USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 75
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 75
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 75
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
On the 23d of December, 1861, Mr. Iliff mar- ried Margaret Spangler, daughter of William Spangler, deceased, a pioneer of Marshall coun- ty. Her death occurred in 1866, and on the 6th of September, 1870, he wedded Elizabeth Kelly, daughter of Joseph Kelly. She was called to the home beyond December 25, 1879. They had six children, four of whom are living: Edna M., William K., Arthur C. and Thomas E. The first named is now the wife of Professor E. Frank Perry, principal of the schools of La Rose, Illi- nois. On the 12th of October, 1881, Mr. Iliff was joined in wedlock to Mrs. Mary E. Kleiber, daughter of Miles Pierce. There are five chil- dren by this union: Mabel E., Minnie B., Mag- gie H., Elbert R. and Charles A.
Mr. Iliff and his family are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a republican, supporting the party by his ballot, but has steadily refused public office, preferring to give his attention to his business interests, in which he has met with signal and well deserved success.
J OHN F. HATTAN. One does not have to carry his investigations far into the history of Marshall county to find that this gentleman has been a prominent factor in its development since an early day. He is numbered among the pioneers of 1835, and is one of the few now left to tell the story of the early settlement of this locality, the hardships and trials of the frontiers- men and the work they accomplished in open- ing up the rigion to civilization. He was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, December 8, 1823. His father, Forsyth Hattan, was a native of the same county, and in March, 1830, emi- grated to Brown county, Ohio, whence he came to Illinois in the fall of 1835. He located on sec- tion 35, Belle Plain township, Marshall county, and went through the usual experiences of pioneer life, hauling grain to Chicago and bring- ing back lumber, shingles, dry goods and gro- ceries. The metropolis of the west was then a small town, but was the market for settlers for miles around. The Indians sometimes visited this locality, although they no longer made their homes here. Wild game of all kinds was plenti- ful, including deer, turkeys and prairie chickens.
Mr. Hattan, of this review, has seen as many as fifty deer in a drove at one time, and his trusty rifle has brought down many of them, thus sup- plying the family with venison. Little of the land in the county had been fenced and the few set- tlers lived along the belts of timber skirting the streams. Although there were many hardships to be endured in connection with this life, it was also not without its pleasures, and the homes of the early settlers were justly noted for their hos- pitality. Neighbors were often miles apart and days passed at a time when families saw no one except the members of their own household.
576
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Forsyth Hattan wedded Mary Campbell, a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia, and to them were born ten children, six of whom are living: Mrs. Jane Baker, Mark, Mrs. Nancy Perry, William, Mrs. Sophia Shreve and John F. One son, Francis, served for three years in the civil war, and for eighteen months was incar- cerated in Andersonville prison. About a year: after his return home, while stacking wheat, he was injured by a pitchfork and dicd ten days later. Andrew died at the age of twenty-five years, and the other children died in early life. The father passed away February 18, 1876, at thé age of seventy-six years, and the mother in August, 1880, aged eighty-four.
John F. Hattan shared with the family in the hardships, the trials and the pleasures which came to them in their pioneer home. Hc has always resided in Belle Plain township with the excep- tion of three years, from 1882 until 1884, which he spent in Montgomery county, Kansas. He was married May 10, 1846, to Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Thomas McKinncy, who came from Brown county, Ohio, to Marshall county, about 1843.
Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hattan: Mary J. is the wife of Mark Hattan of Nuckolls county, Nebraska, and has seven chil- dren, Lizzie, Elmer, John, Hattie, Effie, James and Pearl; Mark, of Clay county, Nebraska, mar- ried Victoria Short, and has six children, Ina, Cora, Arthur, Sanford, Ettie and Edna; Thomas F., who is living on the old homestead, married Martha Brock, and has two children, Claudie and Gaylon; Jacob wedded Mary Jail and has five children, Roy, Floyd, Rosa, Guy, and Leslie ; Hillery, of Montgomery county, Kansas, mar- ried Lillie Fulton, and has three children, Ola, Eugene and Arrene; Sarah is the wife of James Wilson, of Montgomery county, Kansas, and has seven children, F. Edward, Richard, Dollie, Cleveland, John, and two little girls; Nancy A. is the wife of Paschal Short, of Independence, Kansas, and has three children, Grace, Earl and Claude; Ada is the wife of Frank Davison, of Woodford county, Illinois, by whom she has one daughter, Lillie; Carl, of Montgomery county,
Kansas, marricd Belle Yates, and has two chil- dren, Robert and Rhoda; Francis M., of Belle Piain township, married Effic B. Ditch, and has two children, Clarence and Elsie Ray. The mother of this family departed this life Novem- ber 5, 1887, aged sixty-two years. She was a devoted member of the Christian church, and her well spent life won her the love and esteem of all.
