The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 123

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 123

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D. MONROE DICKINSON, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Sabina; born in Pike Co., 111., Oct. 29, 1842 (lie is the son of Eliada and Lois Dickinson, whose biography appears among the sketches of Empire Township, in another part of this work) ; after attending the common schools until 15 years of age, he entered the German and English College at Quincy, which he attended two terms, and upon the 8th of August, 1862, he enlisted in the 99th Regt. of I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he served in the campaign of Missouri until the spring of 1863 ; he was then forwarded to the attack upon Vicksburg, joining the army at Milliken's Bend, and was then continually engaged in fighting, until the surrender of Vicksburg upon the 4th of July following ; among the battles in which he was engaged upon that campaign, were Grand Gulf, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, Black River, and was in the memorable charge on the 22d of May, upon the rebel breastworks at Vicksburg, where the gallant 99th engaged with 300 strong, and of which 150 were killed and many more wounded ; he remained with the army at Vicksburg until its surrender, after which he was engaged in Mississippi, including the second battle of Jackson, where, after a two weeks siege, the Union army was victorious ; returning to Vicksburg, he was transferred to the Gulf department, and after assisting in the capture of Fort Esperanza, was sent to Mobile Bay, and assisted in the capture of Fort Gaines, Fort Morgan, Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, when the 99th had the honor of being the first regi- ment to march into Mobile; he was then sent to Shreveport, La., and Baton Rouge, where he was mustered out of service in August, 1865. Mr. Dickinson served in the Union army upwards of three years ; he was wounded at the battle of Magnolia, but refused to go to the hospital ; at the battle of Black River, a ball passed through his coat and vest ; at the second battle of Jackson, a piece of shell passed through his hat; after receiving his discharge in August, 1865, he returned to West Township, McLean Co., and the fall of 1866 purchased 280 acres in West Township, which he afterward exchanged for his present place of 240 acres, where he now lives. His marriage with Maria I. Williams was celebrated Feb. 28, 1867; she was born in Boone Co., Ind., Jan. 21, 1850; they have three children by this union-Clara Lois, born Jan. 10, 1868; Melvina, Sept. 19, 1870. and Eliada, Aug. 9, 1873.

HENRY B. FRIDLEY, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Delano ; born in Crawford Co., Penn., Feb. 25, 1835; his father, John Fridley, was born in Pennsylvania and located in Fulton Co., 111., in 1836, where lie died Sept 5, 1847. His mother's maiden name was Esther Buck, born in Pennsylvania in 1803, and now lives in Fulton Co., Ill. The subject of this sketch attended school and engaged in farming until 20 years of age, when he was united in marriage with Sarah A. Buck, upon the 11th of Oct., 1855; she was born in Fulton Co., Ill., Sept. 28, 1837; her parents came from Pennsylvania to Fulton Co., III., in 1836. Three children were the fruit of this union-Esther M , born April 8, 1858; Charles D., Oct. 7, 1859, and Henry F. P., March 23, 1863. Mr. Fridley engaged in farming in Fulton Co. until the summer of 1867, when he came to McLean Co. and purchased 320 acres of land upon Sec. 25, West Township, upon which he located, and where he has since lived, and whichi, by his own hard labor, he has brought from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation. He also owns upwards of 300 acres of land in Texas, valued at $6,000, all of which he, with the united efforts of his wife, has accumulated since their marriage, at which date his capital consisted of $2 in cash and five spring calves. His first crop in McLean Co. was a failure, and he was obliged to run in debt for the feed for his seventy-six head of cattle, twelve horses and some hogs, which he hauled six miles through very deep mud. He cultivates many different kinds of fruit, among which are different kinds of apples, peaches, pears, cherries, grapes, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, blackber- ries, quinces, plums, etc.

HENRY GRIZZELL, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 33; P. O. Sabina; born in Gloucester- shire, England, July 28, 1815. He was the only child of Josiah Grizzell, who was born in 1769, and raised in Gloucestershire, England. IIe followed farming until his decease, which occurred in the fall of 1834. His mother was born in the same place ; her maiden name was Anna Roach : her birth occurred in 1769 ; she died in England in 1843 ; they both lie buried in the churchyard in Harrisville Parish. The subject of this sketch attended the private subscription schools in his youth, after which he followed farming until he emigrated to America, where he landed in New York in April, 1851, after a tedious voyage of thirteen weeks. He then lived in Auburn, N. Y., two years, when he emigrated West, and located at Cleaverville, Cook Co., III., in 1853. Here he followed farming and carpentering for two years, and in 1855, he came to McLean Co., living near Bloomington two years, and, in 1857, he came to West Township, and entered 160 acres of land, upon which he located the following year, and where he has since lived. Ile was

