USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 17
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garrison duty at Mitchellville, Tunnel Hill and Gallatin, Tennessee. From there they went to Nashville and participated in the bat- tles of Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge, being on the march most of the time during that campaign. They were also with Sher- man on his celebrated march to the sea, and at Peach Tree Creek, in front of Atlanta, Mr. St. John was wounded He was sent to the hospital at Chattanooga, was later trans- ferred to Nashville, and from there was sent home. At the end of three months he was able to rejoin his regiment in time to take part in the Carolina campaign. He was in the battle of Goldsboro, and was at Raleigh when Johnston surrendered. Ile then marched to Washington, D. C., and partici- pated in the grand review, after which he was mustered out at that place and discharged at Chicago, after almost three years of faithful service on southern battle fields.
Returning to his home, Mr. St. John engaged in farm work one year, and then went to Chenoa, where he worked at the carpenter's trade four years. On the 6th of September, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Amelia Stone, a daughter of Will- iam Stone, a farmer of Ohio. By this union were born two children : William Seth, who now operates his father's farm, married Minnie Talbot and has four children : Mabel, Roy. Bert and an infant. Burton G. is a resident of Pontiac.
On leaving Chenoa Mr. St. John pur- chased a farm of forty acres in Eppards Point township, which he sold three years later and boughtfi fifty acres of land in Amity township. but this he disposed of a year later and bought an eighty-acre tract in the same township, where he successfully engaged in farming for twelve years. At the end of tha ttime he traded it for a farm of two hun-
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dred and thirty-five acres in Amity town- ship, which he has greatly improved and still owns. In 1880 he moved to Pontiac and bought property at No. 211 South Ver- milion street, where he has a large and nicely kept place. Here he worked at the carpen- ter's trade for a time, but is now living re- tired, enjoying a well-earned rest, free from the cares and responsibilities of business life. Religiously both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he also belongs to T. Lyle Dickey Post, G. A. R., of which he is junior vice commander. He has always been a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles, and he has ever been a loyal citizen, co-operating in all that is calculated to promote the inter- ests of his state or nation, his patriotism being manifest in times of peace as well as in war.
BENNET HUMISTON.
Bennet Inmiston, deceased, was one of the leading business men of Pontiac. Illi- nois, who in his successful career showed that he had the ability to plan wisely and execute with energy, a combination which, when possessed by men in any walk of life. never fails to effect notable results.
Mr. Humiston was born in Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut, September 6, 18.30, a son of Bennet and Emily ( Warner ) lumis- ton. representatives of old and honored fam- ilies of that state. On attaining to man's estate the father started out in life for him- self as a peddler, traveling through the south for many years, but after his marriage he settled on a farm in Plymouth and de- voted the remainder of his life to agricult- ural pursuits.
Our subject grew to manhood on the home farm and was provided with better educational privileges than most farmer boys, attending school at Warren, Litchfield county, Connecticut, for two years. He then followed farming in his native state until the fall of 1852, when he came west with Apollos Camp, and together they took up a section of land in Esmen township. Liv- ingston county, Illinois. May 22. 1850. he married his partner's daughter. Miss Harriet Camp, and they made their home on his half- section of land until 1876. In the mean- time he erected good and substantial build- ings thereon and placed the land under a high state of cultivation. He introduced some of the first fine horses into the county and at the time of his death, which occurred November 15. 1883. he had one hundred head. He and Mr. Camp were always in business together and owned in the neigh- borhood of two thousand acres of valuable land. They expended large amounts in til- ing and converting their land into highly productive tracts. They were among the original stockhoklers of the Pontiac Na- tional Bank, of Pontiac, of which Mr. Camp was also a director. In his political views Mr. Humiston was a Democrat. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and a man of high standing in the community. Of keen perception, of unbounded enterprise. his success in life was due to his own well-di- rected efforts, and he deserves prominent mention among the leading and representa- tive business men of the county.
Since her husband's death Mrs. Humis- ton has successfully carried on the vast es- tate, and has displayed most excellent busi- ness and executive ability in its management. She was one of the heavy original stock- holders of the Pontiac State Bank, and from
BENNET HUMISTON.