Mr. Hattan and most of his children are also members of the same church. Throughout life he has followed farming and is now the owner of three hundred and eighty acres of valuable land. He has also engaged in stock raising and has added not a little to his income in this way. He started out in life empty-handed, but has steadily worked his way upward, overcoming all obstacles by determined purpose and securing a comfortable competence through earnest labor and capable management. He has traveled con- siderably over this country and was one of the first passengers on the Union Pacific railroad to California, making the trip in 1872. In Decem- ber, 1892, he again went to the Pacific slope and visited his brother and sister in Oregon, and spent some time in the golden state.
J AMES B. FOSTER, a progressive and in- fluential agriculturist, now residing on sec- tion 15, Belle Plain township, was born on the old family homestead on the adjoining section, September 2, 1856. His father, Benjamin Fos- ter, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, twelve miles from Columbus, on the 4th of January, 1820, and at an early day came to Illinois, taking up his residence in Richland township, Marshall county, where he remained through the follow- ing winter. He then removed to Hopewell town- ship, near Henry, and about twelve years later came to Belle Plain township, locating on sec- tion 16. The land was then wild, the only in- provement upon the place being a small frame house in poor repair, but he energetically began the task of developing a farm and soon placed the tract under a high state of cultivation. He also engaged quite extensively in stockraising in
577
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
an early day and drove his cattle to market at Chicago. He butchered them on the prairie and sold to the dealers in the city. He was very prosperous, accumulating considerable property, and at one time was the owner of fourteen hun- dred acres of valuable land, which before his death was divided among his children.
Benjamin Foster was united in marriage with Miss Mary Lindsey, who was born in North Carolina about 1824. By this marriage they be- came the parents of eight children, five of whoni are now living, namely: Thomas, Harding, James B., Kendrick D. and Charles. The father died April 26, 1889, in his seventieth year, but the mother is still living.
James B. Foster has spent his entire life in Marshall county, and has witnessed its growth and development for forty years. To the com- mon schools he is indebted for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. As soon as old enough to handle the plow he began work on the home farm, and continued his labors there until his marriage. He is now the owner of a rich and fertile tract of two hundred and sixty acres, and the well tilled fields yield a golden trib- ute to his care and cultivation. There are good improvements upon the place and its neat ap- pearance well indicates his careful supervision.
On the 30th of January, 1880, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Foster and Miss Julia Reed, daughter of Wesley Reed, of Varna. She was born in Wisconsin in 1861, and two interesting children grace this marriage: Iva, born in Oc- tober, 1887, and Edith, born November 23, 1892. Politically, Mr. Foster is democratic and cast his first ballot for president for Samuel J. Tilden ; never an aspirant for or wanted office, but gives his time to his farm and business.
JOHN LITCHFIELD, a retired farmer whose home is on section 7, Bennington township, Marshall county, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, December II, 1821, a son of Richard and Sarah (Kendrick) Litchfield. In the fall of 1836 the family left London, bound for the Unit- ed States, but it was thirteen weeks before they
reached the shores of this country, as they en- countered several severe storms and were also becalmed. They were three weeks in getting out of the British Channel, were delayed for one week at Teneriffe Island, and were several days in trying to enter the Mississippi river. Finally landing at New Orleans, they took passage on a river boat and proceeded to their destination- Vanderburg county, Indiana, where they arrived early in the year 1837, and were numbered among its pioneer settlers. There the father opened up and developed a small farm, on which he spent his remaining days.
