The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 114

Author: Le Baron, Wm., Jr. & Co., Chicago, Pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron, Jr.
Number of Pages: 1092

USA > Illinois > McLean County > The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 114

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C. P. DICKERSON, farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Le Roy ; born in what is now Randolph Township, McLean Co., Ill., June 26, 1827; he is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, living set- tler now living who was born in this county ; his father, Michael Dickerson, was one of the first settlers of McLean Co., where he died Feb. 10, 1836. Calep B. Dickerson lived upon the farm with his mother until 22 years of age, after which he rented land and followed farming until 1851, when he purchased 100 acres of land upon his present place, where he has since lived : he now owns 140 acres, with good farm buildings. He married Tabitha Buckles April 3. 1851; they have twelve children by this union, viz .: William E., born March 18, 1852; Mary J., June 19, 1854 ; Adaline, June 22, 1856; Franklin, July 8, 1858 (deceased) ; IIenry D., Dec. 8, 1860 (deceased) ; James A., June 20, 1862 ; Wesley A., Nov. 23, 1864; Maranda Ellen, May 27, 1866; Charles, March 21, 1868; George, June 31, 1872 ; Tilden and Matilda A., twins, born June 18, 1876. Mrs. Dickerson was the daughter of Abram Buckles, who was born in Virginia June 28, 1800 ; he emigrated with his father and located iu White Co., Ill., in 1810. In 1819, he married Mary Williams, and, in 1832, he located at Buckles' Grove, McLean Co., where he died May 17, 1878. Mrs. Buckles died Dec. 19, 1876.

ELIADA DICKINSON, retired farmer ; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Hartford Co., Conn., Sept. 1, 1810; he was raised to farm labor until 21 years of age, when he went to Bristol, Conn., and worked at the foundry business six years, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in Griggs- ville, Pike Co., in June, 1836 : here he entered 400 acres of land, upon which he lived until 1859, when, selling his farm, he engaged in the merchandise trade at Perry four years. selling out in 1863, and purchasing 220 acres of land in Sangamon Co., upon which he lived two years ; in the summer of 1865, he purchased 240 acres of land in West Township, McLean Co., which he deeded to his son, and afterward purchased 200 acres, upon which he lived until 1876, when he moved to Le Roy, and, in 1878, he purchased his present place, which contains twenty acres, one-half of which is within the corporation, and where he has since lived. Mr. Dickinson first voted for Jackson for President; he supported the Democratic party many years, joining the Republican party upon its organization, since which time he has been an ardent supporter of the same ; of township and school offices he has had his full share, and held the office of Justice of the Peace, while in West Township, five years. His marriage with Lois B. Fancher was cele- brated Nov. 24, 1833 ; she was born in Bristol, Conn., Sept. 29, 1812; she died in Sangamon Co., Ill., Nov. 10, 1864, leaving three children-Sarah Ann, born Dec. 10, 1839 ; David Monroe, Oct. 29, 1842, and Mary Thalia, July 5, 1847.

WILLIAM H. DOOLEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 2; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Clark Co., Ky., Aug. 15, 1834 ; his father, William Dooley, emigrated from Kentucky in the fall of 1851, living in Bloomington until the spring of 1852, when he purchased 1,500 acres of land in Old Town Township, upon which he located and followed farming and stock-raising until his decease, which occurred June 7, 1869 ; his widow is now living in the same township. The subject of this sketch remained with his father until 20 years of age, when he was united in marriage, Oct. 12, 1854, to Eliza J. Noggle : she was born in Ohio, May 7, 1835, (her parents emigrated from Ohio and located in McLean Co. in 1850) ; eleven children were the fruit of this union-John J., born Aug. 18, 1855, died Oct. 28, 1858 ; Alice C., born May 26, 1857, died March 22, 1874; Lillie M., born Sept. 10, 1860: Milton II., born Feb. 21, 1862; George E., born March 9, 1864; Mary A., born Nov. 1, 1866, died Sept. 4, 1872 ; Frank R., born July 26, 1868, died May 18, 1869; Damaris M., born April 11. 1870; Obadiah M., born Nov. 14, 1871 ; Hattie, born Aug. 12, 1875, and Lida B., born Nov. 4, 1877. Mr. Dooley moved upon his present place May 1, 1876: he has 920 acres in his farm upon which he has good buildings, his house being built during the summer of 1873, at an expense of upward of $7,000, and is considered by many, as the best farm house in the county ; he is extensively engaged in raising, feeding and shipping stock, of which he ships his hogs mostly to Indianapolis, and cattle to Chicago; he feeds from 125 to 150 head of cattle, and from 200 to 300 hogs, about 30 horses and some sheep.

