The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 72

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 72

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Z. SUPPLEE, general salesman, Odell ; was born in Montgomery Co., Penn., May 16, 1831 ; when he was 5 years of age, his parents removed to Williamsville, N. Y., : thence to Jackson Co., Mich., thence to Kendall Co., Ill., and about 1849, removed to Joliet ; here Mr. Supplee entered a store as clerk about 1851, and con- tinued until his removal to Odell, in Aug., 1861, bringing with him the first stock of general merchandise ever brought to Odell ; he began business for himself in 1869, in company with Charles P. Angel, of Pough- keepsie, N. Y., the firm being Supplee & Angel, and continued with various part- ners until Dec., 1873, when he sold out, and engaged in the grain business ; he con- tinued in this until 1877, since which time he has been engaged as general salesman for Penney Bros. He was married Nov. 17, 1853, to Miss Olive Rudd, of Joliet, Ill. ; she died in 1861, leaving one daugh- ter-Abigail C. (now Mrs. Wm. T. Ken- yon, of Odell) ; he was married again on the 12th of Nov., 1862, to Miss Elizabeth S. Angel, who was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., May 21, 1826. Mr. Supplee served one year on the Board of Trustees, and two terms as School Director ; he is now holding the office of Township School Treasurer, to which he was elected in 1874; he has taken an active interest in Sunday school matters, and for the past five years has been Superintendent of the Congrega- tional Sunday School of Odell.

M. TOMBAUGH, County Superintend- ent of Schools, Odell; born June 11, 1835, in Washington Co., Penn., where he re- sided until 1864; after spending about three years in Greene and Pleasant Valley Academies in Pennsylvania, he entered Mount Union College, Ohio, where he re- mained about a year and a half; during

his course of study he was engaged a portion of the time in teaching, which he continued for several years after leaving college; in 1864, he came to Livingston Co., and set- tled on a farm in Reading Tp., afterward removing to Sunbury Tp. ; he followed farm- ing for about ten years, teaching in the meantime ; he had charge of the schools in Odell for one year ; in 1873 he removed to Odell, where he resides on a farm near the Village. He was elected County Superin- tendent of Schools in Dec., 1873; he has also served several years on the Board of Supervisors, from Reading and Sunbury Tps. He was married in 1861, to Miss Elvira J. Letherman, of Washington Co., Penn. ; they have five children-Charles R., Alice I., Raymond R., Frank M. and Nettie Z.

D. M. THOMAS, retired farmer, P. O. Odell ; is a pioneer of the State; was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, May 18, 1810 ; he came to Illinois in 1834, locating in La- Salle Co., at which time there were but few counties organized in the State, and bought land, under Jackson's administration ; he improved 140 acres of land, which he farmed until 1874, when he came into Liv- ingston Co., locating where he now resides ; when Mr. Thomas settled in La Salle Co., there were but five white families in that part of the county ; he has always taken an active part in all publie matters pertaining to the interests of his county. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Beard, of Frank- lin Co., Ohio, in June, 1844; she died in May. 1845, and on Dec. 19, 1847, he mar- ried Mrs. Louisa Whitney, of Erie Co., N. Y. ; he has three children by second wife -Lida, Mary and Carrie ; she had four children by her first husband-Clifton, Adell, Jane and Gilford.

E. M. VAUGHAN, dealer in drugs and medicines, Odell; was born in New Vine- yard, Franklin Co., Maine, July 14, 1845 ; his father was a blacksmith, and after be- coming of age, Mr. Vaughan followed that business for about three years for himself; he came West in 1868, settling in Odell, and engaged in the drug business, which he has followed ever since. He was mar- ried Aug. 4, 1865, to Miss Sarah B. Libby, of New Vineyard, Maine ; she was born in Strong, Maine, Aug. 4, 1847 ; they have one child living-Etta L .; one daughter, Zella, died in Jan., 1877.

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DWIGHT TOWNSHIP.

