USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 14
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In politics Mr. Boyer is a Republican, but
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has never been an aspirant for office. He purchased a tract of raw prairie land in attends the Methodist Episcopal church and affiliates with Dwight Camp. No. 270, S. of V., of which he is captain ; Hebron Lodge, No. 513. I. O. O. F., and Dwight Court of Honor, No. 508.
JOHN CRABB.
John Crabb, who is industriously en- gaged in agricultural pursuits upon a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 9. Pike township, Livingston coun- ty, Illinois, was born in Forfarshire, Scot- land, July 1, 1839, a son of James and Ce- celia (Monroe) Crabb, also natives of that country, where the mother died. The fa- ther was of English descent.
Our subject was reared and educated in his native land and for three years prior to his emigration to America he worked in a foundry. . At the age of eighteen he de- cided to try his fortune on this side of the Atlantic and took passage on a sailing ves- sel at Montrose. The voyage lasted six weeks, during which time they encountered two severe storms, but finally landed at Que- bec in safety in August. 1857, and proceeded at once to Tazewell county, Illinois, where his brothers, Henry and Archie, had pre- viously located. They were joined by their father two or three years later and he made his home in this country throughout the re- mainder of his life, dying in 1875 at the ripe old age of eighty-one years.
.At first John Crabb worked on a farm by the month and later he and his brother, Archie, rented land and engaged in farm- ing together for seven years. At the end of that period the property was divided and our subject came to Livingston county and 8
like township, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his energies until 1889, when he sokl that place and bought his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres of land on section y, the same township. At that time it was only slightly improved, but he has remodeled the resi- (lence, tiled the land, erected good outbuikl- ings and made many other improvements, transforming it into a most desirable farm.
On the 25th of December, 1865, in Liv- ingston county, Mr. Crabb was united in marriage with Miss Hannah E. Capes, a sister of David D. Capes, whose sketch ap- pears on another page of this volume. She was born in Lincolnshire, England, but was only three years old when brought to this country by her father, Willoughby Capes, who first settled in Tazewell county, Illi- nois, but later came to Livingston county. Mr. and Mrs. Crabb have a family of seven children, namely: Charles, who is married and engaged in farming in this county ; Wal- ter, at home; Ada, wife of Henry Beeks, a farmer of Benton county, Indiana; Eliza- beth, wife of Lucius Phillips, a farmer of Pike township, this county; Dora, Ethel and Zephyr, all at home.
Politically, Mr. Crabb was originally a Republican, but of late years has supported the Democratic party, and being a friend of temperance he takes an interest in the Pro- hibition movement. He was an efficient member of the school board for some years and gives his support to every enterprise which he believes calculated to advance the moral, educational or social welfare of the community in which he lives. Religiously, both he and his estimable wife are earnest and consistent members of the Bethel Meth- odist Episcopal church.
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CHARLES A. MCGREGOR.
Fen men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising city of l'ontiac than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He was born in Wil- mington. Clinton county, Ohio. March 14. 1843. and is a son of John Il. McGregor. who was born in Orange county. North Carolina. August 30. 1814. The grandia- ther, John McGregor, a native of the high- lands of Scotland, settled in North Caro- lina on his emigration to this counry, and there he was a professor in an educational institution and also a land owner. When his son. John H., was three years old he re- moved with his family to Green River. Ken- tucky, where he purchased a large amount of land. but seven years later disposed of his property there and moved to Clinton coun- ty, Ohio, where he bought more land. mak- ing his home there throughout the remainder of his life.
