USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 31
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P ETER McKINNELL, a farmer residing near Udina, in Elgin township, was born June 26, 1825, in Kirkkinner parish, Wigtonshire, Scotland, where his early life was passed. In his native land he en- gaged in farming, and continued in that occupation until his emigration to America. Early in December, 1854, he sailed from
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Liverpool, on " The Driver," but his vessel was wrecked on the Irish coast, where he was detained two weeks. He re-embarked at Liverpool on the vessel "Constellation " Sunday, December 31, 1854, and after a voyage of four weeks reached New York Saturday, January 27, 1855, and landed Monday, the 29th. By rail he came direct to Chicago, but owing to heavy snowstorms they were a week on the way. From Chi- cago he came by rail to Elgin, where he arrived February 4, five weeks from time of sailing. After a short time spent in Elgin he moved to the northeast corner of Plato township, near where McQueen's station is now located, where he lived one year. At the suggestion of a cousin in business there, he removed to Peoria and worked for him one year. He then moved to the farm of his cousin near El Paso, Woodford county, which he cultivated five years.
In the spring of 1862 Mr. McKinnell re- turned to Elgin, and for two and a half years worked out on farms to get money on which to again start for himself. For one year he had charge of the dairy farm of Martin McNeal, and for one year the farm of Paul B. Ring. He then rented the D. C. Scho- field farm two years, and then the large farm of George Stringer, now deceased, on which he worked fifteen years. Although they had no written contract, and only a verbal agreement, during the fifteen years of his tenancy no disagreement ever arose between him and Mr. Stringer. In the spring of 1883 he purchased his present farm of eighty-six acres. This he has since continued to work, together with twenty-five acres that he leased. The farm is used for grain and dairy purposes.
Peter McKinnell is the son of James McKinnell, a native of the same parish in
which he was born, and who was a farmer who lived and died in his native land about 1862, at the age of seventy-seven years. Jaines McKinnell married Janet Hawthorn, born in the parish of Newton Stewart, and daughter of John and Elizabeth (Cleaves) Hawthorn, of the same parish. They were the parents of eight children, of whom our subject was the second in order of birth, and the only one to come to the United States. One brother went to Tasmania, and one to Buenos Ayres, South America.
Our subject was married in the parish of Kirkkinner, April 20, 1854, to Miss Jessie McDowell, of the same parish, daughter of Charles McDowell, a farmer and large stock dealer, who died when Jessie was two years old. He married Miss Ellen Patterson, daughter of James and Janet (McHarg) Pat- terson. Mrs. McKinnell, who was born February 2, 1834, was sixth in a family of seven children, two of whom came to America-John McDowell, deceased; and Mary, wife of William Kirkpatrick, of East Plato.
To our subject and wife nine children have been born: Ellen Jessie, born March 26, 1855, is now the wife of Dr. William Bishop, of St. Charles; Agnes, born August 3, 1856, is the wife of William E. Marshall, of East Plato; Eliza Jane, born March 20, 1858, died November 26, 1862; Mary, born August 24, 1860, is the wife of Fred J. Marshall, of Plato township; Auna, born January 31, 1863; James, born March 18, 1866; one who died in infancy; George, born July 13, 1875; and Hattie, born Feb- ruary 14, 1880, died December 16, 1885.
Mr. and Mrs. McKinnell were reared in the Presbyterian faith, but are now mem- bers of the Congregational church at Udina, in which he for a time was a deacon. In
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politics he is a Republican, but would never accept office, save that of school trustee, which position he filled for some years.
S MITH YOUNGES, an energetic and thriving farmer residing on section 33, Elgin township, was born in the village of Amsterdam, Schoharie county, New York, October 17, 1852. His father, Charles Younges, was also a native of Schoharie county, where he married Miss Magdeline Lingenfelter, a native of Amsterdam, New York. They were the parents of six chil- dren, as follows: William, living on the old homestead, near Plato; Peter, residing in Bigelow, Kansas; James, deceased; Eliza- stable twenty-six by thirty feet. When the beth, wife of W. W. McDonald, . of East Plato; Mary, wife of Dell Mccarthy, of Watseka, Illinois; and Smith, our subject.
Charles Younges was a farmer and stock trader during his entire life. He was a hustling, energetic man, who did all it was possible for any one man to do. He came to Kane county in 1860, but did not remove his family here until 1861. He first pur- chased the Duncan Frazer farm in St. Charles township, but seeing a more desira- ble piece of land in Plato township, forfeit- ed what had been paid on the Frazer farm and bought two hundred and ten acres near East Plato, where he spent the remainder of his life. He also bought the Sovereign farm in Plato township, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres, and also the Payton farm, of one hundred and sixty acres, in Elgin township. He was politic- ally, a Republican and served as school di- rector many terms and also supervisor of his township. His death occurred January 3, 1867, at age of forty-eight years.
