USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 15
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After his marriage Mr. Lommatsch con- tinued to engage in farming upon his fa- ther's place in Ripley county, Indiana, for two years. In 1861 he came to Livingston county, Illinois, and purchased eighty acres
of land in Pike township, but for two years he operated a rented farm in Eppards Point township, and then located upon his own place, which he improved by the erection of a comfortable residence. That farm was his home for several years, during which time he added to it a tract of one hundred and forty acres adjoining, so that he had two hundred and twenty acres in all. Sub- sequently he purchased eighty acres where he now resides, and located thereon in 1878. He has extended the boundaries of his place until they now include three hundred and twenty acres, and to its improvement and cultivation he has devoted his energies with excellent results. He has erected a large, neat residence. a commodious barn, cribs and sheds, has tiled the land, set out shade and fruit trees, and has converted it into one of the most desirable farms in the township. Besides his valuable property he has an- other farm of one hundred and sixty-seven acres in Eppards Point township. His suc- cess is due to his industry, energy and per- severance, and comes as a fitting reward for honest toil. Politically. Mr. Lommatsch is a stanch Republican, and religiously he and his family are members of the Evangelical church.
JOSIAHIN. BARR.
For forty-five years this gentleman has been identified with the agricultural interests of Livingston county, and now owns and operates a well-improved farm of one hun- dred and eighty acres on section 17, Esmen township. He was born in Lancaster coun- ty, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1833, and is a son of Jacob and Susan ( Barr ) Barr, also na- tives of Pennsylvania and of German de-
J. N. BARR.
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scent. Our subject's paternal grandfather. Jacob Barr, Sr., was one of the pioneers of Lancaster county, where the family con- tinued to make their home until 1836, when the parents of our subject moved to Clark county, Ohio, and there the father cleared and improved a farm. In that county they spent the remainder of their lives, the mother dying January, 1846, and the father in 1848. At the death of the mother there were seven children living, of whom five yet survive : Jacob, of Lawrence county, Illinois ; Josiah N., our subject ; Cyrus, of Dwight, Illinois; Susan, now Mrs. Kemp, of lowa, and Laura B., now Mrs. Foy, a widow living in Washi- ington county, Nebraska. The oldest daugh- ter, Elizabeth, died in November, 1846.
Josiah N. Barr was fifteen years old at the time of his father's death. He then went to work for various farmers, and con- tinued to be thus employed in that vicinity until he was twenty-one years old, in the meantime securing a fair common school ed- ucation, and then came to Illinois, in 1854. locating first in Kane county, where he worked by the month as a farm hand for one year. At the end of that time he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on sec- tion 17, Esmen township, Livingston county, where he now resides, to its improvement and cultivation he has since devoted his en- ergies with the exception of the time spent in his country's service during the Civil war. Hle broke about half of this tract before en- tering the army. It is now a well improved place, being tiled, fenced and under a high state of cultivation. The buildings are neat and substantial, and the whole farm indicates the thrift and enterprise of the owner.
On the 30th of August, 1862. Mr. Barr enlisted in Company M, First Illinois Ar- tillery, which was organized at Camp Doug-
las and sent from there to Louisville, spend- ing the time from October until the follow- ing February in Kentucky in pursuit of Morgan. They next went down the Ohio and up the Cumberland rivers, joining Rose- crans at Fort Donelson, where they were held in reserve for a time, afterward going to Nashville and Franklin. As a reserve corps they proceeded to Chickamauga, in which engagement they took part, it being their first important battle. Later they were in the battle of Missionary Ridge, and were sent with Sherman to relieve the forces at Knoxville. On the 2d day of May, 1864. they started on the Atlanta campaign, and for ninety days were under fire almost constant- ly. They participated in the battle of Kene- saw Mountain and assisted in the capture of Atlanta, after which the artillery was sent back to Chattanooga, where they were on dutty until the following spring, and then proceeded to Cleveland, Tennessee, remain- ing there until the close of the war. Mr. Barr was honorably discharged at Camp Douglas July 25, 1865. He had lost but little time on account of sickness, and, al- though disabled for duty a short time, he was never in the hospital.