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its organization has been a director. She . listment, Mr. Armstrong was honorably dis- owns a good deal of property in Pontiac, charged at Camp Dennison, in AAugust, 1864, and returned to his Ohio home. also in Odell, Illinois, and Eklorado, Mis- souri, where she has a business block. She In the spring of 1865 he came to Liv- ingston county, Illinois, and located upon his present farm in Eppards Point township, purchasing four hundred acres, about half of which had been broken and a small house erected thereon. He has since purchased more land, and to the further improvement and cultivation of his place he has deyoted his energies with most gratifying results, so that he now has one of the best farms in the township. In connection with general farm- ing he is engaged in feeding and dealing in stock, and in this branch of his business he has also prospered. has been a liberal donator to the public li- brary of Pontiac and other charitable insti- tutions, and never withhokls her liberal sup- port from any enterprise which she believes will prove of benefit to the community. In 1876 Mr. Humiston built a beautiful resi- dence on North Main street, Pontiac, which is still owned and occupied by his widow. It occupies a whole block on the hill and is one of the most attractive places in the city. Over this home Mrs. Humiston presides with gracious dignity and its hospitable doors are ever open for the reception of her many friends.
JOHN T. ARMSTRONG.
The subject of this personal narrative is one of the most successful and prosperous farmers of Eppards Point township, his home being on section 16, five miles south of Pon- tiac. He has made his special field of in- dustry an eminent success, and is highly re- spected and esteemed by those who know him.
Mr. Armstrong was born in Madison, Ohio, AApril 28, 1839, and there grew to man- hood, receiving a common-school education. In April, 1864, during the dark days of the Civil war, he enlisted in the one-hundred-day service, as a private in Company C, One Hundred and Forty-fourth Ohio National Guards. The regiment went to Virginia and took part in the battle of New Creek and several skirmishes, but only one man died in the service, his death occurring in a hos- pital. On the expiration of his term of en-
Returning to his old home in Madison county, Ohio, in March, 1869, Mr. Arm- trong married Lydia Cousins, who was born in Pickaway, that state, but was reared in the same neighborhood as her husband and educated in the same school. They became the parents of six children, but only three are now living : Archie E., a pharmacist of Dwight; Lida W. and Grant C., both at home. Bernard C. and John both died in childhood, and Sarah L., wife of (). 1. Ellis, died in Ancona, Illinois, at the age of twenty- two years, leaving two children, (. I. and Sadie Ellis.
Mr. Armstrong cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1860, and has since been an ardent Republican. Although he has never sought political preferment, he was elected and served three years as high- way commissioner and was a member of the school board for a number of years, during which time he did all in his power to secure competent teachers and advance the educa- tional interests of his community. Relig- iously, both he and his wife are active mem-
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bers of the Centre Methodist Episcopal church and they give their support to every worthy enterprise which they believe calcu- lated to advance the moral, social or material welfare of the township and county in which they live.
JARVIS C. SUMNER.
Jarvis C. Sumner, one of the best known citizens of Pontiac, was born in Elkhart, In- diana. November 7. 1843. a son of John M. and .Ann ( Strong) Sumner. The father was born in New York, March 3, 1812, and was a son of Harvey and Sally ( Sherwin) Sumner, who were born, reared and married in Vermont. The latter was a daughter of Ahamaz Sherwin, a drum major from Ver- mont in the Revolutionary war. At an early day Harvey Sumner and wife moved to Westport township, Essex county, New York, and in 1818 went to Ohio, sailing out of Buffalo on the first steamer that ever navi- gated the great lakes. They located four miles east of Cleveland, where Mr. Sumner followed farming for some time, but spent his last days in Elkhart, Indiana. His wife died in Cleveland about 1825.
John M. Sumner, father of our subject. accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio, and later went with his father to Elk- hart. Indiana, in the fall of 1834, when that place contained but few inhabitants. On his arrival there he had but six and one-fourth cents, but he soon found employment and the next summer was able to purchase forty acres of land. There he married Ann Strong. a daughter of Walter Strong, who went to Indiana from Ohio, but was born in Con- necticut. He gave his daughter forty acres of land, and upon that place Mr. and Mrs.