Smith Younges was eleven years of age when he came with his parents to Kane county. His education began in the com- mon schools of Amsterdam, New York, and completed in the public schools of Kane county. At the age of nineteen he began life for himself, and worked by the month on farms for three years. He then rented one hundred acres from his mother which he cultivated three years, at the expiration of which time he rented the farm that he now owns for three years. Having been quite successful he purchased the place, which consists of two hundred acres of fine- ly improved land. He rebuilt the dwelling house and also the barn, making the latter thirty-six by eighty feet and also built a
. railroad cut through his farm, he bought seventeen acres where his present residence now stands, which with that part of his former farm north of the railroad track, makes one farm, while the south part on which is the old residence, makes a good tenant farm. Two additions have since been built to his residence, and he has also erected a new horse barn thirty by thirty- four feet, wagon-house, twenty by twenty- four, cattle sheds, sixteen by twenty, and cattle barn, thirty-eight by eighty-two feet. Youngdale Station, on the Illinois Central railroad, is located on his farm, and there is also a postoffice at the station.
Mr. Younges was married in St. Charles township, December 25, 1874, to Miss Car- rie Ferson, born in that township, and the daughter of Parker and Aurilia (Clark) Fer- son, natives of Vermont and New York re- spectively. By this union four children have been born: Clyde, who is assisting his father in the handling of stock; Nellie, Maude and Libbie; Maude is attending the
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLATNOIS.
SMITH YOUNGES.
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MRS. SMITH YOUNGES.
LIBRARY Of THE INNERCITY OF ILLINOIS
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Elgin Academy; and Libbie, who is attend- ing the district school in Elgin.
Politically Mr. Younges is a Republican, and has served as school director. Frater- nally he is a member of Elgin lodge, No. 117, A. F. & A. M. He is a good business man and is dealing very extensively in stock, buying and shipping from the west more milch cows for the home and Chicago mar- kets than any dealer in this county. He is a good judge of stock and a careful buyer, and he is meeting with deserved success.
JOSEPH VOLLOR, an honored veteran J of the Civil war, and one of the most highly respected citizens of Elgin, was for many years actively identified with the busi- ness interests of the city, but is now living retired at his pleasant home 169 South Channing street.
He is a native of Canada, born in Tor- onto, October 12, 1836, and is a son of Joseph and Ellen (Donahue) Vollor, the former a native of Portsmouth, England, and the latter of Belfast, Ireland. For about twenty years the father owned and . commanded a vessel on Lake Ontario, and for several years carried passengers and the mail between Toronto and Rochester, New York. During the " Mckenzie Rebellion ", as he was about to leave Toronto, one of his passengers (a friend of Mckenzie) was arrested and his baggage taken to the May- or's office. Capt. Vollor followed and while addressing the mayor was requested by his honor to take off his hat; he refused, and informed the mayor that he bought the hat, paid for it, and would wear it; for that offence he was committed to jail for 24 hours. Capt. Vollor took the first vessel through the Welland Canal, also landed 'at Grand 15
Haven, Mich., the machinery for the first saw-mill erected in that section. His wife died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1847 and he in 1851, at Batavia, Illinois.
The first ten years of his life Joseph Vollor spent in Toronto, where he attended school to a limited extent and then accom- panied his parents on their removal to Mil- waukee, Wisconsin. After eighteen months in that city the family, father and three children, moved to Chicago and six months later to Batavia, Illinois. Upon the death of his father Joseph Vollor was taken by Spencer Johnson, a farmer, to keep until he became of age, the understanding being that he would attend school three months each winter; . and when twenty-one would receive one hundred dollars and two suits of clothes. The last winter he attended school but four weeks, as he had been notified that he would have to "speak a piece" before the school on Friday afternoon. He con- cluded that he was not cut out for an ora- tor, and when Friday noon came around he gathered up his books, went home and cut stove wood the balance of the winter.
In 1859 he was taken with the Pike's Peak fever, and with his hard earned sav- . ' ings invested in teams, provisions and outfit necessary for gold mining, full of hope and with big letters, "Pike's Peak or Bust, " on his wagon cover, he started. Did not get half way before thousands were met com- ing back, hungry and foot sore, and he and his companion had to join the procession and return. When the outfit was disposed of he had but little left of his seven years hard earnings, and felt that he was " busted." In 1860 he worked a farm on shares, and crops being extra good he cleared about $400, which he took with him to Chicago in September and went through a course in
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Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College. He deposited his money in a bank and lost something over $200 by failure.