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

one of the first settlers of West Township, and is one of, if not the oldest resident of the township. He now owns 290 acres of well-improved land in Sections 32 and 33, which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and economy, in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife, to whom he was united in marriage in Monmouthshire, England, July 15, 1844 ; her maiden name was Jane Martin ; she was born in the parish of Hardwich, Glou- cestershire, England, Dec. 12, 1815 ; her father, Thomas Martin, was born in the same shire, and died in Monmouthshire in the fall of 1847 ; her mother's maiden name was Hannah Vick ; she was born in Gloucestershire, and died in Worcestershire, July, 1841. The children of Henry and Jane Grizzell were eight in number, of which four are now living, viz: Ann Maria, born May 15, 1845, now Mrs. H. R. Benson, wife of a prominent lawyer of Bloomington ; Edward H., Dec. 15, 1846, farming in Barton Co., Kan. ; Robert, Aug. 27, 1848, now in Kansas ; and John Martin, now attending the Wesleyan University at Bloomington. Mr. and Mrs. Grizzell have been members of the Episcopal Church since their childhood.

ELIJAH HAMAND, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Perry Co., Ohio, Nov. 9, 1846, where he followed farming until 19 years of age, when he enlisted in the 114th Ohio V. I. ; upon the 22d of August, 1862, he was sent to Memphis, and was engaged in the campaign through Tennessee, the battle of Chickasaw Bluffs, fight of Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, from there to Young's Point, where, for three months, he was engaged in digging the canal, being a large part of the time exposed to the fire of the rebel army ; in the spring of 1863, he joined the main army of Grant at Milliken's Bend and participated in nearly all of the battles through the campaign, among which were Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Black River, Champion Hills, and, upon the 22d of May, when the gallant charge was made upon the rebel breastworks at Vicksburg, in which his regiment suffered great loss in killed and wounded; he was then transferred to the Gulf department, going to Texas ; was engaged in the Red River expedition, after which, he was sent to Florida, and from there marched overland and assisted in the capture of Ft. Blakely, which was virtually the last battle of the war; in August, 1865, he was mustered out and received his discharge at Columbus, Ohio, having served in the Union army upward of three years. After receiving his discharge, he located in West Township, McLean Co., and farmed with his father until 1869, when he purchased his present place of eighty acres, upon which he has since lived and upon which he has good farm buildings. His marriage with Emma Coleman was celebrated Sept. 6, 1867; she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, July 16, 1848; they have five children by this union, viz., Maggie R., Lydia S., Thomas S., Nannie B. and Emma L. Mrs. Hamand is the daughter of Henry R. Coleman, of the early pioneers of McLean Co. Mr. Hamand is a Republican ; he cast his first vote for A. Lincoln and has always worked for the success of his party ; he is a Steward of the M. E. Church, of which he with his wife have been members since 1873.

JOHN HAMILTON, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Farmer City ; born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Nov. 22, 1820, where he attended school and followed farming until 23 years of age, when, after clerking one year in the merchandise trade, he purchased a farm in Knox Co., which he improved until 1850, when he sold out, and, emigrating to Illinois, purchased a farm in Empire Township, McLean Co., upon which he located and followed farming for four years, when, in 1855, he again sold out and purchased his present farm of 320 acres, upon section 6, Town 21, West Township, upon which he then located, and where he followed farming until 1862, when he rented his farm and removed to Bloomington, where he engaged in buying and ship- ping stock to Chicago and the Eastern markets until 1872, when he returned to his farm, where he has since lived Ile was married to Rebecca R. Pritchard, in Cadiz, Ohio, Aug. 21, 1845 : she was born at the above place March 7, 1825; she is a daughter of John and Sarah Pritchard : her father was born in Frederick Co., Md., and located in Ohio at an early day ; her mother's maiden name was Sarah Brownfield ; she was born in Fayette Co., Penn. The children of John and Rebecca Hamilton were seven in number-Sarah J. (now wife of B. F. Funk, of Bloomington ), born June 11, 1846; Mary, born March 31, 1849 (she was married to Judge A. S. Wilson, of Washington Co., Kan., where she died Oct. 12, 1878, leaving two children ); Alice, born July 15, 1851 (now Mrs. J. J. Dally, of Missouri); Ella, born Jan. 14, 1854 (now wife of W. E. P. Anderson, a lawyer); Bella, born Jan. 26, 1858 ; Lizzie, Aug. 14, 1860, and Ernest P., Sept. 12, 1866 ; the last three now living at home.

