USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 19
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Nelson D. Lawrence, one of Livingston county's thrifty and prosperous farmers re- siding on section 26, Pontiac township, with- in a mile of the city of Pontiac, was born in Warren county, Indiana, June 26, 1850, and is a son of Richard Lawrence, whose birth occurred in Ohio March 8, 1826. His grand- father, William Lawrence, a native of Del- aware, was one of the early settlers of Ohio and also of Warren county, Indiana. In the latter state Richard Lawrence grew to manhood and in Vermillion county, Indiana, he married Amanda Deyo, a native of that county. In 1854 they came to Livingston county, Illinois, and settled on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of wild land near
Pontiac, which Mr. Lawrence transformed into a good farm. While a resident of Indi- ana he conducted a wagon shop, but he soon became a thorough farmer and acquired a comfortable competence. He was a man of fair education and sound judgment and was well and favorably known. He spent his last years in this county, but died while at Kirksville, Missouri, March 16, 1894. His first wife had passed away many years be- fore, dying October 24, 1858. She was born February 6. 1830.
On the home farm Nelson D. Lawrence grew to manhood, assisting in the operation of the same and attending the local schools. He remained with his father until grown and then worked by the month as a farm hand for seven or eight years, after which he rented land and engaged in farming on his own account. In 1880 he purchased his present farm and since his marriage. in 1885, he has resided thereon, having im- proved the place with a good residence and substantial outbuildings. He has broken thirty acres of virgin soil, has laid many rods of tiling and converted the farm into one of the most valuable of its size in this sec- tion of the county.
Mr. Lawrence was married, April 9. 1885, to Miss Caroline M. McKee, a dangh- ter of James and Nancy ( Sterrett) McKee. natives of Ohio. Her father was born in Brown county, that state, June 19, 1813. and brought his family to Illinois in 1856. locating in Livingston county, where he 1. chased land and successfully engaged in farming for some years, but for the past five years has lived retired with Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence. His first wife, who was the mother of Mrs. Lawrence, died Sep- tember 5, 1868. She was born July 14, 1822, and married Mr. McKee March 17,
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1842. Ten children were born of that union. five sons and five daughters, of whom nine reached mature years, and five sons and two dangnters are still living. Mr. Mckee was postmaster of Rook's Creek postoffice for many years. Mrs. Lawrence was reared and educated in this county and by her marriage to our subject has become the mother of four children, one of whom died in infancy. Octa D. and James are students in the home school. Alethea M. died June 29. 1900.
In politics Mr. Lawrence is independent. voting for the men he believes best qualified to fill the offices, regardless of party lines. He takes an active interest in educational affairs and for fifteen years has been a most efficient member of the school board, serving as clerk of the board five or six years, His estimable wife is a member of the Presby- terian church and both are held in high re- gard b vall who have the pleasure of their acquaintance.
CHARLES R. TRUITT. /.
Charles R. Truitt, the well-known and popular editor and proprietor of the Sentinel of Pontiac, was born near Hillsboro, Mont- gomery county. Illinois, July 22. 1858, a son of Samnel and Cynthia Ann ( Carr) Truitt. The father was born about 1818. not far from Louisville, Kentucky, where he grew to manhood and married. On com- ing to Illinois he first located in Greene cotm- ty, where he spent a few years, and then made an overland trip to California during the early days of the gold excitement, re- maining there three years and meeting with fair success. lle thuis obtained a good start in life, and on his return to this state pur- chased land in Montgomery county, becom-
ing one of its early settlers and extensive farmers, owning and operating some five hundred acres of land. There he spent the remainder of his life, dying in February, 1863. Ile took quite an active interest in educational affairs, but was never an as- pirant for political honors. His wife sur- vived him for many years, dying in the sum- mer of 1804. Se was a faithful member of the Christian church and a most estimable woman.
