The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 131

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 131


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WILLIAM A CROOKSHANK; Sec. 6; P. (. Heyworth ; born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Oct. 17, 1823. His father, William Crookshank, was born in the city of New York, and enii- grated to Ohio in 1818, where he followed shoemaking until he removed to Illinois, in 1853, and settled in Randolph Township, McLean Co .; he met with his death by being run over by the cars on the llinois Central Railroad, about the year 1862. He married Elizabeth Hathaway, of New York ; they were the parents of eight children, of whom five are now living ; she died in Ohio in 1826. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until 18 years of age, when he drove stoek to Illinois, and located in Randolph Township in the spring of 1842; he then worked as farm laborer for seven years, his wages at that time being from $6 to $12 per month, during which time he saved from his low wages $250, with which he purchased a team and rented land, and engaged in farming for himself; he removed upon his present place in 1872, where he has ninety-two acres under good cultivation, upon which he has good farm buildings : he also owns twenty acres of timber in Randolph Township. Ilis marriage with Emily C. Bird- sell was celebrated January, 1850: she was born in Randolph Township May 16, 1833; she was a daughter of William Birdsell, one of the early 'settlers of McLean Co. The children of William A. and Emily Crookshank were six in number, of whom five are now living-Lucia F., born June 27, 1851, now Mrs. Charles L. Rutledge, of Heyworth ; Scott, May 20, 1854; John B., June 26, 1857; Jane, March 18, 1860 ; Ilarrison L., May 2, 1863 ; and one which died in infancy.


JOHN CUSEY, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Heyworth. One of the early pioneers and prominent men of McLean Co ; born in Ashland Co., Ohio, April 9, 1822, where he devoted his attention to


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mechanical pursuits until October, 1836, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in McLean Co .; he followed carpentering, cabinet-making, etc., until 1840, when he, with his father, engaged in contracting and building, continuing the same in McLean and adjoining counties for several years ; among their first frame buildings was the barn of Lewis Case. Mr. Cusey located upon his present place of 560 acres in 1868, where he has been extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising ; he has been most constantly in public offices for many years, having held the office of Town Trustee twenty years ; Assessor, nine years ; Supervisor, two years ; was elected in 1872 to represent the 28th Senatorial District in the State Legislature, serving four years ; during the late war of the rebellion he was appointed Marshal, or Enrolling Officer, of the 39th and 40th Districts, which position he held until the close of the war. About the year 1870 he traced a map and suggested to Mr. Fi-her, the Vice-President of the Narrow Gauge Railroad, the advantages of a railroad running west through McLean Co. Mr. Fisher acted upon these suggestions, and called meetings at Rantoul and other places, which resulted in the building of the Narrow Gauge Railroad from West Lebanon, Ind., to Le Roy. Mr. Cusey has been in every respect a public-spirited man, and has filled every office to which he has been elected or appointed with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. There are many things of interest to the public that we should like to mention of him which this brief sketch will hardly admit and do him justice, a circumstance which the writer of this article deeply regrets. His marriage with Hannah Bishop was celebrated upon the 23d of Nov., 1843 ; she was born in Perry Co., Ohio, Jan. 30, 1824 ; she is a daughter of Jacob Bishop, who emigrated to Illinois in 1829, and now lives in Randolph Township, at the advanced age of 82 years, and is in possession of all his faculties. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cusey were nine in number, of which two are deceased : the living are Charity E., Thomas H .. John A., James C., Joseph M., Mary J., and Hannah E.


