The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 52

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 52

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He enlisted at the time of the Black Hawk war in Capt. Merrit Covel's company, and went to Pekin; from thence to Peoria, and was engaged in the fight, at " Stillman's Run," where it is his opinion " somebody blundered." After this fight his company went to Ottawa, Chicago and Milwaukee, thence back to Ottawa. He did not see any more fighting, and at the close of hostilities, returned to his farm.

He still lives where he first entered land, and his younger sons remain to help carry on the farm. He was the father of twelve children. Owen C., his second son, is in business in Heyworth. The weight of more than seventy years rests on him, though he is still active, and capable of doing considerable work. Always careful and attentive to his business, never venturing into speculations, he has acquired a competency, and now, in his old age, with most of his children around him, there is no very good reason for his feeling otherwise than contented and happy. In 1826, Thomas Rutledge came to Randolph with his son Robert H., and took up a claim near his relative, Thomas O. He died in 1830. Robert continned to reside on the land his father had taken, and, in 1831, married a daughter of George Wadman, who had in the mean time settled near by. This was the first marriage license issued by the Clerk of MeLean County, after its formation, and the wedded life thus inaugurated was a fruitful one, for twelve children were born to this first couple.

They occupied a cabin which had neither floor nor door, and their bedstead was made by boring holes in the logs, and driving poles into them. His first journey to Chicago was made in company with Wright and Bishop, with ox-teams, and they sold

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their coin for $1.25, and oats for $1.00 per bushel, which was considered in these times pretty fair prices. The trip occupied about six weeks, and on their homeward way they encountered high water on nearly all the streams.

His brother-in-law, Jacob Bishop, took up land near here in the southwest quarter of Section 36, in 1830. He came from Ohio with his father-in-law, George Wadman, and their first winter's experience was a memorable one. The deep snow was severe enough on all, but to those who had only got half fixed for the winter, it was far more trying. There was little to buy, and less to buy with, and how they got through the winter alive they hardly know.

Mr. Bishop has raised a family of thirteen children, all of whom married and live near him.

John Weedman, who came at the same time, bought the Thomas Rutledge place, and lived there some years. He moved to Farmer City, and his children have there grown into some of the most successful business men in that county.

The most successful in business enterprises and in acquiring property, of all the early settlers in this township, was Jesse Funk, who commenced here in 1825. Not so well known as his brother Isaac, and leaving an estate somewhat less than his, he had many of the strong points of character which were so well known in him. For a year before he married and settled here, he had lived with Isaac at Funk's Grove. He had grown up in Ohio, and came here with nothing but his energy, good sense, and a strong constitution, that could endure any amount of hardship. In 1825, he married a sister of Capt. Stringfield, and, in the spring of 1826, commeneed housekeeping in a log cabin, 12x14 feet, with only a floor in half of it, and no door but a blanket ; two stools and a table furnished the " house." It was fortunate in his case that he did not wait till he " got ready to marry," or ready to "support a wife," as do so many of the present day, as he would never have done so, for he became so engrossed in business that he never would have found time.

Like many others in this neighborhood, he looked to Galena, then the best market in the State, for business. He tried mining and teaming there one year, and then began the business of driving hogs there. He was on the way there with a drove of hogs, in company with Col. Burleson and Severe Stringfield, his brother-in-law, when the deep snow came on. It seems impossible that they could have got through, and most any other man would have given up. But this indomitable man never gave up; he drove the hogs and drove the men, using pretty much the same arguments with both, and those which did not actually freeze to death he got through to dalena; but they were the sorriest looking lot of pork that ever went into that or any other market.

He pushed his trade into other markets, and for years drove large herds of cattle and hogs to Chicago. Other men had the same opportunities, but other men had not generally the same untiring energy, powerful will and physical power. He bought everything he could buy, and kept "on the drive." He continued the same business even after railroads were built. As fast as he could spare money from his trade he put it into land.

