The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 122

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 122

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NATHANIEL H. BECKHAM, farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Sabina ; born in Warren Co., Ky., May 11. 1836 ; his father, Nathaniel Beckham, was also born in Warren Co., Ky., March 21. 1802. He married Elizabeth Low, who was born in the same county Oct. 25, 1803. They were the parents of eight children, of which seven are now living. Mr. Beckham died in the same county, Aug. 21 1844; his widow, who survives him, still lives in the same county. Nathaniel, Jr., received a limited educa- tion in an old Kentucky log schoolhouse, and lived in Kentucky, where he followed farming and working out by the month, until 1861, when after visiting various Southern and Western States, among which was Texas and the Indian Nation, he came to McLean Co. in the spring of 1861, and for several years was engaged in farming, and employed as farm laborer until December, 1877, when he located upon his present place, Section 22, West Township, where he has 320 acres of good prai- rie land, and 100 acres of timber in Padua and Empire Townships; also several lots in the city of Le Roy. lle is quite extensively engaged in farming, his corn crop for the year 1878 exceed- ing 5,000 bushels, for which he finds a market at the railroad station of Sabina, located upon his own land. His marriage with Rachel Bishop was celebrated Jan. 5, 1868; she was born in Empire Township, May 23, 1846. They have six children-Charles H., born Oct. 3, 1868; Mar- garet E., born Feb. 26, 1870; Susan A., Feb. 12, 1872; Anna M., Sept. 14, 1873; Eliza, Sept. 5, 1875, and James B., June 25, 1878. Mrs. Beckham is a daughter of James Bishop, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., and whose biography appears among the sketches of Empire Town- ship in another part of this work.

CALEB D. BELLVILLE, merchant, Postmaster and Notary Public, Kumler; born in Bel- mont Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1823 ; he was the oldest son of Samuel Bellville, who was born in the State of Delaware, Nov. 22, 1778: he located in Belmont Co., Ohio, in 1806, where he lived until 1831, when he located in Rush Co .. Ind., and died in Vigo Co., Ind., March, 1867, at the age of 89 years. His marriage with Phoebe Dille was celebrated April 9, 1820; she was born in New York, May 23, 1800, and died in Vigo Co., Ind., in 1845 ; the Bible from which this record was taken was presented to her by her father upon her marriage, in 1820, and is now held by Mr. Bellville very valuable as an heirloom. Caleb D. Bellville remained with his father, attended school, and followed farming and merchandising until 18 years of age, when he went to Galena, Ill., and. after working there one year, with the proceeds of his wages attended the select school six months. He then went to work at carpentering. devoting all his spare time to the study of surveying, which he continued four years, during which time he had some practical experience in surveying In 1853, he went to Richland Co., Wis., where he lived three years, during which time he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, and Deputy County Surveyor ; he then went to Crawford Co., where he was appointed Deputy County Surveyor, and assisted to lay out the town of Belle Center, and used every effort to secure the county seat. In 1859, he returned to Richland Co., and, in 1862, was elected County Surveyor for two years, and, in March, 1864, enlisted in the 38th Regt., Wis. V. I. ; he was detailed upon the detective service, and, after serving one year was. on account of disability, from rheumatism, contracted while in the army, discharged. He then went to Vigo Co., Ind., and followed farming three years, and in the fall of 1868, he came to McLean Co., and located in Oldtown Township, where he lived two years, when, upon the completion of the 1. B. & W. R. R., he built the first building erected upon the town plat of Downs, and opened the first stock of goods at that place ; here he remained in trade, during which time he was Postmaster until 1875, when he again moved upon his farm, and, in 1877, he erected the first building at Kumler Station ; was appointed the first Postmaster and put in the only stock of goods at the station. His marriage with Mary J. McClurg was celebrated Sept. 24, 1843; she was born in Hancock Co., Ind., July 10, 1825; she died in Vigo Co., Ind., Oct. 14, 1867, leaving four children, viz. : Elizabeth J., born May 14, 1847, now Mrs. Perry Orendorff ; Andrew, born June 24, 1852; Olive L, born Aug. 17, 1854, and Martha A., born Aug. 19, 1860. He was united in marriage with Rebecca E. Laughlin, June 20, 1869 ; she was born in West- moreland Co., Penn., April 26, 1831. They have one child by this union, viz. : Flora M., born May 9, 1870.

