USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 8
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 8
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 8
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Fraternally, Mr. Buck was for some years a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows, but at present does not affiliate with the order, although its principles he holds in the highest respect. Politically, he is a democrat, with which party he has always been associated, believing strongly in the principles of the party, as advocated by its great leaders, Jefferson, Jack- son, Douglas and others. Of late years, how- ever, he has taken but little interest in political affairs, leaving such matters to younger men. During his residence here he has often been called upon to fill local office, having served as supervisor of the township, and for many years as school director, having taken great interest in educational matters. Purely a self-made man, his life is worthy of emulation by the youth of the land.
B. KILBOURN JACKSON, of section 20, Richland township, has spent his entire life in Marshall county, and, as boy and man, has witnessed the many changes in transforming the wild prairie and heavy timber land into fine and productive farms and flourishing villages.
Andrew Jackson, the father of our subject, was born in Barbersville, Kentucky, December 8, 1804, and was a son of John Jackson, one of the very early settlers of the blue grass state. He there grew to manhood, and moving to Indi- ana, there married Mary Gray, a native of Ken- tucky, born in 1803, and a daughter of John Gray, who moved to Marshall county early in the '30s, but returned soon after to Indiana, where he spent the remainder of his life.
In the spring of 1835, Andrew Jackson with his family moved to Marshall county, coming by teams from their Indiana home, and bringing with them a number of head of cattle, sheep and other stock. On his arrival he purchased the farm on section 20, Richland township, which is now owned by James Irwin, but which he sub- sequently sold to Mr. Hoover. On selling his first land he purchased the farm now owned by our subject, which he made his permanent home.
On coming to this county Mr. Jackson found a wild and unimproved country with settlers few and far between. With characteristic energy he
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went to work to clear the land and make for him- self and family a home. Those now living in this favored locality cannot for a moment realize the hardships endured by the pioneers. When it is remembered that railroads were then unknown, that there were neither markets for what was raised, nor money to be had if a market was found, some idea may be formed of the suffer- ings of those who were the harbingers in the wilderness.
Two years after his settlement here the panic of 1837 set in and until after the campaign of 1840 times were indeed hard. Postage on letters was twenty-five cents each, and one was lucky to obtain the coveted "quarter" with which to pay it, and often letters remained in possession of the postmaster for months until even that small amount of money could be obtained. Frequent- ly Mr. Jackson went into the timber and split rails for his more fortunate neighbors for fifty cents per hundred, taking his pay in whatever article that could be agreed upon.
In the early days Andrew Jackson was quite active in local affairs, and assisted in the organ- ization of the township, and served for a time as township supervisor. He was once elected justice of the peace, but declined to serve. In politics he was a whig until the dissolution of that party, after which he was a thorough and consistent republican, being conscientiously op- posed to slavery.
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To Andrew Jackson and wife were born five children: Mary Ann, who died at the age of two years; Elizabeth M., now deceased; Mar- garet, now the wife of James Monaghan; Cather- ine, deceased, and B. Kilbourn, of this sketch. The parents were members of the Christian church, in which body the father took an active part. He was a man well versed in the scriptures and the various religious problems of the day. Both died on the old homestead, the father July 28, 1888, and the mother March 17, 1881.
B. Kilbourn Jackson, of whom we now write, grew to manhood on the farm where he now lives, and received his education in the subscrip- tion schools of pioneer times, before the organiz-
ation of the present school system. He remained at home assisting his father in the farm work un- til long after having attained his majority. The war for the union having commenced his patri- otic blood was stirred, and in August, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Seventy-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry under Captain Robert Brock, which was raised in Lacon and vicinity. The regiment was organized at Peoria under Colonel Ballance, who was later succeeded by Colonel Grier.
After organization the regiment was sent to Cincinnati, and crossing the river to Covington, Kentucky, it operated in that state in the vicinity of Cynthiana, Paris, Richmond and Falmouth. It was then sent by boat to Vicksburg and was all through the siege against that city, resulting in its capitulation July 3, 1863, and in the opening of the Mississippi river below that point.