He lived on Section 2, Town 21, Range 2, and at the time De Witt County was laid off, it was proposed to make the north line of the new county the north line of Town 21. Funk, who had so long lived in McLean County, said he would not stand it to be cut off, and got up a counter-petition to have the two northern tiers of sections

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

tions of all the townships in 21 retained in MeLean County. He carried his point, and that is the real reason that De Witt County did not get all instead of two-thirds of the tier of townships.

At the time of his death, February, 1865, he owned over 7,000 acres of land in McLean and DeWitt Counties. Hon. John Cusey was his administrator. His per- sonal property sold for $37,000, and not a dollar of the sale notes was uncollected.

He left seven children, one of whom, Wesley, lives upon the homestead. James F. Brown, a son-in-law, lives on a farm adjoining the old homestead. He came to De Witt County in 1850, from Kentucky, where he used to cut cord-wood for the Mis- sissippi boats. He has a fine farm and has been more than usually prosperous in busi- ness. He is a safe and successful man in all his business undertakings.

Purnel Passwaters came, with his family, from Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1830, . and settled on Section 28. He brought a large family of children with him, five of whom are now living and have families in Randolph. Richard, who married the step- daughter of Gov. Moore, lives and is engaged in business at Heyworth; Enoch and Purnel, living where their father first settled, and Clement, living east of the grove, on the Hand farm. The Passwaters family are among the very best people, and are much respected.

Michael Dickerson came to Randolph Grove in 1825, and took up a claim on Sec- tion 28. He built a mill on the Little Kickapoo, above the junction of the two streams. There was water enough to run it about half the year. He sold to William Hampton, who was of the Wade Hampton connection, who, about twelve years later, sold to Bishop, and went to the Ozark Mountains, in Missouri. This was the first mill ever built in this township. There was no bolt in the mill ; people who patronized the mill had to " sarch " the flour as it was termed. In entering the land, this property came into the possession of Mr. Baldwin.

James Hedrick came here about 1833, and purchased the place which had been improved by George C. Hand, and put up the first saw-mill on the Kickapoo in this township. Three years after, he sold it to John Baldwin and Siebern. Baldwin, from being a very wicked and boisterous man, had, after his conversion, become a preacher. and though lacking some of the refinement which a life of early piety and devotion usually engenders, was really a greatly altered man. He engaged in revival work with great spirit and zeal, and though considered a little crazy by many, is believed to have been faithful to his profession. Stories are told of his prophesying when under strong religious excitement ; but there is no record of any fulfillment. His brother James was the earliest doctor in this neck of woods, and lived on a farm east of the mill property.

Baldwin, like some other Ohio men, had a " wicked partner," who persisted in run- ning the mill on Sunday. It was an old-fashioned gate-saw, which went so slow that there seemed to be a sort of excuse for putting in all the time when the water was up. Baldwin used to go to the mill Sunday and expostulate with his partner, and while arguing the matter, the mill running meantime, the sawyer would get him to help turn down the log and set the tail end for him. All these kind acts did not convert him from the error of his ways, and the partnership had to be dissolved.

Baldwin laid out the town of Lytleville around his mill, and for a time it contested strongly with Waynesville and Bloomington for the chief place in the future greatness of this part of the country. A post office was established, stores and trade grew up; but the building of the Central Railroad blotted out the last hope, and Lytleville

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is among the things that were. It was named by Mr. Baldwin after and in honor of his old friend, Hon. Robert T. Lytle, the first native of Ohio who was elected to Con- gress from that State.

Another sudden conversion upon the road-not to Damascus, but to church-is reported. Mr. Toverca, spoken of heretofore, was a local Methodist preacher, and had gone over to the United Brethren. While going on his faithful horse one day to meet an appointment in a portion of the country that contained some pretty rough characters, he heard shooting before him, and was somewhat alarmed, and doubted whether to go forward or not. Coming to a fork in the road, one road leading to the place of his appointment, and the other to a Methodist preaching-place not far distant, he decided to give his horse the rein, agreeing to accept the situation and go where the Lord or the horse led. The horse turned unhesitatingly on the road leading to the Methodist place, and he went and was received back into full communion.

