The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 70

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 70

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

JOHN C. WINANS, teacher, Pontiac : was born in Berne, Albany Co., N. Y., Dec. 20,1832; he was educated in Rensselaerville Academy, in his native county, and after completing his course of study, engaged in teaching, which profession he has followed to the present time, having taught thirty terms; it was at the academy that he met the lady who afterward became his wife, Miss Susan W. Crocker, daughter of Ancel Crocker ; she was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., April 30, 1835 ; after receiving a common school education, she entered Rensselaerville Academy where she re- mained six years. She was married to Mr. Winans on the 25th of Sept., 1855, and settled in Rensselaerville, residing there until their removal to Pontiac in 1864; they have one son-George A., who is a teacher in the public schools, having taught seven terms ; in 1866, Mrs. Winans en- tered the office of the Circuit Clerk, where she remained nine years, during which time she became familiar with clerical work, the making of abstracts and legal documents ; in 1875, she became abstraet elerk in the office of J. F. Culver & Co., and on the

655

ODELL TOWNSHIP.

13th of March, 1876, she was appointed a Notary Public by Governor Beveridge, being the only lady to hold the office in Livingston Co.

J. C. WICKERY, plasterer, Pontiac ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., Oet. 6. 1824 ; he learned the trade of a plas- terer when he was 16 years old. and has followed it to the present time ; he came to Livingston Co., in 1854, and in 1856 his family followed; he settled at Reading

where he resided until 1863, and then re- moved to Pontiac, where he has resided ever since. He was married in May, 1849, to Miss Elizabeth B. Rankin, of Washing- ton Co., Penn. ; she was born there in July, 1826 : they have six children living- Emma M. (now the wife Rev. D. H. Krei- dler, of Saline Co., Neb.); Ella B. (now Mrs. Frank McCloud ) ; Flora, (wife of L. F. Lutyen, of Pontiac) ; Samuel G .. John B. and Frank.

ODELL TOWNSHIP.

CHAS. E. AXT, watchmaker and jew- eler, Odell ; was born in Fort Madison, Iowa, Feb. 19, 1853; when he was about 12 years of age, he began steam-boating on the Mississippi River, in the service of the Northern Line Packet Co., in the capacity of cabin boy, and afterward became steward and second clerk ; after following the busi- ness three years, he learned the watchi- maker's trade in Fort Madison, and after he had served his time, worked at home a while ; he then removed to Lincoln, Ill., where he remained until 1874, and then settled in Odell, where, by strict atten- tion to business and the wants of his cus- tomers, he has succeeded in establishing a profitable business being the first jeweler to make a success in Odell. In 1877 he was elected Village Clerk and was re-elected in 1878. He was married Oct. 15, 1873, to Miss Nellie E. Stewart, of Fort Madison, Iowa ; they have one child-Orlinn May.

WILLIAM.ALLAN. farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Odell; has been a resident of Livingston Co', since 1856 ; he was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, July 4, 1825; he came to the United States in 1850, and settled in Lisbon, Kendall Co., Ill., where he resided until his removal to Livingston Co., in 1855 ; he opened a farm on Sec. 12, in Esmen Tp. ; he built the first house on the prairie in his vicinity, the nearest house being two and a half miles away ; he settled on his present farm in 1871 ; he owns 560 acres of land, valued at $22,000 ; he is an example of an enterprising and successful farmer. He was married in Sept., 1855, to Ellen Imrie, who was born in Roxbury-

shire, Scotland, near the home of Sir Wal ter Scott, Feb. 17, 1828; they have eight children-John H., William I., David J., Andrew T., Agnes K., George B., Charles S. and Edward P.