JOHN DUNLAP, farmer, Sec 2; P. O. Le Roy : one of the early pioneers of McLean Co. ; horn in White Co., Ill .. April 21, 1827; his father, Moses Dunlap, emigrated from Tennessee to White Co., at a very early day, where he lived until about the year 1828, when he emigrated north and located at Blooming Grove, and entered land joining the old home of Judge McClenn ; living here about five years, they went to Arkansas, but returned and entered land in Empire Township, McLean Co., in 1834, upon which he lived until his decease, which occurred May 6, 1858. Mrs. Dunlap died June 23, 1863. The subject of this sketch emigrated with his parents to McLean Co. in 1828, and, with them, located upon Sec. 2, Empire Township, in 1834, where he has since lived with the exception of seven years, in which he was engaged in farming in Marshall Co., Iowa, and Cherokee Co., Kan. Mr. Dunlap is an industrious, hard-working man,

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a good business manager, and much respected in the township in which he lives; he has accumu- lated a good property, and raised a family of ten children, having lost three by death ; the living are-Henry, Josephine, Rosella, Moses, James, Stephen, William, Lucinda C., Margaret A. and Eliza. llis brother James was one of the first white children born in McLean Co , being born in Blooming Grove, April 1, 1829; he never married, but made his home with his brother John until his decease, which occurred May 29, 1878.

P. C. ESKEW, farmer; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Patrick Co., Va., where he was raised upon a farm until 18 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in McLean Co., November, 1834; he entered his first land, eighty acres, at Long Point Timber in 1837, upon which he erected a log house. and, in 1839, sold his claim with improvements ; he then engaged as farm laborer until 1841, when he followed farming for himself until 1846, at which time he entered eighty acres of land at Buckles' Grove, and, in 1852, entered eighty acres more adjoining, and afterward added twenty acres of timber, upon which he lived until 1877, when he rented his farm and removed to Le Roy, where he now lives. He married, April, 1837, Julia Troxel ; she died Aug. 18, 1838, leaving one child- Leona, born Aug. 14, 1838, now Mrs. Oliver Harding, living in Empire Township. He married for his second wife, Sarah Johnson. Oct. 7, 1841 ; she died June 11, 1876; nine children were the fruit of this union-Catherine, born Aug. 27, 1843, (married Alexander Free, ) she died in Kansas, May 1, 1876; James M., born Sept. 16, 1845, farming in Empire Township ; Louisa, born June 1, 1847, died March 6. 1864; Ellen, born June