Sumner lived until 1850, when they moved to Wisconsin, but a year later returned to Indiana. He followed farming throughout the greater part of his active business life. but is now living retired with our subject. The wife and mother, who was a member of the Universalist church, died November 24. 1886.
Our subject acquired his education in the common and high schools of Elkhart. and assisted his father in the operation of the home farm until twenty-one years of age. He manifested his patriotism by enlisting in the Civil war, but was discharged on account of illness and sent home before leaving the state. He was a member of the Chandler Horse Guards of Coldwater.
In 1864 Mr. Summer moved to Eureka, lilinois, where he engaged in farming on his own account. Prior to his removal, he was married. in Cass county, Michigan, to Miss Sarah Martin, who was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, February 6. 1846. a daugh- ter of William and Mary .A. ( Clinger ) Martin, natives of Ohio, whose home was five miles east of Middlebury, in La Grange county. Indiana. The mother died when Mrs. Sumner was only two years old, and the father departed this life at Benton Harbor. Michigan, September 27. 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Sumner have three children, namely: Charles M .. May Belle and William Roy. The last named was a member of the state militia, but was not accepted into the United States service during our recent war with Spain.
While at Eureka, Mr. Sumner served as constable and deputy sheriff under Frank Roman and Garman Gish for eight years. He attended to all the sheriff's business in his part of the county and served all the pa- pers in the Workman murder case. He also
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carried on the largest and most important livery business in the town. He finally sold out and moved to Livingston county, in the spring of 1881. For two years he was engaged in farming in Pontiac township. and then moved to the city of Pontiac that he might provide his children with better educational advantages, but was mostly en- gaged in farming and teaming until ap- pointed deputy by Sheriff Reed. He was re- appointed by Sheriff Talbot and most cred- itably and satisfactorily filled that position for seven years. He did a good deal of work in connection with the bank robbery case of Cornell and the Rightsel murder case of Fairbury, besides a large amount of civil business and collecting. In November, 1896, he was elected constable, and is still filling that office in a most capable manner. He also has considerable property in his. hands to rent, and does a good life insurance business. He owns a lovely home situated on a large lot at the corner of Plum and Cleary streets, surrounded by beautiful trees and shrubs and is one of the best kept places of the city. Since attaining his ma- jority Mr. Summer has affiliated with the Republican party, and both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
WILLIAM H. KETCHAM.
One of the busiest. most energetic and most enterprising men of Dwight, Illinois. iss the subject of this sketch, who is success- fully engaged in the real estate and loan busi- ness, as well as the practice of law. He was born in that place, February 9. 1861, and there the greater part of his life has been
spent-an important factor in business and public affairs.
William H. Ketcham, Sr., father of our subject, was born in Fishkill, Dutchess coun- ty, New York. November 28, 1821. He re- ceived a good English education and re- mained at home until 1852, when he set sail for California, leaving New York, February 4. and arriving in San Francisco April 1. He was shipwrecked off the coast of Mexico and delayed five weeks. He was success- fully engaged in mining about three years and a half near Marysville, and then returned to his native state by way of the Isthmus of l'anama. In Dutchess county, he was mar- ried. November 30, 1840, to Miss Mary E. Losee, who was born there May 23. 1822. and was a daughter of John Losee, whose ancestry can be traced back to Wilbur Weber. King of Holland and a son of the Prince of Orange. Ilis daughter, Anna Kanjanse Weber, married Everetus Bogardus, the first preacher who came to New York City. Mrs. Ketcham was the seventh generation from this king, who left an immense fortune. now amounting to about five million dollars, and. which is in litigation at present. In the fall of 1855, shortly after his return to New York from California, Mr. Ketcham mi- grated to Dwight, Illinois, which place then contained only eight families. Here he at first worked at anything he could find to do. and for a time engaged in farming and op- erated a corn sheller a number of years. He was a public-spirited man and did much to advance the interests of his adopted town, taking quite an active part in public affairs. and serving as justice of the peace fourteen years, school director a number of years, and also village trustee some time, and dep- uty sheriff of the county in early days. In 1874 he joined Dwight Lodge. No. 513.
