USA > Illinois > McLean County > The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 134
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JOHN PRICE, retired farmer; P. O. Downs; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co .: born in Mecklenberg Co., N. C., Jan. 23, 1802. His father was of Welsh descent, born in North Carolina Nov. 12. 1768. He removed to Kentucky at an early day, and to McLean Co., Ill., in 1836, where he died Nov. 16, 1852. lle was married in North Carolina to Sarah Beatty. She- was born in Ireland in 1769, and died in this county in 1843. John Price emigrated with his- parents to Kentucky in 1804, being then 2 years of age, and, with the exception of three years' residence in Tennessee, lived in Kentucky until 1830, when he came to McLean Co., 111., and located eighty acres upon Sec. 4, Town 22, Range 3 east. From 1830 to 1836, he resided a part of the time upon his place here and a portion also in Kentucky, and, at the latter date, he- located permanently with his family, and is admitted by all to be the oklest continuous resident of Downs Township. When he first came in here looking for a location, he rode from the place where J. E. Crumbaugh now lives to his present location, a distance of ten miles, at which time there was not a single white settler on the way, the country at that time being occupied by the Kickapoo Indians. Bloomington contained but a few log houses and one store. kept by James Allin, who kept a limited stock of goods, purchased at St. Louis. His voting-place was in.
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Bloomington until 1841, when he, with four others, petitioned the Court for a voting-place' which petition was granted, and was named, in honor of Mr. John Price, as Price's Precinct. Mr. Price entered land, as he was able, until he held patents from the Government to 1,000 acres, and a part of which he has lived upon for the past forty-four years. Of township offices he has held his full share, having held the offices of Town Treasurer and Justice of the Peace fourteen years, and other petty offices. and has taken a deep interest and has been looked upon as one of the prominent men of his township. The early settlers at Price's Precinct, unlike the pioneers of many localities, were religious people, and, like the ancient Israelites, experi- enced no trouble in worshiping God even in the wilderness, and John Price generously donated the use of his house for a tabernacle. In this house, services were held by the Baptists, the Methodists and the Presbyterians, and was used as a place of worship some eight years. Upon Sept. 13, 1821, he was united in marriage with Matilda Rives. She was born in Franklin Co., Va., May 16, 1797. She was a daughter of Burwell Rives, who was one of the prominent men of Virginia, where he was born in 1772. He died in Kentucky in October, 1811. Hle was mar- ried in Virginia to Mary Gillum. She was born in Virginia in 1776, and died ten days previous to her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Price were the parents of eight children, of whom two now sur- vive, viz .: Peter B., whose biography appears among the sketches of this township, and Mrs, Frederick Couden, whose sketch appears among the biographies of Old Town Township in another part of this work. The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Price was celebrated Sept. 13, 1871, at which there were upward of one hundred present, among which were four who witnessed the marriage ceremony fifty years previous. The presents were numerous and expensive, among which we mention two solid, gold-headed ebony canes, two pairs gold-bowed spectacles, $20 in gold, gold-band China tea sets, and many other presents, all of which spoke volumes of respect and esteem in which these early pioneers are held by their neighbors, relatives and friends.