John H. McGregor, father of our sub- ject. was educated in Louisville, Kentucky, and was admitted to the bar in Clinton coun- ty. Ohio. In Wilmington, Ohio, he was married, October 3, 1838, by Rev. Joseph L. Irvin. to Miss Mary J. Buxton, who was born in Warren county, that state. March 27, 1821, a daughter of Charles and Eliza (Vandoren ) Buxton. Her father, who was of English birth, died when she was only four years old. At an early day the father of our subject removed to the territory of lowa and located in Davenport, owning the original claim on which that city was founded in partnership with his brother and another gentleman. In 1850 he removed to Ottawa. Illinois, where he engaged in the practice of law, having his office with Dr. Stout, the noted abolitionist, and in Octo-
her. 1852. before the railroad was built. came to Pontiac, where he was first engaged in: practice with Mr. De Witt. the earliest at- torney of the place, but later was a member of the firm of MeGregor & Dart. Hle erected one of the first buildings of any size in the town. the humber being hauled from Ottawa, a distance of forty miles, and was one of the most prominent c'tizens of I ontiac in that day, as well as one of the leading lawyers of this section of the state. being engaged in practice with Lincoln, Caton and other illustrious men. He died January 5. 1856, honored and respected by all who knew him. His wife is still living and is one of the two surviving charter mem- bers of the Presbyterian church of Pontiac. He left five children, namely : Elizabeth. who married A. J. Laws, but is now de- ceased; Emma. Charles A .. Alonzo H. and H. Burton, all residents of Pontiac.
The early education of Charles .A. Me- Gregor, acquired in the public schools, was supplemented by a course at Dickinson Col- lege. Carlisle. Pennsylvania. Hle left col- lege to return home and enlisted in the spring of 1803. joining Company C. Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was then stationed in front of Richmond. From that time on he was in all the engagements in which his regiment took part, including the battles around Richmond and Petersburg, and after Lee's surrender did provost duty, remaining in the service until December, 1865, when he was honorably discharged.
Returning to Pontiac Mr. MeGregor was interested in a grocery store one year. Ile had been practically brought up in the drug business, as from the age of thirteen years he had worked in a drug store when not in school until he entered the army, and so had acquired a very good knowledge of that
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business. As a clerk he had charge of the brier county. Virginia, and a daughter of grocery store of Mr. Turner, but also re- Morris Johnson, who came to Pontiac about 1860 and was here engaged in general mer- chandising and the stock business for many years. By this union were born five chil- dren, of whom three still live: Bernice E. : Ellis J., now a student in the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan; and Lewis C., at home. The wife and mother. who was a consistent member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and a most estimable woman, died in January. 1888. Mr. Mc- Gregor holds membership in the Presby- terian church and for many years has been a trustee of the same. Ile also took an active part in Sunday school work for some years. He has never had time nor inclination for political affairs, though he has served as alderman from his ward and ever stands ready to discharge any duty devolving upon him. ceived a percentage of the profits, and so was really interested in the business. In 1867, in partnership with J. A. Caldwell. under the firm name of Caldwell & McGreg- or, he embarked in the drug business on his own account on Mill street, where business was carried on for a mimber of years, but in 1872 they built a fine block on the corner of Mill and Madison streets, which at that time was the best business house in the city, it being 20x110 feet in dimensions and two stories in height. flere Mr. McGregor is still engaged in business, occupying all of the main floor, part of the second and most of the basement. The firm built up the largest drug trade in this section of the state and about twenty years added to their stock a fine line of jewelry and silverware, which proved quite profitable. They also dealt in books, stationery, wall paper, etc. They erected the building adjoining their store and also owned another where the Sterry block HON. LABAN M. STROUD. now stands. In February. 1895. Mr. Mc- Gregor purchased his partner's interest and has since been alone in business. He has erected a number of business blocks, owning five buildings on the main business streets of the city besides the one he occupies, and also has considerable residence property and. with his children, owns several farms. He was one of the early stockhoklers of the Livingston County National Bank and an original stockholder of the Pontiac Nationdi Bank, as well as a director of both. In business affairs he is energetic. prompt and notably reliable and carries forward to snc- cessful completion whatever he undertakes.
On the 23d of November. 1871. Mr. MeGregor married Miss Eunice J. Johnson, a native of Johnson's Cross Roads, Green-
llon. Laban M. Stroud, who is now living a retired life on his farm near Pon- tiac, has been a resident of the state since 1830. He is a native of Tennessee. born near the city of Nashville. Dixon county. September 27, 1822, and is the son of Thomas and Sally ( Thompson ) Stroud, the former a native of North Carolina, born in 1791. and the latter a native of Virginia and daughter of Neal Thompson, who lo- cated in Tennessee in 1780, and there be- came a large and wealthy planter and where the remainder of his life was passed. Thomas Stroud was a son of Jesse and grandson of l'eter Stroud, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, but of English and Irish ancestry. Jesse Strond moved from North
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Carolina to Tennessee and located in Obion county, where he owned a large plantation and a number of slaves.
