USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 51
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Platt .A. Paine, father of our subject. was born on the old homestead in Dutchess county, June 24, 1806, and continued to re- side there until called to his final rest No- vember 21, 1878. He made farming his life work. He married Miss Juliette Russel. who was also born in Dutchess county, in 1813, and died in 1876. Her parents, Eli and Mary ( Aldrich ) Russell, both belonged to old American families, while the former
was of England and the latter of German descent. Five children were born to Platt A. Paine and wife, namely : James R., born June 19. 1830, married first Julia Eggles- ton, who died young, and second Cynthia Tripp, and now owns and operates the old homestead farm which has never passed out of the family since entered from the govern- ment by the great-grandfather of our sub- ject ; Judson P. is the next of the family; Theron J., born in June, 1836, married Anna Culver and was a member of the firm of Millard, Paine & Brown, wholesale grocers of New York city, where he and his wife both died in 1895; Martin W., born June 21, 1841, married Emily Eggleston, and re- sides in Northeast township. Dutchess coun- ty, in the house where our subject was born; Julia May, born March 25, 1852, married George Huston and removed to Roanoke, Virginia, where she died in October, 1890.
Judson P. Paine grew to manhood upon the home farm, and was educated in the public schools of the neighborhood. On leav- ing the parental roof in 1856 he came to Henry county, Illinois, and purchased a farm in Annawan township, consisting of the west hald of the northwest quarter of. section 13, where he followed farming quite successful- ly until 1874, when he removed to the vil- lage of Annawan, making it his home ever since. Here he has engaged in the real-es- tate business and for twenty-four years has filled the office of justice of the peace with credit to himself and to the entire satisfac- tion of the general public.
On the 19th of September, 1852, Mr. Paine was united in marriage with Miss Harriet M. Webster, who was born in Northeast township. Dutchess county, New York, August 19. 1834. and is the only child of Edmund and Abigail ( Holmes ) Webster,
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also native- of that county. She was only two years old when her father died at the oge of thirty-one. Several years later her mother came to Illinois, and died in Ann ?- wan, February 27. 1872, at the age of fifty- eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Paine became the parents of two children : Josephine A., born December 25. 1853. is the wife of Lewis Daniels, of Adair, lowa; and Leroy H .. born October 22. 1858. married Carrie Gray, of Montana, and also resides in Adair, Iowa.
In 1867 Mr. Paine was a passenger while on his way to visit his old home on the Har- lem railroad train which was struck by a cyclone at Boston Corners, New York, fif- teen people being instantly killed while thir- ty-five died later from the effect of their in, juries. The car in which he was seated was turned over three and a half times and struck a fence along the railroad track. His skull was fractured, and his breast bone and one finger were broken. Although not a mem- ber of any religious denomination he is a liberal contributor to church work and gives liis support to any enterprise tending to ad- vance the moral or social welfare of his com- munity.
J. SANFORD BURNS.
Among the leading and representative citizens of Orion, Illinois, is J. Sanford Burns, who occupies a prominent position in Masonic circles. He was born in Clinton. Mlegheny county, Pennsylvania, November 45. 1850, and is the son of John M. and Esther ( Meanor ) Burns, both of whom were born in the same town, county and state as our subject, where they were married Octo- ber 18. 1849. The latter was a daughter
of Samuel S. Meanor. also a native of the Keystone state, who was born at Clinton, and in early life learned the cabinet maker's trade, which he followed for some time. He never left his native state, and died in Clin- ton, in 1875. at the age of seventy-five years. In religious belief he was a Pres .. byterian. The family were of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and strong in their religious views. which were of the Calvinistic order.
Robert Burns, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a farmer by occupation. He was a native of Allegheny county, Penn- sylvania, and was a son of one of its pio- neers. Religiously, he was a Presbyterian. John M. Burns, the father, was born Sep- tember 9. 1826. and grew to manhood in his native state. After reaching mature years lic engaged in farming in Allegheny county, at which occupation he continued until 1852. when he went to California by the Panama route, and spent about three years there in prospecting and mining, with fair success, returning home by the same route. In the fall of 1855 he came to Henry county, Illi- nois, and purchased a tract of two hundred and forty acres in Western township, on which the family located in the following spring. A thorough and skillful farmer, he met with marked success in his chosen voca. tion, and became the owner of five hundred and sixty-six acres of rich and arable land. all in one body. He continued to extensive- ly engage in general farming and stock- raising until 1886, when he laid aside busi- ness cares and removed to Orion, where his last years were spent in ease and quiet. Al- though he was one of the prominent and influential men of his community, he never cared for official honors, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business interests. He died in Orion, November 19.