Mr. Barr was married, in Livingston county, December 24, 1872, to Miss Tinnie Annis, a native of London, England, and a daughter of Mr. Chalmers. As her father died when she was quite small, she was adopted by a Mrs. Annis, with whom she came to America during childhood. They located first in Vermont, but when she was about nine years of age moved to Nebraska, where she grew to womanhood. She died September 22. 1805, and was laid to rest in the Esmen cemetery. By this union were born four children, namely: Lutie, who is now keeping house for her father; Lorenzo
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N., a pharmacist, who is now engaged in the drug business in Idaho, and Theda M. and Loren C., both at home.
Mr. Barr cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, in 1856, and as a Re- publican he has since taken an active and prominent part in local politics. He helped organize his township and was elected first collector, in which capacity he served for two years. He was township trustee six years, and at intervals has filled the office of supervisor for twelve years, during which time he served on various important commit- tees. He has also been a delegate to nu- merous county conventions of his party, and whatever position he has been called upon to fill, it duties he has always faithfully and satisfactorily performed. He was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church until it was disbanded, and now attends the Method- ist Episcopal church, to which he contributes liberally. He takes quite an active and prominent part in church and Sabbath school work, and is now serving as superintendent of the Sabbath school. He has witnessed
the wonderful development and progress made in this region in the last half-century, has seen Pontiac grow from a cross roads town of two stores to be one of the important cities in this section of the state. and in the work of advancement he has ever borne an active part and is numbered among the most useful and valued citizens of his community.
NELSON COUNTRYMAN.
Nelson Countryman, deceased, was for several years prominently identified with the business interests of Pontiac, where he lo- cated in 1859, and bore an active part in the
carly development of the city. He was born in St. Johnsville, New York, July 11, 1832. a son of Jacob Countryman. The father. who belonged to an old New York family. was a shipbuilder by trade, and also engaged in the practice of law in that state. For a time he made his home in Syracuse and later in Buffalo, and built many of the early lake boats. On coming west he soon located in Ottawa, Illinois, where he purchased land and engaged in farming until 1859. which year witnessed his arrival in Pontiac, where. as a well-to-do man he lived retired until his death, which occurred ten or fifteen years later. He erected one of the first brick stores on the square. Religiously, he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Nelson Countryman was educated in the schools of Syracuse and Buffalo, New York. and later accompanied his parents on their removal to Ottawa, Illinois. As previously stated the family came to this county in 1859. and our subject bought and opened up the first stone quarry near Pontiac. it being three-quarters of a mile northeast of the court house, and for this land he gave two hundred dollars per acre. From his quarry nearly the stone for the foundations of buildings in the city were obtained. He did a large and prosperous business, furnishing employment to many men, and had the name of being one of the best workmen in his line in this section of the state. Hle contracted to put in foundations and also shipped rock and sand.
On the 3d of October, 1854. Mr. Coun- tryman married Miss Paskalenia Reynolds, and to them were born two children, namely : Mary E., wife of D. B. Shiland, of Pontiac. and Minnie, wife of Frank Sinclair, also of Pontiac. Benjamin B. Reynolds, Mrs. Countryman's father, was born in Lewiston.
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Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, June 10, 1810. and there married Eleanor Scofield, who was born in Clearfieldl, Clearfieldl county, Penn- sylvania, August 14. 1812. He was en- gaged in the hardware business in Lewiston until 1833, when, with his wife and two chil- dren, he removed to Ottawa, Illinois, being one of its first settlers. He had lost a fort- une of nearly fifty thousand dollars by the failure of the state to pay for an acqueduct. In La Salle county, he purchased six hun- dred and forty acres of land six miles from Ottawa, where he made his home until 1877, and then went to Indiana, but his last days were passed in Texas. His brother, Dr. John P. Reynolds, was killed at the Alamo, and his property, consisting of four thou- sand and forty-seven acres of land and two thousand dollars fell to Mrs. Countryman's father and his sister in Indiana. The fa- ther went south to take possession of the land and located every acre. The property also included thirteen houses and lots in Wells Point, Texas. He died in that state Febru- ary 2, 1882, leaving eight children, his wife passed away February 16. 1874. Both were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were people of prominence in the community where they resided.