Amid the scenes of frontier life our subject grew to manhood, and acquired a fair common school education in the primitive log school- house. He gave the benefit of his services to his father until he had attained his majority, and then began life for himself by working as a farm hand by the month, and also ran flatboats for a couple of years. In 1848 Mr. Litchfield was united in marriage with Miss Ann Palmer, by whom he has one son, Edward, now engaged in the banking business in Flanagan, Livingston county, Illinois.
In 1849 Mr. Litchfield came to Illinois, locat- ing first in McDonough county, but two years later came to Marshall county, where he is num- bered among the early settlers. He entered land in Bennington township, and located thereon when there was no one living between his place and Long Point on the east. He met with suc- cess in his farming operations, and is now the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land. lying partly in Livingston county. He assisted in the organization of his township, which was at first a part of Belle Plain, and while they were still together served as town clerk. He becanie the first clerk of Bennington township, which position he acceptably filled for several years, was later supervisor for a number of terms, and also school treasurer. After taking out his natur- alization papers, he cast his first vote for Henry Clay in 1844, but supported Pierce in 1852, and has since been an ardent democrat. He is one of the representative men of the county, widely and
578
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
favorably known, and during his long residence here has gained the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact, either in busi- ness or social life.
After the death of his first wife, Mr. Litchfield married her sister, Emily Palmer, and to them were born ten children, who are still living: George, a lumber dealer of Flanagan, Illinois; Sarah, wife of J. W. Parker, of Toluca; William R., a merchant of Flanagan; Martha J., wife of W. R. Stratton, of Toluca; John P., who is a business man of Toluca ; Robert I., May E., Char- ity D., Joseph G., and Emily Louise, all at home.
Of this family, Robert I. Litchfield was born on the home farm in Bennington township, May 24, 1864, and was provided with a good common school education. In April, 1888, he led to the marriage altar Miss Ada Naomi Stratton, of Ben- nington township, a daughter of James and Marsha (Schalcraft) Stratton. They have be- come the parents of three interesting children: Emily M., born in Bennington township, March 22, 1889; Ray D., born in the same township, July 10, 1891, and Ruth, born in Belle Plain township, January 2, 1894. Mr. Litchfield is now living upon a farm of his father's in Belle Plain township, which he is successfully operating. He; too, is a strong democrat in his political views, casting his first vote for Grover Cleveland in 1888. He was elected highway commissioner of Bennington township, but, owing to his removal to Belle Plain, did not serve. For one term he filled the office of school director. He is one of the most progressive and energetic agriculturists of the community, and one of its honored and respected citizens.
W LLIAM M. HATTAN. Among the prosperous farmers and stock raisers of Marshall county, the record of whose lives fill an important place in this volume, it gives us pleasure to commemorate the name of the gen- tleman whose sketch you are reading. He is one of the active and progressive agriculturists of Bennington township, his home being located on section 33.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Hattan was born in Brown county, October 14, 1832, and is a son of Mark and Martha (Campbell) Hattan, both na- tives of the old dominion, where their marriage was celebrated. In 1830 they removed to Brown county, Ohio, and subsequently came to Mar- shall county, Illinois, settling in Belle Plain township, where the father purchased land and spent his remaining days. By trade he was a blacksmith. The mother's death occurred the next summer after their arrival in this state. Our subject is the second in order of birth in their family of seven children, five of whom are still living, one son, Andrew, being a resident of Belle Plain township.
In the common schools Mr. Hattan, of this sketch, acquired a fair education, and at an early age began to assist his father in the shop, but never followed the trade elsewhere. At the age of twenty years he started out in life for himself empty-handed, at first working by the month for thirteen dollars, out of which he had to pay his board. In the early days, during the winter season, he would carry the mail on horseback from Bloomington to Magnolia. After working by the month for a year he had accumulated enough money to purchase a horse and bought another one on time. With this team he began the operation of rented land. £ Later he pur- chased an interest in a threshing machine, and about 1856 bought eighty acres of wild land, a part of his present valuable farm. The house he erected two years later is still used as a dwelling, even the shingles being in a good state of preser- vation, but in 1890 was built his present com- fortable residence. In 1872 he added eighty acres to the original purchase, and to-day has two hundred acres of rich and arable land under a high state of cultivation and well improved.