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1. O. O. F., and later became a member of Pacific Encampment, No. 126. He died, April 19. 1882.
The subject of this sketch is the young- est in a family of seven children, the others being as follows : Berwin L., the eldest, died in infancy. John L .. a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Infantry, was wounded in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. and died in the hospital at Chattanooga, June 25. 1864. Jane E. married J. J. Smith and both are now deceased. Frank is the wife of Hugh Thompson, of Pontiac. Mary H. is the wife of George Hoover. of Chicago. Emma V. is the widow of W. A. Chamberl- lain and resides with her children, Marietta and Frank William, who live in Chicago.
William H. Ketcham, Jr., was reared and educated in Dwight, and began his business career as bookkeeper in the grain elevator of Hugh Thompson, of that place, remain- ng with him one year. He then became in- terested in the stock business, which he car- ried on alone for one year, buying cattle in Livingston and Grundy counties. AAt the end of that time he formed a partnership with John Thompson in the same business, shipping stock to the Chicago market. This connection lasted two years, and Mr. Ketch- am next purchased the real estate business of Alexander McKay, which he conducted from December, 1886, until April, 1887. when he sold out to Hetzel & Romberger.
After disposing of his real estate busi- ness, Mr. Ketcham moved to Marion county. Kansas, where he was interested in the same pursuit until the fall of 1887. when he en- tered the law office of Kellar & Dean, study- ing under their instruction and at the same time doing office work. Before his admis- sion to the bar he drew up the papers for twenty-one forclosures in one week. He
was admitted to practice by examination be- fore Judge Doster, the present chief justice of the state of Kansas, August 20, 1888, and before the supreme court at Topeka, June 2, 1891. He was associated in prac- tice with W. H. Carpenter, of Marion, Kan- sas, from 1889 to July, 1891, when he re- turned to Dwight and resumed business as a real estate dealer, in partnership with Frank 1. Smith, under the firm name of Ketcham & Smith. On the 23d of March, 1892, he was admitted to practice in Illinois, and later in the state of Indiana. By mutual agree- ment the partnership between Mr. Ketcham and Mr. Smith was dissolved in October, 1895, since which time our subject has been alone in business. He gives the greater part of his attention to real estate, but is also en- gaged in the practice of law in the courts of this state and Indiana. He carried the Clauson case through the supreme court of Illinois.
On the 19th of April. 1893. Mr. Ketcham was united in marriage with Miss Nora .1. Taylor, a native of Grundy county, Illinois, and one of a family of four daughters, all living. Her father. G. L. Taylor, was one of the first settlers of Grundy county, but is now a resident of Dwight township, Liv- ingston county. Mr. and Mrs. Ketcham have three children, namely : Mary Emma, Gertrude Nora and Nellie Maurine.
Fraternally, Mr. Ketcham is a member of Dwight Lodge, No. 513, and Pacific En- campment, No. 313, 1. O. O. F., and Liv- ingston Lodge, No. 371, F. & .A. M. Since reaching his majority he has always affil- iated with the Democratic party and taken an active interest in politics. He is now an advocate of the free coinage of silver, and in 1896 took the stump, speaking in Chicago and other parts of the state. While engaged
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in the practice of law in Kansas he assisted the county attorney and during his residence in Dwight has taken an active part in public affairs. He was elected mayor in 1896 and efficiently filled the office one term, during which time the park ordinance was passed and notable improvements made. He was once a candidate before the Democratic con- vention, for judge on the Democratic ticket. but was defeated. In 1886 he was elected village treasurer and was filling that office when he moved to Kansas, and in April, 1900, was elected village trustee, in which capacity he is now serving in a most credit- able and satisfactory manner. A man of keen perception, of unbounded enterprise, his success in life is due to his own efforts, and he deserves prominent mention among the leading representative business men of the county. His genial, pleasing manner makes him quite popular in both business and social circles, and as a public-spirited, enterpris- ing man he is recognized as a valued citizen of the community.
JOIN R. OUGHTON.