Thomas Stroud grew to manhood in Tennessee and in 1812 married Sally Thompson, by whom he had a family of two sons and seven daughters, two only of the number now living, our subject and his sister, Mrs. Artimissa Higgs, now living with our subject. The other members of the family were Cassa R., Fanetta, Sinia Sabury, Ellen, Obedience Lee, Mourning Tilford. Julian and Milton P.
Thomas Stroud was a soldier in the war of 1812 and served under General Jack- son. He was a planter in Tennessee for some years after his marriage, but, with the desire to better provide for his family, he came to Illinois in 1830, first stopping in Sangamon county, where he spent one sea- son, and then moved to that portion of Taze- well county which was later detached and now forms the county of Logan. On settling in the latter county he took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, a part of which was government land, which he improved and on which he continued to live until his death, March 7, 1858. His wife passed away in ยท 1857.
The subject of this sketch was eight years of age when he came with his parents to Illinois. His educational advantages were limited, but his advantages for work were not. The farm was to be improved, crops were to be planted and harvested, and To Mr. and Mrs. Stroud seven children he must do his share of the work. In his. were born. Louisa is the wife of H. 11. youth, however, he learned the carpenter's trade with his uncle, Colonel S. M. Thomp- son, but he continued to make his home with his parents until some years after attaining his majority.
On the 7th of April, 1847. Mr. Stroud
was united in marriage with Miss Elvy Adams, who was born in Bedford county, Tennessee, January 9. 1826. and daughter of Captain John G. Adams, a native of one of the Carolinas, but who came to Ilinois and located in Tazewell county in 1828, when his daughter was but two years old. Ile was in command of a cavalry company in the Black Hawk war and was killed by the Indians. His wife was so shocked by the death of her husband that she lost her mind and never recovered. though she lived many yeard afterward .. dying when seventy-five years old. The family were of Scotch an- cestry and were early settlers of North Caro- lina, from which state they moved to Teu- nessee and later to Illinois.
After his marriage Mr. Stroud bought one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land, which he improved and on which he continued to live until 1879. in the mean- time adding to its area until it comprised a well improved farm of four hundred and twenty-five acres. Renting his place he moved to Minier, where he bought residence property and where he made his home for ten years. He then came to Livingston county and took up his residence on his farm adjoining the city of Pontiac, which he purchased at that time, comprising one hun- dred and sixty-three acres, all of which is under improvement. He had previously. in 1885, purchased a farm of four hundred acres lying northeast of the city of Pontiac.
Darnell. of Tazewell county, Illinois. Mar- tha is the wife of William Neal Mountjoy, of Logan county, Illinois. Thomas Frank resides in Omaha, Nebraska. Mrs. Sarah Jane Livesay is a resident of Livingston county. Parmelia Annie resides at home.
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John G. is married and is engaged in farm- ing in Livingston county. Warren M. is carrying on the home farm. After fifty-two years of a happy wedded life Mrs. Stroud passed to her reward December 5, 1899. while on a visit to the old neighborhood in Logan county, where so many years of her life were spent. Her remains were laid to rest in the Niblack cemetery, there to wait the resurrection day. She was a faithful helpmeet to her husband, to whom she was greatly attached, and was a most loving mother. The family and all who knew her in this life will always hold her in grateful remembrance.
Politically Mr. Stroud is a Jackson Dem- ocrat and he has been an earnest advocate of the principles of his party throughout life. llis first presidential vote was cast for James K. Polk in 1844, and from that time to the present the nominee of his party has always received his ballot. By his fellow citizens he has been honored with various local offices, serving for many years as a member of the county board of supervisors. In 1872 he was elected by his party a mem- ber of the General Assembly, the district com- prising the counties of Tazewell and Logan. and served two years, during which time he served on several improtant committees and was known as a working member. Believ- ing that others shoukt serve, he declined further political honors. Since he was eigh- teen of age Mr. Stroud has been a member of the Christian church and has ever taken an interest in the work of the church and in the evangelization of the workl. His good wife was also a member of the same church. At the present time his membership is with the church in Pontiac.