From Vicksburg the regiment was sent ou the Red river expedition under General Banks, and at Alexandria, Louisiana, our subject was taken prisoner by the enemy, and from April 8, 1864, until May 27, 1865, passed through such an experience in rebel prisons as will ever be to him while life shall last a terrible nightmare. When finally released he was a veritable skeleton, and with health almost completely destroyed. On being released he was sent to New Orleans, then to St. Louis, and on to Springfield, Illinois, where he was mustered out and honorably discharged in July, 1865, having seen nearly three years of extremely hard service. In battle he had his clothes pierced by rebel bullets, but suffered no wound.
Returning home a badly wrecked man physi- cally, he spent some little time recuperating, after which he again engaged in his old occupation of farming, which has been his life work. For some years after his return from the army he remained a bachelor, but on January 3, 1878, he was unit- ed in marriage with Miss Clara May Benson, who was born in Richland township, April 29, 1859. and a daughter of Luke Benson, now a resident of Oklahoma. By this union were born five chil- dren : Mary Elizabeth, Edith Jane, Benjamin An-
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drew, Annie Pearl and Luke Logan. The moth- er of these children died September 16, 1886. She was a woman of kind disposition, a loving wife and mother, and her death was sincerely mourned, not alone by the family, but friends of whom she had many.
After his marriage Mr. Jackson located upon a farm, where he remained until the death of his wife, when he moved to his present place then the home of his father and a sister. The farm comprises one hundred and ninety acres of high- ly productive land, and is under average improve- ment. While giving almost his entire time to his farm duties, Mr. Jackson has served his district as school director for some years, taking a very active interest in educational matters. Political- ly, he is a republican, and fraternally a member of Lacon post, No. 134, G. A. R. His record as a soldier is a commendable one, and as a citizen no man enjoys the respect of friends and ac- quaintances to a greater degree.
C HARLES H. WIXOM. The subject of this personal narration, is one of the suc- cessful and progressive agriculturists of Bureau county, owning a valuable farm of three hundred acres on section 28, Hall township, and is also an extensive breeder of Norman horses. He has made his special field of industry a success, and is highly esteemed and respected by those who know him best.
A native son of Bureau county, Mr. Wixom was born August 7, 1853, on the farm which is still his home. His father, Abraham Wixom, was born in Ohio, February 16, 1816, and was a son of Dr. Wixom, a pioneer physician of that state, and a native of New York. The father was reared in Ohio, coming to Illinois in carly man- hood, and in Bureau county married Rachel Ann Scott, a daughter of Robert Scott, one of the pioneers of the county, who entered the land and built the first house on the farm where our sub- ject now resides. Mr. Scott later removed to Peru, Illinois, but spent his last days upon a farmi near Sandwich, this state, while his wife died on the old Bureau county farm. When the place
came into the possession of Abraham Wixom he greatly improved it, setting out an orchard, and converted it into one of the most highly cul- tivated tracts in the locality. Later he rented the farm with the intention of moving to Nebras- . ka, but was taken ill and died on the 19th of August, 1870. Subsequently Mrs. Wixom be- came the wife of Absalom Sweet of Princeton, who died November 1, 1889, and she now resides with our subject upon the old homestead.
In the usual manner of farmer lads, Charles H. Wixom spent his boyhood and youth receiving a good common school education, which was sup- plemented by a course in the institute at Newark, Illinois, where he completed his literary course. He then returned home, and after the death of his father succeeded to the farm, which he has since successfully operated. To the original tract he has since added eighty-seven acres, and now has a fine farm of about three hundred acres, which is well improved with good buildings. About 1885 he began the breeding of Norman horses, which has proved a profitable source of income, and now has thirty head of fine horses upon his place.
Mr. Wixom was married in Bureau county, February 17, 1886, the lady of his choice being Miss Minnie A. Pierson, a daughter of Andrew Pierson, who was born in Sweden, came to Illi- nois when a young man, where he was married, and for a time engaged in farming in Bureau county. Mrs. Wixom was born, reared and edu- cated in this county, her birth occurring in Princeton, and is one in a family of five daugh- ters, all living at the present time. By her mar- riage to our subject she has become the mother of five children, namely: Clinton B., Clara A., Jennie May, Frank Henry and Nellie.
Politically, Mr. Wixom affiliates with the re- publican party, believes in protecting American industries, and is a friend to our educational sys- tem, having faithfully served as a member of the school board for a time. Although he and his wife are not members of any religious denomina- tion, they attend the services of the Methodist Episcopal and Congregational churches of
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Spring Valley, near which city they reside. Mr. Wixom is a man of more than ordinary business capacity, honorable and upright in all transac- tions, and a valued citizen of the community.