WILLIAM W. HAMMOND, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Sabina. The subject of this sketch was born in Lancashire, England, April 2, 1839; his father, Wm. Hammond, was born at the above place, where he followed blacksmithing until 1841, when he emigrated to America; he lied in Illinois in 1869 ; his widow died in New Jersey in 1877. Wm. W. lived with his parents until 14 years of age, when he came to Illinois, and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., in 1854 ; his capital at that time was $5 ; he immediately secured employment as farm laborer, at $8 per month ; and the proceeds of his first season's labor was loaned out and has remained in than condition for the past twenty-five years. He continued to work out until 22 years of age, when he was united in marriage, on the 9th of Dec., 1861, with ('atharine Bishop; she was born in McLean Co., April 4, 1842 ; five children were the fruit of this union, of whom four are now living, viz .: Ida May, born Sept. 23, 1862; James W., Sept. 3, 1864; Charles B., Oct. 14, 1866, and Elizabeth C , March 11, 1870. Mrs. Hammond is the daughter of the lon. Malon

& Recuar LE ROY

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WEST TOWNSHIP.

Bishop, whose biography appears among the sketches of Empire Township. In 1861, Mr. Ham- mond engaged in farming for himself in Empire Township, and, in 1867, he located upon his present place, where he has since lived and where he has 120 acres of land upon which he has good farm buildings. He has held the office of Town Clerk, one year; School Director, nine years in succession, and some other petty offices. He and his wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, having joined in 1871.

GEO. W. HEDRICK, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 5; P. O. Arrowsmith ; born in what is now Empire Township, McLean Co., Ill., Oet. 6, 1836. His father, Elijah lledrick, was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Oct. 19, 1801 ; he emigrated to Sangamon Co., in 1824, and to Randolph's Grove, Melean Co., about the year 1828 or 1830; he lived in McLean Co., until 1871, when he removed to Kansas, where he now lives. He married Susanna Lake ; she was born in Virginia, and is now living in Kansas. The subject of this sketch commenced farming for himself at 21 years of age, and, after two years' labor, he passed one winter in Texas, after which he returned to McLean Co., where he followed school-teaching on account of ill-health, and the balance of the time has been engaged in farming and dealing in stock. In 1865, he located upon his pres- ent place, where he has 320 acres of well-improved land, and 200 aeres in other parts of the township ; he is largely engaged in farming, stock-raising, feeding and shipping to the Chicago market. He keeps 100 head of cattle, 160 sheep and some horses ; he has fed hogs largely, and within two years has lost upwards of two hundred by the cholera, and his bad luck with hogs has led him to turn his attention more to the feeding of cattle and sheep. Upon the 20th of September, 1865, he was united in marriage with Martha West ; she was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., July 1, 1834 ; they have four children now living by this union, having lost two by death ; the living are-Nellie, Frank, Emma and May. Mrs. Hedrick is a daughter of Henry West, who is prominently mentioned in the sketch of Moses H. Cawby, in another part of this work.

GEO. W. HILL, farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Sabina. Mr. Hill was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, on the 31st day of January, 1838; he emigrated with his parents, when two years of age, and located in Pike Co., Ill. His father, Win. L., was born in Madison Co., Ky., in the year 1810, and emigrated to Ohio in 1830, where, the following year, he was married to Sarah Salter, who was born in Clermont Co., Ohio; they were the parents of nine children, of whom five are now living. Mr. Ilill's decease occurred in Pike Co., Ill., in the spring of 1865 ; his wife having lied two years previous. The subject of this sketch remained with his father and followed farm- ing until 23 years of age, when, on the 13th of March, 1861, he was united in marriage with Almira J. Cohenour ; she was born in Pike Co., Ill., Feb. 15, 1839 ; her parents emigrated from Pennsylvania to Pike Co., in 1836. Upon the marriage of Mr. Hill, he rented land and followed farming in Pike Co. until 1863, when he came to MeLean Co , and, after farming one year in Dry Grove Township, he purchased 140 acres in Bloomington Township, which he improved until 1868, when he sold out and purchased 80 acres of his present place, which now contains 120 acres, and upon which he then located, and where he has since lived. The children of George and Almira Hill were seven in number, of which one is deceased ; the living are-Wallace H., born Jan. 22, 1862 ; Effie D., Aug. 30, 1865; Almira J., March 31, 1868; Winnie M., Aug. 26, 1870 ; Nellie, Nov. 16, 1873, and Annie, Feb. 23, 1877 ; the deceased died in infancy.

