The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 89

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 89

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EDWARD BROADHEAD, farmer, P. O. Forrest; the subject of this sketch was born in Manchester, England, July 2, 1827 ; in 1838, his father came to Amer- ica, and settled in Cincinnati ; soon after coming, he was lost sight of, and no word from him for many years reach- ing his family, he was supposed to have died ; about the year 1855, word came back that he was still living, and in the same year, Edward, then a married man, accom- panied by his eldest son, embarked for America, to find his father and prospect the country ; the favorable impression re- ceived in the New World, and the prospect of one day gaining for himself and family a good home, induced him to remain, and the following year his father's family and his own, consisting of a wife and three children, joined them ; he first settled in Tazewell Co., and engaged in farm labor; in 1859, moved to McLean Co., near Danvers; in the Spring of 1807, came to Livingston Co., and settled on the farm where he now lives. Was married March 6, 1847, to Nancy McDonald, a native of England ; has seven children- William, John, Mary J., Joseph, George, Cornelia and Lavina ; owns 160 acres. He is a Methodist, and in politics a Republican. The years of his early manhood were spent in the machine shops of Manchester, in which was manufactured machinery for the pro- duction of cotton and silk fabrics; 2,000 hands were often employed in these shops. He is to-day ranked among the successful farmers of Livingston Co.

LUCIAN BULLARD, Postmaster and Notary Public, Forrest; born in St. Lawrence, N. Y., Oct. 31, 1831; in the Fall of 1844, he came with the family to Bureau Co., Ill .; after the death of his father, in 1847, he and the family pur- chased eighty acres of land from the Gov- ernment, at $1.25 per acre; this he im- proved, remaining at home until 1853, when he entered the Academy at Gran- ville ; in 1854, he entered the Preparatory Department of Knox College, at that time under the presidency of Rev. Dr. Blanch- ard, now of Wheaton College ; here he re- mained but a short time, and then engaged in teaching; in 1854 or 1855, he began the study of medicine, at Victoria, Knox

Co., prosecuting it for a term of nine months, when, on account of ill-health, he abandoned it and returned to the farm ; at a later period, he again entered upon the study of his chosen profession, but finally abandoned it for want of health ; he next engaged at the cabinet-making business for three years, and again returned to the farmn ; in 1864. he disposed of his land in Bureau Co., and, in 1865, moved to Livingston Co., purchasing the S. W. 1, Sec. 34, T. 27; in 1866, moved to the village of Forrest; in April, 1875, was ap- pointed Postmaster under Gen. Grant's administration, and has been continued in office ever since ; in connection with the office, he keeps a full line of books, periodieals and stationery ; in 1870, he was commissioned Notary Public by Gov. John M. Palmer, and was re-commissioned Sept. 28, 1874, by Gov. John L. Bever- idge. He was married Dec. 31, 1861, to Lizzie Clement, of Bureau Co .; has two children-Nettie and Nerva. He is a Republican, and was elected to the Legis- lature in 1872, to represent the 18th District ; has held the office of Justice of the Peace three or four years; has been Supervisor and Township Assessor for the past seven or eight years ; has been Town- ship Treasurer for the past three years ; in all these offices of responsibility and trust, he has faithfully discharged his duties, and no breath of suspicion has ever been raised against his uprightness and moral integrity.

ALBERT CORDING, merchant, P. O. Norman; was born in Somersetshire, England, June 24, 1843; he emigrated to America in Sept., 1872, and located in Chicago, as bookkeeper for Geo. Ross & Co., wholesale grocers; he remained in Chicago about two years, not, however, in the employ of the same firm during the whole period ; in January, 1875, he located at Norman, Livingston Co., and engaged in the dry goods and grocery business for himself. He was married in May, 1875, to Ida J. Seaton, a native of Illinois ; has one child-George E. Is a member of the M. E. Church, and in politics a Re- publican. Mr. Cording does a thriving business in his line, and has gained an enviable reputation for honesty and fair dealing ; in addition to his labors as pro- prietor and salesman in his store, he las charge of the post office of the village.