N. E. WRIGHT, dealer in grain, Odell ; was born in Lewiston Maine, June 26, 1815 ; he remained at home on the farm until he became of age, when he engaged in merchandising in Farmington, Maine ; in 1840, he removed to New Vineyard, and followed mercantile business there for twenty-eight years, making thirty-two years in all. He was married July 5, 1838, to Miss Clarinda T. Savage, of Farmington, who was born in Anson, Maine, Dec. 31, 1816; they have three children living- Alonzo P., Marcellus E. and Clara. Mr Wright was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1838, and held the office for thirty years, until he came West; he was one of the Board of Selectmen for eight years, during seven of which he served as Chairman, and held various other town offices ; he was ap- pointed one of the commissioners for setting off the public lots in his county. In 1850, he represented his district in the State Legislature. He came to Odell in 1868, and spent one year in the hardware busi- ness, since which time he has been engaged principally in dealing in grain.

ALONZO P. WRIGHT, attorney at law, Odell ; was born in Franklin Co., Maine, Nov. 24, 1840; he was brought up to mercantile pursuits, his father being a merchant in New Vineyard, and when about 16 years of age, he entered the Farmington Academy, where he remained until the fall of 1860, teaching school during the winter vacations ; in 1860 he entered Bowdoin College, where he gradu- ated in 1864; he then took charge of the high school in Strong, Maine, reading law in the meantime; in the spring of 1865 he entered the law office of Fessenden and Butler, in Portland, and was admitted to the bar in 1866; after practicing law one year in Maine, he came to Odell in 1867, and engaged in the practice of his pro- fession. He has been Village Clerk and Attorney for some five or six years, and

has served about six years as School Direc- tor. He was married in Sept., 1867, to Miss Mary L. Farley, of Portland, Maine.

D. WHITE, barber, P. O. Odell; was born in Bradford Co., Penn., Aug. 11, 1840; at the age of about 10 years he came with his parents to Joliet, Ill .; on becoming of age he engaged in his present business, which he has followed princi- pally to the present time. On the 11th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. K, 100th I. V. I .; served mainly in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia, participating in the battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Buzzard Roost, Resaca, and Pumpkin Vine Creek ; he was severely wounded at the advance on Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., June 18, 1864; previous to this time he was not absent from his regiment a day; in consequence of his wound he was discharged early in 1865; after the war he spent two years in Mis- souri ; he came to Odell in 1872. He was married Oct. 3, 1870, to Miss Easter M. Anderson, of Wenona, Ill .; they have three children-Emery O., Arthur E., and Cora E.

J. H. WARNER, editor and pub- lisher of the Odell Herald, Odell; was born in Elk Co., Penn., Jan. 10, 1847; when he was 2 years old his parents removed to Will Co., Ill .; at the age of 13 years he entered a printing office in Wilmington, Ill., and has fol- lowed the printing business ever since ; in 1870 he established the Wilmington Advocate, which he sold after two years ; in November, 1877, he started the Odell Herald, a neutral paper, the organ of no political party, but devoted to the local in - terests of the town and vicinity, as well as the general news; its circulation is constantly increasing. Mr. Warner was married June 1, 1868, to Miss Ellen Nevel, of Wilmington, Ill., and has three chil- dren-Lillian A., Nellie M., and Addie R.

DWIGHT TOWNSHIP.

R. C. ADAMS, retired farmer; P. O. Dwight; was born in Watertown, N. Y., Sept. 26, 1827, where he remained during the early part of his life, attending school

at the Jefferson County Institute, and re- ceived a good English education; went to California in the Spring of 1850; while there was engaged in the musical profes-

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sion ; returned to Watertown in the Fall of 1852 ; in 1853, he removed to Chicago for a short time, thence into Livingston Co., where he entered 1,400 acres of land situated in Nevada Tp., Secs. 3, 4 and 6; now owns 1,200 acres, valued at $40 per acre. He married Miss Adalaide E. Field, of Hounsfield, N. Y., Feb. 14, 1856 ; they have five children-Nellie C., born Nov. 13, 1856; Edwin F., born May 11, 1859; Herbert F., born Feb. 28, 1861; Cora E., born July 21, 1868; Charlie. born March 22, 1876.

