USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 13
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Returning to his okl home in Miami county, Ohio, Mr. Pearson was married there. October 28. 1858, to Miss Rachel Sheafer, who was born in Pennsylvania, but was reared in that county, and is a daughter of Eckert Sheafer. By this union were born
six children, namely: Rachel, at home; AAbraham L., who is married and engaged in farming and fruit raising in California : Arthur, who is married and follows farming in Esmen township, Livingston county, Illi- nois : Emma, wife of R. E. Knapp, of Ponti- ac: Anna, wife of Robert Brunskill, a farm er of Esmen township; and lda M. who was graduated at the State Normal School and has successfully engaged in teaching for some years, being first assistant principal of the Jefferson Park high school at El Paso at the present time.
Politically Mr. Pearson was formerly identified with the Republican party and cast his first presidental vote for John C. Fre- mont in 1856, but of late years has been in- dependent in politics. He is a stanch friend of education, was elected a member of the school board of Odell when nineteen years of age and filled that position almost con- tinually until moving to Esmen township. Ile has served as township treasurer since 1870 and at intervals has been a member of the county board of supervisors for about fifteen years, during which time he was a member of various committees and chairman of the building committee in charge of build- ing the poor house after the death of Mr. Morrow. He has been a delegate to nu- merous county, congressional and state con- ventions of his party and to two national conventions, helping to nominate J. B. Wear- er at the first Populist convention, and at the St. Louis convention, in 1896, helping to nominate Bryan and Watson. He is always to be found on the Populist county commit- tee. having served as its chairman, and is popularily known as the father of the party in this county, and he has always taken an active and commendable interest in public affairs. He is pre-eminently public-spirited
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and progressive, and as a citizen has always been found true to every trust reposed in lim.
THOMAS JOHNSTON
Thomas Johnston, the well-known super- intendent of the Pontiac Diamond Co-opera- tive Coal Company of Pontiac Illinois, is a native of England, born in Staffordshire. AApril 20, 1884. and is a son of Thomas and Mary Ann ( Brown) Johnston. The father was born in Ireland, but when quite young went to England, where he continued to make his home throughout life, dying March 12, 1878, at the age of sixty-seven years. The mother died on the 21st of the same month He was always a hard work- ing man and for many years was foreman of an iron works in Staffordshire.
Oor subject is the sixth in order of birth in a family of eleven children, nine of whom are still living. but he is the only one in this country. He obtained his education in the common schools of Staffordshire and learned the trade of an engineer in the em- ploy of the Apedale Coal & Iron Company of that place, remaining with them five years. In the fall of 1880 he came to the United States, and first located in Streator, Ilinois, where he engaged in coal mining, and after- ward became engineer for the Chicago, Vermilion & Wilmington Coal Company at that place, but only remained with them a year or two. He was next employed as en- gineer with the Star Coal Company of Streator for three or four years, and for eleven years was with the Richard Evans Coal Company of the same place. In De- cember. 1895. he came to Pontiac to take charge of a shaft at this place as engineer,
and was thus employed until 1897. when the shaft was leased by the present co-operative company, of which Mr. Johnston is manager, being associated with five others: Thomas Velvin, president : Charles F. Acklin, treas- urer; Walter Hogan, mine manager, and Mathew Dickman and William Schress, di- rectors. all of whom reside in Pontiac. The shaft was leased for a period of fifteen years from October. 1899. and the entire man- agement is with the six men mentioned. . Ac- cording to the present law only six men can work in one shaft. but the company has now sunk another escape shaft and can put more men to work so that they will be able to take ont from two hundred and fifty to three hundred tons of coal per day.
Before leaving England Mr. Johnston was married, July 8. 1878. to Miss Mary Ann Pickerill, of Staffordshire, a daughter of Robert and Sarah ( Eccles ) Pickerill The father was a shoe manufacturer and fol- lowed that occupation throughout his active business life, but is now living a retired life in Staffordshire, at the age of seventy-seven years. The mother died in 1893, at the age of sixty-six. Only two of their family came to America : Mrs. Johnston and Anna, wife of Benjamin Copeland,a conl miner of Strea- or. Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have a family of four children, namely: Thomas Bowyer, born in Staffordshire, England. De- cember 20. 1878, was educated in Streator. and is now living in Wenona. Ilinois, where he is a hoisting engineer for the Wenona Coal Company. Sarah Ann. born in Stai- fordshire. June 9. 1880, is at home: Fan- nie, born in Livingston county. Illinois, June 19, 1883, graduated from the public schools of Pontiac in 1900, and Pearl, born in Fulton county, Illinois, January 3. 1890, is attending school.
