The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 87

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 87

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).

ARCHIBALD M. CRANE, hardware merchant, Chatsworth; was born in Mont- gomery Co., N. Y., August 21, 1818; his parents are Caleb C. and Mary (Stelle) Crane ; his father was a farmer here. Mr. Crane spent his younger days engaged in farming; at the age of 19 years he went to New York City, and entered a restaurant, and was engaged in strapping knives at ten shillings a week ; from here he was engaged at different business, at- tending bar, clerk in a hotel, steward, etc .; he remained in New York City until June, 1854 ; he then moved to Chicago ; here he engaged in hotel and running a billiard room ; at one time owner of a lake vessel engaged in carrying wood for the Chicago market ; he then went to Green Bay, Wis. ; here about one year and a half engaged, in the lumber business ; in 1869, he moved to Chatsworth, and commenced the hardware

754

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

business with M. H. Hall, as Hall & Crane ; this business he has followed ever since.

J. L. DELONG, Chatsworth ; the sub- ject of this sketch was born in Perry Co., Ohio, June 18, 1839, and is the son of Edward and Ruth (Leckey) DeLong; his father was engaged in the tanning and har- ness business, and part of the time in farm- ing ; Mr. DeLong was brought up on his father's farm, engaged in farming in the summer months, and in the Winter gather- ing what instruction the district school of the period afforded. At the breaking out of the late war, he enlisted as private in Co. E, 17th Ohio V. I., for three months ; served full time, and was honorably dis- charged; returned home and attended high school and had completed teaching a four months' school and returned again to the high school for the purpose of completing an academic course, preparatory to college, when President Lincoln made a call for more men ; he gave up his intentions and enlisted for the second time as private in Co. I, 114th Ohio V. I., for three years or during the war; at the mustering in of his company he was promoted to Orderly Ser- geant, and subsequently to Second Lieu- tenant of his company ; participated in some of the hard-fought battles during the war ; was engaged in the battle of Chick- asaw Bluffs, the capture of Arkansas Post, seven days' battle, Graham's plantation, rear of Alexandria, La., siege and capture of Vicksburg, siege and capture of Fort Blakely ; the 114th suffered intensely with sickness in Southern swamps; out of the whole regiment not over fifteen well men at one time could be mustered for duty ; here Mr. DeLong was sick for eight months ; the regiment was discharged at Houston, Texas, then ordered to Colum- bus, Ohio, where it was mustered out of service Aug., 1-65, having served three years in this regiment. At the close of the war, Mr. DeLong commenced merchandis- ing at Lancaster, Ohio, a city of 15,000 inhabitants ; here nearly two years, then to Illinois near Henry City, Marshall Co .; at this time he purchased a farm and kept it rented out and engaged in teaching sev- eral terms ; he then engaged in traveling for Chicago and New York houses for about three years. In 1875, he married Miss Aurelia Knecht, of Indiana ; then to. Liv- ingston Co., Ill., and settled in Chatsworth,.

1875 ; here he commenced the confection- ery and grocery business, which he has carried on ever since ; stock valued at $1,800 ; owns a fine improved farm of 160 acres in Ford Co. Mr. DeLong has been a strong Greenbacker in politics ever since the Peter Cooper policy was introduced. Is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. One boy-Albert Clifford.

SAMUEL T. FOSDICK, attorney at law, Chatsworth ; the above-named gentle- man is one of the most prominent and thoroughly educated attorneys of Livings- ton Co .; was born in New Baltimore, Greene Co., N. Y., Oct. 3, 1818, and is the son of David and Rebecca (Davids) Fos- dick ; at the age of 4, they moved to New York City; here Mr. Fosdick remained until he was 13 years of age ; he returned to his native place and obtained a situation in a store as clerk; then to Hudson, N. Y., and from here he returned to New York City and remained until 1858; Mr. Fosdick received his principal education at a Quaker school in New York ; in 1858, with his wife, they came West and settled in Livingston Co., Ill., in what is now known as Germantown Tp .; here he set out in farming, and in 1860, he went East one year, engaged in settling up unfinished business ; he returned to his farm and re- mained until 1864; he then moved to the village of Chatsworth, and has been en- gaged at the practice of law ; in 1864, he was admitted to practice law by the Su- preme Court of Illinois; in 1876, he was nominated by the Republican party for Sen- ator of the 18th District, and was elected by 5,056 votes, against 4,313 votes for C. C. Strawn, Independent, his opponent; Sen- ator Fosdick, during his Senatorial experi- ence, has proven himself to be a gentleman of acknowledged ability, whose duties have been performed in a faithful manner. Has been married twice ; first wife, Miss Eliza- beth Conine of Greene Co., N. Y .; his second wife, Miss Elizabeth Irwin, of New York City, daughter of Wm. Irwin, by whom they have one daughter. Senator Fosdick's political opinions are strongly Republican, and is a member of the Presby- terian Church.