At the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Vollor was residing at Batavia and enlisted under first call for troops, but company was not accepted ; enlisted twice afterwards and was finally, on the 1st day of August, 1861, mustered in as fourth corporal Company I, Forty-Second Illinois In- fantry. In September the regiment pro- ceeded to St. Louis, Missouri, and for a time was quartered in Benton Barracks, where daily drills were had, and arms were furnished. From Benton Barracks took boat for Jefferson City, where the regiment received twenty-four six-muled teams-two for each company and four for headquarters, including hospital. After re- ceiving transportation and equipment regi- ment was started on a tramp for Spring- field, Missouri, after rebel army, under Price. From Springfield tramped back to Smithton, which was headquarters for the regiment. Mr. Vollor's company (I) was stationed at Farmers' City, about two miles farther west, and patrolled the railroad be- tween there and Sedalia. Col. Webb and many of the larger and apparently strong- est men of the regiment died during the winter. Company I being alone, some of the members would go out nights and con- fiscate bee-hives, geese, chickens and other good things. In February, 1862, started on march to St. Louis, and there took boats for Cairo and crossed the river from there to Fort Holt, Kentucky. Fort Donelson prisoners had just arrived at Cairo when Forty-second reached there. In a short time were ordered to Columbus, Kentucky, and werethe first infantry to enter the place.
After remaining at Columbus a short
time accompanied the gunboat fleet down the river to Island No. 10, where mortar boats amused the Johnnies for several weeks by throwing fifteen-inch shells over the isl- and every fifteen minutes-only damage to the enemy being the breaking of one leg of a mule. The gunboats did a great deal of firing at a battery in bend of river on the Tennessee shore, but did little damage. Colonel G. W. Roberts, of the Forty-sec- ond Illinois, became restive at waste of time and ammunition, and offered to take fifty men of his regiment-if boats would be furnished him-and go down and spike the battery. Boats were furnished, and he went down on the night of April 1, 1862, during a terrible wind and rain storm, and spiked the battery-he being the first man ashore and driving the first spike. A few nights after a gunboat ran by the island, later others followed, and on April 7th the Rebels surrendered about sixty-five hundred prison- ers, seven thousand small arms and one hundred pieces of artillery.
After surrender of Island No. 10, regi- ment proceeded to Fort Pillow, remained a short time, and then took boats for Ham- burg Landing, Mississippi, to take part in siege of Corinth. During siege, engaged in battle of Farmington, where the regiment made the Johnnies a present of all knap- sacks and contents. Mr. Vollor had in his quite a sized book, in which he had been keeping a record of daily experiences. Thinks if he had the book now he would keep it under lock, as there were things re- corded that might not read well at the pres- ent time.
Flag of Forty-second Illinois was first to float over Corinth after the Rebels left. Followed Rebels to Rienzi and in few days returned to Camp Blue Springs near Cor-
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inth. While there, were furnished with " pup Tents " in exchange for Sibley's; ten companies were also furnished with Austrian rifles and saber bayonets in exchange for the almost worthless Springfield muskets," received at St. Louis. From Blue Springs regiment with two pieces of artillery was ordered to Cortland, Alabama, and remained there from July 25th until September 3d, 1862, when were started on forced march for Nashville, Tennessee, and on the way took part in a skirmish with Rebel cavalry at Columbia, losing one man killed while Rebels lost eight killed and forty-five wound- ed. The march to Nashville was a hard one, the weather being very hot, and the broken stone roads caused many blistered feet. Mr. Vollor had, on one day, three blisters on bottom of one foot and two on other. He was the only non-commissioned officer (except the orderly) of Company I to get into camp with the colors. A ser- geant was called for for picket and there being none in camp Mr. Vollor (a corporal) had to go. He considered that he was. punished for keeping up on the march.
The Forty-second occupied Nashville during the race between Buell and Bragg's armies through Kentucky. Being cut off from base of supplies army rations were short, but by foraging, a good supply of sweet potatoes and sometimes fresh pork was procured. After the return of the army, then under command of Gen. Rosecrans, Col. Roberts, who was very ambitious and opposed to doing garrison duty, requested that his regiment (the Forty-second Illinois) be allowed to join the army then preparing to move on Murfreesboro. His wish was granted and he was assigned to the com- mand of a brigade, composed of the Twenty- second, Twenty-seventh, Forty-second and
Fifty-first Illinois regiments, in Sheridan's division of the Twentieth Corps, commanded by Alex. McDowell McCook.
