The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 67

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron
Number of Pages: 884

USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 67

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R. M. JOHN, abstract, real estate and loan office, Pontiac ; was born in Greene Co., Penn., May 13, 1844 ; when he was about 2 years old, his father's family re-

moved to Wood Co., Va., where they re- sided seven years, removing to Marietta, Ohio, in 1853, and from that place came to Illinois in June, 1857, settling in Coles Co. ; the following year, Mr. John left home and went to Moultrie Co., where he enlisted in the 10th I. V. C., but shortly after his enlistment he was thrown from a horse, by which his hip was dislocated, and he was rejected at the time of the muster in of his regiment ; in 1864, he recruited a portion of Co. E, 139th I. V. I, and was appointed Corporal, and was soon after promoted to Sergeant, in which capacity he served until the expiration of his term ; he had previously attended Heading Semi- nary, and after leaving the army he en- tered the Wesleyan University at Bloom- ington, and in 1868, attended one term at the State Normal University, teaching school in the meantime, which profession he followed principally until 1872; in 1873, he entered the abstract office, of R. Olney & Co., and in 1875, started in business for himself. He was married April 23, 1873, to Miss Mary Nelson of Pontiac, a daughter of James Nelson, Jr.

LUKE JORDON, farmer and stock raiser, Secs. 17 and 18; P. O. Pontiac ; was born in Wexford Co., Ireland, in the Parish of Killanne, in 1823; in 1849, he came to the United States, and was en- gaged in various employments in New York City until the 4th of July, 1859, when he was married to Miss Ann Ne- valle of New York, a native of Wexford Co., Ireland ; Mr. Jordon resided in New York until 1855, when he came to Living- ston Co .; after living in Pontiac three years he settled on his present farm, purchasing forty acres of land of the county on credit, to which he has added from time to time, until he now owns 240 acres of land, val- ued at $11,000. Mrs. Jordon died Sept. 18, 1872, leaving four children-Thomas H., John, James and Anna M. Mr. Jordon has served thirteen years as School Director.

I. J. KRACK, County Treasurer, Pon- tiac ; was born in Baltimore Co., Md., Nov. 16, 1816 ; he is of German descent. his grandparents on both sides being from Germany ; in his father's family the Ger- man language was used ; after receiving a common school education, he followed teaching during the winter months for about eight years ; in 1835, be came with

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his parents to Montgomery Co., Ind., and a few years later removed to Tippecanoe County ; he came to Livingston Co. in 1854, settling at Forrest, which. village he laid out in 1866 ; his principal business has been farming and dealing in "grain. He was appointed the first Postmaster at Forrest, continuing as such until about three years ago ; he was Notary Public eight years in Indiana, and several terms in this State ; he was elected Treasurer of Livingston County in November, 1877, and removed to Pontiac in January, 1878. He was married March 11, 1840, to Miss Mary Worl, who was born in Wayne Co., Ind., Feb. 3, 1821 ; they have seven children -- Mary J. now Mrs. Henry H. Ulbright, of Forrest ; : hn M., William L. and George C., all of Forrest Township ; Delphia D., wife of J. W. Graham, of Lafayette, Ind. ; Jessie O. and Lizzie A.

JOSEPH T. KAY of the firm of Duffy ' & Kay, insurance and real estate agents; Pontiac; was born in Brown Co., Ohio, April 23, 1847 ; when he was about 6. years of age, his parents removed to High- land Co., Ohio, residing there until. they removed to Livingston County in 1859. Mr Kay was educated in the public schools of Pontiac, and at the High School in Peoria, graduating there in 1868. He was appointed Deputy County Treasurer in 1869, and remained in the office five years, and was then appointed Deputy County Clerk, which position he held three years. In 1877, he engaged in the real estate and insurance business with Mr. Benjamin A. Duffy, which they still continue. He was married Oct. 15, 1872, to Miss Annie A. Gore, of Pontiac, and has one child.

