The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 120

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 120

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GEORGE A. FRANK, dealer in general merchandise, Gridley ; the above-named gentleman was born in Juniata Co., Penn., of German parentage, Feb. 12, 1840: in 1845, his parents removed to Illinois, settling in Peoria Co., where they still reside; he left home in 1859, going to Warren Co., where he engaged in farming ; in the spring of 1864, he returned to Peoria Co., and there resided until the fall of 1866; he then removed to Livingston Co., just across the line

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from Gridley, and followed farming there until 1874, when he came to Gridley and engaged in his present business. lle is at present a member of the Board of Trustees, this being his second term : he has also served for the past two years as Township School Trustee. Mr. Frank was married Aug. 28, 1859, to Miss Laura Halcomb. of Peoria Co., Ill .; they have six children- Laura R., wife of Frederick Blumuenshine, of Gridley ; Alfred A., Meta G., Cora M., Maud and Pearl.

JAMES A. GILBERT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 3; P. O. El Paso, Woodford Co .; was born in Manchester, Dearborn Co., Ind., April 1, 1839; a few years later, his parents removed West to Oquawka, Iowa, but shortly afterward returned and settled at Rochester, Peoria Co., Ill .: there they lived about five years and then removed to Brimfield, where his father still resides. In March, 1865, Mr. Gilbert entered the Union army as a Corporal in Company K, 47th I. V. I., and served till after the close of the war. In 1868, he removed to Greene Township, Woodford Co., and. in 1870, to McLean Co., and settled on his present farm, where he owns 160 acres of land. Ile was married Dec. 20, 1867, to Miss Mary Baker, of Elmwood, Ill .; she was born in Marshall Co., Va., Sept. 17, 1843 ; they have five children-Charles J., Minnie A., Burtis S., Ennice Blanche and Lucy E.

JACOB HOOBLER, farmer ; P. O. Gridley; was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, in the year 1818, where he lived with his father Michael Hoobler, until the age of 20 years, when he went to New Jefferson, Ohio, and engaged in the mercantile business for himself until the year 186S, when he removed to McLean Co., Ill., and bought and settled upon a farm of 160 acres (his present home), in Gridley Township, and in 1872, bought 160 acres more, and, in 1875, eighty acres. making in all 400 acres, eighty acres being on Section 10, and 320 on Section 3, Gridley Township ; part of this land being under cultivation and part pasture, valued at about $45 an acre. He was married in the year 1853, to Miss Catherine Grier Galbraith, who was born in 1832, near Cannonsburg. Washington Co., Penn .: they have eight children living-Katie Bell, Charles, Robert M., Samuel G., Annie L., Rachel F., Jacob Henry and Albertie. Mr. Hoobler's resi- dence is located upon Section 10. Gridley Township.

D. L. HOOVER, dealer in drugs, medicines, books. stationery, etc., Gridley : is a native of this State; he was born in Putnam Co. Nov. 11, 1845 : when he was about 4 years old, his parents removed to Bureau Co., and there resided until 1856, when they removed to the western part of Livingston Co .; in 1869, he engaged in farming, to which business he had been raised, and continued it until 1871, when he came to Gridley and started in the drug business. He has one of the neatest and most tastily arranged stores in the county, and keeps a full supply of all goods in his line, and of a reliable quality, consisting of drugs, medicines, books, stationery. toilet articles, fancy groceries, paints, oils, varnishes, brushes, lamps and lamp goods, cigars and tobacco, etc. Mr. Hoover was married Jan. 14, 1869, to Miss C. G. Williams, of Washington, Tazewell Co., Ill .. and has two children-Lovena A. and Myrta. He has served as Town Clerk two years, and as City Treasurer and Collector four years, and still holds these offices.