W. D. ANGELL, farmer, P. O. Odell ; born in Wayne Co., N. Y., Jan. 25, 1824 ; he was raised on the farm until he was 23 years of age ; he then spent a year in the Clyde High School, after which he went to Tompkins Co., and engaged in clerking. He was married Sept. 25, 1850, to Miss Mary J. Harvey, of his native county ; she was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1833; they have one child-Elvena I. Mr. Angell then engaged in merchandising in Newfield, Tompkins Co., which he con- tinued three years ; in 1854, he came to Illinois, settling in Will Co., where he re- sided until Dec., 1856, when he removed a short distance into Grundy Co. ; in 1858, he went on to his farm in Kendall Co., and lived there until his removal to Odell in in 1865. He has served two terms on the Board of Trustees, and for the past five years as Township School Trustee, and was elected President of the Board in 1877.

F. BALENSIEFER, dealer in general merchandise, Odell ; was born in Prussia on the 23d of November, 1835; he came to the United States in 1854, coming at once to Illinois and settling in Mendota, where he resided for twelve years ; he then removed to Livingston Co. in 1866, and followed farming in Sunbury Tp. until 1872, when he engaged in mer- chandising in Odell, where he has since resided. He was married Aug. 13, 1861, 1

656

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

to Miss Carrie Hoberg, of Peru, Ill. ; she was born in the Province of Westphalia. Prussia, in April, 1840; they have seven children-Emma, Carrie, Minnie, Ida, Henry, Bertha and Otto.

T. O. BANNISTER, M. D., physi- cian and surgeon, Odell; was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., June 13, 1833 ; he attended medical lectures at the Albany Medical College, and afterward entered the medical department of the University of New York, where he graduated in March, 1856. He engaged in practicing medicine at Waterloo, N. Y., remaining there until the Fall of 1857, and then removed to Phelps, Ontario Co .; in June. 1862, he entered the service of the government as Acting Assistant Surgeon in the United States Army, and was stationed at the Fair- fax Seminary General Hospital, Va., and afterward in the Army Square and Camp- bell General Hospitals in Washington till the close of the war He came to Odell in 1865, where he has been located ever since, engaged in the practice of his pro- fession. He was married Jan. 7, 1857, to Miss Hannah E. Pound of Wayne Co., N. Y .; they have two children-George S. and Harry J.

REV. B. BOYLAN, Pastor of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Odell ; was born in Wareham, Mass., Sept. 25, 1853; he attended the public schools of his native town until he was 11 years of age, and then prepared for college at the Pierce Academy, Middleboro, Mass. ; in 1868, he entered St. Charles College, near Baltimore, where he completed the regular course, graduating in June, 1872; in the Fall of the same year, he became a student of philosophy in St. Laurent's College, near Montreal, remaining there two years; he afterward spent two years and a half in the Grand Seminary in Montreal, engaged principally in the study of dogmatie and moral theology, the Scriptures, and canon laws. On the 23d of December, 1876, he was ordained a clergyman of the Catholic Church by the Rt. Rev. Edward Charles Fabre, Bishop of the Diocese of Montreal, and was appointed assistant to Rev. Dr. Wallace, of St. Michael's Church, Providence, R. I., remaining eight months ; in September, 1877, he became Pastor of the church in Odell.

N. BUCHER, billiard hall, Odell ; was born in Syracuse, N. Y., on the 15th of August, 1849; he lived there until February, 1867, when he came to Illinois and located in Bloomington, resid- ing there until his removal to Odell in 1876. He was married Nov. 9, 1872. to Miss Annie Hartman, of Bloomington, in which city she was born on the 13th of April, 1855 ; they have one child-Daisy.

C. K. BRITTENHAM, grain and live stock dealer, Cayuga ; was born in Piatt Co .. Ill., Feb. 22, 1852; he resided there until he was 19 years of age; · after obtaining a common school education in his native county, he entered the Valpa- raiso Indiana Normal School, where here- mained a year and a half; he came to Cayuga in 1875, and engaged in the grain and stock business, where he has remained to the present time.

