The History of Will County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory of its real estate owners; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics.history of Illinois history of the Northwest, Part 81

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co.
Number of Pages: 980

USA > Illinois > Will County > The History of Will County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory of its real estate owners; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics.history of Illinois history of the Northwest > Part 81

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

politics, and a member of the Catholic Church. Thomas O'Reilly is a brother of Frank T. O'Reilly, and was born about 1817; have been with cach other throughout . life; both are highly respected farmers of Will Co .; they started in life poor boys ; have worked hard-driving the dray to a successful farmer ; own 530 acres of im- proved land.

ALEXANDER PATTERSON, furni- ture, livery stable, Braidwood ; the subject of this sketch is one of the prominent mer- ehants of Braidwood ; was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, June 5, 1828; his parents are James and Christiana (Strong) Patterson of Scotland; his father was engaged in the mining business; when Mr. Patterson was but 8 years old, he commenced working in the mines and followed this while he was in Scotland; in 1852, he emigrated to America, and landed in New York City ; then to the coal-fields of Penn- sylvania ; remained there two years, where he got the gold fever ; he then went to California seeking gold ; engaged in min- ing for gold two and a half years very suc .. cessfully ; he then came to Illinois and settled in De Kalb Co., here he purchased a farm with his hard carnings in Califor- nia; he commeneed farming in De Kalb Co., this, his first experience ; he remained here about five years, then to Morris, Grundy Co., engaged in mining, then in the manufacturing of brick with one of the largest brick-making machines in the State, having a capacity of 25,000 brick per day; he then, in 1872, eame to Braid- wood and commenced the livery and feed business; firm's name Patterson, Mckinley & Co., he then bought out Mckinley, and it is now A. & J. W. Patterson ; com- menced the furniture business in 1874; is the largest store-room in the city of Braid- wood, 22x80, two stories high ; the livery is one of the best liveries in Braid wood, keep from ten to fourteen horses on hand, with buggies and vehicles for the same. Mr. Patterson commenced life a very poor boy, his first start was in the gold-field of Cali- fornia; from this he has been very success- ful in life, to-day ranking as one of the successful men of Will Co .; he is the founder of the Masonic Braidwood Lodge, No. 704, and he and his son J. W., are very active members. Mr. Patterson is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and

a National Greenbacker in politics. Mar- ricd in 1849 to Miss Jane Mckinley of Scotland; seven children, four living: two . sons and two daughters ; his two sons J. W. and Alexander, are engaged in busi- ness with Mr. Patterson.

JOHN E. PFINGSTON, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Braidwood ; was born in Kendall Co., Ill., in 1855, and is the son of Henry W. and Annie (Manegold) Pfingston ; his father Henry W. Pfingston, was raised on a farm; was born in Han- over, Germany, and emigrated to America in 1847, and settled in Kendall Co., Ill. ; here he engaged in farming until 1855, and with his family moved to Will Co., and settled on the present homestead in Reed Township, being among the first set- tlers in this vicinity here he first purchased 160 acres of land, and set out in farming in Will Co. ; here he remained until his death which occurred Nov. 8, 1875, at the age of 55 years, leaving a wife and two children ; his widow is now living on the old homestead with her son John E., who is engaged in working the farm. He married in 1878 to Miss Myra Olmstead of Illinois. Sarah E. married I. G. McLane.

MOSES PELTIER, merchant, Braid- wood; was born in Soral, Lower Canada, Aug. 3, 1833, and is the son of Antoine and Scholastic (Boivin) Peltier, of Canada; his father was a baker by trade; was born in 1811, and remained in Canada until the breaking-out of the war in 1837; he then came to Illinois and settled in Res- den, Grundy Co .; here he was engaged in baking for the Canal Company ; then en- gaged in keeping a hotel and stage house ; was the first Postmaster of Resden ; held that office for nine years ; in 1840, he sent for his wife and son Moses, the only child, to come to Illinois; arrived, settled in Resden, Grundy Co. ; herc Mr. Peltier was engaged very extensively in the warehouse business ; in 1844, he took a contract on the Canal feeder, from Wilmington to Canal, and built this feeder ; his part- ner left, taking with him what mon- ey he had of Mr. Peltier's, which was almost a financial ruin to Mr. Peltier ; he died in the old town of Kankakee in 1859, honored and respected by his fellow- man, leaving a wife and one son. Moses Peltier, in 1862, went to Wilmington and

entered the mercantile business ; in 1870, came to Braidwood, and was engaged in the butcher business ; in 1876, entered the boot and shoe business ; to-day is engaged in the boots and shoes, flour and fced busi- ness. Democrat in politics ; Catholic in religion. Married April 13, 1861, to Miss Mary J. McCabe, of New York ; seven children. His mother was born in 1810, now living with Mr. Peltier.