On December 26, 1862, the army under Rosecrans started on a winter campaign toward. Murfreesboro. The rain came down in torrents all day and a bitter cold wind blew from the northeast. The condition and feelings of the men when night came can be imagined better than described .. There were no tents for shelter that night, and no fires could be built to make coffee. With plenty of hot coffee the boys could endure almost any exposure-without it life was hardly worth living. Mr. Vollor says he will never forget that night. Sitting on the wet ground, at the roots of a large tree, with cape of overcoat over his head, he would doze for a short time and would awake so cold that he had to get up and walk around. That was kept up during the .night. On December 30th arrived within two and a half miles of Murfreesboro and had skirmish with the enemy in which quite a number of the Forty-second were killed and wounded. Rebel cavalry had captured and destroyed a large number of wagons loaded with rations, and the morn -. ing of the 3Ist found the men with empty haversacks, preparing for one of the blood- iest battles of the war. A little corn meal had been secured the day before and some mush had been made by some of the Forty- second. As the men of Sheridan's Division stood under arms at 3 o'clock that winter morning and listened to the reading of or- ders from General Rosecrans little did they realize what they would pass through before night. The Forty-second Illinois took a con- spicuous part in the battle, and while regi- ment was falling back to escape capture-the Rebels coming in on their flank-Mr. Vollor
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was hit on foot by a spent ball, also on right elbow, his gun dropping from his hands. Although the Rebels were close on to him he stopped and picked his gun up and by . thirty minutes. After Chickamauga the doing so came near being captured. He was unable to use his arm for a week or more but kept his position with his com- pany. Three balls passed through his cloth- ing during the battle. His name is on Roll of Honor of Army of the Cumberland for meritorious service, was also promoted from Fourth Corporal of Company I, to quarter- master sergeant of the regiment.
During a foraging expedition near Mur- freesboro, a company of Rebels attacked the foraging party, but were dispersed, some of the enemy being discovered in the woods for the purpose of picking off Union gun- ners. Mr. Vollor and three men went out -got in their rear and brought two of them in, and for this action received commenda- tion. When the army moved out from Murfreesboro, the objective point being Chattanooga, Mr. Vollor, as quartermaster- sergeant, was in charge of his regimental train. The crossing of Raccoon and Look- out mountains was difficult and dangerous. While ascending Lookout, after dark, a six- mule team, a short distance ahead of Mr. Vollor's wagon-became frightened at some object and unmanageable and went off the side of the mountain, which was very steep. Mules were killed and kindling wood made of wagon. After reaching top of mountain Mr. Vollor discovered a sutler's wagon a few wagons ahead of his, and during the darkness he succeeded in borrowing a num- ber of boxes of sardines, cans of fruit and other eatables. On 19th and 20th of Sep- tember, occurred battle of Chickamauga, where Forty-second Illinois lost in killed, twenty-eight; wounded, one hundred and
twenty-eight; prisoners, thirty-six, out of a total of less than four hundred and fifty. The greater part of loss occurred inside of
Army of the Cumberland was shut up around Chattanooga-on short rations- and in danger of starvation. Ten thousand horses and mules starved to death, and ac- cording to General Grant's report there were not horses enough in the Army of the Cumberland to haul a single piece of artil- lery. General Grant telegraphed Thomas: " Hold Chattanooga at all hazards." He replied, "We will hold it till we starve." Mr. Vollor says he felt as if a person stand- ing in front of him could see his backbone. He saw men pick kernels of corn out of mud and manure, and parch it to eat. The arrival of Eleventh and Twelfth Corps saved the army from starvation.
On November 25th, the battle of Mission Ridge was fought, and resulted in a glori- ous victory. General Grant says in his memoirs, to Sheridan's prompt movement the Army of the Cumberland and the na- tion are indebted for the bulk of the cap- ture of prisoners, artillery and small arms that day. Mr. Vollor followed the troops in the charge and helped take care of wounded, although his position did not re- quire him to be there. Shortly after the Fourth Corps was sent to Knoxville to the relief of Burnside, and Mr. Vollor was de- tailed to take charge of tools of his brigade. Remained in East Tennessee during the winter without tents, but little clothing and -
short rations. Bran bread was a luxury. On the memorable cold January 1, 1864, while bivouacked in the woods-with two inches of snow, and mercury three degrees below zero, a majority of the Forty-second re-enlisted for another three years, and Mr.