13, 1851, (married John Allen, ) she died May 20, 1875, in Kansas ; Matilda, born June 9, 1849, now Mrs. Jonas Arnold, of Downs Township; Martha A., Oct. 1, 1853; Mary, born Oct. 4, 1856, (married F. Phillips. ) died April 6, 1876, in Downs Township ; Paran, June 16, 1860, died in January, 1861. and William A., born March 10, 1862. His marriage with Mrs. Harriet P. Dickerson, was celebrated Feb. 13, 1877; she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, March 20, 1828 ; she was a daughter of Jacob Karr, who emigrated from Ohio, and located in Empire Township in 1839, where he lived until his decease in 1840; her first marriage with Robert F. Dickerson, was celebrated Jan. 1, 1845 : he was born in Hamilton Co., Ill., Oct. 30, 1823 ; he emigrated West with his parents in 1825, and located in McLean Co., where he lived until his decease, which occurred Oct. 16, 1875; eleven children were the fruit of this union, viz. : Merritt M., horn Oct. 27, 1845, now merchant of Monticello, Piatt Co. ; James L., born July 4, 1847, now farming in Fayette Co., Iowa ; Martha, born Feb. 20, 1849, now Mrs. George Pray ; Emma E., born Nov. 16, 1850, now Mrs. F. Molesworth; Owen L., born Nov. 15, 1852, died in infancy ; Clara, born Sept. 11, 1854 ; Mary, born March 27, 1857, died in infancy ; Ida May, born March 25, 1859, now Mrs. John Pogue, of Texas ; Robert F., born Sept. 25, 1861; Mary S., Sept. 24, 1863, and Harriet R., Oct. 11, 1865; of the above, four are now living at home. Mr. Eskew is a strong temperance man ; has been a life-long Democrat; was never an aspirant for office, though often being urged to allow himself to run for office he always refused. Of township and school offices, he has had his share, having been Commissioner several years, School Director sixteen years, and Town Collector, of Downs Township, one year, and now holds the office of Road Commissioner in Empire Township.

T. D. FISHER, M. D., Le Roy: (whose portrait has a place in this work), was born in Ligo- nier, Westmoreland Co., Penn., Oct. 1, 1826; his father Abel was of Quaker origin, and was born in Pennsylvania, June 3, 1788, and died March 19. 1876 ; his mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Stewart, was of Scotch descent, born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., and died June 29, 1840. Dr. Fisher lived at home until he was 21 years of age, and received his early educa- tion at the " Ligonier Academy ; " in the year 1848, he read medicine under Dr. T. Richardson, of Pleasant Unity, l'enn., and, in 1850, attended his first course of lectures at Cleveland, Ohio, in the Medical Department of the Western Reserve Medical College ; in May, 1853, he com- menced the practice of medicine in Le Roy, and having attended the Rush Medical College, of Chicago, during the session of 1856-57, graduated from that institution, and has ever since con- tinued the practice of medicine in Le Roy, and has built up a large and lucrative practice. He was President of the McLean County Medical Society in the year 1876, and was also a member of the Illinois State Medical Society. He married Miss Henrietta Lisenbey, of De Witt Co., Ill., in the year 1853. Dr. Fisher may appropriately be called a " self-made man," being emi- nently a man of self-reliance ; having accumulated the means by which to obtain a medical education by teaching school. He has always been a strictly temperate man, using neither tobacco, whisky or any intoxicating liquors.

M. R. GALUSHA, hardware merchant, firm of Beeney & Galusha, dealers in hardware, stoves, tinware, agricultural implements, farm machinery, etc .. Le Roy; born in Madison, Jeffer- son Co., Ind., Nov. 22, 1844, where he attended school until 12 years of age; he then worked upon the farm in summer and attended school in winter until 16 years of age when he ran upon the Ohio River one year as cabin-boy. In the spring of 1864, he enlisted in the army until the close of the war and was mustered out of service in the spring of 1865; he served in the army of the Tennessee, under Gen. Thomas, and was in several engagements, the heaviest being the battle of Nashville, on Dec. 28, 29 and 30, 1864, where the rebels, under Gen. Hood, were defeated with great loss in killed, wounded and prisoners. He remained in Nashville during the winter, and until he received his discharge, when he returned to Indiana, and in the fall of 1865