HENRY H. PARKINSON, editor and proprietor Braidwood Republican, Braid- wood ; was born in London, Eng., Dec. 22, 1849, and is the son of Henry and Rachel Parkinson, of England ; when Mr. Parkin- son was very young, with his parents, emi- grated to America, and landed in New York City ;' then dircct to Wilmington, Will Co., Ill. In 1860, he entered the Independent office, of Wilmington, Ill., and commenced to learn the art of print- ing; here he remained about three years, then in traveling in different parts of the country ; at St. Louis ; then to Joliet ; here he was engaged in working in the Repub- lican office ; thence to Lexington, McLean Co., Ill .; here he started the Lexington Courier, Republican paper ; then to Say- brook, Ill., and started the Saybrook Ban- ner ; he returned to Wilmington, Ill., and took charge of the Independent office, and remained there one year ; he then returned to Saybrook and sold out his paper and inoved to Bloomington, Ill .; here he com- menced the publication of the Bloomington Anti-Monopolist, a Granger paper ; thencc to Braidwood, and purchased the Braid- wood Republican from F. D. Dalton ; the Braidwood Republican is a daily paper, having a circulation of 500 daily ; this spicy paper is an earnest, live and unterri- ficd Republican journal, free and outspoken, a terror to rings and corrupt office-seekers, and death to political stealings and unprin- cipted doings in general ; its columns are devoted to politics, literature, agriculture, re- ligion, science and local and general news ; it is the best of advertising mediums ; its editor and proprietor, Mr. H. H. Parkinson, ranks high among the citizens of Braid- wood, and personally is a gentleman of long journalistic experience; in connection with the paper, there are complete job printing rooms, with facilities for turning out first-class work, from a visiting-card to a circus bill. Mr. Parkinson is a Repub-

Abraham Francis

(DECEASED) NEW LENOX TP.

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNTERSITY OF ILLINOIS

763

REED TOWNSHIP.

lican in politics. Married Miss Harriet A. Smith. of Michigan ; two children.

THOMAS ROE, farmer ; P. O. Braid- wood; was born in Lancashire, Eng., in 1820, and is the son of Henry and Mary (Knight) Roe, of England ; in 1855, he emigrated to America and landed in New York City ; then to Illinois, and set- tled in Chicago; here he was engaged in ' the lumber business ; he came to Will Co. in 1865, and first purchased eighty aeres at $5 per acre; here he has lived ever since, engaged in farming ; owns a good, improved farm of 200 acres. Mr. Roe is a very prominent member of the P. M. Church, having been a local preacher of this church over twenty years ; is Superin- tendent of the Sunday School. Married in 1840, to Miss Sarah Hill of England, by whom they have five children living.

JOSEPH RANDECK, saloon, Braid- wood ; was born in the county of Budevise, Bohemia, Nov. 21, 1850, and is the son of Michael Randeek, of Bohemia, who was a mason by trade; when Mr. Randeck was about 12 years old, he commeneed to learn his trade as a tinsmith ; in 1865, he emi- grated to America and settled in Chicago, Ill .; here he remained about three years, engaged at his trade, tinsmithing ; he then, in 1868, eame to Braidwood ; here he was engaged in working in the coal-mines, and remained in Braidwood ever since, except ing one and a half years he spent in Chi- eago. Mr. R. commenced the saloon busi- ness in 1877 ; to-day owns one of the lead- ing saloons of Braidwood. In 1877, he was elected Constable ; this office he still holds. Married Miss Rossi Jerena, of Bohemia; three children.

