USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 16
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
During his boyhood Samuel G. Morri- son pursued his studies in the district school near his home and when his education was completed he worked with his father on the farm until the latter's death, when he was appointed administrator of the estate. Ile purchased the interests of the other heirs in the home farm and now has one hundred and eighty acres, on which he is successfully engaged in general farming and raising stock for market.
On the 18th of February. 1892, Mr. Morrison was united in marriage with Miss Rose Gregg, who was born in Osceola coun- ty, lowa, in 1868, and he brought his bride to the farm which has since been their home. Two children bless their union: Ivan G. and Samuel W., both bright boys. Mrs. Morrison is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church and her husband is a supporter of the same. He holds membership in the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 6, of Fair- bury, and n politics always affiliates with the Republican party, though he would never accept public office other than school di- restor, a position he acceptably filled for twelve years. Ile has led a quiet. uneventful life in the same neighborhood where there are many who were his boyhood friends, and those who know him best hold him in the highest regard. Ilis genial, pleasant man- ner makes him quite popular, and he is rec- ognized as a valued citizen of the com- munity.
DAVID E. CAPES.
David E. Capes, a successful ice dealer of Pontiac, is a native of Illinois, his birth occurring June 16, 1862, six miles south of Washington, in Tazewell county. His
parents. Willoughby and Elizabeth ( Milner) Capes, were born, reared and married in Lincolnshire, England, where they continued to make their home until after the birth of three of their children. Then the family, in 1852, came to the new world and settled in Washington, Illinois, where for two years the father supported his wife and children by working asa day laborer at fifty cents per day. The second year he was able to purchase a horse,and the following year bought another. after which he engaged in farming on his own account, operating rented land for eleven years. At the end of that period he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land on section 9, Pike township. Livingston county, for which he paid seven dollars and a quarter per acre. Ile located thereon in the spring of 1864, and at once turned his attention to the improvement and cultivation of his place, soon converting it into a most desirable farm. In connection with general farming he was also engaged in stock raising, and each fall shipped a car- lod of hogs to market. He built a fine house upon his place and made many other im- provements, costing as much as two sections of land would have cost when he purchased his property. As an agriculturist he met with marked success and was able to assist his sons in getting a start in life. He was one of the early members of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal church at Greymont, which he helped to establish, and was one of the main standbys in the erection of the house of worship. From the first he served as steward of the church, and was recognized as one of the most honest, honored and highly respected men of his community. He was never an aspirant for office, but was always a consistent and earnest Republican, and never failed in his duties of citizenship.
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WILLOUGHBY CAPES.
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D. E. CAPES.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
He was born at Mar's Chapel, near Grimsey, Lincolnshire, England, October 18, 1819, and died October 4. 1899. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Milner, in 1844, and they became the parents of thirteen chil- dren. She was born in Yorkshire, England, March 13, 1827. In her seventeenth year she was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church, and her life was freely given to the labors of the church, and her in- fluence upon Bethel community will be felt in the years to come. AAfter a long illness she fell asleep September 4, 1898.
Our subject was the eighth in order of birth in the family born to this worthy couple. During his boyhood he attended the public schools of Pike township, and aided his father in the work of the home farm until he attained his majority. On the 28th of December, 1882, he was united in marriage with Miss Alice .1. Piper, of Rock Creek, Illinois, and they now have two children : Delbert R., born January 8, 1884, and Cora Belle, born February 1, 1886. Both are now attending the high school of Pontiac.
After his marriage Mr. Capes remained at home until the fall of 1883, when he pur- chased eighty acres of raw prairie land only three miles from Pontiac-a rare thing for that late date. He had no money and it was only with the help of his father as security for the first payment that he was able to pur- chase it. That fall he built a house and com- menced breaking the land. He tiled it the next spring and continued the work of im- provement and cultivation until he had one of the best farms of its size in the locality, raising as much on it, by working it thor- oughly, as many did who owned twice the number of acres. At the age of sixteen he commenced running a threshing machine, which he operated thirteen years, and this 9
helped him out considerably in paying for his land, which was soon free from debt. Hle was one of the youngest threshers in the county and made a success of the business. He continued to carry on his farm until 1893, when he sold it for ninety-five dollars per acre, having paid forty dollars for it.