MATTHEW H. HALL, merchant, Chatsworth ; the subject of this sketch is one of the best known and highly respected business men of Chatsworth ; was born in

755

CHATSWORTH TOWNSHIP.

Washington Co., N. Y., July 14, 1829, and is the son of Matthew and Margaret ( Mills) Hall; his father was a native of Ireland, having emigrated to America in 1790. Mr. Hall spent his childhood days on a farm ; when quite young, he entered a boarding school and received a common school education ; he then commenced to learn a trade, that of saddle and harness making ; in this business about five years ; in Nov., 1852, he set out for the gold fields of California ; arrived and set up a saddle and harness shop with a capital of about three thousand dollars ; here he was very successful in life, having retired from busi- ness after remaining there for three years, worth thirty thousand dollars ; he returned East to Hartford, Conn. Here, in 1855, he married Miss Mary Lawrence, of New York ; with his wife, they took a pleasure trip throughout the Union for one and a half years. In 1857, he located in Daven- port, Iowa, in the hardware business ; here he was financially embarrassed and lost all his money ; in 1859, he moved to Illinois, and settled near Chatsworth and com- menced farming ; in 1865, he commenced the grocery business with Chas. Brooks, known as Brooks & Hall. Mr. Brooks was the first settler in Chatsworth. In 1870, Mr. Hall built the present store and entered into partnership with Mr. A. M. Crane, firm known as Hall & Crane, hard- ware and general groceries. Mr. Hall, so- cially, has a pleasing address and genial manners that win the respect of all. Is Elder of the Presbyterian Church.

ALBERT H. HALL, photographer, Chatsworth ; was born in Parkman, Me., April 10, 1849, and is the son of William C. and Olive A. (Stevens ) Hall; his father was a farmer and in 1849, with his wife and family, emigrated West to Illinois and settled in La Salle Co., being among the early settlers ; here Mr. Hall remained on the farm until he was 22 years of age ; he then went to Chicago to learn his trade, photographing, with Messrs. Peterson & Bros., of Chicago, and remained there un- til he finished his trade; and March 1, 1872, came to Chatsworth, Livingston Co., Ill., and opened a photograph and gem gal- lery, which business he has carried on ever since; ranks as one of the best artists of Livingston Co. Mr. Hall married May 28, 1872, to Miss Dora Knapp, of La Salle

Co., Ill., daughter of L. C. Knapp, a very prominent farmer and one of the first settlers of La Salle Co. Ill .; have one child -Lewis L. Member of the Baptist Church.

WILLIAM H. HALL, furniture, Chats- worth ; was born in Piscataquis Co., Me., Nov. 29, 1843 ; his first experience in the furniture business was in La Salle Co., Ill .; commenced the furniture business in Chats- worth in 1867 ; his store is two stories high, 60x22, with shop attached ; carries a stock valued at $2,500. Mr. Hall was engaged in the late war ; enlisted, in 1862, in Co. B, 104th I. V. I., as private ; participated in some of the hard-fought battles under Gens. Rosecrans and Sherman ; while in Tennessee was taken prisoner by the rebel Gen. John Morgan, at Hartsville, after a very severe battle ; was paroled, then sent North to Columbus, Ohio, then to Camp Douglas, Ill., engaged in guarding rebel prisoners ; then South, and was with Gen. Sherman's march from Atlanta to the sea, on to Washington, D. C., and participated in the grand parade; mustered out June 17, 1865.

