USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 9
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 9
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 9
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The regiment was armed as well as any and did duty both as cavalry and infantry. When on the skirmish line at Tupelo, Mississippi, our subject had a horse instantly killed under him, and he was wounded in the right ankle by the same ball. The shot did not injure him par- ticularly, as the horse falling, fell upon the wounded ankle. For a time he was unable for active service, but remained with the command, going around on crutches. He has never fully recovered from the injury, which bothers him to this day. At the battle of Tupelo only himself and bugler were mounted, while the others de- ployed as skirmishers. In 1864 he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and a few days later to captain, owing to the officers being taken to supply the demand of the field. In March, 1865, he was made major, which position he held until mustered out on the 19th of November, 1864, after having faithfully served for over four years. After the surrender of Lee he was sta- tioned at Tuscumbia, Alabama, where at one time he issued thirty thousand rations to the rebels, who were on the point of starvation.
Returning home with an honorable war rec- ord, Major Clark once more resumed his farm- ing operations in Arispie township, where he
ATHERTON CLARK.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
remained until the fall of 1868, when he was elected sheriff of Bureau county, which position he filled for two years, and then again took up agricultural pursuits. Subsequently, however, he capably served as city marshal of Princeton for twelve years, and at the same time was deputy sheriff. He was also a member of the school board for nine years, and had much to do with shaping the educational matters of the city. In 1894 the major was again elected sheriff, and in that capacity had much to do toward quel- ling the riots at Spring Valley in 1895, taking many of the culprits to the penitentiary after their conviction in August of that year. His office, which is one of responsibility and trust, he has most efficiently filled, discharging his duties with a promptness and fidelity that have won him high commendation.
On the 13th of December, 1865, Major Clark was united in marriage with Miss Jerusha B. Whitmarsh, who was born at Cold Springs, New York, July 3, 1840, and is a daughter of Alva and N. Matilda (Clark) Whitmarsh, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of New York. With her parents she came to Illinois in 184I.
Five children have been born to our subject and his wife, as follows: Hubert A., assistant cashier of the First National bank, of Princeton, married Fannie Clark, of Bureau county, and they have one child, Eunice; Lora H., gradu- ated at the Princeton high school in the class of 1889, and for six years has been one of the able instructors in the public schools of that city. She has much musical talent, and has given much attention to the study of music, at present being a student in the conservatory of music at Oberlin, Ohio, taking a special course; Herma N. is also attending college at Oberlin, and she, too, has been one of the successful teachers of Princeton for five years, giving the utmost sat- isfaction; Alice Emily, a junior in the Princeton high school; Ellen, who died at the age of nine- teen months. The mother and children are all earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Socially, the Major affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery, of Princeton, and also with the Knights of Pythias and the Grand Army of the Republic. He has been an ardent republican since casting his first presidential vote for Abra- ham Lincoln. In all the relations of life, whether public or private, he has been faithful to every trust reposed in him, and is as true to his duties of citizenship in days of peace as when following the old flag to victory on southern battle fields.
M. M. BOON, residing on section 22, Rich- land township, is a type of that class of men born to a life of toil, and whatever their sur- roundings, have a fixed determination to make the best of them. He is a native of Sullivan coun- ty, Indiana, born December 16, 1819. His father, George Boon, was a native of Kentucky, born in 1783. He married Elizabeth McCammon, also a native of Kentucky, born in 1790. Their wed- ding was celebrated in their native state, and shortly afterward, in 1815, they located in Sulli- van county, Indiana, where the remainder of their lives were spent and where they reared a family of eleven children, only two of whom are now liv- ing-our subject and Mrs. Martha Clark. George Boon figured largely in politics in his native state. He was a stanch democrat, and served as a rep- resentative and senator thirteen years.
Mr. Boon, of this review, grew to manhood on his father's farm in Sullivan county, Indiana, and was reared to the life of a farmer, which occupa- tion he has always followed. In that early day the free school system had not been established, and as the country was new and thinly settled with a class of people with very limited means, the only recourse for an education was in the subscription schools, taught by some wandering pedagogue, who knew but little of books and less of human nature. In such schools, in the old- fashioned log school house, with its puncheon floor and slab scats, the rudiments of an educa- tion were received by our subject. What little opportunity he had he improved as best he could, early showing an earnest purpose.