JOHN L. SCOTT, senior member of the well known livery firm of Scott & Anderson, of Ohio, Illinois, is a native of this state, born in Stark county in 1860. His parents, Rev. J. L. and Mary (Carter) Scott, were born and reared in Jefferson county, Ohio, but later took up their residence in Stark county, Illinois. The father was a minister of the Methodist Protestant church, but is now living retired. His estimable wife also still survives.
At the age of twelve years our subject went to Marshall county, Iowa, where he remained un- til twenty, and there completed his literary edu- cation. At the early age of fourteen he started out in life for himself, and has since been de- pendent upon his own resources for a livelihood. He first came to the village of Ohio in 1881, but three years later returned to Iowa, where he re- mained the same length of time. On again com- ing to Ohio he engaged in agricultural pursuits for three years, at the end of which time he em- barked in the livery business, and in dealing in horses. This he has since continued with ex- cellent success, and by his courteous treatment of customers has secured a liberal share of the public patronage.
In 1884 Mr. Scott was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Wilson, daughter of the late Joseph G. Wilson, a prominent farmer of Ohio town- ship, Bureau county. Three children have blessed their union, namely: Amy, Foster and Pauline.
In politics Mr. Scott is a straight and stanch adherent to the principles formulated in the plat- form of the republican party, and while not an aspirant to official honors he has served his fel- low-citizens in the capacity of assessor, and is the present efficient constable of Ohio. Social- ly he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He has achieved success by unremit- ting toil, directed by sound business principles,
and truly deserves the honorable American title of a self-made man.
Fenwick R. Anderson, the other member of the firm of Scott & Anderson, was born in Lee county, Illinois, September 16, 1854, and is a son of Fenwick and Jeannette (Peek) Anderson, a sketch of whose lives will be found elsewhere in this volume. The educational privileges of our subject were such as the district schools afforded, and upon the home farm he early became familiar with agricultural pursuits. At the age of twenty- four years he began farming on his own account, and continued to engage in that honored calling until 1896. In July, 1895, he had purchased an interest in the livery business now conducted by Scott & Anderson. They have succeeded in building up a good trade, are men of known re- liability, and the success which has attended their efforts is well deserved.
In 1879 Mr. Anderson led to the marriage altar Miss Emma Wilson, adopted daughter of Wil- liam S. Wilson, one of the representative citi- zens of Ohio, whose sketch also appears in this work. They have become the parents of three children-Nancy Maria, William F. and Verdin. The wife and mother is a consistent member of the Methodist Protestant church. Fraternally, Mr. Anderson is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and, politically, gives his earnest sup- port to the republican party. He keeps well posted on current events, is wide-awake and in- dustrious, and occupies a good social position . among the successful business men of Ohio and vicinity.
M RS. S. R. INKS, widow of the late Justin Inks, of Ohio, Illinois, was born on the 2d of March, 1837, at Fremont, Ohio, a daughter of Alexander and Mary (Ramsburg) Paden, who for many years were residents of Ohio township, Bureau county, where the father engaged in farming. He died in 1887, at the age of eighty- two years, and his wife, who was a daughter of Christian Ramsburg, died in Ohio township, and their remains were interred in the Union ceme- tery. Mrs. Inks was the fifth in order of birth in
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their family of eleven children, the others being Mary C., widow of G. W. Black, and residing on a farm with her son William; Josiah, a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska; Ann M., who married James W. Havens, and lives at Fremont, Ohio; Sophia, deceased; Alexander, deceased; James L., a resident of Nebraska; Sarah J., deceased, wife of Robert Gardner; Adaline V., wife of Enos Hansel of Walnut, Bureau county; Asa A., and John, a resident of Ohio.
On the second of March, 1853, Miss S. R. Paden became the wife of Justin Inks, who was born in Fremont, Ohio, September 4, 1836, and was a son of John and Priscilla Inks. Seven children were born to them, but two died in in- fancy. Dr. John A., a physician and surgeon of Shelby, Nebraska, married Maggie J. Smith, of that state, and they have three children, Edith S., Hortense and an infant. William Frank wedded Mary Shifflett, and died at the age of twenty-five years, leaving one child, Emerson. Minnie Belle died at the age of eleven years. Maggie May is the wife of Mark Dewey of Ohio township, Bureau county, and Waneta Gertrude is their only child. Ralph Waldo is at home with his mother. A conscientious, earnest Christian, she is a most faithful member of the Methodist Protestant church of the village of Ohio.