JOHN C. KEACH, manufacturer of carriages and spring wagons, Pontiac ; was born in Brooke Co., Va., June 8, 1841 ; when he was 11 years of age, his parents removed to Adams Co., Ohio; there he resided until 1868; he learned his trade in Manchester, Ohio. In September, 1861, enlisted in Co. F, 70th Ohio Vols., serving in the 2d Division, 15th Army Corps; was with his regiment at the battle of Shiloh, thence to Memphis, at the siege of Vicks- burg, thence to Jackson, Miss., thence to Chattanooga, from Chattanooga to Atlanta and on the famous march " From Atlanta to the Sea." After his return he remained in Ohio till 1868, when he removed to

Union Co., Iowa, and a year later to Pon- tiac, and engaged in the manufacture of carriages, etc. He was married Sept. 27, 1866, to Miss Sarepta McKee, of Adams Co., Ohio, and has two children-Anna and James N.

A. W. KELLOGG, teacher, Pontiac ; was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Nov. 7, 1836 ; he is a son of Rev. H. H. Kellogg, and when he was 5 years of age, his father' removed to Galesburg, Ill., to take the Presidency of Knox Manual Labor College, now Knox College ; Galesburg at that time contained only about fifty houses; : Mr. Kellogg lived there six years, return- ing to Oneida County, where he resided until 1866 ; he received a collegiate educa- tion, spending three years in Knox College and going from there to Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y., where he graduated in 1857 ; he read law with Prof. T. W. Dwight, one year, when, his health failing, he was compelled to engage in other busi- ness; he came to Livingston Co. in 1866. Was appointed Assistant U. S. Assess- or of Internal Revenue for the county in 1869, resigning in 1871. He was employed on the Pontiac Sentinel seven years, leav- ing the paper in 1875; for the past three years he has been teaching in the city schools. He was married Dec. 16, 1861, to Miss Sarah Allen, of Oneida Co., and has seven children. He served as Justice of the Peace in Oneida Co.

L. E. KENT, ş.ain dealer, Pontiac ;_.. has been a residen' of Livingston Co. for the past twenty y ars ; he came to Illinois in 1857, from Jartford Co., Conn., where he was born Aug. 18, 1836 ; after spend- ing one year in Kane Co., Ill., he came to Pontiac in 1858, where he has resided ever since, engaged in the grain, stock and lum- ber business ; he owns two elevators here, having a capacity of 25,000 bushels of grain, one at Blackstone in this county, with a capacity of 20,000 bushels, and one at Cayuga, holding 10,000 bushels ; he owns a stock farm of 160 acres, at Black- stone, and has other real estate interests in this county ; he is engaged in the grain, stock and lumber trade at Blackstone, the business being in charge of his brother, D. W. Kent; Mr. S. K. Brittenham has the management of his grain and stock business at Cayuga. Mr. Kent was mar- ried in 1867, to Miss Antoinette Graves

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PONTIAC TOWNSHIP.

of Pontiac, and has one child. He was a member of the City Council four years.

C. KECK, of the firm of Mitchell & Keck, dealers in lumber. lime, cement, etc., Pontiac ; was born in Monroe Co., Ill., April 16, 1843; when he was 2 years old, his father's family removed to St. Clair Co., and four years later to Hermon, Mo .; his father then entered the ministry, and as a Methodist clergyman was stationed at various points in Illinois, Iowa and Mis- souri ; after leaving school Mr. Keck spent five years clerking in St. Louis, and at Bunker Hill, Ill .; at the breaking out of the war. he assumed charge of the business of a firm of army supply con- tractors, where he remained two years; he was afterward engaged in a dry goods house in St. Louis, and in a grocery house in Alton, Ill. In 1864, he recruited four companies of the 144th I. V. I., and was appointed First Lieutenant of Co. D. Re- turning at the end of his year's service, he engaged for about two years in the grocery business for himself in Litchfield, Ill .; he afterward clerked for a while in a lum- ber yard in that place, and in 1871, re- moved to Chicago, and was engaged for about five years in traveling for Dean Bros. and F. E. Bradley; in May, 1876, he removed to Newark, Ohio, and went into partnership with Mr. Bradley in the lumber business, taking charge of the yard there ; he came to Pontiac in August, 1877, and with Mr. S. B. Mitchell, of Chicago, pur- chased the lumber business of A. F. Fisher. He was married March 1. 1869, to Miss Lueretia E. Wright, of Upper Alton, Ill., and has two children-Warren P. and Stella L.