Matthew Covardale, when only nine years old, walked with his father from Maryland to Ohio, and, after his father's death, came on here with some of the Hamilton County folks. After working out and renting for several years, he accumulated enough to get a farm of his own. He now owns a considerable farm on Section 11, and is very much respected, his latter life a bright commentary on the rewards which honest labor, thrift and energy give in this present world.

Dr. Thomas Karr, who has but recently died-September, 1878-was well known to every resident of Randolph. His early life was spent in Hamilton County, Ohio, where he grew up a great admirer of his neighbor, Gen. Harrison. Though he was a Democrat, he voted for him when he was elected President in 1840. He received a good common-school education, and studied medicine and commenced the practice of it in Ohio. In 1835, he came to Randolph Grove to occupy the land which he had purchased in 1833. He arrived in October, and for two weeks, until he could get up his little cabin, he occupied one jointly with two other families. It had but one room, and, while he remained there, was the home of eighteen persons. Thus people began life in these new places. He built a cabin, first, on Section 22, near where Mr. Powell now lives, and remained there two and one-half years, after which, he put up a frame house on Section 10, where he continued to live until his death. He carried on his farm successfully, raising and feeding stock, which was the line of farming most gen- erally followed by these farmers.

In general, he took an interest in political affairs, and in 1843, was County Assessor. Of his five children, only one survives-Mr. William Karr, who was born in Ohio, and came with his father to the present home when only twelve years old. He is a man of strong constitution, and is a good farmer, as his fine farm of 850 acres, with its good buildings, will sufficiently testify.

Mr. Walter Karr, from the same neighborhood in Ohio, came here in the spring of 1834. He came by river all the way to Pekin, then the important river-landing for all this country, with a prospective future as bright as any young city in the State. He commenced on a farm near where Heyworth now stands. He was a strong man, a great reader, especially of history, and, with the methodical mind which he possessed, together with a strong love of truth for truth's sake, he took in and held the important events of historical interest in such a way as to be popularly supposed to be the best posted man in town.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

In the spring following his arrival here, his little three-years-old child was drowned in a well. Up to this time, all burials had been made in the cemetery north of the Grove, near the Stewart residence. It was decided that a place of burial must be had nearer by, and the beautiful location-beautiful in all but that the railroad now rumbles too near it-now so well filled up, was selected. Walter Karr's little one was the first who was laid here to sleep. At this present writing, he is himself the latest one ten- derly laid away in this sacred place more than forty years after the first burial here. James Martin, from Tennessee, was the second, and a little daughter of Esquire Buck the third, interment. Hiram Buek, with whom the whole history of McLean County is identified in its political, educational and agricultural interests, eame here to live in 1833. He built the house, now modernized, 300 yards

east of the present residence of Esquire Wakefield. The cabin stood out on the prairie, and he took it down, rehewed the logs, and - set it up again near the timber. It is now occupied by Mr. Hill. The door was made out of black- walnut strips sawed out by hand, the sash rived out and dressed down, and " puncheon " floors. He remained on his little farm four years, and sold out to Gen. Gridley just before the latter's failure in the crash of 1837, which took with it nearly every man who had engaged largely in business in the State, and even the State itself, for, during nineteen years. this goodly State did not even pay the interest on its indebt- edness. Gridley immediately sold the property to Wakefield, who still owns it. Mr. Buek went to Le Roy, then recently laid out by Mr. Gridley, and commeneed to build up that town. At the time of his residence here, he showed, probably in a less degree than latterly, those positive traits which have since made him recognized as one of the most useful and important men in the history of this county.