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But it was work, hard work, that developed in him the man.
Until reaching maturity, Mr. Boon remained with his parents, assisting in the work of the farm. He then started in life for himself, going out from home empty-handed, but with a brave heart and an earnest desire to succeed in life, making for himself a home somehow and some- where, which he might invite another to enjoy with him. The time soon came when he deter- mined to share his lot with another, and so, on the 22d of October, 1846, he married Miss Eliza- beth Carithers, whose birth occurred in Sullivan county, Indiana, April 25, 1825. By this union five children were born, all sons, of whom three are now living: Alexander, who resides in Ne- braska; William P., living in Eureka Illinois, and Benjamin F., of Woodford county, this state.
After his marriage, Mr. Boon rented a farm in his native county, which he operated one sea- son, and then came by wagon to Marshall coun- ty, which has since been his home. For thirteen years he rented land and had no permanent home. In the fall of 1860, however, he purchased his present farm, which at that time was all covered with a heavy growth of timber. Com- mencing at once its improvement, he has cleared more than half of the land, and has one of the most productive farms in this section.
After a happy married life of sixteen years, Mrs. Boon was called to her long home, dying in 1862. Mr. Boon again married, taking as a wife Mrs. Sarah E. Beckwith, nee Burgess, a na- tive of Massachusetts, and daughter of Cornelius and Dorothy (Lord) Burgess, both of whom were also natives of Massachusetts. Her parents moved to Marshall county in 1859, locating in Evans township, where they both died. In their family were eight children, of whom four are now living: Mrs. Boon, Otis, Nancy Packen- ham and Louisa Burbey. Mrs. Boon was born February 22, 1835. She first married John W. Beckwith, and moved to Marshall county, Illi- nois, in 1858. When the war for the Union broke out he enlisted and died in the service in 1862.
The marriage of Mr. Boon and Mrs. Beckwith
was celebrated February 25, 1864, and to them four children have been born: Abby C., now Mrs. Adams, of Peoria, Illinois; Darling B., who married Addie Whittle and resides in Belle Plain township; Myra A., now Mrs. Gerhart, of Gross- dale, Illinois, and Telva, at home.
To each of his children Mr. Boon has given a good education, as he has often felt the need of such in his own life. In politics he is classed as a democrat, but is not a partisan. He cares noth- ing for official position but has served his town- ship as road commissioner and school director in a satisfactory manner. He built the Harper bridge across Crow creek, but his life has been mainly devoted to agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Boon is a member of the Christian church at Washburn, and is a woman worthy to be the wife of the genial, generous and manly man-M. M. Boon.
J OHN F. TAYLOR, M. D., physician and surgeon of Buda, Illinois, is a gentleman of ability, professional knowledge and skill, standing very high in his profession. He was born on the 14th of April. 1874, on a farm near Bloomington, Grant county, Wisconsin, and is the fourth in order of birthi in the family of five children of David and Rebecca Taylor. Until twelve years of age he remained upon the farm. but at that time accompanied his parents on . their removal to the city of L oomington, Wis- consin, where he attended the high school, grad- uating with the class of 1890. In 1891 he en- tered Rush Medical College of Chicago, where he was graduated in 1895. He obtained an ex- cellent practical knowledge by three months of surgery work and study at Fort Sheridan, three months in the Cook County Hospital and two months in the Presbyterian Hospital of Chi- cago.
On the 9th of July, 1895. Dr. Taylor located at Buda, and at once began his practice, which has steadily increased from the beginning. He is talented and skillful to a marked degree, and as he is a young man of correct habits, an hon- orable career lies before him in his chosen call-
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ing. However, he has already attained an en- viable position in the ranks of his professional brethren. The doctor was reared a democrat, but has become a stanch supporter of the prin- ciples of the republican party, and socially holds membership in Buda lodge, No. 339, F. & A. M.