J. M. BURNHAM, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 27 ; P. O. Dwight; was born in Cumberland Co., Me., April 21, 1840; eame into Illinois in 1864, and engaged as a farm laborer for a number of years. He married Miss Jane Gray, of Grundy Co., Ill., Feb. 28, 1867 ; she was born in Seot- land July 27, 1836 ; came to Livingston Co. in 1868, and in 1870 bought 240 acres of land, which is their present home, and is valued at $50 per acre; they have four children-Nathaniel F., born Oct. 21, 1867, died Aug. 3, 1868 ; John S., born Feb. 3, 1869; Mary M., born Aug. 29, 1871 ; Carrie J., born Jan. 20, 1873. Mr. B. has a fine farm, and one of the best residences in this part of the county.

CHARLES M. BAKER, druggist, Dwight; was born in Alexandria, Penn., April 13, 1853; acquired a liberal educa- tion while with his parents in his native State; leaving his parents and birth-place, he emigrated West and located at Dwight in 1868; he first began the drug business by clerking for Dr. J. B. Baker (his brother) ; at the same time learned tele- graphing, and had charge of an office for the Great Western Telegraph Co. for three years ; in 1875, he bought out his brother and established himself in the drug busi- ness, in which he has successfully continued, having the principal trade of this place; also having one of the most attractive stores in the county, which speaks for itself as to the enterprise and ability of the young druggist. He has held the office of Village Clerk for four years. He married Nellie C. Adams, daughter of R. C. Adams (a prominent retired farmer of this place), May 1, 1873; they have one child-Addie M., born Oct. 9, 1877.

HANNAH E. CHESTER, Dwight ; among the substantial and early settlers of

Dwight Tp. were the Chester family, who settled in 1860 on Sec. 1; the father, Benjamin Chester, as well as the mother, was originally from Connecticut, and came of Revolutionary stock ; when a young man he emigrated to Orleans Co. in Western New York, and resided there until he removed to Dwight, where he died in December, 1868. The son, Wm P. Chester, on their settlement here, was just emerging into manhood, and seemed well adapted to carry on the large farm they had begun to improve; in 1866, he was married to Miss Louisa Anderson, of Gaines, N. Y., and in less than two years of happily wedded life Mrs. C. was called away, and on the 4th of October, 1869, Mr. Chester, after a long illness, followed his wife. At the time of his death he occupied the office of Supervisor of the township, which he filled creditably, and in his death Dwight lost one of her most honored and respected citizens. Miss Hannah E. Chester is the only member of the family now living, and occupies the homestead in the village of Dwight, and still looks after the farming interests which were so well cared for by her father and brother.

MRS. ORPHA CONANT, farming , P. O. Dwight; widow of John Conant, who was a pioneer of Dwight, and took an active part in the establishing of schools and assisting in all publie enterprises per- taining to the prosperity of the place ; was first Postmaster and first Justice of the Peace of Dwight ; he was born in Becket, Mass., Feb. 17, 1790, died Feb. 4, 1860 his early life was spent at his place of birth ; his principal business through life was farming; removed to Rochester, Lo- rain Co., Ohio, in 1831; while there, served as County Commissioner ; came to Dwight in 1854. Mrs. Conant is now 87 years of age, and resides at the old homestead, which was one of the first houses built in Dwight; she received from the Internation- al Exhibition of 1876 a certificate of award for a hat of June grass, made by her. She was married to Mr. John Conant Nov. 27, 1811; she was born Nov. 27, 1791 ; she has two children now living- Hannah (now Mrs. H. M. T. Cutler) and George T. (who is now residing at the homestead with his mother and engaged at contracting and building).

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DWIGHT TOWNSHIP.