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Vollor again put his name down as a private of Company I.
On the way to Knoxville, the home of a Rebel colonel was passed. In a storeroom a barrel of sorghum syrup was found, and soon a line of blue coats with tin cups were going in the back door, dipping the cups in the barrel and rushing out through the front parlor with syrup dripping all over the carpet. It was the first house Mr. Vollor had entered to take anything. He had. sympathy for the female Rebel who was calling his comrades all sorts of names. Mr. Vollor, before reaching Knoxville, picked up a very fine pair of mules, which had been used for a carriage team. He was offered four hundred dollars for them by a sutler, but refused, and put them in one of his teams.
In February the regiment started for Chattanooga on their way home on a thirty- days' furlough. Next morning, after reach- ing Chattanooga, the fine mules were miss- ing, and Mr. Vollor had to pick up a pair that had been turned out to die, in order to to have the right number to turn over to the post quartermaster. He regretted that he did not take the four hundred dollars. The regiment took the furlough, and returned to Chattanooga the latter part of April, and became a part of Sherman's army for the Atlanta campaign. Mr. Vollor was again appointed quartermaster-sergeant, and acted as quartermaster during the campaign, the quartermaster being sick at Chattanooga. The Forty-second Illinois took part in the following engageinents during the Atlanta campaign -- Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Adairsville, New Hope Church, Pine Mount- ain, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station. After the capture of Atlanta, and
before Sherman started on his march to the sea, the Fourth Corps was sent back to Chattanooga, and the Forty-second was stationed for a while at Bridgeport, and from there went to Pulaski, Tennessee; remained there until Hood started in on his invasion of Tennessee, and fell back with the rest of the army toward Nashville. The Forty-second received a number of new recruits at Spring Hill, several of whom were killed during some severe fighting at points, the enemy having made attempt to capture trains that were packed by the roadside. Trains were on the move all night toward Franklin, and many times during the night were fired on by Rebel cav- alry. The next day (30th) some Rebel cav- alry with blue overcoats came in from a crossroad and commenced firing, killing a number of mules and burning wagons. Some of the drivers became demoralized and jumped from their mules and sought shelter. One driver was stopped by Mr. Vollor threatening to shoot him. The driver thanked him afterward for keeping him from being a coward.
November 3, 1864, was fought the battle of Franklin-for the number of men engaged and the time it lasted, the hardest fought bat- tle of the war. Rebel loss, one thousand, sev- en hundred and fifty killed, three thousand, eight hundred wounded, among them six generals killed and six wounded. Union loss was light, comparatively. During the night fell back to Nashville and remained until December 15 and 16, when battle of Nashville was fought. While there the colonel of the Forty-second sent to the governor for a commission as first lieutenant for Mr. Vollor, but it was not granted. Dur- ing battle of Nashville, while riding through a cornfield, Mr. Vollor was fired at, ball
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cutting off corn stalk near his horse's head. From Nashville regiment pursued the enemy about eighty miles to Lexington, and then marched to Decatur, Alabama, leaving there April 1, 1865, for East Tennessee, it being thought that Lee's army might undertake to come through. Heard of Lee's surrender and Lincoln's assassination while there. The Forty-second returned to Nashville, remained until June, and then, with balance of Fourth Corps, embarked for New Orleans, en route to Texas, it being thought at the time that there might be some trouble with Maximil- ian. Mr. Vollor was left to follow with transportation and camp equipage, and when he reached Cairo he invested fifty dollars in condensed milk at one dollar per can and a lot of soft bread, and for a few days he and the men who were with him lived high. Arrived at Vicksburg afternoon of July 4, remaining until next day. In evening at- tended a negro dance. It was terribly hot, and concluded it was pleasanter in open air. Reached New Orleans about Ioth and found regiment on bank of river below the city. A short time after, embarked for Port La- vaca, Texas, where remained a short time and afterward went into camp some distance out on prairie, and were finally mustered out on December 15, 1865, andstarted for home. Total enrollment of Forty-second Illinois was one thousand, six hundred and twenty- two, of whom one hundred and eighty-one were killed, four hundred and seventy-three wounded, two hundred and six died of dis- ease and accident and thirty-three in Rebel prisons. The Forty-second is numbered as one of Colonel Fox's three hundred fighting regiments. While in Texas Mr. Vollor re- ceived commission as first lieutenant and quartermaster. Were in New Orleans on Christmas eve and needed mosquito netting
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