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WILLIAM P. COOK, farmer; P. O. Forrest; was born near Tetford, Lincoln- shire, England, Feb. 14, 1819; in the Spring of 1852, in company with an elder brother, he emigrated to America and set- tled near Attica, Fountain Co., Ind .; in the Fall of 1860, he removed to Illinois and settled in McLean Co., west of Bloom- ington ; in the Spring of 1866, he came to Livingston Co. and purchased the farm on which he now resides. Was married March, 1857, to Mary Ships, a native of Hardy Co., W. Va .; has had four children- Albert E. and Carvosso W., living ; Moses and Aaron (twins), dead. Owns 80 acres of land. Republican; M. E. Church. Has held the office of School Director for six years. His chances for acquiring an education have been quite limited, but by industry and perseverance since he came to America, he has procured through his own exertions a fair knowledge of the fundamental rules of arithmetic, and is an average scholar in reading and writing ; he is a successful farmer, and is a man highly estcemed by his neighbors for his many noble qualities.

DANIEL DUCKETT, physician ; For- rest; born near Wedmore, Somersetshire, England, Jan. 16, 1834; left home at the age of 12 years, and worked at the dairy business ; for a few succeeding years, he engaged in farming and carpentering; in 1853 he emigrated to America, and first settled in Marcellus, N. Y .; here he re- mained one and a half years, working at his trade ; in the Fall of 1855, he came to Illinois and stopped in Whitefield Tp., Marshall Co., and attended school during the Winter; the following Summer he located in Henry, and again worked at his trade ; in the Spring of 1857, he went to Chicago and attended the common schools one year; in January, 1858, he entered the High school, which he attended three or four years; in 1862, entered upon the study of medicine; his tutor was Prof. J. H. Hollister, of Chicago Medical College (then known as the Medical Department of Linn University); during the time he was attending school he also acted in the capacity of carrier for the Chicago Jour- nal, at first receiving $2.50 per week ; by an arrangement afterward made he was en- abled to make from five to ten dollars per week ; he graduated in March, 1865; im-

mediately after graduating he went to Louisville, Ky., where he was examined by the Board of Surgeons, and having passed a satisfactory examination, was sent to the Purveyor at Knoxville, Tenn., and by him was sent into the field as Assistant Surgeon in the U. S. Army ; he remained with the forces actively engaged until Sept., 1865, at which date he was mus- tered out of the service. In the Winter of 1865, he returned on a visit to England ; he returned to America in the Spring of 1867, and located in Forrest in September following, and entered upon the practice of his profession ; in the disastrous fire which occurred in Dec., 1872, Dr. Duckett was among the unfortunate; his drug store was wholly destroyed, entailing upon him a loss of $4,000, with only an insurance for $1,000. He was married to Emma Nor- man, a native of Somersetshire, England ; has had three children, two living, one dead - Norman A., Franklin W., and Edith May. Republican ; attends the Congregational Church. Is proprietor of the only drug store in town ; owns 240 acres of land. Dr. Duckett is the oldest established practitioner in the village, and is recognized by the medical fraternity as a man of fine ability, thoroughly fitted and well adapted to his profession ; his ex- perience has been large and varied in the practice of his profession; in the treat- ment of disease and in the performance of surgical operations he stands at the head of his profession ; his practice is large and remunerative.

FRED DUCKETT, druggist, Forrest ; was born in Wedmore, Somersetshire, England, Nov. 10, 1840; at the age of 14 he cmigrated to America and settled at Marcellus, Onondaga Co., N. Y .; here he engaged in farın work, receiving $4 per month ; he next located in Oswego Co., N. Y .; after a short sojourn he came West to Marshall Co., Ill., thence to Peoria Co., with the intention of studying surveying under the supervision of County Surveyor D. B. Allen ; unforeseen events, however, prohibited him from prosecuting the de- sired work; here he remained until the breaking out of the civil war; June 6, 1862, he enlisted in Co. K, 11th I. V. C., Col. Robt. G. Ingersoll, commanding ; was in the service three years and four months ; participated in the battles of Lexington,