The Nobles, David and William C., his son, and Joseph and his family, came here from Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1831, and were followed by Dr. Harrison Noble in 1833. They came from the old home of Gen. Harrison, and had the strong admiration for that old hero which was bred by a long acquaintance with the stern soldier and were constantly dwelling on the stories of his dash and heroism. David Noble first occupied a cabin on the Passwaters place. The next spring he took up land near or southeast of Lytleville, where he lived until 1844, when he took up a prairie farm. His first intro- duction to the manly sports of this new land was before he reached the place where he spent his first winter. He saw a wolf and set his dog on it. The dog soon gave it up. as a bad job, when Capt. Stringfield, the hero of more such adventures than he is will- ing to have recorded, came along and gave chase, captured it and took it home alive. The idea that he would find men here who could run down and capture wolves, had never entered old Dr. Noble's mind and his admiration for Capt. Stringfield's prowess knew no bounds. Dr. Noble was twice married and was the father of ten children, those by his first wife reside and in Bloomington, and by his second with their mother Champaign County.

His son William C. Noble lives on a farm about one mile north of where he spent his first winter, the land first owned by Gardner Randolph and more recently by William Rust.

William Birdsell came here in 1829, and located on Section 21. He built a small wagon-shop and after having learned his trade of Gov. Moore, who was recognized as the best wagon-maker in the country, worked at repairing wagons a portion of his time

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in the interim of farming. He was a good citizen and an upright man. The farm had, really before it became a farm and before any title came from the Government, passed through several hands. The claim was first taken by Mr. Gaines, who was a nephew of Gen. Gaines, once famous as a soldier, and since his death made still more widely known by the long contest carried on by his widow for her rights in New Orleans. He was a brother-in-law of Rev. Peter Cartwright, and soon took up his home with him at Pleasant Plains. The claim passed to Kinsey, who commenced to improve, but soon sold to Brook and he to Birdsell. It was not very uncommon for these frequent changes to occur in the early times. The men (and perhaps, their wives, too) who migrate to new countries, are proverbially restless, and slight things will serve to change their minds and location. Owen Evans came from Pennsylvania with or soon after his son-in-law Thomas Fell, who lived part of the time in Bloomington and part of the time in Randolph, near Mr. Evans. He had a farm on Section 16, where, after several years, he died and the farm came into possession of his son-in-law, J. H. Stewart.

Mr. Stewart was the eldest son of Samuel Stewart. and came with his father to Ran- dolph, where he worked the farm until his marriage to Miss Evans in 1839, when his father gave him a little piece of land upon which the new couple went to work to make a living and do their full share to perpetuate the clan Stewart and its goodly name. They succeeded reasonably well in both, for he increased his farm, and, in 1857, sold to William Rust, and moved to Normal to give his children an opportunity of a higher edu- cation. Thomas Fell, after living here some years, tried California luck with very little success. He went there twice overland and the second time passed through California Gulch, now one of the most famous places in the world. He did not find the fortunes there which, it is said, are being taken out now.

Joseph Noble, who came here in 1831 with his family of children, and purchased what was called an improved place, that is, some one had lived a year or two on it, and got up a small log cabin. His children speak of attending school where the future Lieut. Gov. Moore taught. In his school, he was in the habit of teaching half a day only, as his time was required in the shop a portion of the time.

Dr. Harrison Noble came, in 1833, from the same county which had already sent to Randolph so many Noble men and children, and took up a farm in Section 28. He had received only a fair common-school education in Ohio, but was well qualified to teach school, and had qualified himself for surveying; could work at his trade, or at farming, "and even the story ran that he could gauge," though whisky-gauging was not at that time in as much demand as now. It seems that his personal appearance was prepossessing, and the development of acquaintance showed a mind of real mental vigor, and qualities of very decided note. He was above all things averse to boasting of his own deeds or qualifications, so that men who knew him intimately did not even know that he was qualified for County Surveyor, when he appeared as an independent candidate for the position. That he was thoroughly qualified might have been known from his offering himself as a candidate, for he was the last man to assume to do what he could not perform. After serving three terms as Surveyor, he studied medicine at home and with Dr. Luce in Bloomington; went to Cincinnati to attend lectures, where he graduated and received his diploma. His practice was very general, and carried with it the same trait which showed so strongly in his character. He was several years President of the County Medical Society, and twice of the State Society. In politics,