J. J. KERR, Gridley ; was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Dec. 27, 1850; he is a son of Thomas Kerr, now of Waldo Township, Livingston Co .; when he was 15 years old, he accom- panied his parents to the United States, having been, for the two years before that, engaged as a clerk in a wholesale grocery house in Aberdeen ; after coming to Illinois, he remained on the farm five years, then entered the office of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad Co. in Chicago ; after remaining there four months, he returned to Gridley and entered the employ of Boies & Breese ; he continued with them fifteen months, after which he entered into partnership with D. L. Iloover, in the drug business ; in this he continued until December, 1877; the sum- mer of 1878 he spent in Europe, traveling quite extensively in England, Scotland. Ireland, France and Germany, and returning in December, 1878, since which time he has not been in active business. He was married May 3. 1877, to Miss H. M. Hartley-a daughter of William Hartley-late of El Paso, Ill.

L. C. McCONNELL, M. D., physician and surgeon, Gridley ; was born in Ripley, Brown Co .. Ohio, April 13, 1836 ; when he was about 4 years of age, his parents removed to Indiana. and settled in Fayette Co .; he was educated, principally, at Fairview Academy, in Rush Co., Ind., where he spent three years, and prepared for the junior class in college : entering Bethany College, Va., he remained about a year. when a difficulty occurred in the college, arising out of the slavery question, and he left at the close of his junior year, together with several other Northern students. He began the study of medicine in 1855, and spent the winter of 1856-57 at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati ; he then went to Greenfield, Ind., and remained until the fall of 1858, engaged in study and practice; returning to the Medical College, he took his second course, graduating in February, 1859; he then located at Fairview, Ind., and practiced medicine two years, when he removed to Richmond, Ind , and there remained until his removal to McLean Co. in 1866 ; he spent the first two years in Bloomington, and in August, 1868, settled in Gridley, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession ; he has served on the Board of Village Trustees, and as School Director, but with these exceptions, has declined to hold any public offices, his extended practice receiving his constant and undivided attention. IIe was married Oct. 7, 1857, to Miss Columbia A. Nutting, of Connersville, Ind., and has one child living-Minnie I.

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D. L. MEYERS, dealer in hardware, tinware, stoves, etc., Gridley ; was born in Wurtem- burg, Germany, May 5, 1832, and, until the age of 20 years, followed the business of wine- . growing, his father being the owner of a vineyard. In 1852 he came to America, and worked on a farm in Wayne Co., Ohio, for four years. lle then removed to Plainfield, Will Co., 111., and engaged in farming for himself. In 1859 he went to Washington, Tazewell Co., and, after farm- ing a few years, about the close of the war removed to El Paso, and, with his brothers-in-law, George and Samuel Zinser, opened a hardware store, and soon afterwards another store, in Washington. After about eighteen months, he disposed of his interest in the Washington store to his ; artners, but continued his business in El Paso until his removal to Gridley in the fall of 1875. Mr. Meyers does the only exclusive hardware and stove business in the place, and carries a full line of goods of the best quality. He was married, Jan. 13, 1860, to Miss Katie Zinser, of Washington, Ill., who lived but about a year. Mr. Meyers was married again in Feb- ruary, 1862, to Miss Mary M. Zinser, of Washington, Ill. : they have one child-Edward L.

C. II. NEUHAUSER, blacksmith, carriage manufacturer, and dealer in agricultural imple- ments, Gridley ; was born in Saarburg, Alsace, France, Oct. 6, 1840. When he was 6 years old, his parents eame to this country and located at Syracuse, N. Y., where his father died a year later, and, about two months afterwards, his mother removed with her family to Butler Co., Ohio ; resided there two years, and removed thence to Campbell Co., Ky. There he lived nine years ; then returned to Ohio, and lived with an uncle about four years, going thence to Cincin- nati, where he remained six months. In 1863 he came to Illinois, and worked in Bloomington, Hudson and El Paso. In August, 1864, he removed to Waldo Township, Livingston Co,, and engaged in contracting and building. He afterwards came to Gridley and followed butchering one season, and then resumed building. Returning to Waldo Township, he continued farming till March, 1874. Ile then purchased the wagon and blacksmith shop of George Jewett, and has continued in this business to the present time. lIe also engaged in the implement trade with his brother, John Neuhauser, for one year ; then sold out to his brother, Oct. 19, 1877. They were burned out, after which he erected his present building, and bought his brother's business. He makes a specialty of John Deere & Co.'s Moline plows and cultivators, Deere & Mansur Co.'s and the Quincy planters, D. M. Osborn & Co.'s harvesting machinery, Adams' corn-sheller, and minor implements of various descriptions and the best quality. Mr. Neuhauser was married, Dec. 9, 1864, to Miss Eliza Breese, a daughter of Richard Breese, of Gridley. Of ten children, six are living-Sarah E., Catherine, Lucy L., Minerva, W. Etta and Mary A. Mr. Neuhauser has served two years in the Village Council.