ISAAC F. DAWSON, farmer; P. O. Le Roy ; one of the early settlers of McLean Co. ; his ancestors were among the early pioneers of McLean Co., and are prominently mentioned in another part of this work ; he was born in what is now Padua Township, McLean Co., Sept. 18, 1838; he lived with his father and followed farming until 23 years of age, when, upon June 17, 1861, he enlisted in the 20th I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was engaged in the campaigns through Missouri and Arkansas, the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson. Shiloh, Corinth, Britton's Lane, Fort Gibson, Jackson, Miss., Champion Hills, and upon the 19th of May, 1863, took a position in the rear of Vicksburg, and upon the 22d inst. took part in the gallant charge made upon the rebel breast works, in which the Union army were repulsed with great loss ; here he remained until the surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, and the following winter remained at Black River ; in the spring of 1864, he joined the army of Sherman, and was engaged in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain after his term of enlistment had expired ; he then returned to Nashville, where he received his discharge in July. 1864, having served in the Union army upward of three years : never was wounded nor taken prisoner, but had his clothing shot through several times ; was never reprimanded nor put in the guard-house, nor was ever off duty. Upon receiving his discharge, he returned to McLean Co., where he has since followed farming ; he removed upon his present place in 1865. His marriage with Nancy Buck was cel- ebrated Dec. 25, 1864; she was born in McLean Co, Ill., Feb. 19, 1843; they have two children by this union, viz. : Maud E., born Jan. 13, 1872; and Claud E., born Feb. 23, 1876. Mrs. Dawson is the youngest daughter of Hiram Buck, one of the early pioneers, whose biography will be found among the biographies of Empire Township, in this work.


WILLIAM M. DAVIS, farmer; P. O. Le Roy. The subject of this sketch was born in Greene Co., Tenn., July 1, 1838; he was brought up to farm labor until 18 years of age, when he learned and worked at the carpenter trade until the fall of 1862, at which time he was con- scripted in the rebel army, and was sent to the defense of Vicksburg, and upon the surrender of the above place, he was paroled, and after returning home, made his way within the Union lines, enlisting in the 8th Union Tenn. V. C., Oct. 1, 1863; he served in the army of the Cumberland until 1865, when he was transferred to the command of Gen. Stoneman, and served under him until the close of the war, receiving his discharge Sept 11, 1865. He then came to Bloomington. where he followed his trade until 1869, when he engaged in farming. which business he has since successfully followed. He removed upon his present place in February, 1879, where he has eighty acres, for which he paid $30 per acre, all of which he has accumulated by his own exer- tions ; his wages for the first two years at his trade were $6 and $8 per month respectively. His marriage with Sarah J. Bowen was celebrated March 25, 1869 ; she was born in Mithin Co., Penn., March 22, 1846 : they have six children by this union-Bertha, Edney, Albert, Sumner, Amie and Millie.


WESLEY M. DICKERSON, farmer; P. O. Le Roy ; one of the old residents of McLean Co .; born in Empire Township, Feb. 6, 1834. He is the youngest son of Michael Dickerson, who emigrated from Tennessee to Illinois and located in Empire Township in the year 1825 or 1826. The subject of this sketch remained upon the old farm until about 15 years of age, when he hired out at $6 per month as a farm laborer during the summer, and during the winter worked for his board and attended school; he finished his education by attending the University, at Bloomington. He worked as farm laborer four years (the highest wages received was $7 per


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month), when he, with his brother Caleb, engaged in farming, raising corn which they sold at 10 cents per bushel ; he made several trips to Chicago, taking up grain and bringing back salt, gro- ceries, etc, the trips consuming from fifteen to twenty days, during which time they camped out at night. In 1854. he purchased his present place of 140 aeres ; he also owns twenty-six aeres of land in Empire Township. In the spring of 1862, Mr. Dickerson met with an necident by being kicked in the stomach by a horse, which eame near proving fatal, and for a long time his life was despaired of, and for a period of two years he was unable to labor upon his farm ; during which time he employed several physicians, and visited the mineral springs of the South, which proved of great benefit to him. His marriage with Maranda Chapman was celebrated April 27, 1874 ; she was born in Madison \ o., Ohio, Oet. 13, 1846; two children were the fruit of this union, of whom one is now living, viz., Viney Jane, born Sept. 80, 1876. Mrs. Diekerson was a daughter of William Chapman ; he died in Madison Co., Ohio, when Mrs. D. was quite young ; the maiden name of his wife was Margaret Chapman ; she was born in Ohio; she is now a widow a second time, her last husband losing his life while serving in the army during late rebellion ; she, with her father, Zadoc Chapman, are now living in Le Roy.