Mrs. Countryman was reared on a farm near Ottawa and was mostly educated by her father, who had been a professor of schools for thirty years. He also served as super- visor of his township for over forty years, and was considered the leading man of the community, his fellow citizens always giv- ing him their political support regardless of party lines. He also took an active interest in state affairs, and was well acquainted with Lincoln and other prominent politicians of his day.
Mr. and Mrs. Countryman resided for
a short time in Wisconsin, and then returned to Pontiac, where she has since made her home at No. 313 East Livingston street. Here he died February 23, 1886. Through his own well-directed efforts he acquired a comfortable competence, and also won by an honorable, upright life, an untarnished name, and the record which he left behind is one well worthy of emulation. Since her hus- band's death Mrs. Countryman has carried on the business and quarry interests and has met with marked success, having more or- ders than she can fill, although she knew nothing of the business when it came under her management. She gives employment to ten men, and ships stone quite extensively. having the only quarry in this neighborhood. It is a very valuable piece of property, cor- ering two acres of the eighteen and a half tract which she owns. She is a member of the Baptist church, and is honored, not alone for her business ability, but for her straight- forward, womanly course and true nobility of character. Her circle of friends and ac- quaintances is extensive.
WALTER HART.
Walter Hart, a successful florist now en gaged in business at No. 507 North Ladd street, Pontiac, Illinois, was born near Nor- age. England, February 27, 1833, and when eighteen years of age emigrated to Amer- ica with his parents, George and Mary Ann ( Locke) Hart, also natives of England. where the father earned a livelihood as a fisherman. The family settled near Aurora, in Kane county, Illinois, where the father engaged in farming until a few years before his death, when he came
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to Pontiac, where he passed away September 15. 1884, at the age of seventy-three years. After his death the mother lived with our subject and at his home she died December 0. 1884, at the age of nearly eighty-four. They had a family of nine children, all born in England. but only three are now living. namely: Dennis, a farmer of Sac county, Jowa: George, a machinist of Des Moines, Jowa, and Walter, our subject. The others all died in England, with the exception of Mrs. Mehalah Huggins, who died in Dwight, Illinois.
Walter Hart never left the home of his parents until his father's death. He ob- tained the greater part of his literary educa- tion in the evening schools of Norage, Eng- land, and for a brief time after coming to this country attended school in Bristol, Ken- dall county, Illinois, where his father was engaged in farming. In November, 1875, he came to Pontiac with his parents and entered the employ of the Illinois State Re- formatory as gardener. remaining in their employ for two years, after which he leased a greenhouse on Maplewood avenue, and en- gaged in business there as a florist for five years. The following eight years he carried on business in the northern part of the city, and then purchased his present place at No. 507 North Ladd street. Here he constructed a greenhouse, but his business has increased so rapidly that it is fast outgrowing his pres- ent quarters. A man of artistic tastes and good business ability, he has met with snc- cess in his chosen calling. He has been a life-long member of the Methodist church, and his career has ever been such as to com- mend him to the confidence and high regard of all with whom he has come in contact. either in business or social life. In his po- litical views he is a Republican.
In 1860, in Kendall county, Illinois, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hart and Miss Sarah Springer, of that county, the sixth child of James and Katherine Springer. She was born in Indiana and came to this state with her parents when quite young. To Mr. and Mrs. Hart were born seven chil- dren. namely : Anna C., who died at the age of one year and eleven months: Sebina, who died in Pontiac at the age of five months ; one who died in infancy unnamed : James W .. who married Laura Mckinsey, of MIc- Dowell, Illinois, and is an electrician in the employ of the Electric Light Company of Pontiac ; Mary Ann, wife of Pearl Carrier, a farmer of Chenoa, Illinois: Adeline, wife of Charles Page, a painter and paper hanger of Pontiac, and George R., who is employed in a shoe factory in Pontiac.
JOHN HANCOCK.
John Hancock, whose home is on section 25, Pike township, Livingston county, is one of the most prominent and influential citi- zens of his community. He takes an active and commendable interest in public affairs, and gives his support to all enterprises which he believes will prove of public benefit or will in any way advance the interests of his adopted county.