DUNCAN RANKIN, merchant, Braid- wood; this gentleman is one of the most solid and reliable merchants of Braidwood ; was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, May 19, 1828, and is the son of Angus and Mar- garet (Clark) Rankin, of Scotland ; father at one time was connected with the Post- office Department, but in the latter part of his life was mining. When Mr. Rankin was but a lad he commenced mining; this he followed, and in 1850, he emigrated to America and landed in Boston, Mass. ; then to the eoal-fields of Pennsylvania ; here he remained for about twenty months ; not satisfied with mining for the black dia- mond, he caught the news that gold could

be found in the Far West, and in 1852, he started for the gold-fields of California ; here he arrived, and commenced mining for gold ; he remained about one year ; success very good ; returned to the States and settled in Illinois, De Kalb Co. ; here he purchased a farm with the money he he had made in California, and commenced farming in Illinois ; this, his first experi- ence in farming, but, with hard labor, he was successful ; remained in De Kalb Co. ten years; then to Grundy Co .; here he entered the coal business by operating a coal shaft known as Rankin Coal Shaft ; in this business two years; he then went to Morris, Grundy Co., and commenced the mercantile business ; here he remained about six years, and in 1869, he came to Braidwood ; opened a general store; his success was very good, doing about the largest business of any merchant in the eity ; he then opened on the opposite side of Main st., a clothing, dry goods, boot and shoe store; on account of business he consolidated both stores, then opened a branch store in Morris. Mr. Rankin is President of the Braidwood Creamery Association, manufacturers of cheese and butter, which rank as No. 1 in Chicago and St. Louis markets; is Inspector of Mines of Will Co. Also a prominent Odd Fellow and Mason. Member of the Pres- byterian Church, and Republican in pol- itics. Married Nov. 13, 1848, to Miss Elizabeth Brown, of Scotland, by whom they have had thirteen children, eight living.

JOHN SHENK, butcher, Braidwood ; the subject of this sketch was born in Erie Co., Penn., 1842, and is the son of Michael and Sarah (Carter) Shenk, who are among the carly settlers of Reed Tp., Will Co., having made their home here in 1858 ; Mr. Shenk was raised on his fath- er's farm and remained there until 1875; he then entered the butcher business in Braidwood ; this business he has followed ever since ; forms a partnership of Shenk & Kellogg; these gentlemen have one of the best meat markets in Braidwood. Mr. Shenk married in 1868, to Miss Sarah Wright.

WILLIAM H. STEEN, merchant, Braidwood; was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, July 29, 1849, and is the son of James and Agnes (Hare) Steen, of Seot- 8

764

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

land ; his father was a coal miner; here Mr. Steen, at the age of 9, entered the mining business ; in 1865, with his father, emigrated to America and landed in New York City, thence to the coal field of Penn- sylvania, in Schuylkill Co .; engaged in mining about three years ; then to Ohio one and a half years in mining ; returned to Schuylkill Co., Penn., and in 1870, came West to Illinois and settled in Braid- wood ; here he commenced working in the mines, and remained in this business until 1877. Was elected City Clerk of Braid- wood in 1877, which office he still holds; was also Alderman of the city of Braidwood two years. Is a National Greenbacker in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Married in 1869, to Miss Mary Ann Robinson, of Scotland, by whom they have two chil- dren.

W. D. STEWARD, farmer ; was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, July 30, 1826, and is the son of John .P. and Elizabeth (Moatz) Steward; his father was a shoe maker by trade; the latter part of his life was farming ; Mr. Steward was raised on his father's farm, and in 1850, came West to Illinois and settled in Custer Tp .; he first purchased 420 acres of land, at 80c. per acre, purchased from the Government ; here he has remained ever since, engaged in farming and stock raising; owns to-day 280 acres of fine improved land. Married Rosella Tanner, by whom they have six children.

JOHN H. WARD, insurance, Braid- wood; was born in Ireland, Aug. 15, 1840; emigrated to America with his parents in 1846 ; his father, Hugh Ward, was a mason, by trade; was engaged in working on the Erie Canal ; first settled in Pennsyl- vania, here about one and a half years ; then to Buffalo, N. Y., and remained for three years ; came West to Illinois and settled in Wilmington, Will Co., in 1851; Mr. Ward, in 1866, came to Braidwood, and has been engaged at his trade, mason, having plastered the first houses built in Braidwood ; he is agent for some most reli- able insurance companies of the United States : Continental, of New York ; Home, of Columbus, Ohio; German-American, of New York, etc. At the breaking-out of the late war, enlisted in Co. I, 100th I. V. I .; was honorably discharged on the account

of sickness. Mr. Ward has held several offices of trust in his township; Town Clerk and School Director. Democrat in politics ; member of the Catholic Church. Married twice ; in 1865, to Miss Lustatia Brown ; second wife, 1876, to Miss Mary Keane, of Illinois; three children by first wife and one child by second wife. His parents are now living in Joliet, Ill.