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he came West and located in Downs Township, McLean Co .. Ill., where he followed farming until the fall of 1877, when he sold out and, in the spring of 1877, removed to Le Roy and asso- ciated with William H. Beeney in the above business, which he has since followed. His mar- riage with Emma Karr was celebrated Oct. 3. 1869 ; she was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Ill., Nov. 14, 1850. They have two children by this nnion-Harry, born May 3, 1870, Jes- sie, Aug. 22, 1875. Mrs. Galnsha was daughter of Jesse Karr, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co. He emigrated from Ohio and located in this county in 1835. Mr. Galusha was the son of Hiram Galusha, who emigrated from Vermont, and located in Jefferson Co., Ind., previ- ous to 1840, where he engaged in manufacturing tobacco until his decease, which occurred in 1852. DANIEL GILMORE, farmer: P. O. Le Roy ; born in Derry, Rockingham Co., N. II., April 5, 1807, where he attended school and followed farming and coopering until 22 years of age, when he made a trip around the world in the sailing ship Clay, which voyage consumed nearly two and a half years. In 1832, he emigrated South and located in Pope Co., Ark., upon the Arkansas River ; here entered and purchased 1,000 acres of land. upon which he farmed and raised cotton, the latter being his chief product ; he then put up machinery for making cotton warp, which he manufactured largely and for which he found a ready market. He was also engaged largely in the general merchandise trade. The above pursuits he followed until after the breaking out of the rebellion, when he, being a strong Union man, was obliged to leave, by which he lost some $15,000; he came North in 1864, and located in Le Roy, McLean Co., II)., and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed. IIe married, Sept. 22, 1836, to Maria Scott ; she died Jan. 2, 1839. He married, for his second wife, Mary Jane Menefee, Dec. 22, 1842 ; she died March 14, 1848, leaving two children-Martha and Daniel, Jr. He married, for his third wife Mary J. Nease, June 30, 1850; she died May 24, 1861, leaving three children-Alice, Hiram N. and William Sampson. His marriage with Mrs. Catharine Watson was celebrated Sept. 9, 1869 ; she has two children by her first husband, Levi L. Watson ; her children are Hattie A., now Mrs. O. P. Joseph, and Jennie V., who remains at home. Mr. Gilmore was an old-line Whig until the organization of the Republican party, since which time he has been an active member of the same.

THOMAS D. GILMORE, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Le Roy : born in Warren Co., near Bowling Green, Ky., Nov. 18, 1814. He attended school a limited time, until 12 years of age ; he then went into the blacksmith-shop of his father, learned and worked at the trade until 22 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and located on the spot where he now lives in the fall of 1836. He drove his team of oxen all the way from Kentucky, bringing with him his wife and two children and all of his property, which consisted of two yoke of oxen and wagon, one horse. saddle and bridle, his blacksmith tools, a few household goods and $4 in cash-the latter he invested in pork, obtaining one hundred pounds. Ile then put np a log cabin with puncheon floor, clapboard door, with wooden hinges ; a raccoon bedstead, with one leg, in which poles were inserted, the other ends being fastened in holes made in the side and end logs of the house ; boards were laid across from the side rail and upon one of the side logs of the house, when the rude structure was complete. He made stools, which were used for chairs, and a clapboard table. Having completed his house and manufactured the above furniture, he set up his forge, his skill as a blacksmith soon became known, work poured in upon him, and he was kept con- stantly at work, his custom extending as far as Farmer City, Cheney and Randolph Groves. IIe would labor from 4 A. M. until 9 or 10 at night, and then attend to his chores. He had the misfortune to lose his shop by fire, and, the year after he settled here, his leg was broken by a tree falling upon him, which confined him to the house for four months. He first entered 40 acres of land, and has since added by purchases until he owns 155 acres, upon which he has lived since 1836, with the exception of a short time while on a visit to Kentucky He followed his trade here, with the exception of eight years in which he was engaged at his trade in Le Roy, until 1855, since which time he has given his attention to his farm. His father, Andrew H. Gilmore, was born in North Carolina, and emigrated to Kentucky when quite young, where he lived until he emigrated to Illinois in 1857, where he purchased land and built a honse but a few rods from his son, in which he lived until his decease, which occurred Oct. 17, 1870, at the ripe old age of 98 years. Thomas D. Gilmore and Matilda Savage were married in Kentucky Jan. 2, 1834. Three children were the fruit of this union-Martha Frances, born Nov. 21, 1834, now Mrs. James W. Wright, of Le Roy ; Mary M., May 1, 1836, died Ang. 15, 1863 ; and Joseph I'., June 5, 1838, now living in Oregon. Mrs. Gilmore died Oct. 5, 1839. Mr. Gilmore married Mary J. Brannaman Dec. 11, 1840. She was born in Augusta Co., Va., Feb. 11, 1821. Six chil- dren were the fruit of this union-Andrew D .. born March 2, 1842, died in infancy ; Ira F .. Nov. 10, 1843, lives in Padua Township; Lucinda M., Jan. 14, 1850, now Mrs. R. C. Charles- ton, living in Kansas ; Kentucky G., Feb. 9, 1855, now Mrs. F. Hendricks, of Padna Township ; Elizabeth A., July 24, 1859; Augusta M., Sept. 16, 1862. Mrs. Gilmore was daughter of David and Wary (llulderman) Brannaman, who emigrated from Virginia and located in Padua Town- ship in 1836. Mr. B. died in the fall of 1846. Mrs. B. died in the spring of 1870.