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1895, whle his wife passed away May 7, Mrs. Burns was reared in Rock Island coun- 1894. the remains of both being interred in ty. Illinois, where her family located in March, 1853. Her education was obtained in the district schools of Rock Island county. the Prairie Home Academy of Orion, and the Jacksonville Young Ladies' Atheneum, of Jacksonville, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Burns two children have been born-Clif- ford Coffee, born June 30, 1885, and Ken- neth Meanor. August 28, 1889. Western cemetery, where a substantial mon- ument marks their last resting place. In their family were two children, J. Sanford being the only son. Mary J., the daugh- ter. born September 17. 1855. married Dr. L. L. Long. September 26, 1883. They re- sided in Toulon, Illinois, where she died April 29, 1894. leaving three children, Bes- sie E., J. Forest and Lester E., while one child, Eva, died at the age of six months.
J. Sandford Burns was only four years of age when the family came to Henry comum- ty, and here he grew to manhood on the home farm, and received his primary educa- tion in the district schools of Western town- ship. Later he attended Prairie Home Aca demy, a private school at Orion, and also. took a course at a Davenport Commercial College. During his youth he gave his father the benefit of his labors, and continued to aid in the operation of the farm until the removal of his parents to Orion, when he took complete charge of the place, carrying on farming and stock raising most success- fully for a number of years. He made a specialty of the breeding of red polled cattle and Shropshire sheep, and has some fine specimens of these animals upon the home farm. In the fall of 1804, after the death of his mother, he sold his farming interests and removed to Orion, where he has since lived a retired life.
On the 20th of February. 1884, Mr. Burns was married in Rural township, Rock Island county, Illinois, to Miss Belle Coffee, a native of Hancock county, Illinois, and a daughter of Thomas Elwood and Hannah ( Wright) Coffee, who were born, reared and married in Belmont county, Ohio, the latter being a daughter of Benjamin Wright.
Thomas E. Coffee, the father of Mrs. Burns, was born January 14, 1823, and died September 5. 1898. Hannah ( Wright ) Coffee was born December 10, 1825. He was one of the prominent men of Rural township. Rock Island county, Illinois, and one of its most extensive farmers. He was a strong advocate of temperance, even in an early day becoming a member of the Sons of Temperance and keeping his pledge until his death. \ broad, liberal and strong man, he was respected by all. His widow still lives on the farm, and is a worker in the temperance cause and equal suffrage. They were the parents of four children, of whom two sons died in infancy. The twin sister of Mrs. Burns, Ella, born in Hancock county, Illinois, January 17, 1853. still sur- vives. She had the same educational ad- vantages as Mrs. Burns, and was married December 31, 1879. to H. D. Nutting. They now reside in Emporia, Kansas.
In his political views, Mr. Burns is a stalwart Republican, and cast his first presi- dential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes. He takes an active interest in the welfare of his party, and is an earnest advocate of its prin- ciples. He formerly held membership in the Presbyterian Church, while his wife was identified with the Universalists, but both now attend the Methodist Episcopal Church of Orion. Fraternally he is a
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Knight Templar Mason and is very promi- nent in Masonic circles. He is a member of Sherman Lodge, No. 535. A. F. & A. M., of Orion : Barrett Chapter, No. 18. R. A. M .: and Everts Commandery, No. 18, K. T., of Rock Island, Illinois. He is now serving as deputy grand lecturer and district deputy grand master of the state of Illinois. He is a pleasant, genial gentleman of high so -. cial qualities, and is held in high regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout Henry and Rock Island counties. where he is especially widely known.
HUGH WHITE.
The records of the lives of our fore- fathers are of interest to the modern citizen. not alone for the historical value but for the inspiration and example they afford ; yet we need not look to the past. Although surroundings may differ, the essential condi- tions of human life are ever the same, and a man can learn much from the success of those around him. The career of Mr. White seems almost phenomenal, yet his success has been by no means the result of fortunate circumstances. It has come to him through energy, labor and perseverance, directed by an evenly balanced mind and by honorable business principles.