D. W. HUNT, M. D., Chatsworth. The subject of this sketch was born in Tioga Co., N. Y., July 3, 1831 ; his father, died when he was but 14 years of age, leaving a wife and nine children. Dr. Hunt's first business in life was teaching school and spare time in studying medicine ; in teaching school, he managed to save enough money to pay his course through the Albany Medical College, of Albany, N. Y .; here he graduated in 1856 ; he then came West to Illinois ; here he has been en- gaged in the practice of medicine in differ- ent parts of the State ; from Penolia he came to Chatsworth in 1861. Was engaged in the late war as Hospital Surgeon, sta- tioned at Mound City, Ill. He married, in 1859, to Miss Samanthia Myers, of Ohio, by whom they have one child-Fannie E. P.

CONRAD HEPPE, bakery, Chats- worth ; was born in Hessing, Germany, May 24, 1837, and is the son of Henry and Catherine (Climan) Heppe, of Ger- many ; his father was a shoemaker by trade ; Mr. Heppe emigrated to America in 1859, and landed in New York City, af- ter being ten weeks out in making the trip; his first business in America was to learn the bakery business, for which he received

756

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

six dollars per month, four dollars cash and two reserved until his time was out. In 1860, he enlisted in the United States Regu- lar Army (5th U. S. Inf., Co. K, as private); was stationed on Governor's Island ; from here the regiment was ordered to New Mexico and did good service here ; he was engaged in the battles of Balverta and Pigeon Ranch, which were very severe ; here he remained about eight years, then to St. Louis, Mo., where he was doing duty at the arsenal here about fourteen months, then to Chicago about two years, thence to St. Louis, Cairo and Fairbury ; here two years, thence to Chatsworth in 1875. Married, in 1875, to Miss Catherine Ring- ler of Germany ; born Nov. 11, 1857 ; two children-Katie and Lizzie.

COL. NATHANIEL C. KENYON, Post- master, Chatsworth; was born in Wash- ington Co., N. Y., Feb. 21, 1838, and is the son of Rev. Archibald and Juliana (Pratt) Kenyon ; in the Fall of 1852, with his parents, came to Illinois and settled in Chicago, thence to Carroll Co. on a farm ; here he remained until 1858, then to Put- nam and Marshall Cos. At the breaking- out of the late rebellion, he enlisted as private in Co. K, 11th I. V. I., April 30, 1861, for three months; during the three months, the 11th was stationed at Villa Ridge, Ill., and Bird's Point, Mo., doing garrison duty ; on the 30th of July, he re- enlisted for three years as First Lieutenant in Co. K, 11th I. V. I .; the regiment re- maining at Bird's Point, making frequent expeditions into various parts of the State till Feb. 2, 1862, then to Fort Henry, in the capture of which they participated, then to Fort Donelson, where they arrived Feb. 12, and the 13th began the attack ; during the 13th and 14th, they were under fire continually, and on the 15th the enemy endeavored to cut their way through the 11th's line and escape ; here they held them in check for three hours, with great slaughter on both sides; the loss to the regiment was one Captain, one First Lieu- tenant, seventy-two men killed, and two hundred and sixty-six wounded and miss- ing, of whom some sixty were made pris- oners by the enemy; here Col. Kenyon was taken prisoner, and remained as pris- oner of war for eight months, then paroled ; he returned and joined his regiment, and participated in the memorable march of

Gen. Grant to the rear of Vicksburg, where the regiment entered on the 4th of July ; at this battle he received a very severe scalp wound, which detained him from duty for thirty days; participated in the battles of Liverpool Heights, Yazoo City, Jackson, Mo- bile, Spanish Fort, Fort Blakesly ; 11th day of July, 1865, the regiment was mustered out at Baton Rouge, La., thence to Spring- field, where it was paid off and finally dis- charged ; Col. Kenyon was promoted Cap- tain of Co. K, 1862; in 1864, promoted Lieutenant Colonel, which office he held at the close of the war ; the 11th I. V. I. lost 425 men, the highest death total of any or- ganization which went from Illinois ; Col. Kenyon at the close of the war returned to Illinois and settled in Chatsworth; in 1868, was appointed Postmaster of Chats- worth, which office he has in a very cred- itable and efficient manner filled ever since. Married, in 1863, to Miss A. R. Sprague, of Illinois ; one child-Minnie, born Dec. 7,1867.