JAMES W. DOOLEY, farmer ; P. O. Downs : born in Kentucky Sept. 17, 1851 ; his parents removed to Bloomington when he was 6 months old, coming up the river to Pekin, and from there to Bloomington by team ; he then located where the town of Holder now stands, living there a few years, when he moved to Indiana and lived until the fall of 1864, when he returned to MeLean Co., and purchased a farm in Old Town and Downs Townships, upon which he lived two years, and, in 1866, he settled in Putnam Co., Ind., where he now lives. The subject of this sketch lived with his father and attended the common schools until 1873. finishing his edu- cation by two terms of study at Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Ind., where he graduated in book-keeping; he located upon his present place Feb. 14, 1879. where he has sixty-eight acres, upon which he has a good residence. Upon the 19th of October, 1876, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth G. Cowden ; she was born in MeLean Co., Ill., June 17, 1857 ; they are the parents of two children by this union-Arthur C., born July 23, 1877; Nellie B., Oet. 31, 1878; Mrs. Dooley is a daughter of F. R. Cowden, one of the early settlers of McLean Co., whose biography appears among the biographies of Old Town Township, in another part of this book.


S. C. DOUGLASS, farmer ; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Bloomington, McLean Co., Ill., Dec. 14, 1851 ; he is the son of D. B. Douglas, who located in Bloomington about the year 1849, where he lived until 1859, when he removed to Clinton Co., Ind., where he is now engaged in farming. The subject of this sketch removed to Indiana with his parents. where he was brought up to farm labor until 1871, when he returned to Illinois, and, after working as farm laborer one year, farmed upon rented land in Padua and Belleflower Townships until 1877, when he located upon his present place, where he now lives. His marriage with Sabra E. Smitherman was celebrated Nov. 14, 1877 ; she was born in Wood Co., Va., Aug. 5, 1851; she is the daughter of William Smitherman, who was born in Virginia July 3, 1820: he married Mary Rice in Virginia ; she was born in Virginia in April, 1826; they were the parents of four children, of whom three are now living ; the father of S. C. Douglass is Dennison B. Douglass ; he was born April 28, 1830. Married Julian P. Goodheart Feb. 6, 1851 ; she was born in Bloomington Sept. 10, 1832, and died August, 1877 ; she was a daughter of William Goodheart, one of the early pioneers, and a prominent man of Bloomington.


L. DOWNS, deceased ; one of McLean County's early pioneers ; born near Nashville, Tenn., April 30, 1808; he removed with his parents to White Co., Ill., in 1817, where he lived until he removed to McLean Co., and located in what is now Downs Township, and which was named in honor of Mr. Downs; his location here was in 1829, upon Sec. 7, where he after- ward entered land, and was among the very earliest settlers of the county. Ile was a volunteer in the Black Hawk war and served under Col. Covel. He was united in marriage to Sarah Welch in 1836; she was born in Northampton Co., Penn., July 7, 1819; she was a sister of Henry Welch, whose biography appears in this work; they were the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living-William, born Oct. 18, 1837; George W., Aug. 22, 1839; John D., Nov. 11, 1845 ; Solomon F., June 28, 1851 ; Albert P., Nov. 18, 1852, and Alfred E., Aug. 7. 1855, all of whom are now living in McLean Co. Mr. and Mrs. Downs were both members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, for many years previous to their decease, and lived and died consistent Christians. The decease of Mr. Downs occurred Sept. 7, 1860; Mrs. Downs died Ang. 7, 1866 ; they lie buried in the beautiful family cemetery located in the forest upon the old farm, their graves being properly marked by marble tombstones placed at their graves, sacred to their memory, by their loving children.