WALLACE LORD, contractor and builder and proprietor of Lord's Opera House, Pontiac ; was born in Kennebec Co., Me., Dec. 17, 1834 ; when he was 17 years of age, he shipped on board a merchantman bound for California ; he fol- lowed the sea for three years, making the voyage around the world, and visiting Can- ton, Calcutta, Singapore, Madras, Cape Town, the Island of St. Helena, and other places ; he came to Illinois in 1855. re- maining in Chicago till 1858, when he set- tled in Pontiac. He was married, in 1860. to Miss Miss Matilda J. Ross, of Pontiac, and has six children-Ladella, Floretta, Annie, James, Dick and Jo. In August.

1861, he was commissioned First Lieuten- ant of Co. C, 39th I. V. I., and served about six months, when, on account of ill health. he resigned and returned to Po- tiac.

DUDLEY LAYCOCK, farmer and stock raiser; P. O. Pontiac ; a resident of Livingston Co. since 1854; was born in Brown Co., Ohio. on the 13th of February, 1819; there he lived until the Fall of 1832, when he came to Illinois with his father's family, settling in Vermilion Co .; there he was married, in June, 1840, to Miss Elizabeth Clow, of Vermilion Co .; she was a native of Kentucky ; she died in March, 1849, leaving four children, two of whom are living-Elihu and Jefferson. In 1854, he removed to Livingston Co., and settled on his present farm, entering a portion of it from the Government; he owns 360 acres of land in his home farm, and several other pieces of land in different parts of the country, amounting to 160 acres more, valued in all at $21,000. Mr. Laycoek has neither sought nor accepted public office of any kind, except three years as School Director.

C. E. LEGG, dealer in boots and shoes (firm of Legg & Voght), Pontiac; was born in Monroe Co., W. Va., Nov. 8, 1856 ; when he was less than a year old, his parents removed to Illinois, residing one year in McLean Co., and settling in Rook's Creek Township, Livingston Co., in 1858; his father resided there until 1869, when he removed with his children (his wife having died in 1865) to Missouri, where he now resides ; after three years, young Legg returned to Pontiac, and shortly afterward entered the boot and shoe store of D. M. Lyon, where he re- mained until Sept. 1, 1877; he then formed a partnership with Mr. J. S. Voght in their present business.

W. S. LACEY, dealer in hardware, tin- ware, stoves and agricultural implements, Pontiac; was born in Buckinghamshire, England. Dec. 17, 1829; when he was 6 years old, his parents came to New York City, and after residing there seven years removed to Canada ; Mr. Lacey came to Illinois in 1854, and spent three years in Aurora and three more in Peru, coming to Pontiac in 1861 ; he has always followed his present business. He was married Jan. 8, 1853, to Miss Louisa Leavitt of

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Dundas, C. W .; she was born in Chatau- qua Co., N. Y., July 12, 1832 ; they have three children living - Addie E., George W. and Nellie D .; their oldest daughter, Mary L., a teacher in the Pon- tiac public schools, died in Nov., 1877. Mr. Lacey served one year on the Town Board of Trustees, four years as School Director, and is at present City Treasurer, to which office he was elected in 1877.

JOHN S. LEE, blacksmith (firm of Lee & Umphenour), Pontiac; was born in New London Co., Conn., March 22, 1826 ; he was raised on the farm until he was 17 years of age, when he learned the trade of blacksmith, and followed it until he came West; in 1858, he came to Illinois, spending two years in farming in McLean Co., and settled in Livingston Co. in 1860. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 129th I. V. I .; was wounded at the battle of Peach Tree Creek on the 20th of July, 1864, and mustered out with his regiment June 21, 1865. Returning to Pontiac, he was sick for about two years, and then resumed his business of black- smithing, which he has continued ever since. He was married Nov. 26, 1848, to Miss Eunice Packer, of Colchester, Conn., and has four children-Addie E. (now Mrs. Pound), Hattie L., wife of J. R. Roggy, of Bureau Co., Ill .; Frank P. and Charles H.