JESSE LANTRY, hardware merchant. Chatsworth, of the firm of Roberts & Lan- try, hardware and groceries ; was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Aug. 21, 1846, and is the son of Jesse J. and Helen (Lyons) Lantry, of Ireland ; his father emigrated to America in 1829 ; was en- gaged in the dairy and farming business here ; Mr. Lantry was brought up on his father's farm until he was 22 years old ; he then emigrated West to Illinois and settled in Chatsworth, in 1868, and en- gaged in farming, then in the butcher busi- ness ; engaged for two and a half years on railroad in Texas, on the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio R. R. ; his first experience in the grocery business was as store keeper for the Wis. Valley R. R .; Mr. Lantry commenced the hardware and grocery business, in company with A. M. Roberts, in 1877.

JOB H. MEGQUIER, real estate agent and Justice of the Peace, Chatsworth ; the subject of this sketch was born in Cum- berland Co., Me., Feb. 10, 1827, and is the son of Samuel and Lois Megquier, of Maine ; his father was a shoemaker by trade ; when Mr. Megquier was 18 years old, he enlisted in the 8th U. S. I., at Lowell, Mass., under Gen. W. T. Sherman, and participated in the Mexican war; was engaged at Palo Alto and other battles;

757

CHATSWORTH TOWNSHIP.

from here the army advanced to the City of Monterey, capturing on the march the villages Reinosa, Camargo, Mier and Revilla ; after a very severe battle, captured the City of Monterey, then in the capture of Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo ; here he met Gen. Shields dangerously wounded; thence on the City of Mexico through a beautiful country, on the 15th of Aug., 1847; arrived in sight of the city on the 18th ; the army took up a position near San Antonio; on the 20th, the battles of Contreras, Churubusco, Antonio and San Augustine were fought, on the Sth of September, on the capture of Molino del Rey, was the bloodiest battle of the war, one-fourth of the entire army was killed and wounded; Mr. Megquier received a severe wound, and remained in the City of Mexico from the 25th of September, 1847, until the 17th of December, 1847 ; was discharged Dec. 7, 1848, and left for home Dec. 17; arrived in Washington, D. C., Jan. 5, 1848, where he received his pen- sion certificate, signed by J. L. Edwards and W. L. Marcy, Secretary of War. He then returned home to his parents and, in 1857, emigrated West to Illinois, and set- tled in Livingston Co., near Oliver's Grove ; here he remained about two years engaged in farming, then to the village of Chats- worth, being the second family who settled in Chatsworth, Mr. T. Brockway and family being the first ; here Mr. Megquire has remained ever since, being engaged very extensively in the real estate business. Married, in 1857, to Miss Sarah H. Young, of Maine-born April 7, 1838 ; seven chil- dren-Charles F., born July 4, 1857; William N., born Dec. 17, 1858; Job H., born Nov. 14, 1860; Samuel F., born April 18, 1864; George F., born April 9, 1866; Henry Y., born Sept. 18, 1870 ; Edward E., born March 11, 1874. Mr. Megquier is a National Greenbacker in poli- tics, and a Universalist in religion.

