USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 18
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FRANCIS FREMONT FRAKES
Francis Fremont Frakes, a well-known carpenter of Pontiac, Illinois, was born in Avoca township, September 12, 1856, a son of Labin and Mary A. (Tracy) Frakes. The mother was born at Sandy Creek, New York, not far from Syracuse, a daughter of
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A. E. Tracy, and came here about the same time as her sister, Mrs. Maria Owens, a pioneer of Pontiac, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume.
Labin Frakes, father of our subject, was born in the southern part of this state, near the Missouri line, and as a young man came to Pontiac, where he purchased property. He was a tailor by trade, but here he engaged in the real estate business and also con- ducted a livery stable and stage and transfer line between Pontiac and Bloomington. Ile was married here and later moved to Ne- vada City, Missouri, where he owned proper- ty. He also built a large livery stable at that place and ran a stage between Sadlia to Fort Scott. After the railroad was built he re- moved to Sullivan county, Indiana, and while there the Civil wr broke out and he enlisted. He participated in the first and second battles of Bull Run, and was wounded in the latter engagement, being taken to Beverly, West Virginia, where he died from the effects of his wounds. His wife then returned to Pontiac, where she spent the re- mainder of her life.
After the death of his father Francis FF. Frakes lived with his aunt, Mrs. Maria Owens, in Pontiac, for seven years, and at- tended school. The only school house then in the place stood on the banks of the river near the jail. He served a two years' ap- prenticeship to the carpenter's trade with Andrew Pierce, and later was with William Holmes, during which time he helped erect many of the early buildings of Pontiac. As a journeman he worked in most of the build- ings erected at that time, and also those built in later years, including the Sterry block. He is now one of the oldest carpenters of the city in years of continuous service, and is an expert and skillful workman.
On the 24th of March, 1878, Mr. Frakes was united in marriage with Miss Orilla England, a native of Pontiac and a daugh- ter of Rue England, who came here from Ohio in pioneer days. By this union were born six children, namely: Orville Leon and Rudy Rue, who are both employed in the shoe factory in Pontiac; Coral, who was graduated from the public schools in 1900; Lorene, Fremont and Emma Susan, who are all attending school. Mrs. Frakes and the children are members of the Episcopal church, while our subject leans toward the Methodist Episcopal church in religious be- lief. The family is quite well known and highly respected. Mr. Frakes purchased over a half-acre of ground at 1003 West Madison street, and has erected thereon a nice residence which has now been his home for seven years, though he is one of the oldest property holders of the city.
JEAN P. A. VINCENT.
Jean P. A. Vincent, deceased, for many years one of the honored and highly-re- spected citizens of Pontiac, was born in De- troit, Michigan, January 9, 1827. a son of Narcisse and Clotilda ( Prevolsel) Vincent, both of French descent. He died the same year at Detroit when our subject was about eleven years of age, and he was then ap- prenticed to Charles Buhl, a hat manufac- turer of that city, with whom he remained until attaining his majority. There he re- ceived his education in the public schools.
At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Vincent was sent by the firm of Buhl Brothers to their Chicago store, where he clerked for one year. and then was employed on a railroad survey.
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through Bureau county, Illinois. In 1859 he entered the service of the government to go to the northwest with a party to take meteorological observations, receiving his ap- pointment to this position through the influ- ence of General Lewis Cass, of Michigan, who always took a warm personal interest in our subject and befriended him in many ways. Remaining with this expedition over a year and a half, Mr. Vincent returned to Illinois in the fall of 1860, and went to Cairo and also to Vicksburg, where he was in government employ. While at the lat- ter place he was drafted, and served in Com- pany C, Fifty-ninth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. until the close of the Civil war, when he returned to Illinois and passed the winter in Wenona. In the following spring he moved to Pontiac, where he was engaged in the sale of pumps, etc., for about five years, when, on account of failing health, he re- tired from active business.