C. M. CYRUS, editor Dwight Commer- 1 years ; in 1872, he built a large elevator cial, published at Dwight. Ill .; was estab- and commeneed business as a grain dealer : he came here without capital, and, through his honesty and industry, he has accumu- lated a large property. Married Miss Har- riet L. Hawley, of Joliet, Dec. 22, 1868. they have three children-Jennie, born July 11, 1871; Edward, born Aug. 29. 1874, died April 27, 1875, and Frank H., born Sept. 18, 1876. lished in December, 1877, and made its first appearance on the 21st; it is non- political and non-seetarian, devoted to the best interests of the poor and rich alike ; it holds itself entirely aloof from all party power, and stands alone upon the founda- tion of principle ; it is a home local news- paper, and is meeting the demands of the people ; the Commercial is owned by a stock membership. composed mainly of the business men of Dwight, which places it upon a sound financial basis, and is edited and controlled by C. M. Cyrus, a practical printer of several years' experience, who seems to know what goes to make up a first-class country newspaper; the Commer- cial was established as a five-column quarto, edited by F. B. Hargreaves and published by C. M. Cyrus ; after three months the publisher assumed entire management, and shortly after enlarged it to a six-column quarto; although in its first year, the Com- merciul has obtained a large local and county circulation which is constantly in- creasing ; subscription price $1.50 per year ; in connection with the paper is a first-class job office.

W. H. CONRAD, manufacturer of butter tubs, barrels and cisterns, Dwight ; born in Laneaster Co., Penn., July 27, 1832 ; at the age of 1S, he began to learn the cooper's trade, and in 1856, having finished his trade came West, locating in Jackson Co., Iowa, where he remained for three years, following his trade; thence to Chicago for a short time ; he located in Dwight in the Spring of 1863, and at once opened a little shop, and by hard work and economy has increased his ea- pacity for manufacturing to as large as any in this part of the State. Married Oct. 1, 1868, to Miss Mary Winkler, of Dwight ; they have two children-Lillie B. and Mary A.

H. CADWALLADER. grain, seed and coal dealer, Dwight ; born in Waynes- ville, Ohio, April 14, 1847, where he re- mained with his parents while young, and received a common school education ; in 1866, he started West, leaving home and friends, and without money arrived in Dwight late in the Fall ; he was telegraph operator for five years, after which he pur- chased 130 acres of land and farmed three

JOSEPH I. DUNLOP, attorney at law, Dwight ; was born in Steubenville. Ohio, April 24, 1828 ; after the death of his father, which was June 16, 1840, he removed with the family to Cambria Co., Penn., near Cresson, where he remained until 1856, when he came to Illinois, locat- ing in Livingston Co., and engaged in farm- ing ; while living at home in the East, he received a good common school education, laying the foundation of his present busi- ness ; he was admitted to the bar in 1867. and shortly thereafter removed into the village of Dwight, and began the practice of law ; he has always taken an active part in public matters pertaining to the interests of his place. He married Miss Martha E. Grubb, of Philadelphia; she was born March 24, 1830; they are parents of six children-Anna V., born Oct. 8, 1852, died Dec. 21, 1870 ; James M., born June 9, 1854; Clara A., born March 10, 1856 ; Ella J., born Sept. 16, 1857 ; Maymie M., born June 12, 1860 ; and John A., born Nov. 16, 1867.

WILLIAM DOUGLAS, station agent at Dwight for the C., A. & St. L. R. R. Co .; came to Dwight in 1873. to take the position of station agent, which he has held to the entire satisfaction of the railroad company and citizens of Dwight, being accommodating, friendly and cheerful; is the right man in the right place.

H. ELDREDGE, general merchandise, Dwight ; born in Franklin Co., Mass., Dec. 28, 1822; he spent his early life with his parents in that neighborhood, and re- ceived an English education ; in 1846, he went to Shelburne Falls, and engaged as clerk with Maynard Davis, dry goods mer- chant, where he remained five years, then with Lanson, Goodnow & Co., thence with W. J. Davis, Chicago ; he came to Dwight in Oct., 1858, and established himself in his present business ; he has always done a good business here upon fair principles.

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Was School Director for six years, and served as Town Clerk, and Justice of the Peace. Married Miss Hannah Sears, Feb. 10, 1846 ; she passed away June 10, 1854, leaving one child- Mary G. Married Miss Martha C. Parsons, Nov. 17, 1858; one child-Allie H.