JOHN NORTH. deceased, formerly of Gridley Township ; was born in Lincolnshire, England, Nov. 4, 1812, and there resided until his removal to this country. Ile was one of a number of brothers who settled in the western part of Gridley Township and the eastern part of Woodford Co., several years ago. He was married in England, in June, 1838, to Miss Rachel Ratcliffe, who was also born in Lincolnshire, March 4, 1818; about the year 1850, he emigrated to the United States, and settled in Washington, Tazewell Co., III., and in 1854 removed to Wood- ford Co., just across the line from McLean, and, after several years, to the place where he lived till his death. He was a successful man, and accumulated a comfortable property, leaving at his death an estate of 280 acres. He was a man of exemplary life and steady, temperate, industri- ous habits, a member of the Baptist Church, and enjoyed the respect of all who knew him. Ile died Jan. 3, 1865, leaving a family of seven children, all of whom are now living-Sarah ( wife of Edmund Tippler), James R., Henry, Joseph R., Elizabeth ( wife of Wi liam Bailey), Spencer H. and Ellen (wife of Harvey Leonard), all of whom are settled in the neighborhood, except. Henry, who lives in Oregon. Mrs. North resides on the homestead, surrounded by her children and their families, and in the enjoyment of an ample estate, and honored by the entire com- munity.

FRIEDRICH SCHAFER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. El Paso, Woodford Co .; was born in Waldmohr, in the Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, May 11, 1820. At the usual age in that country, 14 years, he was apprenticed to the trade of a shoemaker. lle came to the United States in 1852, and located at Washington, Tazewell Co., Ill., where he worked at his trade six years, and then engaged in farming. In 1864, he removed to McLean Co., and settled on his present farm. He owns 160 acres on Secs. 22 and 23, finely improved and cultivated, besides 20 acres of timber on the Mackinaw ; nor is his success in life to be estimated by the amount of real estate owned by him ; he is, financially, one of the solid men of the community, possessing those characteristics of his countrymen which enable them to succeed so often where others fail. He was married March 1, 1846, to Miss Louisa Vogelgesang, who was born in Breidefelder- Hof, Bavaria, Aug. 28, 1828 ; they have seven children living-Frederick J., now Pastor of the Evangelical Association of the Warrensburg and Clinton Mission, Kansas), Lewis (a farmer, of Sumner Co., Kan.), Christian (a farmer, of Yates Township), John (of Sumner Co., Kan. ), Katie L. (a music teacher, of Brown Co., Kan. ), Louisa E. and Matilda.

N. B. SEIDEL, of the firm of Blumenshine & Seidel, Gridley, dealers in general merchan- dise : came to the place in 1875; he was born in Berks Co., Penn., Dec. 22, 1839; he is of German descent, his ancestors being among the first settlers of that part of the State ; the neigh- borhood in which he was raised was composed entirely of German people, and at one time there

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were but three men in his township who could speak English, and Mr. Seidel himself was 20 years of age before he could speak or understand the English language, although his ancestors. for several generations, were natives of this country. In 1857, he came West, to Stephenson Co., Ill., and began work at the carpenter's trade. Three years later, he returned to his native State. and again came to Illinois in 1865; he spent about three years in Bloomington, removing to El Paso in 1868; he followed his trade there until his removal to Gridley, in 1875. He was married Ang. 10, 1862, to Miss Emma E. Grim, of Hamburg, l'enn., and has three children- Edward B., William H. and Ilattie A.