WILLIAM BIGGS, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Saybrook ; was born in Fayette Co , Ohio, June 5, 1824, remaining with his father until the year 1839, when his father died. He then lived with his mother until 1856, on the farm, engaging in farming. He was married to Caroline Pumpelly Nov. 16, 1861. She was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, July 13, 1839. They are the parents of one child-Nancy E., who was born Aug. 26, 1862. He has held the office of School Director ten years, School Trustee ten years, County Commissioner one year, and Supervisor of Township one term His father is a native of Delaware, and his mother of Maryland. Mrs. Biggs' father is a native of Maine, and her mother of New Hampshire. He owns 190 acres of good farm land.

LEWIS BIGGS, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Belleflower ; born at Smith's Grove, McLean Co., Ill., Aug. I, 1845. Ilis father, Andrew Biggs, was born in Delaware. He emigrated to Ohio, from there to Illinois, and located at Funk's Grove in 1835. He followed farming until his decease, which occurred April 2, 1876. The subject of this sketch followed farming until 19 years of age, when he enlisted in the 146th Regt. 1. V. I., in August, 1861, and remained in ser- vice until the close of the war, receiving his discharge July 8, 1865. After farming one year with his father, he came to West Township, and for five years farmed upon the land of William

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Biggs, when he located upon his present place, where he has since lived. He owns eighty acres of and. which he has placed under good cultivation, and upon which he has good buildings. Ilis marriage with Bettie Cawly was celebrated Oct. 5, 1873. She was born in Kentucky July 29, 1852. They have one child by this union-Clarence Dean, born July 24, 1874. Mrs. Biggs is the daughter. of Moses H. Cawly, whose sketch appears in this work.

SAMUEL BRILEY, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Farmer City ; born in Sumner Co., Tenn., April 10, 1833. His father, James Briley, was born in South Carolina; he was one of the patriots of the war of 1812; was in many battles. among which was the battle of New Orleans, under Gen. Jackson. He located in Tennessee, among the Indians and wild beasts, about 1816, and, about this date, was married to Jane Bundy. She was born in Wilson Co., Tenn. They were the parents of nine children, five are now living. Mrs. Briley died in Sumner Co , Tenn., in 1866. Mr. Briley still lives upon the old place, where he has lived for a period of sixty-four years. The subject of this sketch was brought up to farm labor until 21 years of age, when lie started out to seek his fortune, coming to Illinois in 1854. He located in Marion Co., and, upon his arrival, his capital consisted of his few clothes tied up in a pocket-handkerchief. Here he was employed as farm laborer for five years. He then followed farming for himself for six years in Marion Co .. during which time he had paid for eighty acres of land, which he then sold for $1,100, and, in 1865, he came to McLean Co. and purchased one hundred acres of land, where he now lives, and upon which he has good buildings. Mr. Briley has suffered much loss from different causes. among which we mention the loss of his dwelling, with furniture, and all of the clothing of the family, in 1865. In 1869, he lost all his horses, thereby meeting with a loss of upward of $500; and, in 1875, he lost seventy-five hogs, being the whole amount of his stock at that time. For five years, on account of sickness, he was unable to perform any labor upon his farm, being attended by five different physicians. Upon the 10th day of March, 1859, he was united in marriage with Ann E. Burford. She was born in Harrison Co., Ind., Dec. 4, 1836. They have three children now living by this union-Burford L., born June 29, 1860; Elmer Ellsworth, Jan. 14. 1862; and Carrie May, June 8, 1868. Mrs. Briley is a daughter of Cary L. Burford. of whom especial mention is made in the sketch of his son, James C. Burtord, in another column of this work.

JOIN BRITTIN, farmer, Sec. 1, P. O. Saybrook : born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Ill., May 3, 1848. He was the second son of Nathan T. Brittin, who emigrated from Ohio and located upon Sec. 1, Empire Township, in 1829. Here he entered land, erected a log house with stick-and-mud chimney, puncheon floor and clapboard door, hung with wooden hinges. His first bedstead was called, in early days, a raccoon bedstead, built by boring holes in the end and side logs of the house, in which poles were inserted and fastened to a single post. where they met. Their first cupboard and table was an old dry-goods box. In this they kept their dishes and provisions. and also used it as a table. He married Sarah Barnett; she was born in Ken- tucky. Feb. 15, 1816 : she died in Illinois Aug. 7, 1878. Mr. Brittin was born in Ohio Oct. 18, 1809 ; he died in McLean Co., Ill., Oct. 10, 1860. He was held in great esteem by the poor, to whom he was very kind. He commenced life without means, and at the time of his decease had accumulated upward of one thousand acres of land and some $50,000 in securities. They raised a family of nine children, all of whom lived to grow up. His sketch appears among the biog- raphies of Empire Township. John Brittin lived with his parents until 20 years of age, when his father deeded him 126 acres in Empire Township, upon which he farmed until his father's death. when he lived upon the old homestead one year, when he removed upon his own farm, which he afterward exchanged for his present place. He now owns 205 acres upon Sec. 1. West Township, all under a good state of cultivation. His marriage with Isadora Straight was cele- brated June 2, 1867. She was born in Brown Co., Ohio, July 5, 1849. She was the daughter of Amos Straight, who came from Ohio and located in Empire Township in 1858, where he now lives.