Like thousands of the well-to-do men of this country, Mr. Stroud began life with but
little means, but he had health, a good con- stitution, a stout heart and willing hands. Ile was not afraid of work, and with tem- perate habits and an earnest desire to do right with his fellow men, he has labored on until to-day he is the owner of six well im- proved farms, comprising about two thou- sand acres, and is well content to live a quiet life, enjoying the fruits of his labor in the past, while others shall take up the more active duties. Well known and universally respected, he can quietly review the past with the satisfaction of one who has not lived in vain, while those that know him can feel that the workl is better for the life that he has lived.
WILLIAM T. CRAWFORD. 1
William T. Crawford, a prominent horse dealer, who has since 1875 been an active factor in the business life of Pontiac, Illi- nois, was born in New York City October 13. 1832, and is a son of Andrew and Eliz- abeth ( Turner) Crawford, the former a native of Ireland, the latter of New York, where their marriage was celebrated, the father having come to this country when a young man. Meeting with business reverses in the metroplis, he removed to Harrison county, Ohio, where he took up land and commenced life anew in very limited cir- cumstances. Though the country where he settled was hilly and stony and covered with a heavy growth of timber, he steadily pros- pered, and by hard work, good management and close economy he became possessed of considerable land, being quite well off at the time of his death, which occurred in November, 1889. The mother died on the old home farm in 1897. Both were faithful
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members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were highly esteemed in the community where they made their home.
The subject of this sketch began his edu- cation in the schools of New York City. but was only eight years old when the family removed to Ohio. The school house nearest his father's home was two miles distance and the path lay through the woods. His mother went with him the first day. carry- ing a hatchet, with which she marked the trees that he might find his way home again at night. The school proved quite different from the one he had attended in the city. but he managed to acquire a good practical education. On leaving home, in 1854. at the age of twenty-one years, he went to Scott county, lowa, and spent one year on a farm some twenty miles west of Davenport.
Mr. Crawford then returned home and was married, February 14, 1856. to Miss Sarah Johnston, daughter of Andrew John- ston, who was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and to them have been born six children. namely : Elizabeth, now the wife of Charles Strevelle. of Salt Lake City, Utah: George .A., who is in business with his father and has served as alderman in Pontiac ; Ada, wife of Albert Dolde ; Elmer, a resident of Montana : Will- iam, who has been connected with the Na- tional Bank of Pontiac for some years : and Maude, at home.
In the spring of 1856. a short time after his marriage. Mr. Crawford moved to Bloomington, Illinois, where he followed farming for three years, and then bought a farm in Tazewell county, which he operated six years. His next home was a farm north- west of Bloomington, on which was laid out the town of Yuton, and on selling that place he moved to Bloomington, where he was en- gaged in the horse and cattle business for a
number of years, becoming a very extensive shipper of cattle and hogs. He was among the first from that city to send cattle to the Union stockyards. Chicago, to be sold on commission, and was the first to ship horses there for that purpose. He owned the first car-load of horses ever put in the okl brick barn known as the Cooper barn, and has handled those animals on quite an extensive scale ever since. Ile buys mainly in Jowa and Montana, and sells from three to five hundred western horses every year, dealing in draft horses and fine drivers. No one in this section handles as many as the Craw- fords-father and son-and they have met with most excellent success. Although he has traveled so extensively in the interests of his business and been brought in contact with all classes of people, Mr. Crawford has never tasted intoxicating drinks, and has led a most exemplary life, commanding the respect and confidence of all who know him. He has never taken an active part in poli- tics, preferring to give his undivided atten- tion to his business interests.
JOHN DENEHE.