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By his ballot Mr. Johnston has always supported the men and measures of the Dem- ocratie party, but has never sought nor de- sired public office, though often urged by his friends to become a candidate. He is a prominent member and financial secretary of the Episcopal church of Pontiac, which his family also attend. He is also a member of Court Pride, Foresters of America, of Pon- tiac, of which he has served as trustee one term: is a member of the Court of Honor, No. 185. of Pontiac, and the National Brotherhood Association of Coal Hoisting Engineers. As a business man he is thor- oughly reliable and the success that he has achieved in life is justly merited. for it is due entirely to his own industry, enterprise and good management. He has a good home, 411 East Prairie street. which he bought in 1898.
WILLIAM WOODING.
William Wooding, a retired farmer of Pontiac, who came to this country in the spring of 1869, is a typical self-made man, and in the following record of his ca- reer there is much to arouse respect and es- teem. He has placed his reliance upon in- dustry and perseverance, and by making the most of circumstances, however discourag- ing, has made his way to substantial suc- cess, his fine farm in Pike township being a tangible evidence of prosperity.
Mr. Wooding is a native of England, born in Yarley Hastings, Northamptonshire, November 17, 1831, and is a son of Jesse and Ann (Rainbow ) Wooding, who were married September 13. 1828. The father was born in the same place in 1805, and
there made his home until coming to this country two years after our subject crossed the Atlantic, but died the ninth day after landing at the home of our subject in New Jersey. The mother came to America with her husband and died here in 1871.
William Wooding acquired his educa- tion in the public schools of his native land. As a young man of nineteen years he emi- grated to the United States and located first in Salem county: New Jersey, where he worked on a farm and also in a tile factory, which was probably the first started in the United States, the proprietor having sent to England for the machinery. Our sub- ject and his brother worked for him five years and then came to Illinois, in 850, with the intention of starting a factory of their own, but finding land so cheap they re- solved to engage in agricultural pursuits. After looking over the field Mr. Wooding located near Farmington, Fulton county, where he engaged in farming for nine years.
In the spring of 1869 he came to Living- ston county and in partnership with his brother purchased a farm of two hundred and sixty acres in Pike township, which they improved and operated together for a time. but finally divided the property. Our subject still owns an excellent farm of one hundred and eighty-one acres in that and Eppards Point township, which he has thoroughly tiled and transformed into one of the most highly cultivated and productive tracts in the locality. It is hedged and cross hedged and improved with good and substantial buildings, which stand as a monument to his thrift and enterprise. In connection with general farming he engaged in stock raising quite extensively, and usually had a carload of hogs for shipment each fall. Besides his farm in this county, he owns land in Indiana.
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which he is now improving: he built a good home at No. 303 West Moulton street, at the corner of Plum street, Pontiac, where he has resided since the spring of 1896, having retired from active labor to enjoy a well earned rest.
Mr. Wooding has been twice married, his first wife being Amanda Humphry, a native of Washington county. Indiana. He tootook her to Kearney, Nebraska, in 1885. with the hope of benefiting herhealth, but she died there the same fall, leaving three children, namely : Mary, now the wife of Perry Morton, of Pontiac, by whom she has two children, Mabel and Leonora: Lucy, wife of Wesley Porter, of Owego township, by whom she has two sons, Harry and Charles: and William, who married Leona Perry, and has two children, Orville and Ilazel Lorena. He lives on the home farm in Pike township.