In Lacon, Illinois, August 17, 1861, MIr. Vincent was united in marriage with Miss Emma Stevens, a daughter of Nathaniel W. and Mary (Mix) Stevens. In early life her father was a resident of Lowell, Massa- chusetts, but shortly after his marriage re- moved to Lacon, Illinois, where his death oc- curred. His wife died at Spring Valley, this state, in 1888, at the age of seventy- four years.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Vincent. Lewis Cass, the elder, died in Henry, Illinois, at the age of fifteen months. He was named for General Lewis Cass, of Detroit, previously mentioned as a friend of Mr. Vincent. Nathaniel N., born in Stark county, Illinois, April 8, 1864, is now a resi- dent of Spring Valley, where he is engaged in the manufacture of cigars. Ile mar- ried Lucy O'Keef, by whom he had two chil-
dren, Pauline and Gwendoline, who, since the death of their mother, have made their home with Mr. Vincent in Pontiac. For his second wife Nathaniel married Agnes Weir. The only child born of this union died in infancy.
Mr. Vincent died at his home in Pontiac from a stroke of paralysis January 16, 1898, at the age of seventy-one years. He had drawn a pension since the close of the war. He was always a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles, and was an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the latter fra- ternity in Chicago. An honest, upright man. he was highly respected by all who knew him, and was a faithful and consistent mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Vin- cent, who is a most estimable lady, resides in a pleasant home on North Hazel street, Pontiac.
JOEL D. FOSDICK.
Joel D. Fosdick, familiarly known as Squire Fosdick, owns and operates a valu- able farm of four hundred acres on sec- tion 20, Pike township, whose neat and thrifty appearance well indicates his care- ful supervision. Substantial improvements are surrounded by well tilled fields and all the accessories and conveniences of a model farm are there found.
Mr. Fosdick was born in Allegany coun- ty, New York, October 4, 1832, a son of Aaron C. and Olive (Moon) Fosdick, also natives of that state. The father, who was born in 1808, was a carpenter by trade and was also engaged in the manufacture of lum- ber for a quarter of a century. In 1844 he
J. D. FOSDICK.
MRS. J. D. FOSDICK.
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came to Illinois, making the trip with a team in twenty-two days, and locating in Mar- shall county, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land and opened up a farm. Hle subsequently purchased two him- (Ired acres, and was engaged in the manu- facture of lumber in Peoria county for about six years, after which he returned to his farm in Marshall county, but spent his last years with a daughter in Weston, where he died April 5. 1885.
Our subject was a lad of twelve years when he came with the family to Illinois. and in Marshall county he grew to manhood, huis education being obtained in the common schools. He remained at home assisting in the operation of the farm until twenty-five years of age, and was then married, in Boyd's Grove church, Bureau county, May 24. 1857. to Miss Caroline C. Griswold, a native of that county and a daughter of Henry Griswold, one of its early settlers. Of the five children born of this union three are living, namely: Olive, wife of John Scanlan; and Charles and Albert, who are both married and live on the home farm. Delphi E. died at the age of eighteen years, and Joel C. died at the age of eleven.
After his marriage Mr. Fosdick pur- chased a farm of eighty acres in Saratoga township, Marshall county, but operated one hundred and sixty acres, and on disposing of that place bought eighty acres adjoining his father's place and thirty acres along the creek. This he broke, fenced and improved, and continued its cultivation until 1875. when he traded it for three hundred and twenty acres of his present farm in Pike township, Livingston county, to which he has since added an eighty-acre tract, making a valuble place of four hundred acres. He also owns eighty acres in Odell township. 10
He commenced life for himself in limited circumstances, but being industrious, enter- prising and of good business ability and sound judgment he has steadily prospered, and is to-day one of the most substantial and prosperous men of his community, as well as one of its highly honored and respected citizens. In connection with farming he operated a threshing machine during season for forty years, and in that undertaking was also successful.
Since casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 Mr. Fosdick has been a stanch Republican, but has never sought nor desired public office. He has, however, taken an active interest in educa- tional affairs and has been an efficient mem- ber of the school board for twenty-five years. Without his knowledge he was elected justice of the peace and filled that office to the satisfaction of all.
EPHRAIM HOUDER.