It is said that biography yields to no other subject in point of interest and profit and is is especially interesting to note the progress that has been made along various lines of business by those of foreign birth, who have sought homes in America-the readiness with which they adapt themselves to the different methods and customs of America, recognize the advantages offered and utilize the opportunities which the new world affords. . We find a worthy repre- sentative of this class in John Denche, the
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present foreman of the locomotive and car department at the round house in Dwight. which is the end of the Peoria division of the Chicago & Alton Railroad.
Mr. Denehe was born in county Water- ford, Ireland. December 23. 1846, a son of Edward and Margaret Denche, farming peo- ple, who spent their entire lives in that coun- try. Our subect grew to manhood on the home farm with very limited educational ad- vantages. At the age of twenty years he crossed the ocean alone and landed on Amer- ican soil, a stranger in a strange land. He stopped first in New York. and remained about three years in that city and vicinity. where he was employed as a gardener and farm laborer.
At Flatbush, New York, Mr. Denehe was married, August 2. 1868, to Miss Bridget Taylor, a native of county West Meath, Irc- land, who came to this country about the same time as her husband. They have three sons : Thomas E., inspector and repairer of cars at Dwight; William, who married Emma Smith, of Dwight, and is now a fire- man on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. and John F., at home.
After his marriage Mr. Denehe moved to Valparaiso, Indiana, where he worked in a saw-mill one season, and then went to Le- mont, Illinois, where he was employed on the construction of the canal two years. In 1871 he took up his residence in Blooming- ton and entered the shops of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, where he worked as car truck builder until the fall of 1872. Need- ing a reliable man at Dwight, the company sent Mr. Denche there in September of that year to take charge of the car department. He held that position until 1885, when he was promoted to foreman, in which capacity he has since served the road to their entire
satisfaction. He has under him four men in the car department and seven in the lo- comotive department, besides seven regular train crews. He also has charge of their shop at Washington, Illinois, and for some time had charge of those at Lacon and Streator. He came to the new world with the hope of making his fortune and his dreams have been more than realized, and he is to-day a well-to-do man. Besides his pleasant residence in Dwight. erected by him in 1874. he has a fine farm of six hun- dired and twenty acres in Trego county, Kan- sas. He is intelligent and well informed and that he has proved an efficient and valued employee is proved by his long retention with one company, for he has now been with the Chicago & Mton Railroad Company for twenty-eight years. His success in life is clue entirely to his own well-directed and energetic efforts, for he came to this coun- try empty-handed and has had to make his own way in the world unaided. He and his family are communicants of the Catholic church, and he is identified with the Republi- can party. He takes an active interest in public affairs and has efficiently served as school trustee. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and was one of the charter members of the lodge in Dwight. He has held all the offices in the lodge, being active in the order as well as in public affairs.
HERMAN LOMMATSCH.
Many of the most enterprising and pro- gressive farmers of Livingston county have come from the land beyond the sea, and al- though they had no capital when they lo-
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cated here they are now prosperous and suc- cessful. Among the most prominent of these is Herman Lommatsch, who owns and oc- cupies on excellent farm of three hundred and twenty acres on sections 23 and 24. Pike township, and also has property elsewhere in the county.
Ile was born in Saxony, Germany. Oc- tober. 27, 1835, and was reared on a farm in his native land, at the same time attend- ing school for eight years. In 1854, at the age of nineteen. he came to America with his father. William Lommatsch. taking pas- sage on a sailing vessel at Bremen and ar- riving in New York after a voyage of six weeks. They proceeded at once to Cincin- nati, and from there went to Ripley county. Indiana, where for five years our subject as- sisted his father in opening up a farm.
There Mr. Lommatsch was married, in June. 1859. to .Angusta Fellwock, also a native of Saxony, who came to the new world when a girl of twelve years and grew to womanhood in Indiana. By this union have been born nine children, namely : Emma, wife of Jonathan Chicodanse, a farmer of Pike township. Livingston county; Laura. wife of Fred Altman, of the same county ; Theodore, who is married and lives on the farm in Pike township, where Mr. Lom- matsch first settled: Louis, who is married and follows farming in the same township : Charles, who is married and engaged in business in Chenoa: Herman L., a farmer of Eppards Point township: Melan, a farmer. at home: Lena and Nettie, both at home.
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