D. M. LYON, dealer in boots and shoes, Pontiac; was born in Sabina, Clinton Co., Ohio, Nov. 13, 1841 ; he is a son of Wm. B. Lyon, and came to Livingston Co. with his father's family in 1852, when he was eleven years of age, and after living at Reading eight years came to Pontiac in 1860 ; he received an academic education in Ottawa, Ill., and in 1858 entered Lom- bard University, Galesburg, Ill., remaining there until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in April, 1861, in Co. D, 20th I. V. I., the first company to leave the county ; after his term of enlist- ment-three months-had expired, he re- eruited Co. F, 138th I. V. I., and was commissioned Captain of the company, serving with them until October, 1864, when they were mustered out by reason of the expiration of their term of service ; returning to Pontiac, he engaged in the boot and shoe and clothing business, the firm being Wm. B. Lyon & Son, which

continued until 1867, when it was dis- solved and he continued the boot and shoe business alone to the present time. He is at present Township Treasurer, to which office he was elected in 1872. He was married Oct. 25, 1865, to Miss Abbie J. Remiek of Pontiac; they have two chil- dren-William R. and James M.

P. S. LINELL, harness maker, Pon- tiac ; was born in Woodstock, Vt., May 13, 1833; when he was quite young, his parents removed to Champaign Co., Ohio, and afterward to Warren Co., Ohio; in 1848, he left home and went to Franklin Co., Ind., where he learned his trade as a harness maker ; resided there about two years and a half, and then removed to Peoria, thence to Henderson Co., return- ing, thence to Indiana ; he afterward re- turned to Henderson Co., from which place he went to Chicago, and from Chica- go he removed to De Kalb Co .; in 1866, he settled in Pontiac, where he has con- tinued to reside to the present time. He was married on the 2d of Nov., 1856, to Miss Mary A. Burkholder of Franklin Co., Ind .; they have three children living- William B., Frank A. and Cornelia A.

WM. H. LUNT, dealer in grain and coal, Pontiae; was born in Sagadahock Co., Me., Aug. 31, 1819 ; he was raised to mercantile pursuits, his father having been a merchant in Bowdoinham, Me., for twenty-five years, and at the age of 18 years began business for himself ; in 1855, he represented his native town in the State Legislature ; in 1856, he removed to Clin- ton, Iowa, the next year after the laying out of that city, and was one of the pioneers in the grain trade of that State; he has always taken an active interest in educa- tional matters, and as President of the Board of Education of Clinton, superintended the erection of the fine public school building there ; in 1865, he went to Chicago, lo- cating his family at Evanston, and contin- ued the grain business there, running two large elevators, the Iowa and the Lunt, until the great fire, when they were both destroyed ; he has been a member of the Chicago Board of Trade since 1865,and was a Director for three years; in 1872, he became Secretary and Financial Agent of the Northwestern University at Evanston ; he was for two years President of the Board of Education in Evanston, and was the

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first President of the Highland Park Build- ing Company, and one of its original in- corporators ; he came to Pontiac in 1876, and has since been engaged in the grain and coal business. He was married in 1840, to Miss Susan P. Littlefield, of Kennebec Co., Me .; she died in 1870, leaving four children ; he was married again in 1876, to Mrs. Jennie Brewster, of Evanston, Ill.