MILO M. MILLER, farmer and broom manufacturer; P. O. Chatsworth; was born in Adams, Berkshire Co., Mass., Nov. 15, 1830; son of Caleb and Nancy (Mitchell) Miller ; his father was a farmer here ; Mr. Miller remained until he was 17 years old; he then set out as a farm hand, working by the month for four years ; he then shipped on a whaling vessel as a sailor, which cruised on the Atlantic Ocean,

Gulf of Mexico and the west coast of Africa ; he remained in this business for two years, then on a merchant vessel for two years. He then enlisted in the United States Navy at New Orleans, La., on a United States man-of-war; was engaged in cruising on the Mediterranean Sea ; here he served about three years, then re- turned home, and in 1855, he came West to Chicago; engaged a short time in ty- ing brooms ; thence East; returned West in 1856 to Marengo, McHenry Co., III. ; here eighteen months, then to Chicago one year; from there he went to Detroit, Mich .; here two and half years, then to Livingston Co., Ill .; in 1863, to Fairbury and Belle Prairie; engaged in farming; he then came to Chatsworth Tp. and settled on the place he now lives on ; here he has settled down; is engaged in the manufacturing of brooms, and finds sale for them in the neighboring towns. Married June 4, 1857, to Miss Kate L. Rathbun, of New York ; three children. Republican in politics. Owns eighty acres of fine, improved land.

ARCHIBALD MCMULLEN, farmer ; P. O. Strawn ; was born in Canada Jan. 21, 1836, and is the son of Archibald and Jane (Boyd) MeMullen ; father was a farmer; was killed by the falling of a tree ; when Mr. McMullen was very young, he set out in life, farming ; in October, 1857, he left Canada and came to Illinois, and settled in La Salle Co .; here he remained until 1868, engaged in farming; he then came to Livingston Co., and worked on C. R. Miller's farm for two years ; pur- chased eighty acres of land for $15.50 per acre; owns a farmi of 160 acres. Is School Director. Married, March, 1866, to Miss Louisa Harman, of France ; five children. Is a Republican in politics ; Presbyterian.

JOHN H. MARSHALL, farmer ; P. O. Chatsworth ; was born in Beaver Co., Penn., about 1840 ; his parents are Robert and Mariah (Chambers) Marshall ; his father was a stone mason by trade; in 1851, his parents emigrated to La Salle Co., III .; here Mr. Marshall remained until 1869, engaged in farming ; he then came to Livingston Co., Ill., and settled on the place he now lives on, which con- sists of eighty acres of land. Married, in 1869, to Miss Clara A. Howard, of Illi-

758

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

nois, daughter of Clark Howard, who was among the first settlers of Farmington, Ill. ; have three children. Mr. Marshall came to Livingston Co. with his brother, Wm. J. Is liberal in politics.

SAMUEL PATTON, machinist, Chats- worth ; was born in Brooke Co., Va., Sept. 3, 1833, and is the son of William and Susana (Ramsey ) Patton, of Virginia ; his father was a cooper by trade ; here Mr. Patton was engaged in helping his father, until he was 18 years old ; he then started to learn his trade, at blacksmithing, which he has followed throughout life, excepting at the breaking-out of the late war; he enlisted in 1862 in Battery M, Artillery, and remained until the close of the war. Mr. Patton is one of the first settlers of Chatsworth, having made his home here in 1859, and erected the first blacksmith shop. He has taken out a patent on a corn-husker. Married, in 1861, to Miss Nellie Desmond, of New York.

DANIEL B. PUFFER, farmer ; P. O. Chatsworth ; was born in Franklin Co., Mass., Sept. 20, 1839, and is the son of Samuel S. and S. B. Puffer ; his father, Samuel S., was born in Franklin Co., Mass., Dee. 20, 1811; remained with his parents until he was 35 years of age ; at one time engaged in the manufacture of friction matches, one of the first in this business ; came West and settled in Put- nam Co., Ill., in 1846; then to Livingston Co., in April, 1865. Mr. Puffer remained with his parents, engaged in farming. In 1866, he married Miss Ellen Lamboarn, of England, by whom he had three chil- dren. Is a Republican in politics. Owns 160 acres of fine, improved land.