Ephraim Houder, an industrious and skillful farmer who is now practically liv- ing a retired life on. section 13, Eppards Point township, Livingston county, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Decem- ber 24, 1822, and is a son of Jacob and Bar- bara (Kurtz) Houder, the former also a na- tive of that county, the latter of Germany. Our subject's paternal grandfather, David Houder, was of German descent. In 1831 the father, with his family, moved to Mont- gomery county, Ohio, where he cleared and improved a farm, making it his home until his emigration to Ilinois in 1856, when he lo- cated in Livingston county, buying a farm three miles southeast of Pontiac, upon which
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he spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1862, his wife the year following. In their family were six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom Ephraim is the oldest : David is a resident of Pontiac; Eliz- abeth and Mary both died unmarried ; Henry was killed in the Civil war; Martha is the wife of Joseph Thomas, of Pontiac; and Nancy is the wife of Daniel Shafer, of Mont- gomery county, Ohio.
Our subject received a fair common- school education in Montgomery county, Ohio, and there grew to manhood. He came with the family to this state in 1856, and in October, 1861, enlisted in Company C, Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Po- tomac and was first under the command of General Butler. They participated in the battles of Hancock, Virginia, Winchester, Chapins farm and Weirbottom Church, where Mr. Houder received a gun shot wound through the ankle and was disabled for a time. Ilis next engagement was at Fort Wagner, followed by the battle of Drury Bluff, and many others. He entered the service as a private, but was promoted to corporal; and as such was honorably dis- charged December 6, 1865. After his re- turn home he helped carry on the farm for a few years.
In Joliet, Illinois, May 15, 1867, Mr. Houder was united in marriage with Miss Hannah F. Harder, who was born near Port Byron, Wayne county, New York, where she was reared and educated, and when a young lady came to Ilinois. Her father, John I. Harder, was a native of Hudson, New York, and from that place to Wayne county, where he espent the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Houder began their do- mestic life upon his father's farin near P'on-
tiac, where they remained several years, and then moved to a farm in Eppards Point township, which was their home three years. The following year was spent in McLean county, and at the end of that time our sub- ject purchased his present farm of eighty acres on section 13, Eppards Point township, Livingston county, which at that time was only partially improved. He has tiled the place, built a barn and made other substan- tial improvements, but is now living retired, while his only son, Leroy G. Houder, oper- ates the farm. Besides this property he owns another farm of eighty acres in Owego township.
In 1852 Mr. Houder suppported Frank- lin Pierce for the presidency, but since the organization of the Republican party four years later he has been one of its stalwart supporters and earnest advocates of its prin- ciples. He was formerly a member of the school board, but has never sought nor de- sired public office. At one time he and his family were members of the Christian church at Pontiac, but since it broke up they attend the Baptist church. They are well and favorably known throughout the community in which they reside and justly deserve the high regard in which they are held.
ORLIN CONVERSE.
Orlin Converse, a worthy representative of the agricultural interests of Livingston county, owns and occupies a fine farmi of two hundred acres of well-improved and valuable land on section 33, Owego township, and also has an eighty-acre tract two miles from his home. A native of Addison county, Vermont, he was born on Lake Champlain,
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under the shadows of the Green mountains, Noember 1, 1834, and is a son of Heman Converse, who was born in the same state in 1799, his ancestors being among the pioneers of Vermont. There his grandfather, Pain Converse, spent his entire life. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. The father grew to manhood in his native county, and married Hannah Crampton, who was born in the same house where our subject's birth occur- red, and where both parents died, the father in 1870, at the age of seventy-one years, the mother in 1888.
Orlin Converse passed his boyhood and youth on the home farm, aiding in its opera- tion and attending the common schools of the neighborhood. He came west in 1855, join- ing his sister Emily, wife of Robert Smith, who had located in Livingston county, Illi- nois, a year or two previously. Ile en- gaged in farming in partnership with his brother-in-law until August, 1862, when he enlisted for three years or during the war in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty- ninthi Volunteer Infantry, which was as- signed to the Army of the Cumberland. He participated in the battles of Resaca and Kenesaw, and all the engagements of the Atlanta campaign, being under fire every day for a month. After the capture of the city the regiment went with Sherman on the march to the sea, and was in the Carolina campaign, taking part in the last battle of the war-that of Bentonville, North Carolina. Marching through Richmond, they proceed- ed to Washington, D. C., and participated in the grand review in that city. Hostilities having ceased, Mr. Converse was honorably discharged and returned to his home in Illi- nois. He had lost no time from illness or other causes, with exception of the twenty days' furlough he was given in 1864.