COL. EDWIN WAKEFIELD, Justice of the Peace, Braidwood; the subject of this sketch was born in Monmouthshire, Eng., in 1830, and is the son of Charles and Mary Ann (Lechic) Wakefield ; his father was a professional gardener; Col. Wakefield. worked with his father in the garden until he was about 13 years of age; he then entered the coal mines, and followed coal mining for over twenty-five years ; in 1855-6,. Col. Wakefield served as gunner in the British Royal Artillery, in the Crimean war. In 1857, he emigrated to America ; he has been enaged in mining in different parts of Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Ken- tucky and Illinois. At the breaking-out of the war, he enlisted as Captain of Co. D, 7th Mo. V. I., June 1861 ; he partici- pated in some of the hard-fought battles ; was at the siege and capture of Vicksburg, Miss .; was promoted as Major of the 7th Mo., Nov. 29, 1862; resigned Aug. 1, 1863. He then came to Illinois, and set- tled in Braceville, Grundy Co., nine years in mining ; in' 1874, came to Braidwood, and entered the mercantile business. Has held the office of Justice of the Peace in Grundy Co. Is a National Greenbacker in politics. Married in 1863, to Josephine Brumfield, of Ottawa, Ill .; have four chil- dren.

JOHN WALKER, saloon and boarding stable, Braidwood ; born in Ayrshire, Scot- land, about 1837, and is the son of Andrew and Janc(Ritchie) Walker, of Scotland. His father was an engineer in the coal mines ; Mr. Walker, at the age between 8 and 9 years, commenced working in coal mines; and followed mining and sinking of shafts while in Scotland; in 1866, he emigrated to America, and came direct to Braidwood ; here he was first engaged in helping sink- ing coal shafts ; in 1868, he commenced the butcher busincss, and followed this business about sixteen months; he then en- tered the saloon business ; this business he has followed principally ever since. Mr ..

765

HOMER TOWNSHIP.

Walker married Miss Elizabeth Stecl, of Kilmarnock, Scotland, by whom they have had eight children, five living.

JOHN YOUNG, merchant, Braidwood; was born in Gateside, Ayrshire Co., Scot- land, Dee. 25, 1840, and is the son of John and Margaret (MeCollum) Young, of Seot- land. Mr. Young, when he was about 8 years of age, commenced to work in the coal mines in the Parish of Dalry, Scotland, and followed this business; in 1867, he emi- grated to America, and landed in New York City ; hc eame direct West to Illinois, and settled in Braidwood in 1867; here he commeneed mining, and continued in this business until 1877, when he entered the mercantile business. He was nominated

by the National Greenbaek party in 1877, for Supervisor of Recd Tp., and was elected to that office, and from the faithful manner he filled the office, he was re-clected to the same office in 1878, by a large majority ; he has held other offiees of publie trust in which he has acquitted himself in an ef- ficient manner. Mr. Young was married in 1859 to Miss Mary Colquhoun of Seot- land, by whom they have had eleven chil- dren, five living. Is a National Green- backer in politics, and is a strong worker in the ranks; member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Young's father died in 1849, at 58 years of age; his mother is now liv- ing in Scotland, and is a descendent of the poet,' Robert Burns.

HOMER TOWNSHIP.

J. B. AUSTIN, farmer. See. 11 ; Good- ing's Grove, P. O .; was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., July 4, 1824 ; he lived with his parents up to the age of 14, when he eame with his unele, Ira Austin, to this county in 1838, who settled near Gooding's Grove P. O., and lived with him until 1851. He purchased the farm he now resides on in 1851. Has been Collector, Assessor, Constable and School Director. Mr. Austin was the Captain of the first eanal-boat that went through the Illinois and Michigan Canal. His first wife was Laura Sanders of N. Y. State ; she died July 3,. 1865 ; they have four children, William B., born in 1851; Marion E., April 26, 1853 ; Albert H., Fcb. 6, 1854; Lyman A., Nov. 26, 1856. He married his second wife, Miss Betsey McGregor, in Homer Township, Oct. 22, 1867; she was born Nov. 17, 1845 ; have seven ehil- dren -- Jennie, born Dec. 16, 1868; BuelP., born July 22, 1870; Ira W., born Nov. 6, 1871, and died March 3, 1873 ; Charles H., born Nov. 16, 1874 ; James H., born Aug. 9, 1876, and John, born Aug. 4, 1878. Mr. Austin served in the Com- missary Department during our late war, from Aug. 2, 1862, to Feb. 1, 1865.