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Tenn., Parker's Cross Roads, Jackson, Tenn., Bolivar, and many others of less note; he was discharged for promotion Dec. 31, 1865, and promoted to Second Lieu- tenantey ; at the close of the war he re- turned to Peoria Co. and engaged in the nursery business; this he still runs in connection with his clerkship in the store; in 1867, came to Forrest. Was married Feb. 19, 1866, to Mary E. Munhall, a native of Ohio; has had six children- Jennie S., Arthur F., Jesse S., Willie and May ; the eldest child died in infancy. Republican. Methodist. Owns 80 acres in Kansas, near Emporia. Has held the office of Township Collector two terms ; has been a member of the village council two or three different times.

ALBERT DAVIS, farmer; P. O. Strawn; was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, April 14, 1836 ; in 1840, he came with his father's family to Illinois and settled in Mar- shallCounty ; in 1869, he moved to Living- ston County and settled on the southeast quarter of Sec. 34, where he now resides. He was married March 18, 1858, to Emily Malone, a native of Ohio ; has seven chil- dren-Elma, Laura A., Katie M., William S., Minnie, Charles D. and Elmer. Owns 160 acres, valued at $3,000. Democrat. Has held the office of School Director. No man in his community outranks Mr. Davis iu successful farming; his neatly dressed farm, his desirable residence, with its pleasant surroundings, impress one with the fact that he is a thoroughgoing man ; he enters upon every undertaking with a purpose to succeed, and failure has no place assigned to it in his dictionary.

SPRINGER DIXON, farmer ; P. O. Norman ; was born in Fayette Co., Penn., March 1, 1833; in the Winter of 1854, he removed to Davenport, Iowa, and in the Spring of 1857, came to Putnam Co., Ill., and settled near Magnolia; in 1861, he moved to La Salle County ; in 1866, came to Livingston County ; in 1870, settled on the northeast quarter of Section 34, where he now lives. He was married in 1855 to Mary A. Sampey, a native of Pennsylvania ; has. seven children-Charlie, Lincoln, George, James, Ellen, Elizabeth and Rose. He owns 160 acres, worth $50 per acre. Republican ; member of the M. E. Church. Has held the office of Road Commissioner and School Director.

ROBERT V. DOWNING, farmer ; P. O. Strawn; the subject of this sketch was born in Chester Co., Penn., Jan. 22, 1832 ; he remained with his parents until his majority ; the years of his early man- hood were spent in teaching and clerking ; in addition to his common school education, he was a student for about one year at the University of Lewisburg ; in 1854, he came West and settled in La Salle ; here he engaged in merchandising; in 1866, moved to Livingston County and purchased the southeast quarter of Sec. 25, Forrest Township ; in 1867, moved to his present home. He was married Sept. 25, 1857, to Lydia Hartshorn, a native of New York State ; has eight children-Wm. F., Sarah, Charles H., Robert V., Jr., Mary, Albert C., Ella and an infant son. Owns 160 acres. Republican ; Methodist. Mr. Down- ing is a man possessed of fine social quali- ties, and is highly esteemed by his neigh- bors and friends. Has held the office of Assessor.

JOHN L. DELATOUR, merchant, Forrest ; born in Platteville, Wis., Sept. 18, 1852 ; is the sou of J. J. and S. J. Delatour ; in 1857, removed with his par- ents to Granville, Putnam Co., Ill .; in 1865, his father moved to Aurora, Kane Co., Ill. ; here John attended the schools until 1869, when he entered the employ of C. H. Reeves, dealer in ready-made cloth- ing, as elerk ; in 1870, he clerked for S. Felsenheld, also a clothing merchant; in March, 1871, he came to Forrest and engaged in the capacity of elerk for J. H. Earl ; with him he continued until Dec. 23, 1872, at which time a disastrous fire occurred, which destroyed the store of his employer, and, indeed. the whole business portion of the village; March 5, 1873, he bought T. J. Kerr's interest in the firm of Kerr & Hinman, and thus became a mem- ber of the present firm of Hinman & Del- atour. He was married Nov. 28, 1874, to Maggie J. Wallace, of Forrest ; has one child-Albert W., born April 29, 1876. Republican. Is a member of the City Council, and is a very popular business man ; has a pleasing address, and is de- servedly popular as a salesman.