THOMAS HUDDLESTONE, deceased, farmer. This gentleman was born in Yorkshire, Eng .. Dec. 30, 1806; he was the son of Thomas Huddlestone, who died in Yorkshire about the year 1860. The subject of this sketch lived with his father until 28 years of age, when, on March 8, 1834, he was united in marriage with Mary Frank, in Yorkshire, Eng., where he followed farming until 1840, when he emigrated to Canada and followed farming until about the year 1852; he then emigrated with his family to Illinois, and followed farming in Cook Co., until the fall of 1857, when he came to West Township, McLean Co., and entered 160 acres of land upon Section 33; here he lived until his decease, which occurred Sept. 26, 1865. The father of Mrs. Huddlestone was Francis Frank ; he emigrated from England and died in Canada ; her mother was Mary Ann Dobson, born in England, and also died in Canada. Mrs. Huddlestone was born in Yorkshire, Eng., in Oct., 1817 ; she still lives upon the old place, and, although 62 years of age, in possession of all her faculties, and daily performs her household duties. Mr. Huddlestone lies buried in the beautiful cemetery, one mile east of Le Roy. Their children were three in number-Elizabeth, born in November, 1835; Frank, born in January, 1843 ; Mary Jane, born in 1846. Frank Huddlestone now lives upon the old place. His marriage with Mary Warren was celebrated Jan. 28, 1873 ; she was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., Feb. 20, 1844 ; they have four children by this union-Charles L., born Jan. 10, 1874; William T., Jan. 2, 1875 ; Edmond W., Aug. 1, 1876; M. F., Jan. 23, 1879. The father of Mrs. Frank Huddlestone, Martin L. Warren, was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., where he died in April, 1872; her mother's maiden name was Hannah J. Overton ; she was born in New York State, and died in Jefferson Co., May, 1872.

JAMES JACKSON, farmer and plasterer ; P. O. Farmer City, De Witt Co. ; born in Man- chester, Eng., Feb. 3, 1846 : his father, Joseph Jackson, emigrated from England and landed in New York in the spring 1850; after living upwards of five years in Rochester, N. Y., he came West in 1856, and located in Le Roy, McLean Co., where he lived until 1863, when he removed to

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Farmer City, De Witt Co., and followed milling and the dairy business until his decease, which occurred in Farmer City in April, 1875; his widow, who survives him, still resides in Farmer City, ; her maiden name was Hannah Higginbottom ; she was born in Derbyshire, England. The subject of this sketch remained with his father, and followed plastering and farming until June 9, 1862, when he enlisted in the 68th Regt. I. V. 1., and was sent to the Eastern army, where, after five months service, he received his discharge ; and upon the 12th of February, 1863, lie re-enlisted in Co. I, 39th Regt. I. V. 1, and was forwarded to the army of the James, and was in twenty-seven different engagements, among which were Ft. Darling. Darbytown Roads, and for one month under fire in front of Petersburgh, and remained in active service until the cap- ture of Richmond and surrender of Lee's army, in April, 1865; he then remained in Richmond until Angust ; was mustered out of service at Norfolk, Va., and received his discharge at Spring- field, Ill., Dec. 16, 1865 ; he then returned home and followed farming and plastering until 1876, when he purchased his present place of 110 acres, where he has since lived. His marriage with Martha J. Weedman was celebrated Dec. 24, 1868; she was born in Kankakee, Ill., May 20, 1849; four children were the fruit of this union, viz. : Nellie, born April 26, 1872; John A., born May 19, 1876; Bertha, born June 18, 1879, and one who died in childhood.

W. J. KIMLER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 35; P. O. Weedman; born in Bloomington Township, McLean Co., Nov. 10, 1838. His father, Caleb Kimler, was one of the early settlers of McLean Co, locating in Blooming Grove, about the year 1828 or 1830; here he lived until his death, which occurred Jan. 9, 1848. The subject of this sketch engaged in farming until 22 years of age, during which time he taught school one season. and on Aug. 29, 1862, he enlisted in the 4th I. V. C., and went forward to battle for the Union : he was sent to the front at once, and was in active service in Mississippi and Tennessee until December, 1863, when he was sent to Natchez, Miss., where he remained one year ; they were then engaged in scouting through Mississippi and Louisiana, and were afterward engaged in scouting through Tennessee, during which time they destroyed the Memphis & Charleston R. R .; and was engaged in Tennessee and Louisiana in scouting, destroying railroads, etc., until the close of the war, when he returned to Springfield, and received his discharge the latter part of June, 1865, having served in the Union army nearly three years, during which time he was neither wounded, taken prisoner, nor sent to the hospital nor guard-house. He then returned to Blooming Grove and followed farming and stock business one year ; and in the spring of 1867, he purchased 120 acres in West Township, upon which he lived until 1873, when he located upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he has 200 acres of land on Sec. 35, upon which he has good farm buildings. His mar- riage with Ellen Hoover was celebrated April 2, 1867; she was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Feb. 13. 1839. They have five children now living, having lost one by death ; the living are : Cora May, born Jan. 4, 1868 : Olie E., Ang. 26, 1869 : Mary F., Aug 24, 1871 ; William B., Oct. 13, 1875; Jessie P., June 7, 1877. Mr. K. has had his share of town and school offices, having been Town Clerk four years, which office he now holds, as well as Trustee of Schools since 1871, School Director, School Treasurer, and other petty offices.