E. E. GREENMAN, retired merchant and farmer ; P. O. Le Roy ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co .; born in Washington Co., Ohio, Jan. 23, 1816. His grandfather, Jeremiah Green- man, was a Lieutenant Colonel in the army during the revolutionary struggle, and was a warm

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friend and associate of Gen. Washington. At the close of the war, he located in Washington Co., Ohio. where he died about the year 1827. His father, John Greenman, emigrated to Illinois with his family and located in the southeast part of Blooming Grove, Ang. 29, 1829. He taught school during the following winter, and, during the summer, clerked for James Allin, of Bloomington, while his sons raised a crop of corn upon eighteen acres of land rented of William Dimmit, upon land now completely covered by buildings, being located between the Court House and the Illinois Central Railroad. He entered his first land Feb. 2, 1830, being the west half of the southwest quarter of Sec. 4, and upon which now stands a part of the city of Bloomington, the whole tract being now improved by business and dwelling houses. His first house he built upon what is now West Washington street, where he lived until the spring of 1831, when he with his family removed to De Witt Co., engaged in farming during the summer, and died in the fall of the same year. The subject of this sketch, with the family, returned to Bloomington, and, the following year, raised a crop at Old Town, when he learned and worked at the carpenter's trade in Bloomington nearly two years, after which he went to Dixon's Ferry, Lee Co., where he assisted settlers in laying claims and erecting houses for six months, then to Plattville, Wis., where he followed his trade, selling goods and mining two years. Returning to Bloomington, he worked at his trade for one year. when he went to Iowa, and the next two years was engaged building a mill, farming and working at his trade. In the spring of 1842, he again returned to Blooming- ton and was engaged one year in peddling goods through the country with a one-horse buggy. In the spring of 1843, he was associated with S. D. Baker, now a prominent merchant of Bloom- ington, and engaged in the general merchandise trade at Le Roy. which business he successfully followed until 1858, when he retired from active business until 1865, at which date he engaged in the grocery trade, which he followed until 1869, when, on account of ill health, he retired from active business. In 1873, he was elected Township Treasurer, which office he has since held. When Mr. Greenman located at Blooming Grove, there were only thirty-seven families there. They have nearly all passed away, there now being two or three living, of which Mr. G. is the oldest of the first settlers at Bloomington. His marriage with Martha A Pearce was cele- brated Feb. 14, 1848. She was born in Champaign Co .. Ohio, Feb. 27, 1831. She died July 14, 1864, leaving three children now living, having lost five by death. The living are-Mary B., born Oct. 18, 1853, now Mrs. Scott Crumbaugh ; John E., Sept. 6, 1855 ; and Charles E., March 1,1861.