STEPHEN A. DUNIIAM. M. D., For- rest ; was born in Washburn, Marshall Co., Ill, July 12, 1851 ; is the son of Ebenezer and Catharine (Sweet) Dunham; he re-

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mained at home until 19 years of age, at- tending school in Winter and assisting on the farm during Summer ; on leaving home, he entered the High School at Chenoa, McLean Co. ; here he remained one year ; he next engaged in teaching at La Rose, Marshall Co., continuing one year and a half, and at the same time prosecuting the study of law ; at the elose of a year's study, feeling that he lacked some of the elements that go to make up a successful pleader at the bar, he abandoned the further study of the law for that of medicine ; in the Fall of 1869, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Banta, of Chenoa, preparatory to en- tering upon a full course in College ; in the Fall of 1872, he entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College. New York, completing a full course and graduating with honor March 1, 1875 ; during the last year of his college course he practiced largely in what is termed the out-door practice ; soon after leaving college he located at Forrest, his present home, and by industry and close attention to business has succeeded in building up a large and lucrative practice ; having thoroughly prepared himself for his chosen life-work, he has met with gratify- ing success, both in the practice of medi- cine and in the operations of surgery. He is a gentleman of pleasing address and of fine social qualities, and bids fair to make his mark in the front ranks of his profes- sion.

STEPHEN A. HOYT, grain, lumber and stock merchant, Forrest ; the subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in an- other part of the work, was born in Sau- gerties, N. Y., July 27, 1834; he is the eldest son of E. C. and Amelia ( Myer) Hoyt; he remained at home, attending school most of the time, till the age of 17, when he went to Kingston and engaged in learning the carpenter's trade ; here he re- mained three years; he then returned to Saugerties and worked at his trade ; in the year 1855, he was deprived of his mother by death, and the following year. of his father ; the eares of the family devolved upon him; in August, 1857, he came West, seeking a better field for plying his trade; a kit of tools and $49 in money comprised his earthly wealth ; he stopped a short time in Prairie du Chien, Wis, then came to Bloomington, MeLean Co., and remained until April, 1858; he next

located at Eureka, Woodford Co. ; here he remained till the breaking-out of the civil war. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Capt. O. A. Burgess' Co. G, 17th I. V. I., under com- mand of Col. Leonard F. Ross ; he re- mained in the service three years ; was act- ively engaged in the important battles of Fort Donelson and Pittsburg Landing ; having received a wound in his left arm in the last-mentioned battle, he was detailed for duty in the Signal Corps; in this service he remained but a few months, when he was assigned to duty as clerk in the Provost Mar- shal General's office, Department of Ten- nessee, Gen. Grant commanding ; at the for- mation of the Military Division of the Mississippi, composed of the Departments of Tennessee, Cumberland and Ohio, he was assigned to duty at Nashville, Gen. Grant's headquarters ; here he remained in the performance of his duties until Grant was made Lieutenant General of the U. S. forces and was transferred to the Potomac, when, his term of enlistment having ex- pired, he was discharged from the service in June, 1864 ; he returned to Eureka and remained about one and a half years. He was married Oct. 3, 1865, to Rutilia Gil- lum, a native of La Fayette, Christian Co., Ky. ; soon after marriage he settled at For- rest, Livingston Co., and engaged in the lumber trade; Forrest at that time was almost without a beginning, and thousands of the broad, fertile aeres by which it is surrounded were wild, unbroken prairie ; soon permanent settlements began to be made, and his trade in lumber became almost limitless, always yielding him a handsome profit ; in 1869, he formed a partnership with E. P. Beebe in the handling of grain ; to-day they have the reputation of han- dling a better grade of eorn than any firm along the line of the T. P. & W. Railroad ; they obtain the highest market price for all shipments ; their elevator is perfect in all its appointments, enabling them to han- dle 300,000 bushels during the season, with the aid of three men. He has held the office of J. P., School Director, School Trustee ; at present holds the office of Su- pervisor. Republican ; Christian. Owns 320 acres of land in Livingston Co., and 160 acres near Wichita, Kansas ; also owns considerable town property in Forrest; to no one man, perhaps, is Forrest more in- debted for her prosperity and success in