C. W. BARBER. farmer and stock raiser ; P. O. Odell ; was born in Sara- toga Co., N. Y., on the 7th of July, 1834 ; in 1851, he came to Illinois with his father's family, settling in La Salle Co., where he resided until his removal to Odell in 1866 ; his father was a carpenter and builder, and Mr. Barber has always fol- lowed that trade ever since he was old enough to handle a saw or plane, until about six years ago, when he purchased his pres- ent farm and engaged in farming. He was married on the 11th of Oct., 1857, to Miss Adeline Harris, of Burr Oak, St. Joseph Co., Mich. ; she is a daughter of Harvey Harris, Esq., now of Odell; she was born in 1835 ; they have seven children-Mary E .. Roselle J .. Emma J., Harvey C., Fan- nie. Mabel and Nellie. Mr. Barber has served several terms as School Director ; is at present Commissioner of Highways; he owns eighty acres of land on Sec. S, valued at $3,200.

E. F. BOULTER, livery stable, Odell ; was born in York Co., Me., July 30, 1838 ; he was raised upon a farm and received a good English education ; he worked at shoemaking for a time, then engaged in the grocery and provision business in the city of Portland, in which he continued four years ; he then learned and followed the trade of cooper about four years ; he came West in 1865, locating in Livingston Co., Sunbury Tp., where he bought 295 acres of land. and farmed for three years,

657

ODELL TOWNSHIP.

then returned to Maine for a time, then settling in Odell and engaging in his pres- ent business. He married Miss Carrie K. Brooks, of Portland, Me., Aug. 22, 1859 ; she was born Feb. 22, 1843; they have four children-Lillian G., born in Port- land, Me., Dec. 13, 1860 ; James W., born in Portland, Me., Sept. 17, 1864; Alice M., born in Odell, Sept. 20, 1871; Clarence E., born in Odell, May 20, 1873.

JOHN M. BECK, butcher, Odell ; the subject of this sketch was born in Wurt- temberg, Germany, Feb. 25, 1849, where he received a good German education ; his first business engagement was that of a miller ; he came to this country in 1868, locating in Bureau Co., Ill., and there found employment as a miller; in 1872, he opened a butcher shop in Lyndon, which he operated successfully for three years ; he came to Odell in 1875, and opened a eloth- ing store, which business he followed until 1877, when he established himself in his present business.

E. O. CHAPMAN, station agent Chi- cago & Alton R. R., Cayuga ; was born in Morehead, Lancashire, Eng., May 14, 1835; in 1848, he came to the United States with his parents, being then but 13 years of age; they settled in Lisbon, Ken- dall Co., Ill., where his parents died the same year, leaving him with one brother, 5 years his senior ; in 1850, he began learning the carpenter's trade, which he followed ten years ; he came to Cayuga in May, 1855. In June, 1861, he enlisted in the Union army, serving till Oct. 4, 1864, in Co. C, 39th I. V. I .; he enlisted as a private and was promoted to Sergeant, and took part in all the battles of his regiment, including the first battle of Winchester, Black River, Port Republic, Malvern Hill, siege of Charleston (his regiment being the first in the siege), the attack on Fort Wag- ner (where Mr. Chapman was one of the first in the fort) and the battles of Kings- land Creek and Deep Run. In 1872, he became station agent at Cayuga, and in 1875, seeing the necessity of a telegraph office, he learned telegraphy without an in- struetor, putting in his own wire and in- strument, although he had never been inside of an office. He was married Sept. 16, 1865, to Miss Mary J. Thompson, of Ed- ington, Ohio, and has three children living -Agnes, Mary and Edwin ; two children

(George and Emily ) died in 1875 and 1874, respectively. Mr. Chapman has served as Postmaster for the past six years ; he has also served eight years as School Director and three years as Commissioner of Highways.

M. CLEARY, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Odell; was born in Tipperary, Ireland, Feb. 8, 1840 ; in March of the same year, his parents came to the United States, and after living one year in Ohio, settled in LaSalle Co., Ill. ; Mr. Cleary began farm- ing for himself in 1861, renting a farm and buying his first team on credit; in 1868, he removed to Odell Tp. and pur- chased 320 acres of land, to which he has added until he now owns 720 acres, well improved and under good cultivation, and valued at $36,000; he turns off from 200 to 300 hogs and some 150 head of cattle an- nually. He was married Aug. 14, 1865, to Miss Ellen Burke, of Sandwich, De Kalb Co., Ill .; they have eight children -- Katie, William P., John, Frank, Alice, Ellen, Michael A. and James. He is a member of the Board of Supervisors to which he was elected in 1873, and re-elected each succeeding year ; he has also been School Director for the past eight years.