To the present mayor of Dwight, IIon. John R. Oughton, the city owes a deep debt of gratitude, for through many years he has been an important factor in its prog- ress and advancement along social, educa- tional, material and moral lines. Ilis active co-operation has been given to every move- ment for the public good, and his support has been withheld from no movement calculated to advance the general welfare. His aid. too, has been of a practical nature and the substantial growth of the city is the out- come of his well-directed and discriminat- ing effort.
It is not an easy task to describe ade- quately a man who has lead an eminently act- ive and busy life and who has attained to a position of high relative distinction in the more important and exacting fields of human endeavor. But biography finds its most perfect justification, nevertheless, in the tracing and recording of such a life history. It is, then, with a full appreciation of all that is demanded, and of the painstaking scrutiny that must be accorded each state- ment, and yet with a feeling of significant satisfaction, that the writer essays the task of tonchinbg briefly upon the details of such a record as has ben the voice of the char- acter of the honored subject whose life now comes under review.
John R. Oughton was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1857, and resided in his native land until sixteen years of age, when he crossed the Atlantic to America, lo- cating in Chicago, Illinois. Ile acquired his preliminary education in the schools of Ire- land and there took up the study of chemis- try. After reaching Chicago he resumed his studies along that line in the Chicago College of Pharmacy and later in the Rush Medical College. Previous to entering col- lege, however, he engaged as a clerk in the drug store of his cousin, Mr. Lee, who was doing business on the west side of the city. After completing his collegiate course he came to Dwight and soon afterward formed an association with Dr. Keeley in the work which has since made them and the city of their residence famous throughout the land. For many years Mr. Oughton was vice- president and chemist of the Leslie E. Keeley Company, but after the death of Dr. Keeley he was elected president and has since served in that capacity. The history of the institution is too well known to need further
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comment here. Its splendid work is shown by thousands of reformed men to whom manhood has been restored and who now oc- cupy honored positions in society and in business life. The volume of their business has constantly increased and has assumed gi- gantic proportions. Their extensive insti- tution is fitted up with one of the most com- plete laboratories of the country, and the- work is progressing with undiminished strength, its beneficent purpose resulting in good immeasurable.
Mr. Oughton has two children, sons. James H. and John R. Socially he is a Ma- son and has taken the degrees of the blue lodge, chapter commandery, consistory and the Mystic shrine. He belongs to the Epis- copal church, and in his political affiliations is a Republican, ardent and earnest in his ad- vocacy of the principles of the party. He has served as a member of the school board, has held a number other city offices, and in the spring of 1896 was elected mayor of Dwight, to which position he has been re- elected each succeeding spring. In 1898 Mr. Oughton, Major Judd and Dr. Leslie E. Keeley erected and gave to the city of Dwight the present standpipe and water- works, built at a cost of twenty thousand dollars and unequalled by any system in the state in a town approaching the size of Dwight. The cement sidewalks of the city have been constructed during the mayoralty of Mr. Oughton and the town now has bet- ter sidewalks in proportion to its size than any other in the state. Many other im- provements have received his co-operation and Dwight owes much to his progressive spirit.
In 1895 Mr. Oughton erected his pala- tial residence at a cost of about one hundred thousand dollars-one of the finest homes in
Illinois and the best in this section of the state. He is the owner of a very fine ken- nel, having some very fine dogs, including the famous prize winner. "Heather Lad." valued at six thousand dollars. This fine an- imal has taken prizes at all of the bench shows, and in 1893 and 1894 carried off first prize at every bench show in the United States. Mr. Oughton also has a deer park upon his place, containing some fifteen or twenty head of fine deer. His saddle horses are noted throughout this section of the state and for a number of years Mr. Oughton was extensively engaged in breeding fine Kentucky stock. He owns over four thon- sand acres of land in Livingston and Grundy counties, and with the exception of eight hun_ dred acres, all is in Dwight township and is under a high state of cultivation. While intensely devoted to business and a man of very decided views and strong convictions, he is, by nature. of a very gentle and affec- tionate disposition. His moral standing is high and he lives up to it. His genial com- panionship, his tenacious regard for the sim- ple truth, his unostentatious generosity and his large-hearted Christian benevolence are among the qualities which have greatly en- cleared him to his fellow men. His wealth has made no difference in his friendships and the humblest can obtain from him an audience.
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