THOMAS BUMP, deeeascd, farmer, Sec. 24; was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., June 7, 1819; he came to this county in 1834 with his parents, who were among

the pioneers of this county, and who laid elaim to the land he afterward purchased from them, and upon which he lived up to the day of his death, Aug. 25, 1877. He married Miss Mary Fagen, of N. Y. State, in 1840 ; she died June 5, 1869 ; they had ten children, six living-Lucinda, born Jan. 11, 1841 ; Jacob, Jan. 30, '43; Albert, Nov. 6, 1845 ; Alonzo, June 20, 1847 ; Lydia A., Jan. 25, 1849; Leonard, Dec. 5, 1855, and Oscar R., Dee. 23, 1861; four dead, Albert, born Nov. 6, 1845, and died April 26, 1864, in Wash- ington, from disease contracted in the army ; Henry J., born April 4, 1858, died Nov. 24, 1861 ; Alfred J., born Oct. 25, 1863, and died Aug. 24, 1864, and one born Aug. 19, 1854, died Aug. 21, 1854, in infancy.

ISRAEL BROWN, deceased, farmer, Sec. 11; was born in New Jersey, June 15, 1799 ; he first went to the State of New York, when quite a boy, and remained there until he was 21 years of age ; he then went to Black Rock, N. Y., remain- ing there ten years, working as a wagon- maker ; in 1822, he went to Canada, where he lived for thirty-six ycars carrying on the business of wagon-maker; in 1858, he came to this county and settled upon his farm where he resided up to the day of his decease, Sept. 7, 1873; his widow still lives upon the farm. He held the office of

766

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

bailiff, seven or eight years, in Canada. Married Miss Jane B. Clark, of Black Roek, N. Y., Jan. 2, 1823 ; she was born in New Hampshire, Dee. 29, 1804 ; had eight children, Rodney A., born Oet. 25, 1823; Sarah Ann, in Sept. 20, 1825; Thomas W., April 7, 1828; Caroline, Dee. 7, 1831, died July 23, 1832 ; Mary Jane, born June 23, 1833, died March 11, 1868 ; Robert C., Sept. 23, 1836, died April 18, 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., from disease contraeted in army ; Naney S. W., Oct. 31, 1840, and Daniel C., born June. 7, 1842.

SAMUEL J. BLOUNT, deceased, far., Sec. 11 ; was born in Richmond, N. Y., on July 6, 1815 ; he lived there with his parents till he was 21 years of age, engaged in farming, until his coming to this eounty (1836), when he first worked for William Gooding, on Sec. 3, and resided always in the neighborhood of "Gooding's Grove;" in 1845, he purchased the elaim to the farm his widow now resides on, and lived there until his deeease, Feb. 28, 1878 ; had been Postmaster at "Gooding's Grove" many years, Justice of the Peace, Sehool Trustee, Road Commissioner, Collector and Supervisor. Married Mrs. Caroline A. Bliss (daughter of James Gooding, Jr., and widow of Philenzo P. Bliss), in Homer Township, Jan. 3. 1841 ; Mrs. Blount had one ehild by Mr. Bliss-Phi- lenzo P., Jr., born June 16, 1839, and eight children by Mr. Blount-Rhoda, born Nov. 12, 1841 ; James, born in April, 1843, died in Nashville, Tenn., Dee. 11, 1862, from disease contraeted in the army ; George, born Nov. 17, 1844 ; Mary M., Dee. 5, 1846; Caroline, June 3, 1849 ; Elva Lueretia, Dee. 3, 1851; Frank A., July 22, 1854, and Azuba, Oct. 17, 1857.