H IRAM C. WRIGHT, a pioneer of Marshall and Putnam counties, Illinois, is now liv- ing a retired life in Henry, where his familiar figure, white hair and beard are known by every man, woman and child for miles around. He is a native of Canada, born at Morris Hollow, about fourteen miles north of Toronto, May 4, 1819, and is a son of William and Sophia (Cleve- land) Wright, both of whom were natives of New York, from which state they emigrated to Canada and were there married. When Hiram was but eight years of age they determined to emigrate to Illinois, and, with their family of three children, located in Tazewell county. Wil- liam Wright was a tanner and currier by trade, and followed that occupation in his native state and in Canada, but on coming to Illinois en- gaged in farming. He remained in Tazewell county but one year and then removed to Peoria county, three miles west of the present village of Chillicothe, locating on La Salle prairie, which was his permanent home during the remainder of his life. He died at the age of fifty-six years. He was a man of limited means and made the journey by team from Canada, accompanied by the family of his wife's father, who also located near him in Peoria county. His wife survived him some years, dying when about seventy years old. Of their four children, two are now living, our subject and his sister, Harriet, who also re- sides in Henry. One daughter died in Indiana, while en route to Illinois. One son, William, grew to manhood in Peoria county, where he en- gaged in farming, but has since died.
The subject of this sketch remained under the parental roof until nineteen years of age, and, in common with all farmer boys, attended school during the winter months and assisted in farm work other seasons of the year. The lead mines
in the vicinity of Galena, and which extended across the line into Wisconsin, in early days af- forded about the only place where employment could be secured and wages paid in cash. Thou- sands of men in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri from 1832 until well in the 40's annually made pil- grimages to the mines that they might secure money for taxes and for such things as could not be had by barter. Young Hiram, at the age mentioned, thought it was time for him to handle a little of the "filthy lucre" there to be had by those industriously inclined, and so went to Min- eral Point, Wisconsin, and for several years en- gaged in mining and in farm work. Returning to Illinois, he made a claim on Senachwine lake, in Putnam county, about six miles west of Hen- nepin. This claim consisted of three hundred acres of good land, on which he removed in 1844, and at once commenced its improvement. His capital being limited he could not at once im- prove the entire claim, but did so as rapidly as his means would permit.
The management of a farm, without the aid of a "gude wife" has ever been found to be diffi- cult work, and our subject realized this in due time; accordingly we find that on the 27th of October, 1847, he was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Hunter, a native of Cortland coun- ty, New York, born October 25, 1828, and a daughter of Andrew and Huldah Hunter. Soon after this event occurred he removed to Boyd's Grove, Bureau county, near the home of his wife's father, where he purchased an improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres and there remained six years. He then returned to his original farm on the Senachwine, and actively engaged in general farming until his removal to Henry, shortly before the commencement of the civil war. For some years after his removal to the village he retained possession of the farm, but finally sold. He yet, however, still owns the Boyd Grove farm, which he leases. In addition to his farming interests he has made some in- vestments in the west, but at present has only such interests as will prevent his rusting out.
After a happy married life of forty-six years,
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Mrs. Wright departed this life February 23, 1893. She was a quiet, unassuming woman, caring but little for the vanities of this world. For some years she was a member of the Christian church, but on removal to Henry she united with the Presbyterian body, there being no church of her choice in the village. Two daughters came to bless their union, one dying in childhood. The other, Clarissa, is now the wife of Dr. F. A. Powell, a druggist of Henry. They also adopted a boy, Walter Smith, who died after being an inmate of their home for three years and a half.
On the 25th of June, 1894, Mr. Wright mar- ried Miss Ruth McKinney, of Henry, a native of Putnam county, Illinois. Her father, Joel Mc- Kinney, was a native of Indiana, and there mar- ried Miss Emeline Jackson, a native of Oxford county, Maine, who removed with her parents to Indiana when but fifteen years of age. From Warsaw, Dearborn county, Indiana, Joel, Mc- Kinney moved to Putnam county, Illinois, in 1842. He died in Tennessee in 1880, and his widow now makes her home with Mrs. Wright, who is her only child, now living in Marshall county. Of her five children, three sons and two daughters, all are scattered, living in various places, from Illinois to Oregon. For some years prior to her marriage, Mrs. Wright was an active business woman in Henry, and is well known and universally esteemed. She is a devoted mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Wright is not a member of any church, but usual- ly attends and contributes to the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a thorough, out and out republican.