This well-known citizen of Annawan was born in Wellsburg. Brooke county, West Virginia, June 24. 1834. a son of Thompson and Martha ( Curry ) White. On the paternal side he traces his ancestry back to William White, who was of Scotch de- scent and lived in the north of Ireland. He eloped with Miss Jane Campbell, who be- longed to the Campbell clan and wis the
daughter of a nobleman who lived in Ire- land and was opposed to the marriage. Com- ing to America they located near Foggs Manor. Chester county, Pennsylvania, and after living there for a number of years, re- moved to Chestnut Level, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where Mr. White purchased a farm, and where they spent the remainder of their lives. They had two sons, William and Jacob, the latter being the grandfather of our subject. For a number of years Will- iam owned and conducted a lumber yard on the opposite side of the river from Columbia. Pennsylvania. Jacob White, the grand father. was born at Foggs Manor and had seven children, namely : James, who spent most of his life in Pennsylvania and Virginia, but died in Peoria county, Illinois : John, a life- long resident of Pennsylvania : Hugh, who lived near Wellsburg. West . Virginia; Thompson, father of our subject ; and Will- iam, who spent the last twenty-five years of his life as a ranchman in Colorado, where he died in 1898.
Our subject's maternal grandfather Curry came to this country from either county Londonderry or county Down, Ire- land. His father died on the Emerald Isle, but his mother came with him to Amer- ica. He was nineteen years of age, when, during the French and Indian war, he sailed from Belfast. The vessel on which he was a passenger was captured by the English fleet, and nearly all the sailors, the cabin boy, and all of the single men on board, except those who had aged parents depending on them, were pressed into the British service. After a voyage of thirteen weeks and three days, Mr. Curry landed in Philadelphia. For many years he made his home at Foggs Manor. Chester county, where his mother and sister are buried. but about 1800 he re-
HUGHI WHITE.
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moved to Westmoreland county. Pennsylvan nia, where he died at the extreme okl age of one hundred and six years.
Thompson White, our subject's father, was born near Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, July 11, 1807, and became one of the pioneer business men of Wellsburg, West Virginia, where he con dueted a gristmill, lumberyard and planing mill. Hle also engaged m boating on the Olmo and Mississippi as far as New Or- leans. This death occurred at Wellsburg. July 28, 1880. He was twice married, hans ing on the 20th of June, 1833, wedded Mar- thai Curry, also a native of Westmoreland county. Pennsylvania, who died February 22. 1840, leaving three children, of whom our subject is the oldest. Mary Margaret. born September 2. 1836, married Frank Oudeubaugh, of Cleveland, Ohio. Elizabeth Mitchell, born June 23. 1839. died January 5 1840. For his second wife the father married Sarah Fulton, also a native of West moreland county, Pennsylvania, and by that union five children were born . Wilbam 11 . born May 28, 1842, is now serving as asso crate justice of the supreme court of the state of Washington, to which position he was appointed June 1, 1900. During the Civil war he was a member of Company B. One Hundred and Second Ohto Volunteer Infantry, and was severely wounded at Athens, Mabama, but remamed in the ser vice until after the capture of Jeff Davis. Hle then returned to his West Virginia home. where he read law and was admitted to the bar in 1868. There he held several county offices of a judicial nature, and resigned as recorder of Brooke county in 1870. Two years later he removed to Seattle, Washing- ton, and in 1876 was elected prosecuting attorney of the third judicial district. In
1879 he was a member of the territorial legislature, and in 1884 was appointed by President Cleveland as United States district attorney, which office he held until the ter- ritory was admitted to the Union in 1880. The Seattle Daily Times said of him: "No man in the state of Washington stands higher than does William 11. White. For thirty years he has been a leading member of the bar of this state. He has ever been a consistent Democrat and stands high in the councils of his party." Fhzabeth, born May 20, 1844. died in 1850. Albert W., born February 28, 1840, was killed in the battle of Piedmont. West Virginia, in June, 1864. Martha J., born May 5, 1847. married Wilham 11. Fulton, and now resides in Seattle, Washington, her son, Walter S., being the junior member of the law firm of White, Monday & Fulton, of that city. Clara J., born March 28, 1849. died March 4, 1874. Nannie F., born November 18, 1851, died August 2. 1800.