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

Dr. Noble was a Whig, with strong Antislavery leanings. It was not until hydra- headed Treason rose in rebellion against the Government, that the people of McLean began to know and realize the stuff that the quiet, homespun Doctor was made of. Like all men of his type, he grew with the occasion. He took very active steps in arousing the people to arms, and was untiring in his zeal to help on enlistment. Par- ticularly was this so in regard to the Ninety-fourth, a regiment officered, manned and filled up by his friends in McLean County. The regiment, while in Texas, had so many proofs of his remembrance and friendship that they purchased a cane and sent it to him. In 1862, he was elected to the Legislature. But what could a man of his peculiar qualities do on the minority side in a House which was kept at fever heat dur- ing its entire session by the continued recurrence of questions of a most exciting nature growing out of the war ? His was a mind which was most active in committee-room. Committee-rooms were practically abolished during that Legislature. Lovejoy would have stirred all by the zeal and fury of his speech; a Charley Steele might have turned the tide by the eloquent periods of his perfect oratory ; Dr. Noble did what neither orator could have done. It is well remembered by all except the very youngest who will read these pages, that Gov. Yates took advantage of the failure of the two Houses of the General Assembly to agree upon a time of adjournment, to prorogue the Assembly. Soon after this was done, in the fervor of political excitement, citizens of Jacksonville (the Governor's home), who were in political sympathy with the Governor, gave him a banquet. During his speech upon that occasion, he publicly acknowledged the great service which Dr. Noble had done him during the exciting scenes through which he had just passed. The parties themselves are both dead, and there is no known way to verify the statement; but what seems very good authority, states that it was Dr. Noble who carried to the Executive chamber, immediately on its occurrence, the news of the vote of the House disagreeing to the adjournment resolution of the Senate, and with it the suggestion that there was now, if promptly applied, a remedy for the longer sit- tings of the Assembly. The proroguing message was immediately sent to the two Houses, and the Legislature stood adjourned, and, from all accounts, somewhat sur- prised. Dr. Noble was never known to allude to this; still it was in full unison with his character and habits that he did not. He never boasted. He was re-elected to the House in 1864, and served with great distinction. He was presented to the State Convention in 1868, by Mclean County, for the position of Lieutenant Governor, but the nomination of a candidate for Governor from the same Congressional district required that the candidate for the next office should be elected from another part of the State. He was pre-eminently a man of the people, uniformly temperate in his manners, destitute of vanity, kind, considerate and safe. He died in 1870, where he had so long lived, beloved by those among whom he had grown in private and public consideration.

Campbell Wakefield came from Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1835, and took up land on Section 3, Town 21, Range 2. He built a snug log cabin and returned to Ohio to bring out his wife and child. He has continually been engaged in farming, and has been more than ordinarily successful in what he has undertaken. He is a man of fine form, commanding presence and positive convictions-one of the latter of which is that his success in life is largely due to his most excellent wife. It would hardly be possible to get up an argument with him on that point, for his opinion on it may well be accepted. She seems a most excellent and estimable lady.

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Commencing in a small way, Esquire Wakefield has added to his farm until now he and his son own about one thousand five hundred acres of as fine land as the town. of Randolph affords. They have, lying in a body, all of Section 3, west half of 10, 120 acres in 27, Town 22, and 400 acres in 34.

He has but one child, living near by him, and whose children and grandchildren are growing up around him in goodly numbers. They have given a good deal of atten- tion to cattle raising and feeding, but no phantom of great wealth has ever lured them into dangerous speculation.

Mr. Wakefield was proprietor of the town of Heyworth, and gave an undivided half of the town, reserving the cemetery, church and school lots, etc., from the transfer.

He was early and throughout a friend and one of the strongest promoters of the Presbyterian Church. The first preaching services of that denomination were held in his house.

Politically, Mr. Wakefield is a Democrat of the strictest sect. He never has been in public life much. He was several time selected a Justice of the Peace in the early days ; but his services in that line were confined mostly to taking acknowledgment of deeds and marrying off the young people who had come to the conclusion that it was not good for man to be alone in this world of temptations. In his hale old age, though his step is slightly unsteady, he can look back over a busy life with probably as few regrets as any of us.

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 52

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