G. Z. FLAGLER, lumber merchant, Dwight ; born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., June 4, 1828 ; removed while young with his parents to Dutchess Co., and followed farming; he received a common school ed- ucation while with his parents ; he came to Dwight in the Spring of 1855, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, and be- ing a natural mechanic, he soon became the leading contractor and builder ; he is a man of integrity, honesty and industry, and has fairly earned the prosperity to which he has attained. IIe was married to Miss Phebe J. Clarkson, of Dutchess Co., N. Y., Sept. 27, 1848; they have three children-Eugene, John W. and George N. Mrs. Flagler was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., Dec. 5, 1833.

THOMAS FALLIS, farmer, See. 27; P. O. Dwight ; was born in Clinton Co., Ohio. March 29, 1812 ; during his early life he worked in his father's mill and learned the trade of miller, which he fol- lowed until his health began to fail, and in the Spring of 1856, emigrated to Illinois, locating in La Salle Co., where he remained until the Spring of 1861, when he came to Livingston Co., locating on his present farm, which consists of 160 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre. He married Miss Clara Mory, of Clinton Co., Ohio, Feb. 22, 1855 ; she was born Oct. 15, 1831 ; they have two children-George B., born Feb. 5, 1856; Charles W., born July 4, 1860.

HENRY A. GARDNER was born in Berkshire Co., Mass., April 20, 1816 ; he was appointed rod-man under Richard P. Morgan in surveying the extension of the Great Western Railroad, from Worcester, Mass., westward, where, after some serviee, he was advanced to junior assistant; in 1839 he was engaged in a survey from Westchester Co., N. Y., to Albany, now known as the Harlem Railroad, and in 1841 was engaged in the preliminary sur- veys of the Hudson River Railroad; in 1843 was Assistant Engineer on the Mohawk & Hudson Railroad, and in 1845 came West and accepted the position of

Division Engineer on the Illinois and Michigan Canal; in 1847 returned to the Hudson River Railroad as Assistant En. gineer, and finally as Chief Engineer, which position he filled until 1853, when he again came West, and was employed in constructing the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad ; he located his lands near Dwight, at the time of making the railroad survey, and brought his family to the place ; in 1861 he was called to a position on the Hudson River Railroad, and held important positions on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, and at the time of his decease, July 26, 1875, was Chief Engineer of the Michigan Central Railroad; the industry and care with which Mr. Gardner discharged his duties gained for him general respect, and the confidence of those by whom he was em- ployed. In 1842 he married Miss Sarah P. Morgan ; they had five sons-Richard. who now occupies the home farm, Henry A., practicing. law in Chicago, George, who has occupied a prominent position in the Joliet Rolling Mill, William, just grad- uated from the Chicago University, and James, who is still in college. Mr. Gardner left an enviable reputation for sterling integrity in the discharge of his profes- sional duties, firm and fixed in his opin- ions, and but few excelled him in traits of character that mark the upright man.

A. E. GOULD, merchant, Dwight ; born at Ware, Mass., Dec. 3, 1843; he in early life received a good English educa- tion, and after the death of his father, in 1860, he removed with his mother to Palm- er, afterward attending college at Pough- keepsie, N. Y., where he graduated ; in 1865, he went into the dry goods business in Palmer, and was very successful, but de- siring to seek his fortune in the West, and having confidence in his business ability, came to Dwight in 1867, where he is at present doing an extensive business, and is qualified to operate on a large scale ; his success warrants us in placing him in the first rank of our business men. He mar- ried Miss Lizzie J. Sedgwick, of Palmer, Mass., Jan. 1, 1867.

WILLIAM GASTON, farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Dwight ; was born in Antrim Co., Ireland, March 24, 1846, where he was brought up on a farm ; farming has been

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his business thus far through life. He was married to Miss Margaret Finley, of his native county, April 2, 1869 ; they came to this country in 1872. first locating in La Salle Co., Ill., then in Livingston Co., where they now reside; they have three children-Maggie, born Dec. 4, 1873; Aggie F., born Dec. 4, 1875, died May 4, 1876; William F., born June 22, 1877.