Mr. White, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared and educated in the place of his birth, and in early life followed the occupation of a stationary engineer and also engaged in steamboating. Going to I coria, Illinois, in 1854. he was thus em- ployed for about three years, and in 1857 came to Kewanee, accepting the position of engineer in the Kewanee mill and distillery, where he remained until 1866. Since then he has made his home in Annawan, and re- cently erected a fine residence here. He was engaged in the flouring mill business until 1882, since which time he has done quite an extensive business as an importer of tine bred horses from France, England and Scot- land. He goes to Europe to personally superintend the purchase of these horses. and has crossed the Atlantic ten times. He
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is now the owner of six hundred and twenty acres of valuable land in Henry county, which he rents, and also has considerable property in Minesota and Dakota. He is one of the most energetic and enterprising business men of his community, and his suc- cess is due entirely to his own well-directed efforts. He has never taken any active part in politics and is liberal in his views on poli- tical questions. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he is a man who commands the confidence and respect of those with whom he comes in contact, either in social or business life.
On the 2nd of April. 1854. Mr. White married Miss Elizabeth Roberts, of Wells- burg. West Virginia, who died June 19. 1855, and their only chikl died in infancy. He was again married, May 19, 1857, his second union being with Miss Elizabeth Grape, a native of Germany and a daughter of Frederick Grape. By this marriage were born five children, namely : Henry, deceased : Robert I., a veterinary surgeon, of Anna- wan : Clara V., wife of Lewis Bowen, of Chi- cago : Mary E., a resident of Red Oak, Iowa : and widow of F. C. Tolman, who was killed in a runaway: and Frances G., wife of George Squires, of Mineral, Bureau county, Illinois.
CYRUS F. STOUGHTON.
This well-known and popular agricul- wrist residing on section 21. Osco township. was born in that township on the toth of Tily, 1869, his parents being Hardin and Martha J. (Foote) Stoughton, who for pomy years were numbered among the hon- opel and highly respected citizens of Henry wnihanty. Our subject is of English descent,
though the family was founded in Connec- ticut many generations back. His father was born at Windsor Mills, Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1829, the mother at Chardon, Geange county, Ohio, in January, 1833, and in that state their marriage was celebrated. On coming to Illinois they first located in Peoria county, but before the Civil war, about 1860, they took up their residence in Henry county. Mr. Stoughton, being a blacksmith by trade, erected a shop and car- ried on business along that line, in connec- tion with the operation of rented land, and thus secured a start in life. He was at lengthi able to purchase forty acres of land to which he subsequently added from time to time un- til he had one hundred and sixty acres, nearly all of which was improved by himself. He placed it under a high state of cultivation and successfully engaged in farming throughout the remainder of his life. He was an ordent supporter of the Repub- lican party, and both he and his wife were earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His death occurred on the home place November 13. 1890, and she departed this life December 19, 1894. They were quite active in social circles, and no couple in the community were more universally respected and esteemed. To them were born five children, but two of the number died in childhood. Those living are Emma, wife of Nathan W. Derby, of Avoca, Pottawattamie county, Iowa : Cyrus F., our subject : and Mary E., wife of Bert Martin, also of Avoca, Iowa.
Cyrus F. Stoughton has always resided on the old homestead on section 21, Osco township, and his early education, acquired in the public schools of the neighborhood, was supplemented by an elective course at the Geneseo Collegiate Institute. He con-
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tinned to work with his father until the lat ter's death, and then took charge of the farm. Ile has since purchased his sister's interest in the place, and in its operation is meeting with marked success. He follows both general farming and stock raising. Since the farm came into his possession he has added to its buildings, and made many other improvements which enhance the value and attractive appearance of the place.
On January 3. 1894. Mr. Stoughton was united in marriage with Miss 1.nella J. Welton, who was born in Osco township in 1873. and is the oldest in a family of three children, the others being Earl and Harry, both at home with their parents. Her father, James Welton, is now living re- tired in Geneseo. Mr. and Mrs. Stoughton have a little daughter. Myrtle J., born in 1895.