In 1858 Mr. Hattan led to the marriage altar Miss Nancy J. Bennington, daughter of Thomas and Cynthia (Mason) Bennington, and to them were born four children, but two died in infancy. Emma is the wife of Samuel Perry, of Fillmore county, Nebraska, by whom she has two chil- dren, Lottie and Harry. James E. is married
579
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and living in Farmington, New Mexico. Mrs. Hattan was called to her final rest October 12, 1893, and her remains were interred in Belle Plain township.
Mr. Hattan was reared a democrat, but on the organization of the republican party he voted for John C. Fremont in 1856, and has since been one of its stanch adherents. He has served his fel- low citizens in various township offices, includ- ing those of clerk and supervisor, and in 1872 was elected circuit clerk, which position he accepta- bly filled for one term. Religiously he is a faith- ful member of the Christian church of Belle Plain, and socially is a Master Mason, connected with the lodge at Minonk. No man in Marshall county is held in higher esteem or has more warn friends than William M. Hattan.
W ILLIAM CHALCRAFT, a wide-awake, progressive farmer residing on section 16, Bennington township, Marshall county, was born on the 20th of July, 1832, in Surrey, England, but when less than five years old was brought to America by his parents, James and Mary (Ead) Chalcraft. After a long and tedious voyage they landed in New York, whence they made their way to Indiana by way of Pittsburg, and down the Ohio river to Mt. Vernon, Indiana. At New Harmony the father secured work by the month, where they remained for two years, and then came by team to Edwards county, Illinois, where he became a land owner and spent his remaining days. After obtaining his naturalization papers he supported the democratic party. Seven chil- dren accompanied the parents to the new world, and here the family circle was increased by the birth of two more, all of whom lived to be grown and married, while six are still living.
Until attaining his majority, William Chalcraft remained upon the home farm with his parents, in the meantime securing a fair common school education. On starting out in life for himself he worked by the month for nine dollars, and later his wages were increased to fourteen. With the money he was able to save he purchased a horse, and in company with his brother operated rented
land. In 1853 his father died, and two years later he took charge of the home place, where he remained until 1857, when he went to Nebraska. At the end of eighteen months he returned to Illinois a poorer but wiser man. It was in 1859 that he located in Marshall county, where he rented a farm and also purchased a tract of wild land, which he developed and improved, culti- vating the same for about fourteen years after his marriage. He then purchased the eighty-acre tract on which he still lives, and erected thereon a good and substantial dwelling, and made other useful and valuable improvements.
On the 18th of February, 1869, Mr. Chalcraft was joined in wedlock to Miss May Colyer, a native of Edwards county, and a daughter of Ed- ward and Jane (Thread) Colyer, who were born in England, but both came to Illinois in the spring of 1818, and were married before it be- came a state. Mrs. Chalcraft was given excellent school privileges, completing her education in a select school in Salem, Marion county, Illinois, and for four years she successfully engaged in teaching in Edwards county. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children: Anna B. was born in Bennington township, Mar- shall county, and after attending the district schools took a two years' course in the com- mercial department of Eureka college, from which she graduated. She is now following teaching, as is also her sister, Florence M., who was similarly educated.
Mr. Chalcraft cast his first presidential ballot for James Buchanan, but has since been a repub- lican in politics. Being endowed with a remark- able amount of energetic spirit and with good business tact, he has, since coming here, suc- ceeded in achieving a fair amount of success. His place evinces, both in its culture and in the good and substantial buildings erected thereon, the diligence and thrift of the owner, and prosperity seems to wait upon his steps. He and his wife and daughters are all members of the Christian church, of which he is a deacon. They are all ex- tremely active in religious matters, giving largely of their time and means to the furtherance of the
580
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
spread of the gospel, are Sunday school workers, and the daughters are prominent members of the Christian Endeavor society. They hold a high place in the estimation of all who know them, and certainly deserve honorable mention in this volume.
A patriotic, loyal citizen, Mr. Chalcraft enlisted in 1864 in Company C. Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was in the service for over a year, or until hostilities had ceased. He was in the battles of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, near Mobile Bay, was on patrol duty for about a month, and was then sent to Texas, where he was stationed on the expiration of his term. He was honorably discharged and mustered out at New Orleans.