Mr. Capes then moved to Pontiac, where he was engaged in different lines of trade for a time, including the implement and milk business. In July, 1895, he turned his attention to the ice business. At that time there were two firms of the kind in the city; one of these he got his brother to buy, while he purchased the other and then, buying his brother's business, he had entire control of the ice trade. His ice houses were located on the Vermilion river near the Wabash Railroad, where he owns two acres of land, on which are six houses, with a storage capacity of eight thousand tons. Ile puts up a full supply and gives employment to many men in cut- ting the ice. During the summer he runs four teams and employs nine men in its dis- tribution to his customers, and for the past three years has controlled the ice trade of the city and done a good business. He has a fine property on the south side of the river, opposite the Chautauqua grounds and ex- tending to the river. Here he has a nice home where he can enjoy the results of his labor. Ile belongs to that class of men whom the world terms self-made, for, com- mencing life empty handed, he has con- quered the obstacles in the path to success, and has not only secured a comfortable com- petence, but by his efforts has materially advanced the interests of the community with which he is associated. Politically, he is identified with the Republican party and fraternally affiliated with the Knights of
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Pythias. Modern Woodmen of America, Royal Neighbors and Toilers Fraternity. He attends and aids in the support of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member.
SAMUEL J. PRISK.
Sammel J. Prisk. a well-known nursery man and highly respected citizen of Pontiac. who has made his home in this county for the past eighteen years, was born in Corn- wall, England. December 20, 1836, a son of Samuel and Grace ( Williams) Prisk, na- tives of the same place, where the father engaged in mining until his emigration to America in 1840. The grandfather. Joseph Prisk, had previously crossed the Atlantic and located on a branch of the East Fork river, four miles southeast of Galena, erect- ing one of the pioneer homes of that lo- cality. With his two sons. William and Paul, he built the first Methodist Episcopal church east of Galena, a log structure, also laid out a cemetery and a mound there, which is still known as Joseph Prisk mound. He owned and operated a farm of forty acres and also engaged in mining. He was a very active member of the Methodist Epis- copal church and his home became the stop- ping place for all the ministers. The fa- ther of our subject bought a farm of eighty acres between Seales Mound and Council Hill, Jo Davies county, and built the first stone house in that part of the country, it being also the first good house. During the construction of the Hlinois Central Rail- road through that locality he boarded the hands, and throughout his active business life engaged in farming and mining. He
finally soll his farm and bought a two-hun- (red-and-twenty-acre farm on Rush creek in Woodbine township. living on it until his death, which occurred in July. 1861. His wife died June 14. 1892, at the ripe old age of seventy-seven years. Both were earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
At a very early age our subject began work, and all the education he acquired was obtained at Sunday school, which he at- tended about three hours every Sunday, but by reading and observation in later years he has become a man of broad practical knowledge. He worked with his father in the lead mines from the age of eight years until he attained his majority, when he started out in life for himself. Going to La Salle, he found employment in the coal mines, where he worked fifteen years.
There Mr. Prisk was married. December 31. 1859. to Miss Mary Ann Case, who was born in Preble county. Ohio, in 1843. Her father, Conrad Case, was a native of Penn- sylvania and went to Preble county, Ohio. when a young man, locating eighteen miles from Dayton, where he married Sarah Ann Combs. He engaged in farming there until 1854, when he came to Illinois and settled at Jericho, near Aurora, where he followed the same occupation two or three years. His next home was four miles from De Witt. Jowa, where he located when the country was all wild and unimproved, but he bought land, built a house and engaged in the cul- tivation of his farm for three years, at the end of which time he sold out and returned to Illinois, this time locating in La Salle. but his last days were spent in Ohio, where he died in 1863. His wife had died in Jeri- cho, Illinois. Both were members of the Lutheran church. He was a cooper by trade.