AMOS M. ROBERTS, merchant (of the firm of Roberts & Lantry, hardware and grocery ), Chatsworth ; was born in Orange Co., N. Y., June 20, 1826, and is the son of Elijah and Jemima (Munn) Roberts ; his father, of Massachusetts, and a shoe- maker by trade; Mr. Roberts remained with his parents until he was 16 years of age ; he then eommeneed to learn the carpenter and joiner trade at Seneca Co., Ohio, having come to Ohio with his par- ents when about 8 years old ; he engaged in farming, at his trade and the saw-mill business in Ohio until 1860 ; he then eame to Illinois and settled in Pleasant Ridge, and commenced farming here four years,

then to Oliver's Grove ; here ten years, thence to Chatsworth and commenced the hardware business in company with D. J. Brigham : in partnership with Mr. Brig- ham until 1877, when Mr. J. J. Lantry purchased one-half interest ; now Messrs. Roberts & Lantry, one of the leading hard- ware and grocery houses in Livingston Co.

FRANCIS M. ROBERTS, farmer ; P. O. Chatsworth; was born in Pike Co., 111., July 18, 1841, and is son of Ancel C. and Mary A (Green) Roberts, who were among the early settlers of Pike Co., Ill .; his father, Aneel C., died May 6, 1870, age 60 years 5 months and 26 days ; mother, Mary A., died Oet. 27, 1870, age 51 years 7 months and 19 days ; Mr. Roberts remained with his parents engaged in farm- ing; he went to Ohio and farmed in differ- ent parts of the State, in Pike, Huron, and Seneca Counties, Ohio; he then re- turned to Illinois and settled in Livings- ton Co. since then he has been engaged in planting hedge, grading roads and farm . ing; Mr. Roberts and his father planted the hedge fence and made improvements on the fine farm known now as the Buck- ingham farm. He is a Greenbacker in politics and a Universalist in belief. Mar- ried in 1864, to Miss Emma A. Titus ; six children.

ROBERT RUMBOLD, insurance and real estate agent, Chatsworth ; was born in Hampshire Co., England, July 23, 1831, and is the son of Joseph and Martha (Sherman) Rumbold, of England ; his father was a farmer; Mr. Rumbold, in 1852, emigrated to America ; came West and settled in Kendall Co., Ill. ; here he remained about four years, engaged in farming ; he then came to Livingston Co., in 1856, and settled near Fairbury on a farm, and remained there until 1869, then to the place he now lives on (Chatsworth Tp.) and engaged in farming until 1871 ; he then engaged in the insurance and real estate business ; has held the office of Jus- tiee of the Peace, four years. Mr. Rumbold is a National Greenbacker in politics. He married in 1859, to Miss Sarah Osmond, of England ; having made the visit to Eng- land in 1859 for the purpose of marrying ; have had five children,two deceased ; he owns eighty acres of fine improved land. In his insurance business he represents all of the old reliable insurance companies, Etna, of

759

CHATSWORTH TOWNSHIP.

Hartford ; Home, of New York ; Hartford, of Connecticut ; Continental. of New York ; German, of Peoria ; Washington Life, of New York ; American Sentinel, of St. Louis, with cash assets of $21,637,893.

L. C. SPIECHER, wagon manufactur- er, Chatsworth ; the subject of this sketeh was born in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, Dee. 16, 1846, and is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Gindlesperger ) Spiccher ; when very young, with his parents, moved to Pennsylvania ; Mr. Spiecher's first busi- ness in life was to learn the blacksmith trade, in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio ; here he worked for $10 per month ; remained in Ohio about six years, then returned to Pennsylvania and engaged at his trade in different parts of the State about ten years ; then to Virginia, in the United States serv- ice as a blacksmith ; here during the war ; thence to Michigan one year ; from there he came to Illinois, to Wilmington, then to Chatsworth in 1865; here Mr. Spiecher commenced the erection of his shops, which rank among the largest and best shops of Livingston Co ; the main building is 30x80, two stories high ; side shop 16x 40, and one building used for the storing of wagons and buggies ; with hard labor and good management, Mr. Spiecher ranks as one of the leading manufacturers of Liv- ingston Co. ; his factory turns out wagons, carriages and buggies that for beauty of de- sign and finish, are not excelled either East or West. Mr. Spiecher married, in 1861, to Miss Rebecca Sivits, of Pennsylvania, daughter of James Sivits ; six children- Frank, Jane, Ella, Phœbe, Lottie, Robert ; one deceased-Turney. Has held public office, as member of the Town Board, which office he has held five years.

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 87

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