PETER B. PRICE, farmer, grain and stock-dealer; P. O. Downs. Mr. Price is one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., and is the only son now living of John Price, whose extended biography appears among the sketches of this township. Peter. B. Price was born in Warren Co., Ky., May 29, 1830; when but a few months old, he was brought to McLean Co., and the first six years of his life, from 1830 to 1836, were passed about equally between McLean Co., Ill., and Warren Co., Ky. He obtained a limited education in his youth, and assisted his father in farming until 21 years of age, and, on Nov. 13, 1851, was united in marriage with Mary A, Case; she was born in Huron Co., Ohio, March 24, 1833. She is a daughter of Lewis Case, whose biography will be found among the sketches of Old Town Township, in another part of this work. Upon the marriage of Mr. Price, he located upon his present place, where he has since lived, and has lived upon the same section for nearly half a century. He followed farm- ing and stock-raising until the completion of the I., B. & W. R. R., when he erected corn-cribs, scales, etc., and engaged in the business of buying and shipping grain and stock, which business he has since followed, in connection with farming. He has shipped as high as 125,000 bushels of corn alone, in a single season : his shipments of stock have been heavy; during two months of the season of 1874, he shipped to Indianapolis ninety cars of hogs or 5,000 head, To the energies and business management of Mr. Price, the village of Downs owes much, as he has perhaps done more for the place than all the other business men of the town combined, and is. held in high respect by all for his sterling qualities. The children of Peter B. and Mary A, Price were six in number, of whom five are now living-Burwell O., Gipp T., Willie, Sarah Nettie and Cush. The anniversary of the silver wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Price was celebrated at their residence at Downs on the 13th of November, 1876, which was a complete surprise to the recipients. The train from Bloomington and Le Roy brought large numbers, and when they had all collected there were about four hundred, among whom were the parents of both Mr, and Mrs. Price. They came loaded with many and costly presents. and the choicest provisions which the market affords. The writer of this article secured a list of the presents and the donors, but having mislaid the same, is unable to do justice to either the donors or the value of the presents. Suffice it to say they were many and valuable, and are very highly appreciated by both Mr. and Mrs. Price.
FREDERICK RAZOR, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Le Roy; is one of the old settlers; born in Owen Co., Ky., Jan. 30, 1827; at 19 years of age, he engaged in farming and working by the. month, which occupation he followed until he emigrated to Illinois, in 1856. He first purchased 101 acres at Randolph Grove, upon which he lived until 1867, when he sold out and purchased 160 acres of his present place, where he has since lived. He now owns 300 acres of land, with good farm buildings. His marriage with Minerva Dyke was celebrated Aug. 4, 1845 ; she was born in Clark Co., Ky., Jan. 3, 1827. They have twelve children now living-Lurinda, born Ang. 7, 1846 ; Sarah J., Aug. 10, 1848; Julia A., April 4, 1850; James William, Sept. 13, 1851; Charles, April 3, 1853; Henry, Nov. 29, 1854; Alva, Dec. 4, 1856; John B., April 21, 1858; Belle, Dec. 29, 1861; George, Oct. 2, 1863 ; Jacob, Oct. 3, 1865, and Katic, Jan. 26, 1872. Upon the marriage of Mr. Razor, he had no capital save a strong arm and willing hand. Ile commenced housekeeping in an old deserted Ing cabin, with nothing but a straw bed and a few dishes. They made use of an old box for table and cupboard ; for chairs, he made use of stools of his own make. He rented land, and for a portion he paid $4 per acre rent. He had neither
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money nur tools, and was obliged to obtain their provisions upon credit. After two years of toil and privations Mr. and Mrs. R., when they had obtained some few things of household fur- niture, they lost their all by fire. Commencing in life again, with renewed energy, they have labored together for upward of thirty-four years; they have raised a large family of children, of whom all are now living, their family circle having never been broken by death. Mr. R. is now considered one of the large land-holders and among the most prosperous farmers of Downs Township. His struggles against poverty and his perseverance to accomplish what he has attained are well worthy of imitation by the young men of the present day.