GEORGE W. DOWNS, farmer; P. O, Downs ; one of the old settlers, his birth occurring in Downs Township, McLean Co., Ill., Aug. 22, 1839; his father was L. Downs, whose biog- raphy also appears in this work. The subject of this subject attended the common schools and followed farming until August, 1862, when he entisted in the 94th Regt. I. V. I , and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was in all the battles, excepting one, in which the 94th was engaged-the siege and capture of Vicksburg, Yazoo City, Fort Morgan, Spanish Fort, and all the skirmishing and scouting in which the 94th was engaged ; after the capture of Spanish Fort,


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the city of Mobile fell to the Union forces, and in June, 1865, he was sent with his regiment to Galveston, Texas, where he was mustered out of service, and, returning home; received his dis- charge at Springfield, Ill., in August, 1865, having served in the Union army for upward of three years : he then returned home and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed, living upon the old homestead where he was born. He has 154 acres of prairie and timber, the prairie being under a good state of cultivation. His marriage with Theodocia A. Myers was celebrated March 16, 1870 ; she was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Jan. 20, 1851; they have five children-Sarah, llenry L., Belle, Lavina, Elmer E. Mrs. Downs is a daughter of Henry A. and Lavina Myers, who located in McLean Co. in 1864, now living in Randolph Township.


ALBERT P. DOWNS, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Downs ; born in Downs Township, McLean Co., Ill., Nov. 18, 1852; he is a son of L. and Sarah (Welch) Downs, who were among the early settlers of McLean C'o., and whose biography appears among the biographies of this town- ship. The subject of this sketch attended school in his youth, and worked upon the old farm until Nov. 12, 1874, when he was united in marriage with Rebecca Lemen; she was born in Ohio. Jan. 23, 1854 ; they are the parents of two children by this union-Josephine, born Ang. 19. 1875; Robert, Feb. 15, 1877; upon the marriage of Mr. Downs, he removed into his present residence, which he had erected previous to his marriage, and which stands upon the land that his parents settled upon in 1829. He owns eighty acres of prairie and timber, the prairie all being under a good state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Downs are members of the Church of the United Brethren.


E. F. EDWARDS, farmer, Sec. 3, Town 21; P. O. Le Roy ; one of the early settlers ; born in Morgan Co., Ohio, Jan. 12, 1826 : he attended school in Ohio until 14 years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in Le Roy, in 1840, at which time Le Roy con- tained some fifteen or twenty houses and two stores ; here he lived until 20 years of age, when he removed to Waynesville, De Witt Co., and engaged with his father in the drug business for two years, when he disposed of his business and returned to Le Roy, where he lived several years. In 1862, he removed upon his pre-ent place, which he had purchased in the fall of 1856 : here he followed farming four years, when he rented his farm, and, in 1866, he removed to Bloomington and followed his trade three years ; he was then elected Alderman from the Third Ward, and was appointed by the Council Superintendent of Streets ; he successfully represented his constituents as Alderman of the Third Ward for six years in succession, and served as Justice of the Peace four years. In the spring of 1879, he returned to his farm, where he owns 166 acres, also 160 acres each in Butler and Morris Cos., Kan., and a residence and one and a half acres of land in the city of Bloomington. His marriage with Mary Pharis was celebrated Sept. 14, 1847 ; she was born in Ohio in 1831 : she died in February, 1856, leaving two children, one of whom is now living-Emeline E. : the deceased, Oscar, was killed by being thrown from a horse over an embankment, near Le Roy, when 23 years of age. Mr. Edwards married for his second wife Celia A. Hedges Feb. 5, 1857 : she was born Jan. 3, 1842, in Morgan Co., Ohio; seven children were the fruit of this union, of which six are now living-Ida I., Effie L., Elmer M., Lee E .. Mertie C., and Minnie C. (twins) ; the deceased died in infancy. Mr. Edwards is a Republican, having acted with the Republican party since its organization, and is a strong advocate of tem- perance. He has been a member of the M. E. Church since 1843, and has filled different offices. He is a son of Dr. David Edwards, who was a physician and a Methodist minister, and had a very extended practice : he lived in McLean Co. several years, when he located in Morris, Grundy Co., and practiced several years, and died in Kendall Co., in 1857 : Mrs. Edwards died two years previous.