JAMES C. BURFORD, farmer, Sec. 3, Township 21 ; P. O. Farmer City : born in Harrison Co., Ind., June 23, 1843. llis father. Cary L. Burford, was born in Kentucky, and emigrated to Indiana. He afterward lived a short time in Missouri, when he returned to Harrison Co., Ind., where he followed farming, and was also engaged in the merchandise trade, during which time his store was destroyed by fire, by which he suffered a loss of some $4,000. After living in Indiana several years, he came down the river upon a flatboat, taking with him upon the boat his cattle, horses, machinery, household furniture, etc. He then purchased 700 acres of land in Marion Co., and for eleven years engaged in farming and stock-raising, when he sold out, and, in 1865, came to MeLean Co., where he purchased 640 acres of land upon Sec. 3, Township 21. West Township, upon which he then located, and followed farming and stock-raising until 1870. with the exception of one year's residence in Le Roy. In the fall of the above year, he removed to Farmer City, where he built a double brick store, and, until 1877, was engaged in the general merchandise trade, when he was succeeded by four of his sons, viz .: C. S., J. M., W. T. and J. H. His business is now confined to the duties required of him at the First National Bank of Farmer City, of which he is Vice President and a large stockholder (to the amount of $10,000), the care of his farm and large amount of real estate which he owns in Farmer City. He was united in marriage with Annie Shields, Jan. 29, 1829. She was a native of Virginia. Their golden

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wedding anniversary was celebrated at their residence in Farmer City upon Jan. 29, 1879. It was largely attended. Eight of their nine children were present, and fourteen of the twenty- four grandchildren. They came representatives of all ages-from infancy to old age. They came to the number of upward of one hundred. They came from adjoining villages, counties and State, bearing costly presents of silver and gold, to pay their respects to this aged couple who together had traveled the path of life for half a century. Among the presents were a solid gold-headed cane to Mr. Burford from the Directors of the First National Bank of Farmer City; a complete solid tea service and two pairs of gold spectacles to the parents from their loving children ; and many other presents of silver, as well as valuable books, pictures, etc. The parents are now 74 years of age, Mrs. Burford being but six weeks the senior of her husband. Ten of their twelve children lived to grow up, and all except the youngest were mar- ried in rotation, according to their ages. James C. Burford lived with his father until 20 years of age, when he engaged in farming upon Sec. 3, West Township, McLean Co., where he has since lived, and where he owns seventy-eight acres of land, upon which he has good farm build- ings. His marriage with Lucinda Hattell was celebrated Sept. 27, 1870. She was born in Har- rison Co., Ind., Jan. 18, 1850. Her father, Conrad F. Hattell, was born in Indiana, where he was married to Mary Sensey, who died in Harrison Co , Ind., in 1859. Mr. Hattell now lives in Indiana, where he has lived for a period of fifty-six years.

D. J. CAMPBELL, farmer, Sec 15; P. O. Delano. The subject of this sketch was born in Franklin Co , Penn., Ang. 26, 1846 ; his father, Mark W. Campbell, was born in the same county ; he emigrated to Clinton Co , Ind., in 1849, where he died in the year 1860; his widow, who survives him, is now the wife of Absalom Stubblefield, of Funk's Grove. The subject of this sketch lived with his father until the decease of the latter, during which time he learned the carpenter trade, and continued farming upon the old place until 1866, when he, with his mother, emigrated to Illinois, and located in Dale Township, McLean Co. Upon the 13th of December, 1870, he was united in marriage with Maria Gibble ; she was born in Franklin Co., Penn., March 27, 1851; they have two children now living, viz .: Exavenia, born Sept. 10, 1871 and Robert R., born April 29, 1876. In the spring of 1873, Mr. Campbell purchased his pres- ent place of eighty acres, upon which he then located, and where he has since lived.