HENRY E. SIEBERNS, general merchant, Gridley ; was born in the Duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, March 23, 1825. At the age of 14, he was apprenticed to the carpenter trade, after completing which, he learned the cabinet-maker's trade. He came to this country in 1853, land- ing in New Orleans, and proceeding up the river to Louisville, Ky., where he went to work at his trade. In 1855, in consequence of the Know Nothing disturbances in that city, he left Louis- ville and went to Canada West. Two years later he came to Illinois, and engaged in mercantile business with F. D. Callsen, in Farnisville, Woodford Co. In 1864, he removed to Gridley, where he and Mr. Callsen had just previously started a store ; since that time he has continued in business here, and also has been in the grain business nine years, from 1868 to 1877. He carries one of the largest and best selected stock of goods in the place. During his residence of six years, in Farnisville, he served constantly as Postmaster and Town Clerk, and was also elected Justice of the Peace just before leaving for Gridley He has held various offices in this place. He was married in May, 1857, to Miss Caroline Niergarth, a native of Bavaria, Germany. They have nine children living-Julietta, Juliana, Mary R., Walter H., Minnie, John R., Otto, Charles and Henrietta E Mr. Sieberns, for the past five years has made Peoria his residence. He is one of the most successful men of the county, owning 1,440 acres of land in Livingston and MeLean Counties.

JAMES B. SNEED, farmer; P. O. El Paso, Woodford Co. ; was born in Garrett Co., Ky., March, 1836, being a son of John H. and Elizabeth Sneed, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Indiana. In 1852, he came with his father's family to McLean Co., and resided six years in Bloomington. The family then removed to the eastern part of Woodford Co., and, after four years, located on Section 2, Gridley Township, where his father resided until his death, June 4, 1876. His mother is still living. Mr. Sneed was first married March 19, 1861, to Miss Tama Hawkins, of Woodford Co. ; she died Feb. 18, 1862. He was married again May 4, 1864, to Mrs. Julia A. Taylor, a daughter of Robert C. McCollum, of Christian Co., Ill., whose wife's former name was Margaret M. Mills, both formerly from Kentucky ; she was born in Christian Co., Feb. 3, 1838. They have two children-Mary Arminta, born Feb. 19, 1865, and Frank McCollum. born Jan. 1, 1868. Mrs. Sneed's former husband was J. S. Taylor, who was born Jan. 13, 1834, and was drowned Feb. 22, 1860, in Bureau Creek, in Peoria Co .; by him she had two children -- John William Taylor, now of El Paso, who was born Jan. 10, 1859, and was the first child born in the city of El Paso, Ill .; and Julia Frances Taylor, born May 20, 1857, and died Dec. 10, 1859. Mr. J. S. Taylor was a hardware merchant of El Paso, and one of its first set- tlers. Mr. Sneed now resides on the homestead, his real estate being situated in Morris Co .. Kan., where he owns 160 acres of land.

PETER SOMMER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Gridley ; has been a resident of Illinois since 1834; he was born near Strasburg, Alsace, France, April 24, 1811. He came with his parents to the United States, in 1828; they settled in Butler Co., Ohio; there he lived till his removal to Illinois, in 1834; he was one of the pioneers of Woodford Co., the Indians not having yet left their hunting grounds on the Mackinaw, when Mr. Sommer took up his claim from the Government, built his log cabin, and began to carve himself a home in the wilderness. After living there thirty-two years, he settled on his present farm in 1866. He owns a fine farm of 160 acres, well-improved, his set of buildings being among the best in the township. His success in life is due entirely to his own exertions. He is emphatically a self-made man. Has held no political offices, giving all his attention to his legitimate business of farming. He is a leading member of the Apostolic Christian Church, and was prominent in the building of the church in Gridley. He was first married in August, 1834 to Miss Catharine Schertz, of Woodford Co. : she came with her parents from Alsace, in 1832; she was born in August, 1816, and died in August, 1874. They had ten children, four of whom are living: Catharine, wife of John Ehres- man, of Livingston Co. : Barbara, wife of Peter Ehresman, of Gridley Township; Mary, and Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Rich, of Gridley Township.