J. C. HETZEL, general merchandise, Dwight ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, Nov. 7, 1833; came to America and lo- cated in New York City, May 20, 1854, removing Aug., 1854, to Water Gap, Penn., for a time, thence to Huntingdon Co., where he found employment as a farmer, at $5 per month ; he came to Dwight Oct. 26, 1855, and again began to work on a farm ; the following Summer he went to Chicago, and after a stay of three months, returned and went to work at the trade of a mason and plasterer ; in 1860, he bought his first stock of groceries, and in the Fall he built a store, and the following Spring bought a stock of dry goods, gradually increasing his business and adding to his wares, until to-day he is one of the leading merchants and most prominent men in Dwight ; he has accumulated a large amount of property. He was married to Miss Augusta Keller, of this place, March 15, 1858 ; they have three children, adopted -Jennie, John J. and Anna.

G. M. HAHN, farmer, stock and grain dealer ; P. O. Dwight; was born in Ba- varia, Germany, Jan. 3, 1823, and after the age of 6 years, he received seven years continuous schooling, which gave him a good education ; he came to this country in 1853, locating at Aurora, Ill., where he found employment as a farm hand, and after a few months, bought eighty acres of land in Grundy Co .; he next purchased 160 acres in Livingston Co., and removed to Dwight in 1865, and bought the Dwight Flouring Mills, which he operated about twelve years ; he now owns 265 acres of land, valued at $50 per acre, yet he came to this country a poor man ; but through his energy, industry and economy, has ac- cumulated a good property. He married Miss Sophia Phifer, Jan., 1855 ; they have ten children living.

REV. E. P. HALL, minister, Dwight ; was born at Kenton, Sussex Co., Del., Aug.

21, 1824; while young, he removed with his parents to Zanesville, Ohio, thence to Dublin, where he attended select school ; returning to Zanesville and attended High School and prepared for the ministry, after which he taught school in Franklin Co. for three years ; he entered the work of the ministry in 1849, and has labored vigorously and cheerfully ever since in the ministerial life ; the high esteem in which the worthy pastor is held by all is only equaled by the heartfelt gratitude of him- self and household ; he was Presiding Elder of the Normal District of Illinois, four years ; he is at present Pastor at Dwight. He was married March 7, 1850, to Miss Laura A. Smith, of Franklin Co., Ohio ; she was born Oct. 3, 1830, died Jan. 14, 1861, leaving two children-Eliza J., born Dec. 8, 1852; Sarah E., born March 21, 1858. May 22, 1862, he married Miss J. Carrie Taylor, of Circleville, Ohio, who is a graduate of Knox College, Galesburg, Ill .; she was born at Circleville, Ohio, Oet. 24, 1837 ; they have one child (adopted ) -Charlie W., born April 22, 1868.

FRED. B. HARGREAVES, lawyer, Dwight ; was born in London, Eng., on March 27, 1847, and spent his earlier years in Yorkshire, where he received his first commercial and classical instruction ; de- signed for missionary service, he studied at Richmond College in Surrey, completing his studies there in 1870 ; at this time his health was so shattered from overwork that he resigned his ministerial position, and, after a long sickness, came to this country in search of health and fortune, arriving in Portland, Feb. 8, 1872 ; he im- mediately came West and took charge of the Gardner Presbyterian Church : in July, 1872, he returned to England, and married Mary Noel Comissiong, the accomplished daughter of Hon. J. T. Comissiong, of Ramsgate, Eng .; returning to this coun- try with his bride in the following Fall; in 1874, he commenced the prac- tice of law in Dwight, and has built up a splendid business, having now one of the finest suites of law chambers in this county ; he has long been before the public as a speaker of no mean order, and is recognized as one of the best orators in this part of the State. Mr. Hargreaves is a rising man, and will no doubt make his mark in this world.

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The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 72

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