L OUIS FARNER, who is now practically liv-
ing a retired life at the home of his son in Bennington township, Marshall county, is one of the representative German-American citizens who have borne so important a part in the up- building and development of Illinois, and are numbered among her most valued and useful citizens. He was born in Wittenberg, Germany, August 14, 1825, a son of Jacob and Mary (Fleisch) Farner, who died when he was quite young, and he was thus early thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood. He received a good German education and continued to work by the month in his native land until twenty-seven years of age.
With the hope of benefiting his financial con- (lition, Mr. Farner then came to America, leav- ing the fatherland in April, 1852, and arriving in New York after a long and tedious voyage of fifty days. He proceeded at once to Buffalo. where he worked for three months in a brick yard, and then went to Chicago. After a few days spent in that city he went to La Salle, Illi- nois, and was employed on the railroad being constructed to Princeton, after which he was with the Rock Island railroad for a time. Subse- quently he went to Iowa, but soon returned to Illinois, this time locating in Marshall county, where he at first worked at anything by which
he could earn an honest dollar. In 1853 he se- cured employment upon a farm, where he was employed for three years, and for the following six years operated rented land. His first pur- chase consisted of eighty acres, to which he has added from time to time as his financial resources have increased, until he now has a valuable place of three hundred and eighteen acres on section 14, Bennington township. His first home is still standing, but in 1892 he erected a more com- modious and modern residence.
Mr. Farner was married in 1856, the lady of his choice being Miss Anna Rief, a native of Prussia, and they became the parents of three children, namely: Mary is now the wife of Rich- ard Vinecore, by whom she has one child; John, born May 26, 1860, was married September II, 1895, to Laura Spangler, daughter of William H. and Mary J. D. (Hall) Spangler ; Louis, born July 9, 1862, wedded Ella Spangler, and has two children. The mother of these children was called to her final rest in 1895.
Politically, Mr. Farner was always a democrat until 1896, when he supported the gold standard. He was reared in the Catholic church, but his 'sons are members of the Christian church. Through his own energy, enterprise and good management Mr. Farner steadily worked his way upward to the goal of success, and through his unaided exertions has secured a competence which enables him to spend his declining years in that ease and retirement which should always follow a useful and well-spent life. He is highly esteemed in the community as an honorable, up- right and trustworthy man.
C HARLES CUSAC, a representative farmer of Marshall county, is finely located on sec- tion II, Bennington township, where he is main- taining his place among the progressive and in- telligent men around him, engaged in farming and keeping a choice assortment of graded stock. He was born near Zanesville, Muskingum coun- ty, Ohio, June 20, 1838, a son of J. B. and Eliza- beth (Slack) Cusac.
The father was born in Bucks county, Penn-
58
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
sylvania, of Scotch descent, his early ancestors being natives of Scotland, whence they removed to the north of Ireland, and finally founded the family in America. The mother's people were of English origin. In early life the father re- moved to Ohio, where he met and married Eliza- beth Slack. By occupation he was a miller, own- ing and operating both a saw and grist mill on Johnson's creek in Muskingum county. Al- though he started out in life a poor man, by per- sistent labor, economy and sound judgment he · succeeded in accumulating a handsome prop- erty, owning three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land.
The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent in attending the common schools near his home, and assisting his father in the work of the farm and mills. He remained under the paren- tal roof until coming to Marshall county, Illinois, in 1859, at which time he located upon a rented farm in Evans township, near Wenona. The fol- lowing year, however, he returned to Ohio, where on the 5th of September, 1860, he married Miss Louisa J. Smith, a native of Muskingum county, and a daughter of William and Harriet (Morrison) Smith, who were born in Muskingum county, Ohio, and Loudoun county, Virginia, re- spectively. Her paternal grandfather was of Ger- man birth and spelled the name Schmidt. In the common schools she acquired a good education.
Mr. Cusac carried on farming and worked in the mill of his father until the spring of 1862, when he enlisted in the national guards for five years, becoming a member of Company A, Eleventh Ohio regiment, but was afterward transferred to the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth. He was principally engaged in doing guard duty in Ohio and aided in driving the rebel General Morgan from the state. He was allowed to re- inain at home a part of the time, and only while on active duty was he paid.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.