Mr. Hancock was born in Franklin coun- ty, Pennsylvania, January 13. 1839. a son of John and Catherine ( Mooney ) Hancock, na- tives of Maryland and Pennsylvania, re- spectively. Throughout the greater por- tion of his life the father made his home in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, his time and attention being devoted to agricultural pur- suits, and he died there in 1875. Ilis wife,
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who still survives him, a hale and hearty okdl lady of seventy-five years, continues to re- side on the old homestead with her young- est son, Solomon Hancock.
During his boyhood our subject attended the common schools and remained in his na- tive county until eighteen years of age, when he came to Illinois, locating in McLean county, March 1, 1857. There he worked by the month for two years, and then came to Livingston county, operating rented land in Pike township until the outbreak of the Civil war. On the 14th of June, 1861, he enlisted for three years, in Company A, First Illinois Cavalry, which was assigned to the western army, and his first engagement was at Lexington, Missouri. He partici- pated in numerous skirmishes in that state and Arkansas, and was in active service two years, being mustered out and honorably discharged at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, in 1863. After his return from the war Mr. Hancock continued to engage in farming upon rented for several years, after which he speculated in farm property quite exten- sively, buying and selling several places. In 1878 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on section 25, Pike township, and has since successfully engaged in its operation. He has erected thereon good and substantial buildings, and has made many other improvements, which add greatly to the value and attractive appearance of the place, making it one of the best farms of its size in the township. By untiring industry and sound judgment he has won a merited success in his undertakings, and is in all re- spects worthy the high regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens.
On the 2d of June, 1863, in Livingston county, while home on a furlough, Mr. Han- cock was united in marriage with Miss
Rachel Campbell, who was born and reared in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Archibald Campbell. a teacher by profession, and a life-long resi- dent of the Keystone state. To Mr. and Mrs. Hancock were born five children, namely : Ida, wife of Ilarry Reed, of Pon- tiac: Lettie, Charles, Josephine and Bessie, all at home. Josephine was educated at the Pontiac high school and is now one of the successful teachers of the county, and Bessie is now a student at the Chenoa high school.
Formerly Mr. Hancock was identified with the Republican party and cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln, in 1860, but is now a stanch Democrat, and takes quite an active and prominent part in local politics and public affairs, having served his fellow citizens as township collector, com- missioner of highways and a member of the school board. fte has filled the last position for some years and is now president of the board. As a citizen he ever stands ready to discharge any duty devolving upon him, and has taken an active interest in promot- ing the welfare of his township and county, his patriotism being manifest in days of peace as well as when he followed the old flag to victory on southern battle fields. He is an honored member of the Grand Army Post of Chenoa, and both lie and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church of that place, with which he has been connected since 1858.
JOHN STEWART.
John Stewart is a well known repre- sentative of the business interests of Dwight, Illinois, where he is extensively engaged in contracting and buikling, and also deals in
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lumber and coal. Of excellent business abil- ity and broad resources, he has become one of the well-to-do citizens of the place. 11e has won success by his well-directed. ener- getic efforts, and the prosperity that has a me to him is certainly well deserved.
Mr. Stewart was born in the north of Ireland June 11. 1846, and is a son of John and Mary .A. ( McKelvey) Stewart, also natives of Ireland, but of Scotch parentage. There the father learned the weaver's trade. which he followed until his emigration to America in 1850, bringing with him his family, consisting of wife and eight children. Ile located in Warrensburg. Warren coun- ty. New York, and accepted a position as finisher in a tannery, but he was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for he died five years after his arrival. at the age of sixty-three. He had ten children : Jane. William, Mary A .. Robert, Thomas, Eliza- beth. Ellen. Margaret. John and Rosa, all still living, but none residing in this county with the exception of our subject. He has one brother and three sisters in Aurora, Kane county ; one sister in Kendall county. Illinois: a brother in Missouri, and the others are in New York state.