WILLIAM ELLSWORTH, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Heyworth; one of the early settlers of Illinois ; born near Bowling Green, Ky., September, 1817; at six years of age he removed with his parents to Illinois, and located in St. Clair Co., where he lived until 19 years of age, at which time he went down the river to New Orleans. where he engaged for one winter chopping cord- wood. In the spring he returned to St. Clair Co .. his father having died during the previous winter : it fell upon the subject of this sketch to manage the farm, which he nobly did, and sup- ported the family until 21 years of age. His marriage with Sarah Talbot was celebrated in 1840. She died in 1847, leaving three children-John T., George M. and Sarah J. His marriage with Mrs. Mary E. Chesney, was celebrated Nov. 8, 1848. Her maiden name was Pitts : she was born in Tennessee, May 10, 1823. They are the parents of seven children. of whom one is deceased- Kincheon Albert, born Ang. 12, 1849: William S., born Feb. 2, 1851 ; Emily, born Jan. 2, 1855 : Charies W., born May 13, 1858 : Ezekiel W., born May 19, 1860; Mary B., born Nov. 13, 1862. and one deceased. Mrs. Ellsworth was married to Robert Chesney April 28, 1845 ; he died Dec. 22, 1847, leaving one child, now Mrs. John S. Bishop, of Randolph Township. Mr. Chesney was born in Pennsylvania, March 6, 1817. Mr. Ellsworth sold out in St. Clair Co., in 1860, and removed to McLean Co., where he purchased 190 acres of land, npon which he then located, and where he has since lived : he has since added by purchase until he has upward of 900 acres of land, npon which he has four sets of farm buildings, all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry ; he also owns a flour and grist mill at Heyworth, which cost upwards of $20,000. The father of Wm. Ellsworth served all through the war of the Revolu- tion ; served three years during the last war of the Rebellion, in the 94th I. V. I.


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JOSEPH L. GOCHIEE, farmer, Sec. 21 ; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Canada, July 1, 1831 ; he removed with his uncle to Boston when a small boy, and, at. 11 years of age, he started for him- selt, going to New York, where he was raised upon a farm, and at 20 years of age emigrated to Illinois, and walked from Peoria to Le Roy, where he arrived in the fall of 1851 ; during the following two years he cropped with H. C. Dickerson, then worked one year in the brickyard at Le Roy, after which he worked as farm laborer, getting from $8 to $12 per month for about six months, or during the season, and, in winter cut cord-wood at from 30 to 40 cents per cord. In 1858, he purchased eighty acres of his present place, at $12.50 per acre, to which he has since added by purchase, until he now owns 160 acres of land, which he has brought from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation, and upon which he has good farm build- ings ; his residence being erected in 1873, and his barn in 1874. He was married Dec. 31, 1863, to Eliza A. Morgan ; she was born in Rush Co., Ind., Aug. 5, 1844, and raised in Illinois. They have five children now living-Mary C., born June 7, 1865 ; Luella, born April 12, 1867 ; Tabitha Q., born Jan. 1. 1870; Thomas, born July 24, 1872 ; George, born July 24, 1875. Mr. Gochee commenced in life at 11 years of age, without capital, and has accumulated all of the above prop- ery by his own labor, energy and industry ; although having but a limited education himself, he is using every effort to educate his children. Mrs. Gochee is a daughter of George and Mary Jane Morgan, who emigrated from Indiana, and located in McLean Co., in 1844. Mrs. Morgan died in McLean Co., Feb. 7, 1869. Mr. Morgan now lives in Empire Township, one and a half miles from Le Roy.