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Mr. and Mrs. Prisk have eight children living, while Mary Jane, wife of Albert Ber- nell, of Streator, died at the age of twenty- four years. Allen, a resident of Pontiac. married Maggie Lampkin and has four chil- dren. Robert, Marguerite, Allen and Levi. William J. is now living in Springfield. Samuel, a resident of Pontiac, married Ida Block, and has four children. May. Lloyd Lincoln. Lillian and Dewey. Lillie is at home. Mrs. Estella McGill has one child. Pearl, and lives with her parents. Wesley married Emma Laycock, now deceased, and is serving as corporal of Company H. Thir- ty-ninth United States Volunteer Infantry. in the Philippines. Clara and May are both at home.
After President Lincoln's first call for seventy-five thousand men at the opening of the Civil war, Mr. Prisk was the eight- eenth to enroll his name among the volu teers at La Salle, and was a member of the first company to leave that place. it being Company K. Eleventh Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. They went to Springfield, Illinois, April 20, 1861, and from there proceeded to Villa Ridge, near Cairo, where they were ‹letailed to guard a bridge. They were next ordered to Bridge Point, Missouri, and when their term of enlistment expired were honor- ably discharged.
Returning to La Salle, Mr. Prisk en- gaged in mining and farming there for some time and then devoted four years to the latter pursuit at Rush creek, Jo Daviess county, after which he returned to La Salle, where he again followed farming. Subsequently he engaged in mining at Streator until com- ing to Livingston county in 1882, when he located northwest of Pontiac and engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1889, in the meantime serving as roadmaster two years.
lle then came to Pontiac and has since de- voted his attention to the nursery business. becoming one of the best known and most successful nursery men of this section. In 1895 he built a fine home at No. 117 Park street, facing River View Park. He was the first to build on that street and the peo- ple laughed at him for going so far out, but it is now well built up and is one of the most pleasant parts of the city, being advan- tageously located near the park and river. Mr. Prisk has charge of the park, in which the Chautauqua Association is hell. He is a member of T. Lyle Dickey Post, No. 105, G. A. R., of which he is now officer of the guard, and both he and his wife are active and faithful members of the Methodist Iepiscopal church, in which he has served as steward, class leader and superintendent of the Sunday school.
JOHN C. TAYLOR.
Jolm C. Taylor, who resides on section 36. Pontiac township, Livingston county, is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and thirty-six acres, within three and a half miles of the city of Pontiac. He is a na- tive of Saratoga county, New York, born near the great Saratoga springs October 5. 1843. and is a son of George C. Taylor. a native of the West Indies, born on the island of St. Bartholomew January 30. 1817. The grandfather. George W. Taylor, was a pro- fessional sailor and followed the sea for many years, but later settled in Saratoga county. New York, where his last days were spent. George C. Taylor was reared in Sar- atoga county and there married Miss U'retta Bentley, a native of Saratoga county and
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a daughter of Otis Bentley, one of the pio- neers of Saratoga county, who lived to the remarkable old age of ninety-nine years and six months, and whose faculties were pre- served to the last. He continued to vote at every election until within one month of his death, voting at an election in March and dying the next April. He never wore glasses and could see to read until near the last.
In Saratoga county George C. Taylor engaged in agricultural pursuits until his removal to Livingston county in 1858. Here he purchased an undivided half of a half- section of land which had been entered by his brother, John J. Taylor, and which had been partially improved. In partnership with his brother he commenced the further improve- ment of the place and in due time had one of the best farms in the township. He later purchased the interest of his brother in the half-section and continued to live on that homestead until his death, December 9, 1893. at the age of seventy-six years. He was twice married, his first wife dying March 8, 1877. The second wife is yet living. By the first wife three sons were born. Otis B. was a soldier in the Civil war and died in 1862, at Buck's Lodge, Tennessee, while in the service. John C., of this review, was the second in order of birth. George W. died at the age of twenty-one years. He died in Saratoga county and at his death was just the same age as his brother when he died.
John C. Taylor came to Livingston coun- ty in his fifteenth year. His education, which was begun in the common schools of his native state, was completed in the com- mon schools of Livingston county. While he gave the greater portion of his time in assisting his father with the farm work, he spent a short time in teaching in the dis-
trict schools, in which line he met with a reasonable degree of success. He was first married, April 22. 1866, to Miss Cecelia Zeph. a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, but who came to this country in early life and was reared to womanhood in Livingston county. By this union were three chiklren, as follows: Hattie, now the wife of Grant McCormack, of Livingston county ; Zephyr, wife of Lincoln Tuttle, of Graymont. Illi- nois; and William, who married Daisy Pearre, and now resides in Arkansas, where he is engaged in farming.