L. F. LUTYEN, dealer in watches, clocks, jewelry and silver ware, Pontiac ; was born in Newark, Kendall Co., Ill., Oct. 8, 1839 ; he received an academic educa- tion : he early displayed great love and talent for music, and at the age of 14 years, became leader of the band in his native town; he afterward spent two years in traveling as leader of a band, and in 1862, entered the army as leader of the band of the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 17th Army Corps ; he served during the siege of Vicks- burg, at Black River, Jackson, Champion Hills, etc., his band leading the army on its entrance into Vicksburg, after the surrender ; he was present with his band, and led the 17th Army Corps at the grand review in Washington, at the close of the war. Re- turning in 1865, he engaged in business in Sandwich, Ill., but the next Spring sold out and spent the Summers for the next five years in traveling ; in 1868, he pur- chased a drug store in Secor, Woodford C'o., which was placed in charge of his uncle, and during the next three years he spent his Winters in the store ; about 1871, he sold out, and purchased an interest in a drug store at Newark, where he remained until his removal to Pontiac in 1874 ; be- sides his jewelry business, he is senior partner in the drug firm of Lutyen Bros. ; he is leader of Lutyen's Cornet Band, which was organized in the Fall of 1876.

S. H. MOSSHOLDER, manufacturer and dealer in harness and saddles, Pontiac ; was born in Licking Co., Ohio, June 18, 1842; when he was 5 years of age, his parents removed to Pontiac ; that was in 1847 ; at that time there were but two or three frame houses and a number of log cabins in the town ; his father, Daniel Moss- holder, resided here until 1859, when he removed to Wisconsin, where he died in Feb., 1878; Mr. Mossholder has resided here constantly since he came in 1847, and one of the frame houses of that time consti- tutes a part of his residence at the present

time ; he has counted as many as eighty- four deer at one time, within a mile and a half of Pontiac ; he learned the trade of a harness maker in 1862, and has followed it ever since. He was married Oct. 29, 1865, to Miss Minnie A. England, of Pon- tiac; she is a native of Pickaway Co., Ohio ; they have one child living-Milton S. Mr. M. is Collector of Pontiac to which office he was elected in 1877, and re- elected in 1878.

JAMES E. MORROW. President of the National Bank of Pontiac, has been a resident of Livingston Co., since 1857, having come at that time from Highland Co., Ohio, where he was born on the 23d of Sept., 1836 ; in 1859, he went to Cali- fornia, and was there at the breaking out of the war. Returning in 1862, he entered the army as a member of Co. G, 129th I. V. I., and served until the close of the war, in the 20th Army Corps ; he was with Gen. Sherman in his march to the sea. On the close of the war, he returned to Pontiac, and took a clerkship in the office of Duff & Cowan. In 1868, he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of Livingston Co., hold- ing the office four years ; he has been a member of the Board of Supervisors for the past six years, and as Chairman of the Building Committee, and the only resident member of the board, had almost the entire charge of building the new Court House ; the efficient manner in which the work was performed, and his vigilance in looking after the interests of the county, are evident from the fact that the building was erected at a loss to the contractors, and a consequent corresponding gain to the county ; he has also served one term on the Board of Aldermen. He organized the National Bank of Pontiac, March, 1874, and was elected President. He was mar- ried Sept. 11, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth J. Maxwell, of Pontiac, who died July 4, 1872, leaving one child-Elsie E.

WILLIAM H. H. McDOWELL, attor- ney at law, Pontiac ; was born in Montgom- ery Co., Ind., March 6, 1840 ; at the age of 10 years, he came to Livingston Co., where he attended the common schools until 1857 ; he then returned to Indiana and entered Thorntown Academy, remain- ing until 1860; returning to this county, he taught school during the Winter, and resumed his studies at the Academy in

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the Spring. The war breaking out, he enlisted in the 17th Ind. V. I., and was discharged by reason of ill health the fol- lowing Winter; he returned to Pontiac, and six months later recruited and drilled a company of men which afterward became a part of the 129th I. V. I., he was made Sergeant Major of the regiment, and after- ward promoted to Lieutenant ; he par- ticipated in all the battles of his regiment, and with fifteen picked men, captured the noted guerilla chief, Capt. Burton, receiving the warmest commendation of Brig. Gen. Sweet, commander of the post; during the Winter of 1863 and 1864, he was sent to Springfield, Ill., on a recruiting expedition, rejoining his com- mand in the Spring of 1864; he was with Sherman in his "march to the sea," and after the fall of Atlanta was detailed as an Aid-de-Camp to the Brigadier General- Commanding, holding the position until mustered out, in June, 1865. On his return, he engaged in merchandising at Fairbury, studying law at the same time ; he was ad- mitted to the bar in 1869; removed to Pontiac in 1872, where he still resides, en- gaged in the practice of law. He was mar- ried Jan. 1, 1866, to Miss Emma C. Thayer, daughter of Prof. Gilbert Thayer, of Morgan Park, Ill.