O. S. HARDING, farmer and stock-raiser ; Sec. 4, Town 21 ; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Henry Co., Ind., Dec. 12, 1826 ; his father, Saul Harding, was a native of Kentucky, and, with his parents was driven to Ohio by the Indians at a very early day ; they then removed to Indiana, and were among the first settlers of the State, living in Rush, Wayne and Henry Counties, emigrating from the latter county in 1841, to Wapello Co., Iowa. The subject of this sketch remained with his father, farming, until 21 years of age, after which he engaged in farming for himself until April 6, 1850, when he started by team overland to California, taking the Oregon route, crossing the Rocky Mountains at South Pass, and arriving at Placerville July 26, having been nearly four months upon the trip. He engaged in mining in the vicinity of Placerville, until November fol- lowing, when he went to San Francisco and embarked upon a sailing vessel for home. He was landed upon the coast of Guatemala, from which place he packed across the country upon mules to New Granada, thence via San Carlos, down the San Juan River to the coast of the Caribbean Sea, thence to the Isthmus of Darien, from which point they sailed to New Orleans, where they arrived after a tedious and perilous voyage. He then returned to Jefferson Co., Iowa, and engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1867, when he returned to Illinois, and located in Empire Township, where he has since lived. He owns upwards of 200 acres of land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He married Leona Eskew, Jan. 15, 1857 ; she was born in De Witt Co., 111., Ang. 14, 1838 ; eight children were the fruit of this union-Paran H. T., born Dec. 20, 1857 ; Julia H., born Dec. 11, 1859; William H., born March 6, 1862 ; Rufus A. J., born Jan. 22. 1864 ; Nimrod, born May 31, 1868; Cloey E., born Aug. 29, 1871 ; Mary E., born Jan. 5, 1874 ; Dolly May, born Feb. 3. 1877. Mrs. Harding is the oldest child of P. C. Eskew, one of the early settlers of McLean Co., and whose biography appears in this work.

EDWARD HEALEA, farmer : P. O Empire. The subject of this sketch was born in Ilar- rison Co .. Ohio, May 1, 1829 ; he was raised upon the farm of his father, until 19 years of age, when, in 1848, he rented land and engaged in farming until 1856, when, with four horses and a Pitt's thresher, he started West, continuing his journey until he arrived in Empire Township, where, after setting up his machine and threshing a few bushels, he disposed of the same and one team of horses, driving the others back to Ohio, and the following summer again brought a thresher to Empire Township, which he sold after using one season, and, in the spring of 1858, he removed with his family to McLean Co., where, after putting in his crop upon rented land, he ordered a threshing machine from Ohio, following threshing during the season for sixteen years ; he still owns this machine and now declares it to be as good as new. Mr. Healea con- tinued to live upon rented land until 1868, when he removed upon his present place, which he had purchased in 1865, and which he has since brought from its wild prairie condition to a high state of cultivation. He owns 160 acres upon his home farm, upon which he has expended a large amount of skillful labor, as the pleasing surroundings of his dwelling will at once show. In

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front of his residence he has planted a large number of useful and ornamental trees of both native and foreign growth, and his familiarity with the names and nature of each of the many different kinds will show the careful study he has given to the same. He does not confine his farming to the raising of corn and grain. Ilis grape-vines may be counted by the hundred He also raises a large amount of raspberries, cherries, peaches and apples, with which his neighbors are liberally and gratuitously supplied. He has for the past three years been engaged in ship- ping hay to New Orleans and the Eastern markets, the same being the production of his own farm. He is also largely engaged in buying corn for J. O. Peckham & Co., Providence, R. i., having purchased upwards of 12,000 bushels during the present season. His marriage with Amny Tilton was celebrated Feb. 19, 1848 ; she was born in Ashland Co., Ohio, Sept. 24, 1829; three children were the fruit of this union-George G., born Nov. 29, 1849; John, born June 18, 1851, and William, born Nov. 6, 1861. They also have an adopted daughter, Mary Healea, born Dec. 17, 1866.

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 114

Author: Le Baron, Wm., Jr. & Co., Chicago, Pub Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron, Jr. Number of Pages: 1092

Author: Le Baron, Wm., Jr. & Co., Chicago, Pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron, Jr.
Number of Pages: 1092