After his marriage Mr. Taylor continued to operate the home farm, on which he made many improvements, including the erection of a large barn. For some years he engaged quite extensively in the stock business, in which he met with good success. His wife died in 1872 and October 1. 1873, he mar- ried Miss Eliza McManis, a native of Ohio and daughter of Joseph MeManis, who was born in Pennsylvania, but who removed to Ohio and later to Illinois. He was married three times and was the father of nineteen children, sixteen of whom grew to mature years. Mrs. Taylor was mostly reared in Livingston county.
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have five children : George, who is assisting in the cultivation of the home farm: John, a teacher in St. Alban Academy, Knoxville. Illinois: Ar- thur G .. a student at Zion College, Chicago; Alice, a student in the Pontiac high school; and Harry, in the home school.
Politically Mr. Taylor was originally a Republican and supported the men and meas- ures of that party for many years. Of late he has given his support to the Prohibition party. Ile never sought or desired public office and declined several that were offered him; however, he served for a time as a
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member of the school board and as president of his school district. Reared a Baptist, he has since undergone a change of faith and is now a member of the Christian Catholic church in Zion, of which body his wife is also a member. As a citizen he has always enjoyed the respect and confidence of those by whom he is surrounded and by those who know him best.
WILLIAM II. BRACE.
William Il. Brace, who is now success- fully engaged in the milk business in Ponti- ac, Illinois, was born in Baldwinsville, New York, February 21. 1845. a son of Moses and Frances ( Sibbelds ) Brace. also natives of the Empire state. His paternal grand- father. Benjamin Brace, was born in Eng- land and on his emigration to this country settled in Baldwinsville. When our subject was eight years old his father removed to Chicago and shortly afterward located in Will county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming throughout the remainder of his life.
William H. Brace was reared on the home farm in Manhattan township. Will county, and was educated in the local schools. In August. 1862. he enlisted in Company E. One Hundredth Illinois Volunteer Infan- try, being one of the youngest to serve for three years as a regular sollier. His regi- ment, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, went first to Louisville and spent some time in Kentucky following Bragg's army. Mr. Brace's first battle was that of Perryville, followed by the engage- ments at Stone River, Nashville and Chick- amauga. He participated in the siege of Atlanta and went with Sherman on the
march to the sea. He was mustered out at Chicago in August, 1865. At Chickamauga he received two flesh wounds, but was never seriously injured.
While home on a furlough, in 1864, Mr. Brace married Miss Adeline Mossow, of Manhattan, Illinois, who came here from New York. After the war our subject en- gaged in farming in Will county on his own account for two years, and then went to Chicago, where he had charge of the team- ing business of A. H. Andrews & Company for eight years. On leaving there he came to Chatsworth. Livingston county, where he followed farrming one year, and engaged in the same pursuit in Eppards Point township, successfully operating a farm of one hundred and sixty accres for eight years. On sell- ing out. he moved to Pontiac and bought thirteen lots on West Washington street, where he has a nice home surrounded by a beautiful lawn. He also has a house and lot elsewhere. For four years, under Dr. Scouller, he held the position of night of- ficer at the reform school, having charge of a dormitory, but on account of ill health he was obliged to resign, and after a six-months' rest he became night police in Pontiac, serv- ing as such for ten years with credit to him- self and satisfaction of all concerned, being one of the best-known and most highly-re- spected officials the city has ever had. He resigned that position in 1898 and embarked in the dairy business, keeping cows and sell- ing his own milk, but on account of his wife's health he sokl his dairy, though he still re- tains his milk route, which is the largest in the city. He is a good business man, being energetic and progressive. and has met with success in this undertaking.