Returning to England in 1887. Mr. Wooding there married Miss Mary Berrill. of Yardley Hastings, a daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Morris ) Berrill, and by this union has been born a daughter, V. mitred. For twenty-five years Mrs. Wooding's sis- ter, Sarah Berrill, has hekl the position of maid with Lady Southampton, who is a lady in waiting on Queen Victoria, and as such makes all the trips with the Queen's escort. Her father, John Berrill, was a native of Northampton, where his ancestors have re- sided for at least three or four generations, and on the maternal side Mrs. Wooding is of an old and respected family that for many generations have been born on the Marquis of Northampton's estate. Her grandfather Morris was a shepherd by occupation. The records of the family are to be found in the parish church. In tracing his ancestry back five or six generations, Mr. Wooding finds
that he springs from the same family as his wife. Ilis mother, Elizabeth Rainbow, was a daughter of James and Elizabeth Ratley, and the latter was a daughter of John and Ann Berrill, who were the great-grandpar- ents of Mrs. Wooding. Her grandfather was Richard, who in turn was a son of John and Ann Berrill. previously mentioned. All were residents of Yardley Hastings.
Mr. and Mrs. Wooding have traveled quite extensively, and visited their native land again in 1890. He has ever taken an active interest in educational affairs and most efficiently served as school director of his township while residing in the country. He is a consistent and faithful member of the Baptist church, and one of the highly re- spected and honored citizens of the com- munity.
JAMES MURPHY.
James Murphy, the well-known engineer of the water works in Pontiac, Illinois, was born in Campbellford. Northumberland county. Ontario, Canada, August 7. 1854. and is a son of Peter and An (Spence) Murphy. The father was born in Newray, County Down, Ireland, about 1822. and there gained a thorough knowledge of the shoemaker's trade. When a young man he emigrated to Canada, where he married Ann Spence, a native of Nottingham, Eng- land, who had moved to Canada with an aunt after the death of her prents. In 1864 they came to Pontiac and were among the early property owners of the city, building their own house on west Water street. Throughout the greater part of his life the father engaged in mining. He died in
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April, 1895, the mother April 16. 1899. Both were devout members of St. Mary's Catholic church, and were highly respected by all who knew them.
This worthy couple left a family of eight children, of whom our subject is the second in order of birth. He began his education in Canada and after the removal of the fam- ily to Pontiac attended the public schools here for a time. After the completion of his education he was variously employed for a time, but for the past twenty-five years he has been principally engaged in running stationary engines, operating some of the first ever brought to Pontiac. In 1884 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land in York county, Nebraska, which he converted into a well improved farm, and there he successfully engaged in mixed farming for some time, during which period the country was well settled up and became a thriving agricultural district. He was one of the school directors in his township for four years, during which time a school house was built in his district. Renting his farm he returned to Pontiac in 1896 and was appointed engineer of the water works, which position he has since filled in a most efficient and satisfactory manner, having charge of two Gordon pumps with a capac- ity of one million and five hundred thousand gallons daily, which are fully taxed most of the time. These are kept running day and night, his son serving as night engineer. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
On the 14th of September. 1881. Mr. Murphy was united in marriage with Miss Bridget Sullivan, and to them have been born four children, namely: James, who is an engineer with his father: Katie. Joseph and Mary. Michael Sullivan, Mrs. Mur-
phy's father, was born in Limerick, Ire- land, and as ayoung man came to America. AAfter some time spent in New York state he came to Chicago, and entered the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. aiding in its construction from Dwight to Blooming- ton. Being pleased with this locality he located in Pontiac when it was a very small village. being among its early residents, building a home on North Vermillion street. At Lake Station he had previously married Catherine Arman, of Chicago, who was born in Waterford. county Cork. Ireland, and prior to her marriage worked in New York and latter in Chicago. They were members of the Catholic church, and before a church was established in Pontiac mass was said at the homes of the different mem- bers. In 1880 they, too, removed to York county, Nebraska, and purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining our subject's farm, and upon that place Mr. Sulli- van died June 2, 1885, his wife, February 21. 1896. In their family were only two children, William, a resident of Nebraska ; and Bridget, wife of our subject.
LARS ENGELSEN.
Lars Engelsen, a well-known agricult- urist residing on section 10, Esman town- shlp. Livingston county, was born in Nor- way. July 12, 1845. and is the only chikl of Engel and Ella (Mickleson) Engelsen, also natives of that country, where the father followed farming until his death in 1852. Five years later the wife and son came to America on a sailing vessel, and were about three weks in crossing the Atlantic from Ber- gen to Quebec. They proceeded at once to
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Morris, Grundy county, Illinois, and in the . who died at the age of eighteen ; Bertha and till of the same year moved to La Salle Angeline, who died of scarlet fever at the age of four and two years, respectively, and one who die l in infancy. county, where Mrs. Engelsen was married, in 1859. to Torris Johnson, also a Norwe- gian by birth and a cooper by trade, follow- ing that ocupation in Dayton, Illinois, for many years. Later they moved to Indian Creek, the same county, where Mrs. John- son died.
