar, a successful busi- ness man and universally respected. He died July 26, 1884, from injuries received in a run- away accident.
JOHN GUNNING, a wide-awake, progressive farmer of Bureau county, residing on section 2.4, Neponset township, where he owns two hun- dred acres of valuable land, was born in County Down, Ireland, February 22, 1827, a son of Thomas Gunning, who spent his entire life on the emerald isle. In the family were thirteen chil- dren, of whom those living are: Eliza, wife of Abram Burnett, a retired farmer living in the village of Neponset; Jane, also a resident of that place; Mary, wife of Andrew Spears, of Mineral,
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Bureau county; Bella, wife of Samuel H. Maun- der, of Washington county, Kansas; Matilda, wife of Robert Stokes, of Kewanee, Illinois; Esther, wife of John Robinson, of Belfast, Ire- land; and John, of this sketch.
Our subject passed the days of his boyhood and youth in County Down, where he received very limited school privileges, and his education has been mostly self-acquired since reaching manhood. In the county of his nativity he was married February 18, 1850, the lady of his choice being Miss Margaret Porter, who was also born, reared and educated in that county. Two weeks later they started for the new world, embarking on a sailing vessel at Belfast, but when three weeks out they were shipwrecked and returned to that city, where the vessel was repaired, and they again started on their way. This time they reached New York in safety, July 7, 1850, after a long and tedious voyage of six weeks and three days.
Mr. Gunning first located in Rensselaer coun- ty, New York, where for about six years he worked on a farm, and in the spring of 1856 emi- grated to Illinois, settling first on a farm in Stark county. Later he bought a little home in the village of Osceola, where he lived for three years, during which time he operated rented land in that county. In 1860 he sold out and removed to Neponset township, Bureau county, where he also ,rented a farm for about five years. At the end of that period he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of the farm which is still his home, and to the improvement and cultivation of the land has since devoted his attention with most gratifying results. His residence is large, neat and substantial, and all the other buildings upon the place are in keeping with a model farm of the nineteenth century. He is in the broadest sense a self-made man, being both the architect and builder of his own fortunes. Although he started out in life in limited circumstances, he has become one of the most successful and well- to-do citizens of Neponset township through his own unaided efforts.
Mr. Gunning has been called upon to mourn
the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 26th of July, 1880, and was interred in Osceola ceme- tery, where a neat and substantial monument has been erected to her memory. Two of their chil- dren died in early life, and the three yet living are Thomas J., who married Alice Carpenter, by whom he has three children, John S., Thomas P. and Alice C., and is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres adjoining that of his father; Catherine Elvira, who is her father's housekeeper, and Hugh G., who married Emnia Pickering, and operates the home place. There were born to them: Hugh, Mabel M., Stella A., Laura, George and Robert. Our subject also has seven grandchildren.
In his political views Mr. Gunning has been a republican since becoming an American citizen, casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, since which time he has never missed an election. He has served as a delegate to a number of county conventions, was a faith- ful member of the school board for twelve years and highway commissioner for seven years, the duties of which positions he discharged in a most creditable manner. He and his children are earnest and faithful members of the Neponset Congregational church, and the family is one of prominence in the community where they make their home. Mr. Gunning is emphatically a man of enterprise, positive. character, indomitable energy, strict integrity and liberal views, and is thoroughly identified in feeling with the growth and prosperity of his adopted county. He is a stanch and loyal friend, fond of good fellowship and devoted to those who have his confidence.
G RANVILLE C. PARKS, an old-time agri- culturist of large experience, is now num- bered among the elderly residents of Neponset township, Bureau county, living retired at the old homestead on section 33. By the people of the community he is held in that reverence and respect tacitly accorded those whose lives have been distinguished by integrity and usefulness.
A native of Virginia, Mr. Parks was born in Washington county, August 15, 1812, and is a
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son of William Parks, whose birth occurred near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. When a young man the latter removed to Washington county, Virginia, where he married Miss Agnes Bu- chanan, a native of that county, where her father, Matthew Buchanan, had gone when young. He was a native of the keystone state, took part in three Indian wars, two in Virginia and one in Kentucky, and was a soldier of the Continental army during the Revolution, serving as baggage guard at the battle of Kings Mountain. He was of English origin, while the paternal grandfather of our subject was of Irish birth.
In 1835 the parents of our subject left the Old Dominion, coming to Illinois, and spent the first winter at Decatur. In 1836, the father took up a claim near Osceola in Stark county, where he became one of its earliest pioneers, and there broke the land and improved a farm, on which he erected a house when there was not another dwelling within seven or eight miles of his place. He became one of the substantial farmers of the locality, and one of its honored and valued citi- zens, serving as magistrate for several years. There his death occurred in 1857, at the age of eighty years, and his wife, who long survived him, passed away in 1877, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Of their family of three sons and four daughters, two of the latter are now deceased. Matthew, Joseph, Eliza and Nancy H. are all unmarried and occupy the old homestead in Stark county; Rebecca Jane married David Currie of Stark county, and is now deceased ; Polly Ann became the wife of Adam Oliver, and both died in Stark county.
Granville C. Parks was reared upon the home farm in Virginia and received very limited school advantages, so that he is also entirely self-edu- cated. Learning the blacksmith's trade he con- tinued to follow the same in his native state and for one winter after coming to Illinois. Here he arrived in 1854, and spent the first two years in Stark county, after which he came to Bureau county. Until 1857 he rented land, and then pur- chascd one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land, cleared away the brush and erected a neat
and substantial frame dwelling. It was the same farm upon which he still resides, but wonderful have been the changes which have since taken place. He at once began to break and improve the land, planted an excellent orchard, and also planted the set from which have grown many of the shade trees upon his place that are now two feet in diameter. For over thirty years he was one of the most active, enterprising and suc- cessful farmers of the community, but has now laid aside business cares and is enjoying a well earned rest.
In Washington county, Virginia, March 12, 1835, Mr. Parks was united in marriage with Miss Nancy McKee, also a native of that county. and a daughter of James and Sarah (Roe) Mc- Kee. Ten children blessed this union, nine of whom grew to years of maturity and are still living. Robert Benjamin, a veteran of the late civil war, was formerly engaged in the manu- facture of agricultural implements at Princeton and Kewanee, Illinois, but is now an extensive stock-raiser and dealer of Aspen, Colorado: Eliza Jane, is the wife of Philip C. Rhea, of Ne- ponset; Sarah Ann, is the wife of Alexander Tomlinson, also a native of Virginia and a sub- stantial farmer and stock-raiser of Neponset, who now owns and operates the Parks homestead. He is extensively engaged in breeding short horn and black Galloway cattle, Shropshire sheep and Norman and Percheron horses, all of the best grade; William Andrew, is married and is a farmer of Stark county; John Roe is a mechanic, lumber dealer, contractor and builder of Gunni- son, Colorado; Joseph Buchanan, is married and resides at Wilcox, Arizona, where he is state stock inspector and shipper; Rebecca Bertha is the wife of Dr. A. J. Robinson, of Aspen, Colo- rado: James McKee, grew to manhood, mar- ried, but is now deceased; David Oliver is mar- ried and living in New York city, where he holds a responsible business position; Clifford Clark, is a prominent resident of Denver, Colorado, and has served as state auditor of that state. He will go into the banking business when his term of office expires.
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