HENRY REYNOLDS (deceased), farmer; one of the old settlers of McLean Co .; he was born in the State of Maryland upon the 29th day of January, 1778. He was united in marriage In Lancaster Co , l'enn., with Catherine Sheppard, upon the 4th day of February, 180S; she was born in Maryland Sept. 26, 1787, and died June 13, 1821, leaving six children, viz., Sheppard, born Feb. 3, 1809; Jesse, Jan. 20, 1810; Ann, March 30, 1812; Lewis, March 13, 1815; Law- son, July 10, 1817 : William, Jan. 12, 1820. He married in Lancaster Co., Penn , for his second wife, Amelia Wilson, Aug. 28, 1822; she was born in Pennsylvania Sept. 18, 1798; she died Sept. 29, 1846, leaving eleven children-Benjamin, Sarah A., Nov. 5, 1824; Henry, Aug. 11, 1826; Deborah A., Nov. 14, 1828; Elisha, Dec. 4, 1830; Amelia M. and Sarah S. (twins), Jan. 19, 1833 (Amelia died in infancy ) ; Amelia Malinda, Jan. 16, 1835; J. C., Nov. 10, 1836; Mary E., Nov. 14, 1838, and William II., May 3, 1841. His marriage with Mrs. Mary Ann Robuck was celebrated in Champaign Co., Ohio, Nov. 8, 1846 ; her maiden name was Davis ; she was born in Woodford Co., Va., May 16, 1815; three children were the fruit of this union, viz., Charles S., born Oct. 6, 1847 ; Gould Johnson, Sept. 25, 1850, and Stanley D., Feb. 26. 1854; fifteen of the above of his descendants are now living. Mr. Reynolds removed from Maryland to Pennsylvania; from there to Ohio in 1835, and located in Champaign Co., and cleared the first farm in that neighborhood ; in 1851, he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 25, Downs Township, where he spent the remainder of his days. IIe was a member of the M. E. Church for fifty-eight years; his third wife was a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1859; they lived and died consistent Christians. Mr. Reynolds died May 8, 1860, aged 72 years 3 months and 9 days ; Mrs. Reynolds died Jan. 14, 1873, 57 years 8 months and 28 days of age. Gould J. Reynolds was born Sept. 25, 1850, in Ohio; he emigrated with his parents to Illinois when I year of age; they came by team, bringing all their household goods and stock ; he was brought up on the farm, and, from 1866 to 1875, he, with his brother Charles S., farmed in partnership upon the home farm, and, at the latter date, Charles S. located upon Sec. 7, Empire Township, since which time Gould J. has farmed upon the old farm alone. His marriage with Adaline Dickerson was celebrated May 27, 1875 ; she was born in McLean Co. Jan. 22, 1856; they have two children by this union, viz., Ora E., born Aug. 22, 1877, and Clin- ton C., Dec. 18, 1878. Mrs. Reynolds is the daughter of C. P. Dickerson, one of the oldest settlers of McLean Co., and whose biography will be found among the sketches of Empire Town- ship in another part of this work.
J. H. ROBERTSON, blacksmith and wagon-maker, Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, Downs; one of the old settlers; born in MeLean Co., Ill., May 29, 1842; he is a son of James O. P. Robertson, who was born in Warren Co., Ky., and emigrated to McLean Co. at a very early day, and located in Old Town Township, where he lived until his decease. The subject of this sketch was raised upon a farm until 18 years of age, when, in December, 1861, he enlisted as private in the 8th I. V. 1., and served in the Army of the Cumberland, Trans-Mississippi, and Department of the Gulf, and was in many severe battles-Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Jack- son, Miss., Ft. Morgan, Spanish Fort and Ft. Blakely, and was mustered out of service May 4, 1866, at Baton Rouge, La., and received his discharge at Springfield upon the 16th of May, 1866, having served upward of four and a half years in the Union army ; at Ft. Blakely, he was wounded in the arm by a piece of shell and had many narrow escapes. Upon receiving his dis- charge, he returned to McLean Co. and followed blacksmithing until 1870, when he opened the first blacksmith-shop at Downs, where he has since lived. He is also Justice of the Peace and Notary Public H s marriage with Elizabeth Beltzer was celebrated Oct. 11, 1866; she was born in Ohio May 8, 1847, and died Aug. 14, 1873, leaving two children-Eudora J., born Feb. 23, 1869, James O., born March 11, 1871. He was united in marriage with Isabel T. Lawdon Nov. 4, 1874 ; she was born in Zanesville, Ohio, Aug. 31, 1853 ; one child was born to them, and died in infancy.