Lars Engelsen lived with his mother and step-father until grown, and received a fair education in the schools of La Salle county. Ile began life for himself as a farm hand and was thus employed for several years before and after his marriage. He subse- quently rented land. In 1868 he came to Livingston county and located upon his present farm in 1880. it being a part of the large tract of land owned by Apollos Camp of Pontiac, for whom our subject worked about seven years and who virtually gave him the place. Mr. Engelsen has erected thereon a large and substantial residence, a good barn and other ontbuildings, and has made many other improvements upon the farm. In connection with its opera- tions he also cultivates about one hundred acres more, and has been quite successful in his farm business.
On the 14th of February, 1865. Mr. Engelsen was married in La Salle county. to Miss Anna Dora Engelsen, who was born and reared in Norway, and when a young lady came to America, where she attended the English schools for a short time. By this union were born six chil- aren who are still living, namely : Engle B., a resident of lowa: Elmer T., of North Dakota; Joseph E .. who is in this county ; Milton L., Bertha E. and Ellen M .. all at home. Those deceased were James M., who died at the age of seventeen years : Lilly .1.
Mr. Englesen his been a stanch Repub- lican since casting his first vote for General U. S. Grant in 1868, but he has never cared for political preferment. In the spring of. 1000 he was elected township assessor, and for some years was a member of the school board in Pontiac township. Religiously, he and his wife and daughters are members of the Lutheran church, while some of his sons hold membership in the Methodist Episco- pal church. His life has been one of indus- try and perseverance and he is deserving of the high regard in which he is hekl.
PATRICK IL. KANE.
Patrick H. Kane, the genial and popular proprietor of the Transient House of Pon- tiac. which is conveniently located near the Chicago & Alton Railroad depot, was born in Holyoke. Massachusetts, March 14. 1860. a son of John and Mary ( Lanan ) Kanc. The father was a native of Ireland and as a young man came to America. locating first in Massachusetts, where he worked in the woolen mills for many years, being night foreman for some time. On leaving that state in 1863 he came to Ilinois and set- tled five miles southwest of Ottawa, La Salle county, where he engaged in farming. later following the same pursuit in Allen township, the same county. Selling out he came to Livingston county and took up his residence in Nevada township, but his last day- were spent as a farmer in Sullivan township, where he held different township
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
offices. He was a Democrat in politics and one of the early members of the Catholic church of Dwight. He died in July. 1895. and his wife passed away in the fall of 1881.
During his boyhood our subject attended the public schools of La Salle and Livings- ton counties, and at the age of eighteen years began life for himself by working as a farm hand. having become thoroughly familiar with that occupation on his father's farm. Subsequently he went to Nebraska and en- tered the employ of the Union Pacific Rail- road as brakeman on the line running from Lincoln to Valparaiso and later to Strawns- burg on the main line, remaining with the company four years and four months, after which he returned to Ilinois.
Mr. Kane was married. July 2. 1881. the day President Garfield was shot, to Miss Rosa Young, a native of Lincoln, Ilinois, and a daughter of Joseph Young, one of the early farmers of Saunders county, Nebraska. They lived in Valparaiso, Nebraska, early in 1883. before returning to Pontiac, where Mr. Kane worked for H. C. Bruner as fore- man and burner at his tile and brick works. doing all the burning until he severed his connection with that gentleman in June. 1896. For two years he had entire charge of the plant and burned eighteen or nineteen kilns a week. Later he was with John Il. Smith, when he run the factory, and had the entire confidence and respect of both gentle- men. Before leaving their employ he built a house in River View addition to Pontiac. which he traded in 1895 for a hotel in Clay City. Illinois, but after conducting the latter for a year he returned to Pontiac, where he engaged in the restaurant. bakery and con- fectionery business until May 24. 1899. when he bought the Transient House and has since successfully engaged in the hotel business.