A. J. MARSH, farmer and stock raiser ; P. O. Pontiac ; was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1838 ; his parents died when he was quite young; he remained in Chenan- go County until he was 16 years of age, and then came West, spending one year in Wisconsin ; in 1845, he came to Peoria Co., Ill., and went to work on his uncle's farm ; in 1866, he removed to Livingston Co., settling on his present farm, where he owns 120 acres of land, valued at $45 per acre. He was married on the 30th of November, 1866, to Miss Augusta Butler, of Peoria County ; she was born in the State of Maine; they have two children- Adell and Mabel. Mr. Marsh has been School Director for the past nine years, and Commissioner of Highways for the past three years.

JOHN McCALLA. dealer in boots and shoes, Pontiac ; was born in Brown Co., Ohio, Oct. 5, 1840 ; when he was 11 years of age, he came with his mother's family to Tazewell Co., Ill., and after re- maining there two years the family removed

to LaSalle Co .; he was engaged in farming up to the breaking out of the rebellion. He enlisted in 1863, in the 53d I. V. I., as a member of Co. I, and served till the close of the war; took part in all the en- gagements in which his regiment partici- pated, among which may be mentioned the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., Siege of Atlanta, Allatoona Mountain, Jonesboro, Savannah and Bentonville, N. C. Return- ing from the war, he followed farming one year, and in 1868, came to Livingston Co. and followed the nursery business one year, and then engaged in general merchandis- ing, which he followed till 1877, since which time he has been engaged in the boot and shoe trade. He was married April 29, 1869, to Miss M. A. Macy, of this county; they have two children- Emery E. and Josephine A.

MRS. M. J. MCGREGOR, Pontiac ; was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 27, 1820; she was married in Clinton Co., Ohio, on the 3d of October, 1838, to the late John H. McGregor ; he was born in Orange Co., N. C., August 30, 1814 ; his parents emigrated to Kentucky when he was about 3 years of age, and settled near New Castle, afterward removing to Ohio; when a boy in Kentucky, he learned the printing business, and remained with his brother there, occasionally teaching school, until about 1836, when the family removed to Iowa, and kept the first hotel in the city of Davenport ; after his marriage in 1838, he resided in Clinton County, where he read law and was admitted to the bar in 1845 ; he removed to Ottawa, Ill., in 1850, and in 1853, came to Pontiac, being one of the first attorneys in the place ; he continued to practice here until his death, which occurred in January, 1856. He left five children, four of whom are living -Emma and Charles A. (both of whom reside in Pontiac), Alonzo H. (now of Bloomington, Ill.) and H. Buxton (of Pontiac) ; one daughter, Elizabeth J., died in July, 1877. Mrs. MeGregor still re- sides in Pontiac.

CHARLES A. MCGREGOR, son of J. H. McGregor, was born in Clinton Co., Ohio, March 14, 1844; came to Ottawa, Ill., with his parents in 1850, and to Pontiac in 1853; he was educated in the public schools of Pontiac, and spent a year at school in Davenport, Iowa, and

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in 1861, entered Dickinson College, Car- lisle, Penn. In the Spring of 1863, he entered the 39th I. V. I., Co. C, serving till the close of the war. In the Spring of 1866, he engaged in the drug and book business, in Pontiac, which he continued until the Fall of 1877. He was married in October, 1871, to Miss Eunice J. John- son, daughter of Morris Johnson, Esq., of Pontiac ; they have one child living-Ber- nice E. Mr. McGregor served two years as Postmaster. and several terms as Town- ship Treasurer.

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The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 67

Author: Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron Number of Pages: 884

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron
Number of Pages: 884