C. N. COE, dealer in grain, coal, stock, etc., Cayuga ; is a native of Livingston Co., N. Y .; he was born on the 20th of June, 1830 ; on becoming of age, he left home and went to California, where he fol- lowed farming and the lumber business for five years, returning in 1856, and the same year came to Livingston Co .; he spent about two years at Cayuga, and then settled on a farm about two miles west, where he lived until 1866, and then came to Cay- uga and engaged in dealing in grain, coal, stock, etc., which he has continued to the present time. He was married on the 22d of April, 1857, to Miss Martha S. Ham- mond, of Cayuga Co., N. Y .; she died in January, 1872, in Cayuga, leaving two children-Lizzie H. and Curtis H .; he was married in March, 1873, to Mrs. Sarah A. Valentine, of Cayuga. Mr. Coe holds the office of Justice of the Peae ), to which he was eleeted in 1872.

J. P. DESVOIGNES, retired ; P. O. Odell ; was born in Switzerland March 15, 1815 ; he followed wagon making and eabinet making until he came to the United States in 1846, and after spending

658

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

four years in New York City, he went to Georgia, and about a year later returned to New York; in 1855, he removed to Ottawa, Ill., and in 1858 settled in Odell, being the third settler in the town. He was married in September, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth Colon, a native of France. H has two children living-Alfred (now of Odell) and Sophia E.

ALFRED DESVOIGNES, manufac- turer of harness, saddles, etc., Odell; was born in Switzerland February 5, 1845; came to the United States in 1851; to Ottawa, Ill., in 1855; thence to Odell in 1858; in April, 1862, he enlisted in Co. F, 68th Ill. Vols., and served five months ; in May, 1864, he enlisted again in the First Missouri Light Artillery, and served till the elose of the war. He was married Dec. 25, 1867, to Miss Adele Chenot, of Stark Co., Ohio, and has two children-Ida and George.

PETER EPPLER, M. D., physician and surgeon, druggist, and dealer in gen- eral merchandise, Cayuga; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, August 29, 1840; he came with his parents to this country in 1852, settling in Chicago, where he he lived until 1867. After receiving a common school education, he attended a course of study at Bryant & Stratton's Business College ; in 1864, he entered the Chicago Medical College, graduating in 1867, when he came to Livingston Co., and after spending eight months in Pon- tiac he settled in Cayuga, where he is engaged in practicing medicine and mer- chandising. He was married on Easter Monday, 1872, to Miss Augusta Schliep- sieck, of Grundy Co., Ill .; they have two children-Dora and Angie. He has served one term as Township School Trustee, and three years as School Director.

JAMES H. FUNK, attorney at law, Odell ; was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, February 15, 1842; in 1849, he came with his parents to La Salle Co., Ill. ; he was raised on the farm, and his opportuni- ties for an education were such as were afforded by the district school. He was married Ang. 15, 1862, to Miss Elizabeth Gibson, of La Salle Co., Ill .; she died June 27, 1865, leaving one daughter- Lueinda I .; in 1866, he removed to Liv- ingston Co., and settled on a farm in Union Tp. On the 7th of November,

1866, he was married again to Miss E. J. Gardner, of Silver Creek, N. Y .; they have two children-Cynthia A. and Edna E. While engaged in farming, Mr. Funk pursued the study of law, which he had begun in 1865, laboring on the farm dur- ing the day and spending his evenings in reading law. He was admitted to the bar May 21, 1871, and the following October began practice in partnership with A. P. Wright in Odell. This partnership con- tinued until May, 1873, since which time he has practiced alone; in November, 1872, he was elected State's Attorney, holding the office four years; he also served four years as Corporation Attorney. In addition to his law practice, he is is still engaged in farming and stock raising, having a farm of 160 aeres in Union Tp.