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her varied enterprises than to Mr. Hoyt, and to no one do her citizens and those of the surrounding country point with a juster pride as a model business man, one who is strictly honest and upright in all his deal- ings, than to him.

JAMES B. HINMAN, merchant, For- rest ; born in Chenango Co., N. Y., Nov. 25, 1846 ; is the son of James and Martha E. Hinman ; at the age of 3 years, he went to live with a cousin of his father's ; remained with him eight years. farming during the Summer, and attending school during the Winter ; in 1858, he went to live with a Mr. Bennett ; remained for a period of four years. January, 1864, enlisted in Co. L, 22d N. Y. Cavalry, under command of Col. Sam. J. Crook ; remained in the United States service about nineteen months; participated in the battle of Cedar Creek, in the Shenandoah Valley, in which battle he was taken prisoner; was confined in Libby Prison one month, and afterward in Salisbury, N. C., three months ; imme- diately after the capture of Wilmington, N. C., he was paroled, and just before the assassination of President Lincoln, was ex- changed ; he returned home and was strick- en down with disease, the seeds of which, no doubt, were sown by exposure and hardships of prison life; after eight weeks' con- finement, he started for Annapolis, Md., to be mustered out, but was detained by special order at Elmira, N. Y., until July 31, 1865, when he received an honorable discharge. In Oct., 1865, he came to Lawn Ridge, Marshall Co., Ill., and entered the employ of S. & W. H. Cornell, as elerk ; here he remained until the Fall of 1869, when he came to Forrest, Livingston Co., and entered the store of John H. Earl, as clerk ; at the expiration of two years, he formed a partnership with T. J. Kerr, under the firm name of Kerr & Hinman ; Mr. Kerr retired the following Spring, and the firm of Hinman & Delatour was formed. Was married Dec. 16, 1868, to Ella Blood, of Stark Co., Ill. ; one child -Guy Bertrand, born Jan. 9, 1872. Re- publican ; Congregationalist. Has held the office of Town Clerk, and at present is Town Trustee. The firm of Hinman & Delatour is the leading firm of the village ; a full and complete stock of dry goods and groceries can be found in their rooms at all times.

AMIEL HARMON, farmer, P. O. Strawn ; was born in Alsace, France, Feb. 2, 1842 ; in 1851, he emigrated to Amer- ica, and settled in La Salle Co., Ill., near Ottawa. Sept. 9, 1861, he enlisted in Co. A, 4th I. V. C. Feb. 18, 1866, he was discharged, having been in the service over four years ; he participated in the bat- tles of Columbus, Fort Henry, siege of Vicksburg, and many others of less impor- tance : in 1865, his regiment was consoli- dated with the 12th Illinois, and he was assigned to Co. M ; he was wounded in the thigh, and carries a minie ball in his hip to-day. Was married Sept. 27, 1866, to Mary E. Cashion, a native of Ireland ; has six children-Addie, Albert J., Joseph H., Louie HI., Charles B. and Harry. Dem- oerat ; is a member of the Catholic Church. Owns 160 acres ; Mr. Harmon is a thrifty, industrious, go-ahead farmer.