AARON V. HAGEMAN, farmer, Sec. 5, Town 21 ; P. O. Heyworth ; born in Somerset Co., N. J., May 13, 1845. He emigrated with his parents, when upwards of 3 years of age, to Illi- nois, and located in Fulton Co His father, Peter V. Hageman, was born in New Jersey, Feb. 24. 1811. He married Helen Voorhees, Jan. 18, 1843, in Somerset Co., N. J. She was born in the same county, Jan. 8, 1821. She died in Fulton Co., Ill., July 21, 1854. Mr. H. died May 27, 1863. They now lie buried in the cemetery near Farmington, Fulton Co., Ill. The children of Peter V. and Ilelen (Voorhees) Hageman were four in number, of whom one died in infancy. The living are-A. V., born May 13, 1845; Celena, June 2, 1848, now Mrs. F. L. Morris, of Batavia, Ill. ; Cynthia, May 29, 1851, now Mrs. D. W. Bradley, living in Abilene, Kan. The subject of this sketch attended school, and assisted his father in farming, until the deccase of the latter, when he attended school a portion of the time for three years, among which was the Batavia Institute one term. Ile located upon his present place in 1870, where he purchased eighty acres of land, where he has since lived. His marriage with Margaret W. Hughes was celebrated Dec. 19, 1871. She was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Sept. 12, 1845 ; she is a daughter of Richard Hughes, who was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, in 1808, and died Aug. 25, 1850. He married Elizabeth Elder; she was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, and died in Ohio Sept 6, 1870. There were eight children, of whom six are now living. Mr. Hageman is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a ruling elder. His wife is also a member of the same church.


JOIIN HIOLFORTY, SR., farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Heyworth ; born in Cumberland Co., Penn., June 20, 1821. His grandfather, Luther Holforty, was born in the North of Ireland, and was taken to this country by the British during the war of the Revolution. Upon arriving here he deserted and joined the revolutionary patriots. He was pursued, and had a narrow escape from being captured by the British, who passed over a brush-heap several times, under which he lay concealed. He was engaged at the battles of Valley Forge, Bunker Hill, and many other engagements, and served until the independence of the nation was established, and lived some fifteen years after this date. The father of the subject of this sketch, John Ilolforty, was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1785, and worked at carpentering and cabinet-making, until his death, which occurred in 1872, at the ripe old age of 87 years. He was married to Ann Sophia Rhein- wood ; she was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1792. She was of German descent. She died in 1865, 73 years of age. Their children were ten in number, of which six are now living. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until about. 12 years of age, when he hired out as farm laborer, expending the fruits of his labor for the support of his father's family, until 21 years of age. At the above age, the youngest children being capable of self-support, he continued farm labor until 25 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois, and located in St. Clair Co., in the spring of 1847, driving all the way from Pennsylvania by team, being thirty days upon the trip. He then bought eighty acres of land at $3.37 and $5.37 per acre, running in debt $110, which he paid off after a period of five years, the delay being occasioned by misfortunes and sickness. lle lived in St. Clair Co. until 1860, when he, with his family, removed to McLean Co., and. in the spring of 1861, he purchased his present place of 160 acres of prairie land, and twenty acres of timber, upon which he then located, and where he has since lived. Hle has added by purchase. until he now owns 200 acres of land, with two sets of farm buildings, and also 240 acres of land in Kansas, all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry. Ilis marriage with Barbara Lutz was celebrated March 11, 1845; she was born near Darmstadt, Germany, Feb. 7, 1822 : she emigrated with her parents to America in 1829 or 1830. and settled in Pennsylvania, and, in 1840, emigrated to Illinois and located in St. Clair Co. Her father was a soldier in the army of Napoleon, and with him crossed the Alps, and was obliged to subsist




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