GEORGE FERGUSON, farmer and stock raiser; P. O. Odell; was born in Bannfshire, Scotland, Dec. 15, 1833; when he was three years old his parents came to the United States, settling in La Salle Co., Ill. Mr. Ferguson was raised in La Salle Co., remaining at home, and work- ing on the farm during the Summers, and attending school during the Winter sea- sons ; when he was 22 years old, he began farming for himself. He was married on the first of January, 1858, to Miss Mar- garet Cairns, of La Salle Co .; she was born in the province of Ontario in 1831 ; they have six children-John W., Eliza- beth, Catherine, Ida B., Almeda and Agnes. Mr. Ferguson came to Livingston Co. in January, 1867, and settled on his present farm containing 160 acres, valued at $6,400. He served as Constable three years in LaSalle Co., some eight years as School Director, and Commissioner of Highways two years ; in Livingston Co. he has been School Director for the past five years.

JAMES FORES, contractor and job- ber, Odell; is a young man of good business ability and a strong advocate of temperance ; was born in the county of Durham, Ontario, April 5, 1848; he came to the United States with his parents in 1858, locating in Kane Co., Ill., where they remained until 1863, thenee to Liv- ingston Co., their present home; in 1872, he was engaged in contracting and remov- ing debris from a portion of the burnt district of Chicago, in which he was finan-

659

ODELL TOWNSHIP.

cially successtul; at present he is engaged in road grading and keeping roads in repair. He is a man of industry, and has accumulated quite a good property.

SAMUEL GAMMON, retired, Odell ; was born in Gorham, Me., May 14, 1797 ; he was raised a farmer, his father being an extensive farmer and lumberman ; on the 14th of Sept., 1815, just at the elose of the war of 1812, the city of Portland, Me., was threatened by the British men-of-war, and an attack was hourly expected ; the forts on either side of the harbor were com- paratively no protection, not being suffi- ciently garrisoned ; in this emergency Mr. Gammon, then 18 years of age, volun- teered with others for the defense of the city, and was stationed at Fort Preble, where he remained until after the ratifica- tion of peace between the two governments ; in 1843, he came to Illinois and located at Shabbona Grove, in De Kalb Co., where he opened a farm and remained about two years, and then removed to Earlville ; he came to Odell in 1867, and after about ten years removed to Batavia. He was married Sept. 24, 1818, to Miss Melinda Quint, of his native town, with whom he has passed sixty years of married life ; she was born on the 7th of May, 1798 ; they have five children-Elijah H., Ansel E., Samuel, Charles and Eliza P. (now Mrs. Charles Hennick, of Odell ).

JOHN GOWER, retired farmer, Odell; was born in Franklin Co. (then a part of Somerset Co.) Me., Feb. 1, 1808; he has always been engaged principally in farm- ing; he received an academic education at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, at Kent's Hill, and at the Farmington Academy, and taught school during the Winters for seven- teen years ; he was a member of the Board of Selectmen for a longtime, and also one of the committee superintending schools; he came West and settled in Livingston Co. in 1856, and engaged in farming in Sun- bury Tp., which he followed until the Fall of 1873, when he removed to Odell, still retaining his farm of nearly 400 acres. He was married April 8, 1834, to Miss Dora- tha Weeks, of the same county, but then a part of Kennebec Co., Me. ; she was born on the 10th of March, 1811; they have two children living-Bailey A., of Sun- bury Tp., and Julia H. (now Mrs. Gammon). Mr. Gower has been a member of the Board

of Supervisors a number of years, and has served several years as Assessor.