Our subject uses his right of franchise in support of Republican principles, and has served his fellow citizens as tax collector of Osco township in 1896 and constable four years, the duties of which offices he most capably discharged. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian, and is one of the most high- ly respected and valued citizens of his com- munity.
EDMUND BUCK.
As a representative of the intelligent and hardy pioneer who opened up Henry county for settlement, and took a very active and prominent part in its development, we take great pleasure in presenting to our readers a brief sketch of the gentleman whose name introduces this article. He was born in the town of Killingly, Windham county, Con- necticut, on Christmas day. 1825. a son of
Erastus and Esther W. (Converse ) Buck both natives of the same state. In 1837 the father brought his family to Illinois, and took up his residence in Andover township. Henry county, where he purchased eighty acres of government land. He broke the virgin soil and to the original purchase added from time to time until he had two hundred acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation. In connection with general farming he was largely interested in stock raising, and was also engaged in the dairy business, manufacturing cheese quite exten- sively, which was marketed in Rock Island. Prior to the Civil war he took an active in terest in the slavery question, his home being a station on the underground railway, and on the organization of the Republican party became one of its stanch supporters. He was one of the leading members of the Andover Presbyterian Church, and took a prominent part in its work. He died at the home of our subject October 22, 1878, honored and respected by all who knew him. His esti- mable wife passed away on the 12th of Feb- ruary, 1887. Of their seven children only two are now living.
The first eleven years of his life Ed- mund Buck passed at his birth place, and then accompanied his parents on their re- moval to this county. He completed his edu- cation in the schools of Geneseo and Gales- burg, and after laying aside his text books turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He met with well-deserved success in his farming operations and at the time of his death owned two hundred and seventy-five acres of valuable land, it being one of the most desirable farms of its size in Andover township. His first purchase of land was in Munson township, which he sold one year later, and purchased a farm two and
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a half miles west of Cambridge, of one hun- (red and sixty acres, to which he added and there made his home until his retirement to Cambridge in 1882.
On the 31st of January, 1855. Mr. Buck was united in marriage with Miss Mariette Woolsey, a native of Andover, this county, born August 1. 1838, and the first white child born in Andover township, a daugh- ter of Jesse and Freelove ( Rogers ) Woolsey, both natives of Long Island, New York. The father was born in 1786, and was the oldest of a family of twelve sons. In 1836 he came to Richland Grove, Illinois, but subsequently returned to New York, where he was married. Bringing his wife to this state he settled in Andover township, Henry county, where he took up a government claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land, keeping a public house at Andover village. He died on the 12th of November, 1871. his wife on the 20th of March, 1867, and the remains of both were interred in the An- dover cemetery. They were active members of the Presbyterian Church, and were highly respected by all who knew them. They had only two children, of whom Mrs. Buck is the older. Gilbert R. is now a prominent physician of Normal, Ilinois, where he en- joys a large and lucrative practice. During the war of the Rebellion he was adjutant of the One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was slightly wound- ed in an engagement.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Buck were born four children, namely : Lydia R., born May 7. 1856, is the wife of John .A. Schoettler, of Cambridge, and has four children, Arthur E., Laura G., Myrtle M. and Leroy F. Cal- Vin M., born April 1, 1861, is a resident of California. He first married Leni Leoti Howell. and after her death wedded Miss
Florence Hatch, of Haywards. California. Edmund W., born March 31. 1867, mar- ried Selma M. Anderson and lives in Chi- cago, Illinois. Jessie E., born June 29. 1874. is the wife of John S. Miller, foreman of the Saturday Mail, of Muscatine, Iowa.
Mr. Buck died February 13. 1886, and was laid to rest in Cambridge cemetery. In politics he was an ardent Republican and took an active interest in all public ques- tions. He served several terms as supervisor and assessor of his township, and his official duties were always conscientiously and faithfully performed. He was a prominent and influential member of the Congrega- tional Church of Cambridge, in which he served as deacon, took an active part in its work, and was deeply interested in all relig- ious subjects. For a number of years he was president of the Henry County Tem- perance Alliance and during that time did effective work for the cause of temperance. He was also for a time president of the County Sunday School Association.
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