JAMES KINCAID, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Farmer City. The subject of this sketch was born in Menard Co., Ill., Jan. 3, 1841, where he attended school and assisted his father in farming until 1862, when he was united in marriage, May 2, 1862, with Ann E. Lukins ; she was born in Menard Co. July 3, 1841. He then engaged in farming for himself in Menard Co., until the winter of 1871, when he came to McLean Co,, and located upon Sec. 34, West Town- ship, where he has since lived, and where he owns 160 acres of land, upon which he has good buildings. His father, Andrew Kincaid, now lives in Menard Co .; he was born in Bath Co., Ky., in 1810; his wife was born in the same county in 1820; both parents are now living ; they emigrated from Kentucky to Menard Co. in 1836, and were among the oldest living settlers of that county ; his first patent for 160 acres of land is signed by Van Buren, as President. Mrs. Kin- caid is the daughter of Jesse Lukins, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Menard Co. in 1831. where he died in 1855 ; his widow survives him, and lives in the same county. The children of James and Ann Kincaid were six in number, of which five are now living, viz : William T., born Jan. 4., 1864 ; Andrew D., Feb. 3, 1865: John G., June 7, 1866; Lanra A., Oct. 22, 1867, and Martha E., April 25, 1870. In politics Mr Kincaid is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for President; he has held several offices, among which is School Director, six years in succession, and as Town Collector he successfully handled the funds of West Township for four years.

JOHN T. LUKINS, farmer; P. O. Farmer City ; born in Fleming Co., Ky., Feb. 14, 1836 ; he was the oldest son of Jesse Lukins, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Menard Co., Ill., in 1837, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred in March, 1855; his widow survives him, and now lives in Menard Co. The subject of this sketch remained with his father until 15 years of age, after which he and a younger brother carried on the farm until 22 years of age. when he purchased eighty acres of land, which he farmed until 1871, when he sold out and came to West Township, McLean Co., where he purchased 160 acres, upon which he has since lived. His marriage with Mary C. Hughes was celebrated Dec. 8, 1859; she was born in Menard Co., Ill., March 14, 1841 ; they have eight children by this union-Thomas, born Sept. 30, 1860: William E., Feb. 15, 1862; Eva, April 26, 1866; Ida, Feb. 15, 1868 ;

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Susie, Nov. 4, 1869 ; Jennie, Dee. 22, 1871 ; Minnie F., April 18, 1875; John E., Feb. 7, 1877. Mrs. Lukins is the daughter of Hugh D>. Hughes, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Menard Co., Ill., at a very early day, where he died in 1862; his widow survives him, and lives in Menard Co.

S. R. MITCHIELL, farmer and capitalist ; P. O. Farmer City ; born in Franklin Co., O., Aug. 29, 1832; he was brought up to milling until 18 years of age, when he engaged in farming for his father until 21 years of age; he then emigrated to Illinois and located in Lexington Township, McLean Co., in the fall of 1853, where he followed farming and milling until the loss of the mill by fire in 1857, when he devoted his time to farming until 1865, when, selling out, he purchased eighty acres upon Sec. 17, Empire Township, upon which he lived until 1875, when he again sold out and purchased his present place of 100 acres, where he has since lived ; he also rents other land, upon which he raises large amounts of grain, etc .; he also makes a specialty of loaning money. He was married to Elizabeth Horner, March 12, 1857; she was born in Pennsylvania Feb. 8, 1838; they have ten children now living, having lost one by death ; the living are-Joseph, William, Samuel, Homer, Harry, Ollie, Milton, Mattie, Benjamin, and Henry. Mr. Mitchell has held many offices, among which we mention : Supervisor, two terms ; Road Commissioner, nine years while living in Empire Township, and School Director, many years, of District 4.

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 123

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