A RTHUR BRYANT, an energetic and wide- awake business man of Princeton township, is the senior member of the firm of Arthur Bry- ant & Son, proprietors of the best nursery in this portion of the state, which was established in 1845, and is now the only business of the kind to be found in Bureau county. It is pleasantly situated only a quarter of a mile south of the city limits of Princeton and comprises one hun- dred acres, which are devoted to general nur-
sery stock, including fruits, shrubs, ornamental trees, etc., while about thirty men are employed on the road as traveling salesmen. They are the introducers of the Salome apple, which they make a specialty. Upon the place are fine build- ings and offices, and its entire appearance indi- cates the owners to be men of progressive meth- ods and industrious habits.
The father of our subject, who also bore the name of Arthur Bryant, was born at Cumming- ton, Massachusetts, November 8, 1803, a son of Dr. Peter Bryant, also of the same state, and a brother of the celebrated poet, William Cullen Bryant. In Hampshire county, Massachusetts, the father was reared, receiving his early educa- tion in the common schools of the locality, but was later a student in Williams College. He was admitted as a cadet to the West Point Military Academy, but at the end of a year was obliged to discontinue his studies there on account of in- flammatory rheumatism, from which he suffered. For a time he engaged in teaching at Round Hill, near Boston, and was later with William Cullen Bryant in New York.
In 1830 Arthur Bryant, Sr., came to Jackson- ville, Illinois, but the following year returned to New England, where he married Miss Henrietta R. Plummer, a native of Berkshire county, Mas- sachusetts, and a daughter of Edward Plummer. Going again to Jacksonville, Illinois, he there engaged in farming until 1833, when he came to Bureau county, and took up a claim on section 29, Princeton township, being the first to lo- cate there. Here he made a permanent home, his first house being a log cabin, and at once began clearing his land, which was partially cov- ered with timber. He soon had it transformed into a highly cultivated tract, and was one of the first in this section to engage in the nursery business. In early life he supported the democ- racy, but on its organization joined the republic- an party, supporting its principles with all the force of his convictions. His wife was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church. His death occurred in 1882, and she was called to her final rest in 1894.
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In their family are seven children, our sub- ject is the oldest. Julian E., the second in order of birth, was commissioned lieutenant of Company E, Thirty-third Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and after serving his full three years' term re-enlisted and was appointed colonel of a colored regiment. While bathing on a hot day in the Gulf of Mexico he was drowned. Ellen B. is now the wife of Clement Freeman, of Princeton. Henrietta P. is deceased. Joseph P. is also a resident of Princeton., Lester R. lives on the old home farm. Addie R., deceased, was the wife of Marshall Nye.
The birth of Arthur Bryant, Jr., occurred Oc- tober 15, 1834, on the old homestead in Prince- ton township, where he was reared, and near which he obtained his education in the public schools. Later he was a student under the in- struction of Rev. A. B. Church and James Smith at Princeton. He remained at home until his marriage, which was celebrated in 1864, Miss Elizabeth Hughes becoming his wife. She is a native of Virginia, but was reared in Ohio and in 1855 was brought from that state to Bureau county, Illinois, by her father, George Hughes. Eight children bless the union of our subject and his wife, namely: Lucy B., Harry G., Guy A., Henrietta, Cassandra H., Lester P., Ralph C. and Edith W.