CHARLES H. RUTLEDGE, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Le Roy; one of the early settlers of Mc Lean Co. ; born near Hillsboro, Montgomery Co., Ill .. April 1, 1828 ; his father, M. S. Rutledge, was born in Georgia April 2, 1800: he emigrated to Illinois and located in White Co., in 1812, then to Montgomery Co., in 1826. fle was married in IIenderson Co., Ky., to Nancy Bostick ; she was born in Kentucky May 19, 1799; she died in Illinois January, 1855; Mr. R. died Nov. 27, 1877 ; they were the parents of ten children, of whom four are now living. The subject of this sketch lived with his father until 18 years of age, when in June, 1846, he enlisted in the 3d I. V. I., and served one year in the war with Mexico, going down the River to New Orleans; thence by vessel to Brazos Santiago; from there to Carmargo, Matamoras, Tampico; thence to Vera Cruz ; engaged in several battles, among which were the battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. In June,
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1847, his time having expired, he returned to New Orleans, where he received his discharge, having served a little upward of one year; he then returned home and followed farming in Montgomery Co., until February, 1848, when he settled in MeLean Co. upon his present place .. At the time of locating here, there were but four houses from Buekles' to Randolph Grove, a dis- tance of six miles, where now upon every quarter-section stands one or more houses. Ilis cap- ital, when settling here, was simply a land-warrant, and with this he secured his land, and pur- chased a farmhouse 16x16, in which he lived one year. The land was in its rongh state : neither a tree nor shrub appeared in view ; he has, by his own hard labor, brought it from its willI prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation. He owns 250 acres that he has accumulated by his own exertions in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife, to whom he was united in marriage upon the 14th of April, 1853; her maiden name was Martha A. Chapin : she was born March 21, 1831, in De Witt Co., Ill .; she was a daughter of Hiram Chapin, who was born in North Carolina, and emigrated from Kentucky to Illinois in 1819; the children of Charles and Martha Rutledge were seven in number, of whom four are now living, viz. : Still- man D., born May 16, 1867 ; Edgar II., born Aug. 14, 1861 ; Florence, born Aug. 26, 1864; Louisa J., born Aug. 22, 1867. Mr. Rutledge has been favored with his full share of township and school offices, having been third Supervisor of Downs Township, which office he held three years in snecession ; as Town Collector, he successfully handled the funds of Downs Township for three years ; School Trustee, nine years, which office he now holds ; School Director nine years, and other petty offices. Ile has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, having been a member of the C. P. Church for upward of thirty years, of which he has been a Ruling Elder for twenty-eight years, his wife joining about the same time.
JOHN SARGENT, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Heyworth ; born in Pike Co., Ohio, Oct. 5, 1814; his father, Eli Sargent, was probably born in Virginia. He was married twice ; his first wife's maiden name was Wood; she was born in Kentucky, and died in Pike Co., Ohio ; his second wife was Christine Nesselle; they were married in Ohio; they were the parents of two chil- dren. Mr. Sargent died in Illinois in 1824; his wife died in 1817 in Ohio. The sub- ject of this sketch was left an orphan at 10 years of age, and lived out and worked upon different farms until Dec. 14, 1841, when he was united in marriage with Deborah Thomas, of Scioto Co., Ohio; she died Sept. 13, 1865, leaving one child-Mary E. Sargent, now Mrs. Thomas J. Sargent, living in Sumner Co , Kans. His marriage with Mrs. Margaret Miller was celebrated April 17, 1866 ; her maiden name was Glover; she was born in Ohio in 1827 ; three children were the fruit of this union, all deceased .. In the fall of 1843, Mr. Sargent located in Jersey Co., Ill., where he followed farming nearly fourteen years, when he removed to Logan Co., where he resided twelve years, and, upon the 3d of March, 1868, located upon his present place, where he has since lived, and where he owns 153 acres of land, upon which he has good farm buildings, all of which he acenmulated by his own hard labor and exertions. Mr. S. was an old-time Whig, casting his first vote in 1836 for HIarrison, and labored continuously for the Whig party until the organiza- tion of the Republican party, since which time he has been identified with the same; he is a strong temperance man, and has never used tobacco in any form ; he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for nearly half a century, his first and second wife and daughters being members of the same church. Mrs. Sargent was married April 30, 1859, to Madison L Miller : he was born in New York, and died Dec. 20, 1862, while serving in the army for the protection of the Union during the late war of the rebellion ; they have one child, now living, by this union-Margaret V., born March 14, 1861, now making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Sargent.