L. L. GREEN, farmer and stock raiser ; P. O. Odell ; was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., Jan. 24, 1826 ; he is a descendant of Gen. Nathanael Greene, of Revolutionary fame ; when he was about 6 years of age. his parents removed to Ohio, settling in Ashtabula Co., where he resided until he came to Illinois in 1854; his business in Ohio was manufacturing butter and cheese ; his first settlement in Illinois was in the town of Dayton, La Salle Co., where he lived until the Fall of 1870, when he came to Odell, and settled near town ; he is also engaged largely in buying grain in Iowa, shipping to Chicago. He was married on the 14th of April, 1847, to Miss Marilla J. Randolph, of Ashtabula Co., Ohio ; she was born in Elizabethtown, N. J., on the 2d of April, 1832; they have four chil- dren-Gurley J., Frank H., Oakley E., all residents of Walnut, Iowa, and Iva Maud. He has served nine years as Justice of the Peace, three years as Supervisor, four years as Collector, and several years as Commissioner of Highways ; he has also served one term as member of the Board of Supervisors of Livingston Co.

REV. A. G. GOODSPEED, elergyman and farmer, Odell; was born in Clinton Co., N. Y., November 10, 1823 ; when he was 12 years of age, his father removed with his family to Delaware Co., Ohio ; he was educated at the Wesleyan Seminary. Westerville, Ohio; in 1844, he came to Illinois and engaged in farming in La Salle Co., and, after a few years, en- gaged in merchandising in Harding, which he continued about four years ; he then returned to Ohio and re- mained there four years ; he then returned to La Salle Co. He was married in 1843, to Miss Abigail Crane, of Delaware Co., Ohio ; she died in 1848, leaving two chil- dren, one of whom, Lewis G., is still liv- ing. In October, 1864, Mr. Goodspeed was ordained a Deacon of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in September, 1868, was ordained an Elder of the church, and followed the work of the ministry more or less to the present time ; he came to Liv- ingston Co. in 1864, and has continued to reside in the county ever since ; he settled on his present farm in 1872, where he owns eighty acres of land, and also owns resi-

660

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

denee property in Odell. He was married a second time, Feb. 23, 1855, to Miss Mary A. Bradshaw, of La Salle Co .; they have four children-Eva M., Willie B., Ida V. and Frankie R. Mr. G. has served seven years as Justice of the Peace, two years as Supervisor, eleven years as Assessor and some fifteen years as School Direetor.

S. HUNT, Postmaster and dealer in books and stationery, Odell; was born in Litehfield Co., Conn., Oct. 19, 1830; he prepared for college in the Woodbury Academy, and entered Yale College in 1852, but owing to ill health he left during his Freshman year, and in 1853, went to Oswego Co., N. Y., where he followed teaching for about two years and a half; in 1856, he came to Illinois and followed teaching principally for nearly ten years ; he came to Odell in 1865, and engaged in clerking, and took charge of the post office. He was appointed Postmaster in 1870. He was married on the 14th of June, 1858, to Miss Emma MeAllen, of Gran- ville, Ill .; they have four children living -Myron L., Charles N., Lula B. and Frederick L .; one daughter, Mary, died in 1865.

CHARLES E. HUNGERFORD, man- ufacturer and dealer in eigars, Odell; was born in Albany Co., N.Y., July 25, 1844 ; he followed various kinds of business until 1862, when the 10th N. Y. State Militia, of which he had been a member for several years, volunteered as the 177th N.Y. Vols. for nine months ; he went to New Orleans and thence up the Mississippi River, tak- ing part in the siege of Port Hudson, and was mustered out at the end of eleven months. On his return he went to Hart- ford Co., Conn., where he learned the trade of a cigar maker, and, after remaining there three years, came to Chicago ; he came to Odell in 1869, since which time he has resided here, engaged in the manufacture of cigars. He was married on the 16th of January, 1873, to Miss Margaret J. McAllister, of Odell; she was born in Pennsylvania in 1844; they have one child-William. Mr. Hungerford became a member of Odell Lodge, No. 464, I. O.O. F., in 1874.

N. S. HILL, station agent Chicago & Alton R. R., Odell; was born in St. Clair Co., Ill., March 12, 1852 ; he remained on the farm until he was 18 years of age ;

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 70

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