It is a nice two-story frame building, and in connection with this Mr. Kane owns a large It. He also has a good house and lot'on Madison street and has successfully engaged in the real estate business for him- self. having owned a number of different places. 'He is a good. reliable business man, and the prosperity that has attended his efforts is certainly justly merited.
Mr. Kane's first wife died while on a visit to her oldl home. in 1888, leaving two children. Elvira and Sadie, who are now being educated in a convent. In 1894 he married Mrs. Nancy Adams, of Pontiac, a daughter of Samuel Garner, who was one of the pioneer residents of this city and at one time a prominent property owner.
As a Democrat Mr. Kane has ever taken an active part in local politics, but has never been an aspirant for office, though he took a leading part in the political affairs of the first ward, and is to-day one of the most promi- nent Democrats in the ward where he is now living.
SAMUEL H. BOYER.
Samuel 11. Boyer, a well-known livery- man and highly respected citizen of Dwight, Illinois, was born in Blair county, Penn- sylvania. July 25. 1858. a son of George W. and Mary Ann ( Turnbaugh ) Boyer. The Boyer family is of German origin and was founded in this country in early colonial days. His great-grandfather, John Boyer. was born in America, and throughout life engaged in farming in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The grandfather, George Boyer, was born in that county, in 1800, and married Lydia Rupp, daughter of Jacob Rupp, who lived near Reading, and belonged
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to a family of German origin, which was founded in Cumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, soon after the landing of William Penn. To George and Lydia ( Rupp) Boyer were born six children : Jacob. John. George W .. William. Samuel and Sarah. The father of this family died in Pennsylvania, at the age of sixty-eight years. Ile was a Lu- theran in religious belief and a Republican in politics.
George W. Boyer, father of our sub- ject, was born in Lancaster county. Pennsyl- vania, February 20. 1827. and accompanied his parents on their removal to Blair county. that state, where he engaged in farming sev- eral years. Ile was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. On the 244th of May. 1849. he married Mary Ann, daughter of Henry and Catherine ( Cherry ) Turnbaugh, who were of German ancestry and lived near Altoona, Blair cotin- ty. By this union were born seven children. namely: Henry, who married Nellie Mor- ris : Annetta, who married James B. Austin : Samuel Il., our subject; Sarah C., wife of Dwight P. Mills; Climenia E., now Mrs. Muro Bertholic: Alfred .1 .. of Dwight : and George W., who died at the age of twelve years. The father was a member of Company E, One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, during the latter part of the Civil war, and was honorably dis- charged at Philadelphia, after which he re- turned to his home in Blair county. In 1867 he came to Livingston county, Illinois, and purchased a farm on section 20, Dwight township, where he resided until a few years ago, when he retired to Dwight. He has always affiliated with the Republican party and has held several township offices, in- cluding those of school director and road commissioner. Both he and his wife are
members of the Lutheran church and are highly respected and esteemed by all who know them.
Samuel 11. Boyer was only nine years of age on the removal of the family to this county, and in the schools of Dwight town- ship he acquired his education. He remained at home until twenty-five years of age. On the 30th of January, 1884, Mr. Boyer was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Lower, also a native of Blair county, Pennsylvania. and a daughter of Samuel and Mary E. ( Downs) Lower, who were born in the same state. In early life her father learned the blacksmith's trade, which he continued to follow until his retirement recently from active labor. He brought his family to Illi- nois in 1865 and first located in Lanark, butt a few years later came to Dwight, where he has since made his home. with the excep- tion of a short time spent in farming in Broughton township, this county. In 1891 he built a hotel in Dwight, to which he gave the name of Pennsylvania House, and which he conducted for seven years, and where he still resides. In his family were ten chil- dren, of whom seven are now living, Mrs. Boyer being the second in order of birth. Her mother died in February, 1898. To our subject and his wife have been born five children, namely: Harvey, Elwood, Clar- ence. Ira and Ralph. .
After his marriage Mr. Boyer engaged in farming upon rented land for a time and then operated Mr. Lower's farm in Brough- ton township for six years. In the fall of 1891 he built a large livery stable in Dwight and to that place he removed in January of the following year, and has since devoted his time and attention to the livery business with good success.
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