JAMES H. SIMKINS, farmer. Sec. 28; P. O. Heyworth ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co .: was born in Salem Co., N. J., Sept. 17, 1820; his father, Francis Simkins, was born in Salem Co., N. J., Sept. 14, 1792. He married Mary IIarris Oct. 6, 1815; she was born in the same county July, 1798; she died April 12, 1868, in Highland Co., Ohio. Mr. Francis Sim- kins also died in Ilighland Co., Ohio, Aug. 15, 1843, killed by being thrown from a bridge while returning from church ; they now lie buried in the beautiful cemetery at Newmarket, Ohio ; their graves are marked by tombstones of Italian marble, placed there by their loving children : they were the parents of eight children, of whom three are deceased ; the living are Hannah, born March 27, 1818; James HI., Sept. 17, 1820; Jeremiah T., Jan. 22, 1823; Isaac H., April 22, 1828; Richard, in 1831 ; the deceased are Elizabeth, born Oct. 16, 1816, died in infancy ; Jane, born Dec. 28, 1825, died in 1846; Mary Ann, born July 14, 1843, died March 15, 1873. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents upon the farm until 23 years of age, during which time he learned the brick-mason's trade. He was united in marriage with Nancy Roads March 22, 1843; she was born in Highland Co., Ohio, Jan. 13, 1823 ; she was a daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Thomas) Roads, who were born in Virginia, and emigrated to Ohio at an early day, where they lived until their decease. Upon the marriage of the subject of this sketch, he engaged in farming for three years, after which he located in Hillsboro, Ohio, where he followed his trade until he emigrated and located in Bloomington, MeLean Co., Nov. 9, 1856; he then followed his trade at Bloomington six years, and, in 1862, purchased 100 acres of land upon Sec. 31, Downs Township, upon which he lived until 1866. In the spring of 1867, he purchased his present place of eighty acres, where he has since lived, and is engaged in farming
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The children of James and Nancy (Roads) Simkins were three in number, of whom two died in infancy : the living-Isaac, born March 19, 1846, now living at home.
FREDERICK SMITH (deceased), farmer, Downs ; born in Richland Co., Ohio, June 7, 1836, where he attended the common schools in his youth and followed farming, until 26 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and located at Funk's Grove, McLean Co., in the fall of 1863; he then came to Downs Township and purchased 160 acres upon Section 6, Town 21. where he lived two years, when he moved upon the north half of Section 6, where he purchased 80 acres, upon which he lived until his decease, which occurred Nov. 3, 1868 ; he lies buried in the cemetery at lleyworth. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church for twelve years, and lived and died a consistent Christian ; he was held in high esteem, and died beloved by all who knew him. He was married to Mary Jane Baird. April 19, 1860; she was born in New Jersey Feb. 22, 1840; one child was the fruit of this union-Edmund W., born April 27, 1861.