Our subject was only four years old when brought by his parents to this country, and he received his education in the common schools and seminary of Warrensburg, New York. After leaving school he worked in lumber mills for four years, and on the 15th of March. 1865, came to Aurora. Illinois, working one year on a farm in Sugar Grove township. Kane county. He then entered the car shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, where he followed the trade of a carbuilder four years, but on the advice of his physician he again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Going to
Grundy county, Illinois, he rented a farm for a year and a half. and then came to Livings. ton county, purchasing a farm of eighty acres of improved land in Nevada township, to the cultivation of which he at once turned his attention. About six years later he bought another eighty-acre tract, making in all a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 12, Nevada township, which he thoroughly tiled and placed under a high state of cultivation. He gave the greater part of his time and attention to the raising of stock, feeding from two to three car- loads of cattle per year and one of hogs. In this way he more than used all of the grain raised upon his own land. After fourteen years devoted to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Stewart moved to Dwight in the spring of 1800 and commenced working at the carpen- ter's trade. Since the fall of 1891 he has en- gaged in contracting and building on his own account and has erected many of the fine residences in the place. In 1900 he purchased the coal business of F. B. Chester. known as the Dwight Coal Company, and now carries it on in connection with his other business.
On the 14th of September. 1870, Mr. Stewart was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Veale, a native of Grundy county. Illinois, and a daughter of Charles and Mary V'eale, who were born in England and came to this country in early life. settling in Grun- dy county, where both died when Mrs. Stew- art was a child of four years. She then made her home with her uncle, John Vick- ery. They were among the first settlers of Grundy county and while improving his land Mr. Veale lived in a wagon. To Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were born three children. namely: Ernest P., who died on his thir- teenth birthday and the anniversary of his
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parents' marriage ; Nellie O., who was grad - uated from the Dwight high school in the spring of 1809 and is at home: and Robert karl. aged ten years, is still in school.
Mr. Stewart is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church, has always lived up to his professions and taken an ac- tive part in church work. He has been an official member for the past sixteen years and is now trustee of the church and super- intendent of the Sunday school. Fraternally he is a member of Dwight Lodge, No. 513. 1. O. O. F., of which he is deputy, and po- litically is a Prohibitionist and served as a delegate to the county conventions of his party and as chairman of the township Pro- hibition committee. When there is no Pro- hibition ticket in the field he supports the Republican party. For the last four years he has been an active and efficient mem- ber of the village board of trustees and has been chairman of the water works committee for the past three years, during which time the system has been improved and a stand- pipe placed. He has the entire confidence and respect of his fellow citizens and is held in high regard by all with whom he comes in contact. either in business or social life.
SAMUEL GOODWILL MORRISON.
Samuel Goodwill Morrison, a promi- nent farmer of Avoca township and a worthy representative of one of its old and honored tunilies, was born in the house he now oc cupies October 20, 1857. a son of Samuel and Mary A. ( Rockwood ) Morrison, both of whom were born near Buffalo, New York, and with their respective parents came to Illinois when children, being married in this state. Our subject's paternal grand-
tather only lived a few years after settling in Livingston county, and his wife did not long survive him. They were pioneers of the county and made their home near where our subject now resides. The Rockwood family were also among the early settlers, who, by persistent labors, subdued the wild prairie lands and made homes for their de- scendants. The grandparents both died in Livingston county. The father was one of the most successful farmers of Avoca town- ship, where at one time he owned five hun- dred acres of land, but later sold all but two hundred and forty-four acres, which he re- tained as a home place. This was school land when he purchased it and abounded with prairie grass and rattle snakes, but he improved and converted the same into one of the most fruitful and valuable farms of Lis locality. In polit'es he was a Republican and held minor offices in the township, which were thrust upon him, as he never sought political honors. His first wife died in 1866. Six children were born to them, four sons and two daughters, namely: Betsy, who died in infancy: Susan .A., wife of C. D. Hering, of Indiana ; John O., an employee of H. O. Babcock, of Pontiac; George D., a successful farmer of Avoca township: James J .. a resident of Spear. Nebraska; and Samuel G., our subject. For his second wife the father married Maria Phillips, of Livingston county, by whom he had seven children : Nellie, wife of Joel W. Banker. of Pontiac : Joseph C. of Page county, lowa : Lenora, wife of Charles Friant, of Avoca township; William R., of Owego township : llarry L., of Lodem'a: Mary, who lives with our subject ; and Charles, a farmer of Avoca township. After a successful and honorable career the father died at home May 1, 1884, at the age of sixty five years.
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