In 1875 Mr. Bryant located upon his present place, where he has made all the improvements and where he has a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, most of which is devoted to the nursery. He also has seventy acres, which he now rents. He takes an active interest in everything per- taining to his work, keeping well informed on all advancements made along that line, and holds a prominent and leading place among the nur- serymen of the state. For years he has served as treasurer of the State Horticultural society, and has also been president and vice-president of the same, as well as a member of its executive board. He has been president and vice-presi- dent of the Northern Horticultural society and one of the three members of the horticultural society exhibit at the World's Fair in Chicago
in 1893. He has contributed many articles to newspapers and journals on horticultural sub- jects, and his father was the author of a work of two hundred and fifty pages on forestry, which was published in 1871, and was entitled "Forest Trees for Shelter, Ornament and Profit." Politi- cally, our subject votes the republican ticket, and has filled the offices of supervisor of his town- ship and member of the school board, taking a deep and commendable interest in all education- al affairs. His wife is an earnest member of the Presbyterian church, and both are well known and highly respected citizens of the community.
A NSON SMITH, a representative farmer of Bureau county, is finely located on section 12, Ohio township, where he is maintaining his place among the progressive and intelligent men around him, engaging in farming. He was born in Germany in 1852, of which country his par- ents, John L. and Barbara (Heiman) Smith, were also natives. In the year of his birth he was brought by them to America, and on landing came to Bureau county and took up their resi- dence in Lamoille township, where the father en- gaged in farming throughout the remainder of his life. He was a quiet, unassuming citizen, who devoted his life to his own affairs. His death occurred in 1886. The mother of our subject is still living at the ripe old age of seventy-one years and enjoys fair health.
Anson Smith had very limited advantages for securing an education on account of the inferior grade of schools and his parents being poor. Until thirty-two years of age he remained at home assisting in the labors of the farm, and was then married and embarked in farming on his own account. In 1885 he removed to his present home in Ohio township, where he owns eighty acres of fine land under a high state of cultivation. By perseverance, economy and in- dustry he has forged his way to the front, and has secured a comfortable home and valuable farm. He is engaged in general farming, but makes a specialty of corn and oats.
In 1885 Mr. Smith was united in marriage
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with Miss Emma Brasch, a daughter of Fred Brasch, who was born in Germany, and is now living in Nebraska. Seven children have been born of this union, one of whom is now de- ceased. Those living are John L., Daisy M., Rosa, Benjamin, Grover and Golda. The par- ents are both communicants of the Lutheran church and are highly respected and honored members of society.
Mr. Smith is a warm advocate of democratic principles, but has never aspired to official dis- tinction, although he is now serving as school director. He is a kind husband, a fond and in- dulging parent, an obliging neighbor and excel- lent citizen. He, therefore, has the high regard of all who know him.
JOHN H. OLDS, a leading business man and prominent hardware merchant of Wyanet, is a native of Bureau county, born at Princeton, May 21, 1847. His father, Justin H. Olds, was born in Massachusetts September 6, 1806, and was there reared, becoming a resident of Bureau county, Illinois, in 1834. He was here married on the 15th of June, 1837, the lady of his choice being Miss Louisa C. Bryant, daughter of Peter Bryant, and their marriage was the first per- formed after the organization of the county, her brother, John H. Bryant, officiating. They located at Lamoille, where they remained for two years and then removed to Princeton, where the father engaged in the mercantile business and was also editor of the Evening Post, a coun- ty paper. He was one of the prominent early settlers and served in several official positions, among which was that of circuit clerk. A strong abolitionist, he took an active part in conduct- ing the underground railroad, while religiously he was a sincere and faithful member of the Congregational church. He died at the ripe old age of seventy-two years, and his wife was sixty- two years when called from this life. In their family were five children, two sons and three daughters, all born at Princeton: Sarah S., now Mrs. Newell Mathews, of Los Angeles, Califor- nia: Julia L., who married James Bartman, of
Baltimore, Maryland, now deceased; Bryant O., deceased, our subject; Lucy W., also deceased.
Our subject was the fourth in order of birth, and remained a resident of Princeton until fif- teen years of age, when he accompanied the fam- ily to Peoria, the father having been appointed United States inspector of distilleries there, which position he held for seventeen years. At the age of eighteen John H. graduated at the public schools of Peoria, after which he took a business course at Bryant & Stratton Commer- cial College, of that city. It was in 1867 that he came to Wyanet, and for ten years engaged in farming on section 33. He then removed to the village, where he has since carried on the hard- ware business with good success, and it is one of the oldest established concerns of the place.
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