SAMUEL SNIFF, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 23; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Morgan Co., Ohio, Dec. 24, 1826; he is a son of John Sniff, who was born near Trenton, N. J., Feb. 22, 1795 ; he was a farmer and stock-raiser, also a manufacturer of stoneware; he emigrated to Ohio in 1812, and is now living, at the ripe old age of 84 years : he was married to Ann Wood, in Ohio : she was born in Virginia, May 20, 1799; she died in Ohio March 14, 1878; they were the parents of twelve children, all of whom are now living, the oldest being 64 and the youngest 39 years of age. The subject of this sketch was brought up to heavy farm labor upon the farm of his father, until 23 years of age, when he was united in marriage with Mary E. Springer ; she was born in Ohio May 20, 1827; she died March 21, 1866, leaving five children, having lost six by death ; the living are Sarah E., Isaac B., Mary S., Cora and Nora, the last two being twins ; the deceased died in infancy ; of the above, three were born at one birth, and there were two pairs of twins. His marriage with Maria Cochrane was celebrated March 19, 1867 : she was born Nov. 11, 1836, in Ohio; she died July 2. 1873, leaving three children- William A., Samuel C. and Francis M. He married for his third wife Anna S. Jackson, upon the 29th of April, 1974 ; she was born in Hancock Co., Va .. Dec. 24, 1842; one child was the fruit of this union, Hettie J. : Mrs. Sniff was a daughter of David Jackson, who was born in Washington Co , Penn .; he lost his life by being drowned in the Ohio River, in 1843 ; her mother was Elizabeth Campbell ; she was born in the same county ; she died in Ohio in 1865; Mrs. Sniff has a brother living in Vinton Co., Ohio, and a sister in Polk Co .. Mo., now Mrs. David Allender. Mr. Sniff followed farming, in Ohio, until 1867, the last two years of which he was engaged in the stoneware business ; he purchased his present place in 1868, upon which he then located, and where he has since lived ; he has upon his home farm 240 acres, all under fence and in a good state of improvement. Mr. Sniff is Treasurer and Agent for the American Bible Society for Downs He has been a member of the M. E. Church for a period of thirty- eight years, his wife and two of the children also being members of the Church.
WILLIAM TURNER, farmer, Sec. 5: P. O. Heyworth ; born in Indiana Co., Penn., April 28. 1836 ; his father, James Turner, was born in Washington Co., Penn., and followed farming and milling until 1839, when he emigrated to Ohio and located in Clermont Co., where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred Dec. 17, 1878. He was married in Pennsylvania to Margaret Mckinney ; she was born in Pennsylvania, and is now living in Ohio; they were the parents of twelve children, all of whom are now living. The subject of this sketch cmigrated to Ohio, with his parents, when 3 years of age, where he was raised upon his father's farm, until 27 years of age, the last three of which he was in partnership with his father ; he then disposed of his interest in Ohio and emigrated to Illinois, and located in Randolph Township in the spring of 1864, where he rented land four years, and, in 1868, he purchased his present place of 160 acres, upon which he then located and where he has since lived. His marriage with Mary E Hill was celebrated in Ohio, March 3, 1864; she was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ang. 19, 1841 : they were the parents of five children, of whom two are deceased: the living arc-llarvey H., Mary A., Frank M. ; the deceased died in infancy. Mr. Turner is a Democrat in politics, but has never run for office.
D. F. VANDEVENTER, farmer and stock-raiser : Sec. 12, Town 21 : P. O. Le Roy; born in De Witt Co., Ill, July 29, 1845; he is the second son of Thomas Vandeventer, who emigrated from Virginia and located in De Witt Co. about the year 1820. He married in De Witt Co to Elizabeth Arbogast : she was born in Ohio : they were the parents of six children, of whom five are now living : the parents now live in De Witt Co. The subject of this sketch attended the commnon school and assisted his father in farming until 17 years of age, when he went to Cali- fornia and followed teaming three years, driving a team of ten mules to a wagon itself weighing two tons and hauling from five to six tons of mining machinery and supplies, the trip consuming about six weeks ; in 1865, he returned to De Witt Co., Ill., and engaged in farming and stock- raising until the spring of 1875, when he purchased 125 acres of land in Downs Township, upon which he then located and where he has since lived ; he also owns forty-five acres in De Witt Co., all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry. His marriage with Sarah Nichols was celebrated Oct. 26, 1868: she was born in Brown Co., Ohio, July ". 1849 ; three children were the fruit of this union, of whom two are living-Lewis N., born April 20, 1870 ; Dick, born March 24, 1872, died Oct. 22, 1878. and Merritt E., born July 19, 1875.
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