MOSES H. CAWBY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 4; P. O. Arrowsmith. The subject of this sketch was born in Jessamine Co., Ky., Jan. 11, 1823 when 2 years of age his father died, and he lived with his mother and followed farming until 18 years of age, when he learned the cabinet-maker trade, which he finished in 1844; he then worked at his trade until 1846, when he engaged in the furniture trade at Georgetown, Scott C'o., Ky., which he continued until 1853; when he came to Illinois, and located upon his present place, where he has since lived, and where he has 515 acres of land, mostly under cultivation. Ilis marriage with Catherine E. West, was cele- brated in Georgetown, Ky., Oct. 5, 1848 ; she was born in Bourbon Co., Jan. 28, 1829 ; her father, Henry West, was one of the early settlers and prominent men of this township, and in honor of whom this township received its name; he located here in 1851. Ile was the first Supervisor of the township, which office he held until 1869, when he removed to Bloomington, where he now lives. The mother of Mrs. Cawby was Mary (Lighter) West ; she was born in Bourbon Co., Ky .; she died in Scott Co., Ky., July, 1848; the children of Moses and Catherine Cawby were eight in number-Henry M., born Jan. 17, 1850; Bettie C., July 29, 1852, now Mrs. Lewis Biggs, West Township; Frank, Nov. 5, 1855; Mattie, Sept. 5, 1858; John P., March 13, 1861 ; Ella, April 9. 1864 ; Ida M., May 20, 1867: Otic, Aug. 20, 1870. The father of Mr. Cawby was Martin Cawby, born in Maryland and emigrated to Kentucky, and died in Jessamine Co., in 1825. He married Susan Tresler ; she was born in Maryland, and died in Indiana, in 1855 ; they were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the youngest. Mr. Cawby has hield various offices of West Township, among which are Justice of the Peace, Assessor, School Director, and other petty offices.

STEPHEN E. CLARNO, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 11 ; P. O. Weedman ; one of the early settlers of Illinois; born in Clark Co., Ohio, March 8, 1816; his father. Andrew Clarno, emi- grated from Ohio, and located in St. Clair Co., Ill., in the year 1818, and the year following he removed to Sangamon Co., ten miles north of Springfield. Mrs. Clarno was the second white woman that crossed the Sangamon River; Mrs. Clarno died in Menard Co., Ill., in 1844; Mr. Clarno died in Galena, Ill., July 15, 1851. The subject of this sketch lived with a family by the name of Straisbridge from 6 to 15 years of age, when he, with his father and brother, went afoot to the southi part of Wisconsin, where they took an active part in the Black Hawk war; he remained in Wisconsin until 1839, when he came to Menard Co., Ill., where he rented land, upon which he farmed three years, when he entered forty acres and purchased forty more, upon which he lived until 1854; when he sold out and removed to Logan Co., where he purchased 640 acres of land, upon which he lived until 1875; when he sold out and came to West Township, where he purchased 680 acres of land, where he now lives ; he keeps some 80 head of cattle of a high grade, 150 hogs, some horses and sheep. His marriage with Nancy Barnett was celebrated April 16, 1840; she was born in Tennessee in 1816, and died in Menard Co., in 1850; of their six children, only one survives, now Mrs. John Ewing, of Logan Co. He was united in marriage to Eliza Kincaid, October, 1851; she died in March, 1853, leaving one child-Mrs. M. Dillard, of

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West Township. The maiden name of his present wife was Dorothy Wigginton, to whom he was. married Jan. 8, 1854 ; she was born in Kentucky in 1824; they have four children now living- Francis Marion, Stephen E., Jr., James T. and Lucretia.

H. CROSKEY, farmer; P. O. Farmer City : born in Harrison Co., Ohio, April 15, 1827, where he attended school in his youth and followed farming until he was 28 years of age, when, upon the 8th of March. 1855, he was united in marriage with Rachel Hamilton ; she was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, May 21, 1835. Upon his marriage, he purchased a farm in Ohio, which he disposed of the following year and emigrated to Illinois, and purchased 160 acres of land upon Section 5, Town 21, West Township, upon which he lived three years, when he sold out, and after living one year in Le Roy, purchased his present place of 160 acres, upon which he located in the spring of 1860, where he has since lived ; he located in West Township before its organization ; was one of the active organizers of the township; cast the first vote ever polled in this township, and was the second Assessor. The children of Henry and Rachel Croskey were five in number-Clara B., born June 12, 1857; Joshua Hamilton, born Feb. 21, 1860 ; Mary Jane, born Feb. 27, 1865 : Annie A., born March 16, 1868; Rettie Craig, born Nov. 7, 1871.