Mr. Brace lost his first wife May 30, 1894, and on the 7th of October, 1896, he
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married Miss Lizzie Krell, of Pontiac, a daughter of John Krell, of Havana, Illinois. In his political views he is a stanch Repub- lican, and while living in the county served as deputy under three different sheriffs. Fraternally he is a member of T. Lyle Dickey Post. G. A. R. A pleasant. genial gentleman, he makes friends and is held in high regard by all who know him.
PETER BAUMAN.
Peter Banman, one of the representative German-American citizens of Livingston county and a prosperous farmer, residing on section 26, Pike township, two miles from Chenoa, was born in Luxemburg. Germany, April 30. 1834, and there grew to manhood. He had good educational advantages, at- tending school eight years, becoming familiar with the German language, but his knowl- edge of English has been acquired through his own unaided efforts since coming to the new work. In 1854 he was one of the pas- sengers on a sailing vessel, which left the harbor of Havre, France, and arrived in New York after twenty-eight daysspent upon the water, which was considered a quick trip at that time. He proceeded at once to Chicago, joining his brother. Michael Bau- man, who had located in Illinois in 1849.
Our subject found emploment on a farm in Woodford county, working by the month several years there and in Marshall county. His first purchase of land was a partially im- proved farm of one hundred acres in the lat- ter county, on which was standing a small house, and there he made his home for sev- eral years. In 1888 he bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 26,
Pike township. Livingston county, where he now resides, and to its further improvement and development he has since devoted his time and attention, success attending his well- directed efforts.
While a resident of Woodford county, Mr. Bauman was married, in January. 1861, to Miss Helen Balbach, who was born and reared in Bavaria, Germany, and is a daugh- ter of August and Anna Elizabeth ( Keeler ) Balbach. The mother died in that country. and in 1854. the father, with his three daugh- ters and one son, came to America, joining his older son, Jacob Balback, who had been a resident of Woodford county, Illinois, since 1852, and who is now a merchant of Chenoa. The other son, Paul Balbach, is a farmer of Pike township, Livingston county. The fa- ther died in Woodford county, in 1856. Mr and Mrs. Bauman have a family of eight children, namely: Mary, wife of Chris Pieffinger. of Waldo township. Livingston county: Lizzie, at home: Effie, widow of Alaxander Black, and a resident of Wood- ford county : Peter. who is married and lives in Pekin, Illinois : Lena, Anna and Clara, all at home. The last named was educated at Chenoa and the normal college at Valpar- aiso, Indiana, and is now one of the success- full teachers of Livingston county.
Politically Mr. Banman is a stanch Dem- ocrat. and cast his first presidential ballot for Stephen A. Douglas, in 1860. He has never cared for public office, but has pre- ferred to devote his undivided time and at - tention to his business interests. His life has been one of industry and due success has not been denied him. His honorable, upright course commends him to the confidence and respect of all, and he is well worthy of rep- resentation in the history of his adopted county.
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WILLIAM I. ST. JOHN.
William 1. St. John, an honored veteran of the Civil war, who is now living a retired life in Pontiac, was born in Warren county. Indiana, July 20, 1844, a son of Samuel and Margaret ( Coldren ) St. John, both of whom were born in Ohio, the latter near Zanesville, but were married in Indiana, where the fa- ther located when a young man, and where he engaged in farming until coming to Liv- ingston county. . Illinois, about 1853. He settled near Ocoya, in Eppards Point town- ship, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land. That lo- cality was then all will, there being but four houses scattered through the timber. and his nearest neighbor was some distance away. He devoted his time and attention to the im- provement and cultivation of that farm until 1866. when he rented it and moved to Chenoa, where he worked at wagonmaking until called to his final rest. He was one of the early members of the Methodist Epis- copal church in this county, and was a Re- publican in politics.
Before leaving Indiana, William 1. St. John attended school a term or two, but there was no school house in his district when the family came to Illinois, and he was well grown before a school which he could at- tend was built. His educational advantages were therefore limited, but he has become a well informed man by reading and ob- servation in later years. He remained on the home farm until after the Civil war broke out, when he enlisted. August 6. 1862, in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty- ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The regi- ment spent much time in Louisville, but par- ticipated in the engagements at Frankfort. Crab Orchard and Bowling Green, and did
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