Before entering the service Mr. Con- verse was married, in this county, January 7, 1862, to Miss Rebecca Rockwood, who was born here. Her father, Daniel Rock- wood, was a native of Massachusetts and one of the pioneers of Livingston county, hav- ing located here in 1834. Hle helped to lay out the county seat and organize Owego township, where he took up a claim and en- tered land, making it his home until his death. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Converse, but Rollin P. enlisted in the Third United States Infantry during the Spanish-American war, and was taken ill and died at Atlanta, Georgia, September 23, 1898. His remains were brought back and interred in Patty cemetery. Jessie, the only (laughter, died in 1870, at the age of nearly three years.
Mr. Converse's first purchase of land consisted of forty acres in Owego township where he now resides, and as his financial resources increased he added to it from time to time until he now has over two hundred and eighty acres of fine farming land, which he has placed under a high state of cultiva- tion and improved with good and substantial buildings. He commenced life here in lim- ited circumstances, and the success that he has achieved is due entirely to his own well- directed and energetic efforts. After resid- ing here for five years he returned east in 1861 to visit his mother, friends and scenes of his youth. By this time he had accu- mulated three hundred and fifty dollars in the old George Smith money of Atlanta, Georgia, but one week after his return home it was worth only fifty cents on the dollar, and at the end of another the entire amount was not worth a dollar. He was thus forced to walk back and was six weeks in reaching this county.
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Since casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, Mr. Converse has been a stanch supporter of the Republi- can party, and he most acceptably served as supervisor of his township two terms, during which time he was a member of some import- ant committees. He has ever taken an active and commendable interest in educa- tional affairs, has been a member of the school board twenty years, and clerk of the district during that entire time. He has watched with interest the wonderful devel- opment of this region during his residence here and has always borne his part in its up- building and advancement.
JUDGE NATHANIEL J. PILLSBURY.
During the last half century the lawyer has been a pre-eminent factor in all affairs of private concern and national importance. He has been depended upon to conserve the best and permanent interests of the whole peo- ple and is a recognized power in all the ave- nues of life. He stands as the protector of the rights and liberties of his fellow men, and is the representative of a profession whose followers, if they would gain honor, fame and success, must be men of merit and ability. Such a one is Judge Pillsbury, who served three terms as circuit judge and is to-day a prominent citizen of Pontiac.
He was born in Shapleigh, York county, Maine, October 21, 1834, a son of Stephen N. and Susan (Averill) Pillsbury, also na- tives of that county and representatives of good old New England families. He is of the ninth generation in direct descent from William Pillsbury, who came to the new world in 1640 and settled in Dorchester,
Massachusetts, where he lived until 1851, and then moved to Newburyport, the same state, where he purchased land that is still in possession of his lineal descendants. From him all the Pillsburys in this country are descended. The father of our subject, who was a farmer and machinist by occupation, continued his residence in York county, Maine, until after the birth of all of his six children, and held different local offices there, including those of selectman and school agent. In the fall of 1855 he re- moved to Bureau county, Illinois, where our subject had located the previous spring, and engaged in farming near Princeton for three years. In 1857 both father and son pur- chased raw land in Nebraska township, Liv- ingston county, where the former made a good home, living there until 1884, when he moved to Pontiac and built a residence. This continued to be his home throughout the re- mainder of his life, though he died in lowa. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and he held dofferent township offices here. He was born July 12, 1812, and died in November, 1890, while his wife was born in August, 1812, and also died in Iowa, in the fall of 1885. She was a daugh- tor of Joseph Averill.