In 1866 Mr. Inks brought his family to Bureau county, becoming the owner of three hundred acres of valuable land in Ohio township, which .he placed under a high state of cultivation, and there made his home until called from this life, August 5, 1888. He was progressive and public- spirited and was called upon to fill a number of important local offices, being supervisor for two years, school director for nearly thirty years, and assessor of his township for twelve years.
Industry, enterprise and perseverance were numbered among the chief characteristics of Mr. Inks, and were important factors in his success. He was a man of the strictest integrity, upright and honorable in all his dealings, possessed un- usual business ability, sound judgment and keen foresight, but was quiet and unassuming in man- ner, of rather a conservative disposition. How-
ever, he made many warm friends, and his fellow- citizens reposed in him the utmost confidence. His quick perception enabled him to take ad- vantage of many opportunities which would pro- mote his business interests, but all his affairs were conducted on the strictest principles of integrity and honor. He proved a most trustworthy of- ficial, and in his death the community felt that it had lost a most valued citizen He was not a member of any religious denomination, but was a firm believer in Christianity and the justice of God. His death was from consumption, and dur- ing his lingering illness he was tenderly cared for by his faithful wife and loving friends, and was laid to rest in the village cemetery.
L OUIS S. BLACHLY, proprietor of the Blachly general merchandise store, of Spring Valley, has the reputation of a strictly first-class business man, reliable and energetic, and is a highly respected citizen. He was born in Sauk county, Wisconsin, and is a representa- tive of a family that came originally from Mav- erick, Scotland. From England, the ancestors of our subject sailed for New Jersey in 1680, and removed to Pennsylvania in 1790. The great- great-grandfather of our subject, Miller Blachly, married Eleanor Boyd, a resident of New Jer- sey, and to them were born four children: Dr. William, Miller, Jr., Eben and Polly.
Miller Blachly, Jr., married Phoebe Bell, and they resided east of the Alleghany mountains in Pennsylvania. In their family were eight chil- dren, namely: Dr. Eben, deceased, who was the grandfather of our subject; Anna, deceased; Dr. Miller, who died in 1895 at the age of ninety- four years ; Phoebe, who died at the age of eighty- nine years; Anna, who died unmarried at the age of twenty-five years; Belle, who now resides in Texas; Eleanor, now a resident of Minnesota, and Sarah, the widow of Dr. Bradley, who was a missionary to Bankok, Siam. Dwight Brad- ley, the second son of the last named, was edu- cated at Oberlin, Ohio, and was interpreter to the King of Siam while he lived. Another son, Rev. Dan Bradley, is one of the leading Congre-
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gational ministers of Michigan, now located at Grand Rapids.
Dr. Eben Blachly married Minerva Seely and lived near Niles, Ohio. To them were born five children, Louis Seely, Oscar Eben, Marian Min- erva, John Williamson and Dr. Charles Per- kins. After the death of his first wife, Dr. Blach- ly married Jane Trew, by whom he had two chil- dren, Andrew Trew and Dr. Frank Chalmers Trew. The former was shot by one of the Dal- ton gang of desperadoes while defending the bank in Gunnison county, Colorado, of which he was cashier. The coat of arms of the Blachly family was a copper plate pine tree, on which was engraved on one of the branches a bunch of quills, and at the foot of which was a beaver, a Latin motto, the English of which was: "Use the World."
The parents of our subject, Louis Seely and Rebecca (McCombs) Blachly were both natives of Trumbull county, Ohio. The father was an able physician and surgeon, a graduate of the Washington and Jefferson College of Pennsyl- vania, and the Cleveland Medical College. He began practice at Dane, Wisconsin, was later a physician of Wyandott, Kansas, but after four years returned to Wisconsin and engaged in practice for a year at Lodi. During the Civil war he entered the army as a volunteer surgeon, and was assigned to the One Hundred and Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. While in the ser- vice he was taken ill and died in May, 1863, at the age of thirty-seven years. Still a young man, his outlook for the future was very bright until disease marked him as its victim. He was an earnest Christian and an elder in the Presby- terian church. His wife, who died in 1873, at the age of forty-six years, was a member of the same denomination in Lodi, was a woman of eminent piety, doing all in her power for the betterment of mankind, and was very active in church work.