M. T. VINEYARD, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Lexington ; was born in Roanoke Co., Va., in the year 1826, where he worked on his father's farm until the age of 22 years. In the year 1848, Mr. Vineyard left Virginia and removed to Iron Co., near Iron Mountain, Mo., where he remained seventeen years engaged in farming. From Iron Mountain, he removed to Illinois, settling north of the town of Metamora, Woodford Co., and remained there over three years. In the year 1869 he left Metamora and removed to and settled upon 120 acres of land on Section 27, Gridley Town- ship, where he also owns 160 acres, formerly J. B. Pirtle's place, making in all 280 acres, all under cultivation, and valued at abont $35 per acre. Mr. Vineyard was elected to the office of Supervisor of Gridley in the year 1876, and has held the office until the present, being re-elected

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GRIDLEY TOWNSHIP.

again last April. He was married in 1848 to Miss N. C. Leigh, who was born in the year 1832, in Gloucester Co., Va .. and who died in the year 1868. In 1870, he was married to Miss Mary O'Neil, who was born in Iron Co., Mo., in 1847 ; they have two children, viz .: Maggie Leigh and Robert F. Their residence is a very fine one, and, with the improvements he contemplates mak- ing, will be a beautiful home.

DAVID WELCH, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Gridley ; was born within four miles of the town of Tipperary, Ireland, in the year 1836. Patrick Welch, David's father, a farmer and quite a prominent man in his day, died in the year 1847, and his wife, Margaret, soon followed him to the tomb, leaving David an orphan, under the guardianship of his uncle, Michael Stokes, with whom, in the year 1849, he left Ireland and emigrated to America. Mr. Stokes, with his ward, settled in New Haven. Conn., where David learned carriage-painting, and, after serving his time, worked at his trade as carriage-painter, in Litchfield and New Haven Counties, until the year 1861, when he left Connecticut, and went to Peoria, Ill .; here he remained until April, 1862, when he went to El Paso Township, Woodford Co., and, in partnership with his cousin, William Stokes, bought eighty acres of land ; they remained there until the spring of 1865, when they s lal their land and removed to Gridley Township, March 11, 1865, and bought in partnership 160 acres of land, and, in the summer of 1872, they divided their 160 acres ; and David having, in 1868, purchased forty acres of land, the division left him the owner of 120 acres, to which he added eighty more, purchased in 1876, making 200 acres in all, located on Sec. 7, Gridley Township, and all under cultivation, and valned at about $40 an acre. Mr. Welch is a wide-awake, intelli- gent man, quite prominent in local politics, and has held the office of Assessor of Gridley Town- ship for one term, being elected in the year 1872. In 1875, he was elected to the office of Road Commissioner, and re-elected in 1878, and now holds the office. On the 25th of December, 1859, he was united in marriage at Naugatuck, Conn., to Miss Ellen Cany, who was born in County Lim- erick, Ireland, in the year 1834, but who emigrated to America when very young ; they have had four children, one-Maggie-dead, and three-John, Margaret and Patrick-living.