Judge Pillsbury received a good common school education and also attended an acad- emy in his native county for one term. He remained on the home farm with his parents until 1851, after which he engaged in teach- ing school for two years. He accompanied the family on their removal to Saco, Maine, Where he was in the employ of the York Manufacturing Company for a time and also taught school until 1855. On the Ist of Jan- mary, that year, he married Miss Eliza J. Cole, and the same spring, being threatened with consumption, he came to Illinois.
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Though the journey was made by rail it proved a long and tedious one, taking six days to reach Chicago.
As previously stated the Judge first lo- cated in Bureau county, and in 1857 bought a farm in Nebraska township, this county, which he operated until the spring of 1863. Moving to Pontiac he entered the office of Samuel Fleming, and after studying law for some time was admitted to the bar by exami- nation. He then formed a partnership with Mr. Fleming and in a short time had ac- quired a lucrative practice and excellent rep- utation as a sound and honest lawyer. In 1860 he was elected a member of the consti- tutional convention which met the following year, and in 1873 was elected judge of the thirteenth judicial circuit, then composed of Livingston, Kankakee and Iroquois counties. Four years later the circuit was enlarged by adding McLean and Ford counties and be- came the eleventh. He was re-elected in 1879 and again in 1885. serving in all eight- een years to the entire satisfaction of all con- cerned. He was also one of the first judges of the appellate court. being on that bench ten and a half years from 1877, and an un- deniable proof of his popularity is found in his re-elections He wrote many opinions that are to be found in the first sixteen vol- times of the appellate court reports of the state of Illinois
In 1891 Judge Pillsbury was urged to become a candidate for a fourth term by the bar and people generally, but on account of injuries received during his second term he did not feel physically able to undertake the work. On the Ist of June, 1882, while re- turning to his home from Chicago the train on which he was a passenger was besieged by a mob of union strikers who desired to capture and beat certain non-union laborers
who were being carried to their homes by the railroad company. The rioters began firing in and about the cars and the Judge received a painful wound from which he has never recovered. He held the railroad com- pany liable and brought suit to recover dam- ages. After a long and tedious litigation he carried it to a successful conclusion, al- though the great majority of the bar of the state, who knew of the circumstances, were against his views. The case is reported in volume 123. reports of the supreme court, being written by Judge John M. Scott, of Bloomington.
For some time after his retirement from the bench Judge Pillsbury attended to some selected cases, but was not able to do a heavy general practice. He owns consider- heavy general practice. He owns consider- able real estate in Pontiac and built the first two-story double flat building ever erected i1. the city, it being planned by himself. At one time he had a valuable farm of four hundred and fifty acres south of the city, and at different times has owned consider- able real estate in Nebraska, Kansas and California. He still has a fine ranch in south- ern California, devoted to oranges and lemons, and has spent a number of winters on the Pacific coast on account of his health. He has traveled quite extensively and crossed the continent a dozen times.
The Judge and his wife have a family of three children, namely: Clara A. is the wife of S. E. Sims, of Pontiac, and they have one child, Gladys: C. Avis is the wife of E. J. Walker, of Sheridan, Indiana, and they have one son, Ernest P. : and Dale E .. at home, is engaged in the real estate and loan business. Mrs. Pillsbury is a member of the Presbyterian church.
In his political affiliations Judge Pills-
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bury is a Republican and has been a delegate to different state, county and judicial con- ventions. Socially he is a Knight Templar Mason, a member of Pontiac Lodge, No. 344, F. & A. M .; Fairbury Chapter, R. A. M; and St. Paul Commandery, No. 34, K. T. He is also a member of the Odd Fel- lows lodge and encampment, in which he has held all the offices and has been a mem- ber of the grand lodge and grand encamp- ment since 1868. He was chairman of the building committee and of the trustees that erected the Odd Fellows block, but gave up his official position when elected to the bench. He is a man of high intellectuality, broad human sympathies and tolerance, and is in- bued with fine sensibilities and clearly de- fined principles. Honor and integrity are synonymous with his name and he enjoys the respect, confidence and high regard of the people of this section of the state.
NELSON D. LAWRENCE.
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