Our subject is the oldest in the family of three children. His brother, Eben McCombs, is a practicing dentist at Herington, Kansas. He married Anna McConnell, of Manhattan, Kan- sas, and they have three children, Louis, Ella and
Fred. The sister of our subject, Ella M., is the wife of Henry Andrews, a leading attorney of Columbia county, Wisconsin, located at Lodi, and they have one child, Ella Grace.
After completing the high school course at Lodi, Mr. Blachly, of this review, began the study of medicine, but was compelled to give it up on account of failing health. For one year he then conducted a drug store at Baraboo, Wis- consin, after which he engaged in the same busi- ness at Niles, Ohio. Selling out there, he went south, locating at Federal Point, Florida, where he was in the orange business for twelve years, and met with good success. Returning north in April, 1889, for six months he engaged as a commercial traveler, and in November of the same year connected himself with the Spring Valley Coal Company as manager of their store, which position he acceptably filled until Novem- ber, 1894. He then established his present store, carrying a full assortment of general merchan- dise, and during the past year did a large and successful business.
On the 29th of May, 1878, Mr. Blachly was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Dalzell, a daughter of Rev. William and Elizabeth Dal- zell, of Ohio, and their union has been blessed by the birth of three children, Madeleine St. Claire, Marguerite Dalzell and Louis Seely, who are the pride and joy of the household.
Mrs. Blachly is a lady of refined tastes and scholarly attainments, a worthy helpmeet for her husband. They are both active members of the Congregational church, of which our subject is deacon and was for three years superintendent of the Sunday school. He is honorable to the highest degree, and in enterprise, business capa- city and fair dealing ranks second to none. He is one of the leading men of Spring Valley and is numbered among that substantial class of citi- zens who always give character to a community. Socially, he is a Mason, belonging to the Blue lodge of that place. While a resident of Federal Point, Florida, he was elected alderman and was serving as mayor of that city when he returned north.
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Mr. Blachly was manager of the company's store at the time of the great labor riots in 1894, and endeavored to save it from being looted by the employes of the coal company. While the miners were all friendly disposed toward him, their hatred of the company was intense and, be- lieving they had been wronged, concluded to wreck the store. Mr. Blachly was the last one to leave when the mob broke in. When the mob was disposed to destroy the dwelling of Mr. Dalzell, the superintendent of the mines, Mr. Blachly was one of twelve men that stood guard over the premises.
M AJOR ATHERTON CLARK. Few men are more prominent or are more widely known in Bureau county than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He has been an important factor in public affairs, now serving as sheriff, and his popularity is well de- served, as he has always labored for the inter- ests of the community, and was one of the de- fenders of the Union in the dark hour of his country's peril.
A native of Bureau county, the Major was born September 22, 1839, and is a son of Alfred F. and Harriet (Doolittle) Clark, natives of Mas- sachusetts and New York respectively. By occupation the father was a farmer, and he was numbered among the pioneer settlers of the county, locating here in 1836. He was a well known and highly respected citizen, and was called upon to fill various township offices. He first purchased land in Dover township, which he later sold and bought a tract southeast of Princeton, where he died in 1871, at the age of fifty-five years, and his wife passed away in 1848, at the age of thirty-two years. Our subject is the oldest in their family of five children, three of whom are still living, his sisters being Clar- inda, wife of Frank Paine, of Iowa, and Harriet, wife of Lemuel Paine, of Streator, Illinois. The parents both held membership in the Presbyter- ian church1.
In the common schools of his native county Major Clark acquired his education, and was
reared to habits of industry on the home farm. On the IIth of September, 1861, he joined Com- pany K, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, as a private, and the regiment became a member of the army of the southwest. At Helena, Arkansas, on the expiration of eight months, he was commissioned second lieutenant. Shortly after the battle of Pea Ridge the regiment joined Curtis' army, and participated in the engagements at Cotton- plant, Waddell farm, and Village Creek, Arkan- sas. In the fall of 1862 they were stationed at Memphis, guarding the railroads and making raids into Mississippi, Arkansas and other states. When Hood started northward they were placed in front of him to obstruct his passage, and for sixty-three days were fighting nearly all the time. They fell back to Franklin, where they engaged in the memorable battle at that place and were later in the battle of Nashville.
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