BEN. MAJOR, farmer, P. O. Strawn ; the subject of this sketch was born near Eureka, Woodford Co., Ill., June 4, 1854; he is the son of William and Elizabeth (Diekinson ) Major, and grandson of Ben. Major who figures prominently in the early history of Woodford Co. ; he remained with his parents until 22 years of age ; besides his attendance upon the public schools, he was a student in Eureka College, about two years ; in April, 1876, he moved to Liv- ingston Co., and settled on the southwest quarter of Sec. 36 ; he owns 160 acres, and has a large part of it in a good state of cul- tivation. He is unmarried, but it is thought by many of his intimate friends that he will not be able much longer to withstand Cupid's shafts. He is a stanch Republican, and was raised under the in- fluence of the Christian Church ; his pros- peets for becoming one of the leading nien of his community at no distant day are flattering.

JOHN McCRYSTAL, farmer ; P. O. Forrest ; was born March 17, 1832, in Prescott Co., Upper Canada; in 1856, he came to Illinois, and settled near Utica ; here he engaged in farming; in 1869, he came to Livingston Co., and settled on the farm where he now resides. In March, 1862, he was married to Jane Jemison, a native of Canada; has four children- Theron U., Viola B., Clara B. and Minnie E. Owns 80 acres. Democrat ; Catholic. Though, comparatively speaking, a small

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land owner, he farms extensively, his pres- ent average of corn being near 125 acres ; being energetic and prudent in the man- agement of his affairs, he bids fair to rival his neighbors at no distant day in the pos- session of the rich, broad acres of fertile prairie surrounding him.

ROBERT MONTGOMERY, farmer ; P. O. Forrest ; was born near Ayr, Ayr- shire, Scotland, May 21, 1832 ; at the age of 24 years he immigrated to America and, on arrival, stopped for a short time in Chi- cago ; he first located in Oneida, Knox Co., Ill .; Jan., 1858, he removed to Pat- erson, N. J .; in the Fall of 1861, re- turned to Oneida, and in the Fall of 1863, went again to Paterson ; Fall of 1864, located for the third time in Oneida ; during these years he worked at his trade, that of tinner and coppersmith; while residing at Paterson, N. J., he was em- ployed in the shops of the Erie Railroad ; in the Fall of 1868, he located near the present town of Forrest, on the farm which he now owns. He was married April 2, 1863, to Maggie Norwood, a na- tive of Patterson, N. J .; has two children -Thomas J. and William J. Republican ; Presbyterian. Owns eighty acres in Sec. 22, worth $50 per acre.

RICHARD E. NORMAN, farmer and stock dealer ; P. O. Forrest; the subject of this sketch was born near Taunton, Somersetshire, Eng., May 7, 1836 ; he immigrated with his father's family to Canada in 1858, and settled near Hamil- ton, Wentworth Co .; in 1864, he settled in Livingston Co., Ill., on the farm where he now resides. He was married March 26, 1861, to Mary C. Graham, a native of Canada ; no children. Methodist. Takes no part in politics. To no one man is Forrest Township as much indebted for the introduction of a high grade of first-class horses, sheep and hogs, as to Mr. Norman ; his thoroughbred Clydesdale horses stand unrivalled throughout this entire region ; in the quality of hogs and sheep. he stands first in the front rank. In the formation of the Fairbury Agricultural Board, which was organized Jan. 26, 1876, he took a very active part, and for two years was a Director. Owns 140 acres, worth $50 per acre. His fine social qualities and those of his most excellent wife make his house a most de- sizable resort for social entertainment.

WILLIAM NORMAN, farmer ; P. O. Norman; the subject of this sketch was born near Taunton, Somersetshire, Eng., Dec. 2, 1838 ; in 1858, he immigrated to Canada and settled near Hamilton, Went- worth Co .; in 1864, came to Livingston Co., Ill., and settled on the farm where he now resides. He was married in 1872, to Lucy Cording, a native of England; has two children-Melony B. and William V. Owns 180 acres, valued at $9,000. Mr. Norman, so far, has not participated in the politics of the country, preferring to let the native-born citizens shape the policy and direction of the Government. He is a very successful farmer, and is held in high esteem throughout the section of country in which he resides. His residence, with its pleasing surroundings, occupying a high rise of ground, can be seen for miles in al- most any and every direction ; not a more eligible location can be found in the county.

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The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 89

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