JAMES T. CRUMBAUGH, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 18; P. O. Le Roy. The birth of this gentleman may be considered as one of the earliest in McLean Co .; he was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Jan. 24, 1832; he was a twin brother of Daniel T. Crumbaugh and a son of Daniel and Martha ( Robinson) Crumbaugh, who were among the earliest settlers of McLean Co., locating in Empire Township in the fall of 1830, and of whom a more extended mention is made in another part of this work. James T. remained with his father and followed farming and stock-raising until 21 years of age, when he farmed for himself for two years, upon a part of his father's farm, and, the following year, he, with his brother. D. T., purchased 160 acres of land, upon Section 13, and put in a crop of 60 acres of wheat, which yielded 30 bush- els to the acre, the whole crop being sohl in the field, at SI per bushel ; in 1856, he purchased 80 acres of land upon Section 18, West Township, and, the following year, added, by purchase, 120 acres more, which he improved, and, in 1864, he realized $3,500 from the product of his 200 acres, with which he purchased 280 acres adjoining his home farm ; in 1867, he purchased 80 acres, and, in 1869. he purchased 160 acres, at $35 per acre. to which, in 1874, he added 74 acres, for which he paid $2,000, cash, making 794 acres in West, and 60 acres in Empire Town- ships, upon which there is no incumbrance. Mr. Crumbaugh first commenced farming upon rented land, which he followed two years; his capital consisted of one horse ; his harness and plows he borrowed of his neighbors ; he then, with his brother, D. T., purchased 160 acres of land, upon time, as well as their farming implements, their seeds being purchased from the pro- ceeds of their previous farming. lle now owns 854 acres of land, feeds 150 head of cattle and ships his own stock, all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor and good business management, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, to whom he was united in marriage upon the 18th of Sept., 1863 ; her maiden name was Elizabeth J. Wiley ; she was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Nov. 17, 1841 ; she was the daughter of James Wiley, one of the carly settlers of McLean Co., and of whom a more extended notice is given in the sketch of James S. Wiley, among the biographies of Empire Township. Mr. Crumbaugh expresses much gratitude to his esteemed brother-in-law, Charles Cope, and attributes much of his success in life to the kindness and judgment and advice of that gentleman, and by whom he was generously supplied with money at various times; not to the subject of this sketch alone was his kindness shown, but it extended to the balance of the family, as well as to many others. The biography of Mr. Cope is to be found among the sketches of Empire Township. James T. and Elizabeth Crumbaugh were the parents of one child. which died in infancy.

LEONARD A. CRUMBAUGH, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Le Roy : one of the early settlers of McLean Co .; born in Sangamon Co., Ill., Nov. 13, 1829; he was the son of Daniel and Martha Crumbaugh, who emigrated from Kentucky to Sangamon Co. in 1828, and located upon Sec. 14, in what is now Empire Township, in the fall of 1830; here they lived until their death : Mrs. Crumbaugh died Jan. 4, 1857, and Mr. Crumbaugh died May 19, 1874; they lie buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery, and over their grave stands a large marble monument. erected sacred to their memory by their loving children. The subject of this sketch remained with his father until 21 years of age, and in August, 1852, he entered 200 acres of land upon Sec. 19, West Township, upon which he then located, and where he has since lived during a period of twenty-seven years; he is, aside from farming, quite extensively engaged in stock- raising, feeding and shipping from 60 to 80 cattle, 100 to 150 hogs, 300 sheep and from. 15 to 20 horses: he has since added to his farm by purchase, until it now contains 640 acres of prai- rie, 45 acres of timber, and 160 acres in Piatt Co. Mr. Crumbaugh has some vivid recollections of the hardships and privations of frontier life; he has, in times of low water, driven forty miles to mill, and made two trips to Chicago with wheat, which he sold at 50 cents per bushel, loading back with salt, leather and groceries, the trip consuming ten or twelve days, and they camping out and doing their cooking. Of township and school offices, Mr. Crumbangh has had his full share; he was the first School Trustee of West Township, which office he held for six years : has held the office of School Director for a period of one-fourth of a century, and other

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petty offices. The marriage nuptials of Leonard A. Crumbaugh and Sarah M. Wiley were cel- ebrated Sept. 25, 1856; she was born in Le Roy Dec. 18, 1838; their children were five in num- ber-Pamelia, born Ang. 27, 1858, and died Sept. 7, 1860; William F., Ang. 27, 1861 ; Charles, Sept. 10, 1864; Gertrude, Aug. 27, 1868, and one which died in infancy, born Sept. 10, 1862. It will be noticed, by referring to the above dates, that three of their children were born upon the 27th of August, while the births of the other two occurred upon the 10th of September, Mrs Crumbaugh was the daughter of James Wiley-an early settler and a prominent citizen of Empire Township-and who is more prominently mentioned in the biography of J. S. Wiley, to be found among the sketches of Empire Township, in another part of this work.

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 122

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