WM. J. BENTLEY, farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Lockport; was born in Homer Tp. March 28, 1843 ; he lived in this eounty until the age of 17, when he moved to Cook Co., remaining two years. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. F, 100th Ill. V. I., and served as such seven months, and dis- charged on account of disability. He married Miss Ann M. Dixon, of Loekport, in Homer Tp., Feb. 28, 1867 ; she was born Aug. 2, 1841. His father, Robert Bentley, was born in Cambridgeshire, Eng., Aug. 13, 1814 ; he came to Amer- iea with his parents in 1833, who settled

in Loekport, N. Y., remaining there six years ; in 1842, he came West and settled in Homer Tp., living there sixteen years, when they went to Palos, Cook. Co .; in 1862, they returned to Will Co .; in 1875, he purchased his present farm. Has been School Direetor and Path Master. Mar- ried Catharine Rahill, of Southampton, Eng., in Loek port, N. Y., May 10, 1842 ; she was born Nov. 1, 1821 ; they had ten children, seven living-William Joseph, Robert James, Charles Edward, Mary Ann, Martha Ellen, Alice Kate, Asa Lin- eoln ; three dead-Sarah Ann, Frederick Benjamin and Florenee Jenette.

H. F. BOWEN, farmer, See. 16 ; P. O. Loekport ; was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., April 10, 1812 ; he lived there until the age of 20, when he went to Plymouth, Mich., and remained there ten years, ear- rying on mercantile business and school teaching ; in 1850, he came to Chieago, remaining there nearly a year, and then re -. turned to Plymouth, Mich. ;. about a year after, he returned to Chicago, and went from there to Marengo, MeHenry Co., and taught school ; in the fall of 1852, having moved to this county, he purchased the farm upon which he now resides. Has been Town Clerk four years. Married first wife, Miss Mary T. Bennett, from near Rochester, N. Y., in Plymouth, Mich., in April, 1835; she died in June, 1850; they had three children-Lowell M., John M. and Charles H., all dead. He married his second wife (widow of Alonzo Inger- soll) Feb. 20, 1852; she died Oet. 5, 1861 ; he married his present wife (widow of David E. Davis) April 17, 1862; they have one child (adopted) -Mary E., daughter of David B. Peek, brother of Mrs. H. F. Bowen, born Feb. 9, 1863, in Des Moines, Iowa.

JEFFERSON BUMP, farmer, See. 15; P. O. Lockport ; was born in Chau- tauqua Co., N. Y., Jan. 31, 1826, and re- mained there until he was 8 years of age ; in the fall of 1834, he came West with his parents and settled in Will Co .; in 1852, he crossed the plains to California, and prospected in the mines and tended paek- trains of mules across the mountains until 1859, when he returned to this eounty and purchased the farm in 1860 upon which he resides, containing eighty aeres, being one- half the land originally preëmpted by his

767

HOMER TOWNSHIP.

parents. Has been School Director three years. Married Miss Fannie Mariah Rockafellow (daughter of James and Nan- cy Rockafellow, of Chautauqua Co., N. Y.) in Plainfield Dec. 20, 1860 ; she was born April 30, 1844 ; they have six children- Sarah Angelina, born Nov. 4, 1861; Nel- son James, May 7, 1864, Clarence Josiah, Oct. 24, 1863; Nancy Helen, Sept. 20, 1867; Frank Gile, July 20, 1869, and Lucy Loretta, born June 28, 1873.

LEANDER BUMP, farmer, Sec. 15 ; P. O. Lockport ; was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., May 7, 1809; his parents moved to Crawford Co., Penn., when he was 6 years of age, and after remaining there some four years, went to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and after remaining twelve or fourteen ycars, moved West in the fall of 1834, and settled in Will Co., in this township, on the farm he and his brother Jefferson now reside on. His father, Jacob, died Aug. 12, 1849, and his mother, Lydia, April 16, 1852; they were among the first settlers in this county, and with their families passed through the many hardships and trials of a pioneer's life. He married Miss Elizabeth Lucy Dixon, of Milton, Mow- bray, Leicestershire, Eng., in Homer Tp., April 13, 1859; she was born Sept. 1, 1839 ; they have four children-Walter James, born Sept. 4, 1860 ; Florence Ann, born Dec. 16, 1863, and died May 15, 1876; Lydia Jane, born Sept. 25, 1867, and George Jacob, born July 17, 1869.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The History of Will County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory of its real estate owners; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics.history of Illinois history of the Northwest, Part 81

Author: Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co. Number of Pages: 980

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co.
Number of Pages: 980