JOIIN WHITEMAN, farmer, Section 28; P. O. Gridley ; came to Illinois in the year 1857, all of his earthly possessions being a team of horses and wagon, valued at about $300, and $1.50 in money ; he now owns his farm of 160 acres, in Gridley Township, and 80 acres in Owen Co., Ind .- all gained by hard work and good judgment ; he was born in Sandusky Co., Ohio, in the year 1834, and when quite small his father removed to Owen Co., Ind .. and John helped on the farm until his father's death, which occurred in 1845 ; after this event, John remained at home with his mother until he reached the age of 23. In 1857, he left Indiana, and, taking his mother with him, went to Illinois and settled her at Scattering Point, Livingston Co., where Mrs. Whiteman had a brother, and on whose place she lived until 1860, when John removed her to McLean Co., where he had preceded her, in 1857 ; he removed to his present place in 1864, and rented of his father- in-law, and, in 1873, he bought the farm, consisting of 160 acres, located on Section 28, Gridley Township; it is all under cultivation and is valued at $35 an acre. In the year 1862, he married Miss Jesse Stretch, who was born in Money Creek Township. McLean Co., III., and died in 1871, leaving five children-Willie E., Frank E., Ella May, Ena Gay and Nancy Inze, all liv- ing. Mr. Whiteman was again married, in the year 1873, to Miss Emeline Farmer, who was born in Licking Co., Ohio, in 1853 ; they have had three children-one dead, and Eva and Daisy living.

DAVID WILSON, school-teacher, Gridley ; David Wilson was born in the year 1850, in Lincoln Co., Ky., where he lived with his father, William D. Wilson, until the age of 5 years. In the fall of 1855, Mr. Wilson removed his family from Kentucky to Illinois, stopping at Bloom- ington until the spring of 1856 ; they then removed to and settled upon a farm in Chenoa Town- ship, McLean Co .; here they remained until the year 1863, when they removed to Gridley Town- ship, within a half mile of the town of Gridley. Mr. Wilson's father bought and settled upon eighty acres of land, which he farmed until his death, which took place in 1866. David, after his father's death, remained on the farm until 1869, when he went to Woodford Co. and engaged in the sewing-machine business until 1871 ; during the years 1871 and 1872, David attended school at Normal; after leaving Normal, he spent the summer of 1873 traveling through Kan- sas, in which State (Marion Co.) he owns 320 acres of land ; he also owns 80 acres in Sullivan Co., Mo. For two years Mr. Wilson taught school in District No. 7, Grand View, and has taught for two years past, and now teaches School District No. 4, Gridley Township. In the year 1872, he married Miss Catherine Wilson ; she was born in McLean Co., III., in the year 1857; Estella May, a bright little girl, is their only child. His residence is on Section 16, Grid- ley Township.

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PADUA TOWNSHIP.

HENRY R. ARROWSMITH, farmer, See. 25 ; P. O. Ellsworth ; owns 198 aeres, worth $45 per aere ; was born in Ross Co., Ohio, June 10, 1815 ; remained on the farm with his father until 22 years old ; came from Ohio to Indiana in 1839, where he remained six months, then came on to this county. Was married while in Ohio to Anna Cowgill Feb. 8, 1838 ; she was born in Ross Co., Ohio, Oet. 8. 1809; they have had six children-Daniel, David E., Elizabeth A. (now wife of G. W. Baine, of Padua); Ezekiel, died May 14, 1841; Sarah J., died Aug. 18, 1849; Henry F., died Sept. 24, 1849. Has held the office of School Director three years ; Township Treasurer, fifteen years : Justice of the Peace, two years ; held the office of Supervisor of the Township one term. He was one of the first settlers of this township; coming here with but very little property ; by industry, economy and hard labor has accumulated some $10,000 or $12,000 worth of property. He is Democratie and Methodist. A man of great influence in the neighborhood where he resides.

DAVID E. ARROWSMITH, farmer ; P. O. Ellsworth ; was born in McLean Co., III., April 22, 1842; he remained with his father on the farm, assisting him. Was married to Catharine Baine Sept. 8, 1864; she was born in Hampshire Co., Va., Nov. 11, 1833, and died April 19, 1872; the fruit of this marriage was four children-Mary, George H., David and Anna C .; he married Oct. 17, 1877, Sarah C. Hoover; she was born in Hampshire Co., Va .. Oct. 6, 1857 ; they have one child-Olive, born Nov. 27, 1878. He continues to live with his parents on the farm.

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 120

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