In the county of his nativity Charles R. Truitt was reared, acquiring his early edit- cation in its common schools. He is a grad- uate of the Williston Seminary, a prepar- atory school of East Hampton, Massachu- setts,and for three years attended La Fayette College at Easton, Pennsylvania. Later he successfully engaged in teaching for some years, being assistant principal of the public schools at Hillsboro. He next became in- terested in newspaper work in the office of the Hillsboro Journal and later purchased the paper, which he conducted about four- teen years with good success. While there he took an active part in Republican politics, was a member of the county and township central committees and served as a delegate to the state convention of his party. Under I resident Harrison he served as deputy col- lector of internal revenue in the eight of Springfield district for two years.
After selling the Hillsboro Journal, in 1895, Mr. Truitt was out of business one year and then went to Belvidere, Illinois, and purchased a half interest in the Belvi- dere Northwestern, which he sold in the spring of 1897. In July of that year he came to Pontiac and bought the Sentinel, which is the oldest paper in the county, being estab- lished in 1857. and which has always been the official Republican paper of the county.
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It is an eight-page weekly journal with a large circulation, which extends all over the county, and is in a flourishing condition under the able management of our subject, who has entire charge of its publication. Socially he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is past grand in the latter lodge at both Hillsboro and Belvi- dere. He attends and supports the Presby- terian church, of which his wife is a mem- ber.
On the Ist of October. 1882, Mr. Truitt n arried Miss Libbie E. Webber, who was born near Collinsville, Madison county. Illi- nois, a daughter of Nicholas Webber. and they have become the parents of three chil- dren : Ora, Albert and Beulah.
JEREMIAH COLLINS.
Jeremiah Collins is one of the representa- tive agriculturists of Esmen township, his fine farm of two hundred and forty acres be- ing conveniently located on sections 23 and 25, within two miles and a half of Cayuga. He was born in Miami county, Ohio, Jan- uary 22, 1831, and is a son of Daniel Col- lins, a native of Darke county, the same state. His grandfather. Captain Jeremiah Collins, was born and reared in France and came to the United States with La Fayette to fight for American independence. He held a captain's commission in the Revolu- tionary war. His last days were spent in Darke county, Ohio, where he opened a farm. There Daniel Collins grew to man- hood and married Nancy Penney, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of James Pen- ney, who was born in Virginia and was later
one of the pioneers of Kentucky. In early life the father of our subject followed black- smithing in his native state until 1835, when he moved to Michigan and settled at St. Joseph, but three years later he crossed the lake and came to La Salle county, Ilinois. becoming one of the first blacksmiths of Ot- tawa, where he arrived July 16. 1838, and where he made his home for some years. In 1844 he located on a farm in Rutland town- ship and resided there until crossing the plains to California in 1850. After two years spent in the mines he returned east by way of the Panama route and New York. He continued to live on his farm for many years, but died at the home of a daughter in Seneca about 1890. His wife had passed away some years previously. Of their thir- teen children, six reached years of maturity. but only Jeremiah and Maria, wife of George Pope, of Seneca, Illinois, are now living.
Our subject grew to manhood in La Salle county and obtained a rather limited education in the district schools. In 1852 he, too, crossed the plains to the Pacific slope. being six months upon the road, and arriv- ing in Volcano, California. September 16. that year. He spent three years in that state, but only engaged in mining for a short time. He raised a crop of fall wheat, worked in the lumber woods over two years and in the fall of 1855 operated a threshing machine. By way of the Panama route he returned home and saw the first railroad train he ever saw on the isthmus. From New York he proceeded to Chicago and arrived home in October. 1855. He purchased a farm in La Salle county, which he operated until 1872 and then sold, coming to Livingston county. He bought one hundred and sixty acres of land where he now resides : not a
JEREMIAH COLLINS.
MRS. JEREMIAH COLLINS.
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tree or shrub adorned the place, with the exception of a wild rose, and the house was small, but to its improvement and cultiva- tion he has since devoted his energies and now has one of the most desirable farms of its size in the township. Ile has erected thereon a pleasant residence, two good barns and other outbuildings, has tiled the land and placed it under a high state of cultiva- tion and has set out both fruit and shade trees, which add not a little to the attractive appearance of the place. He has also added an eighty-acre tract to his first purchase.
In La Salle county, November 19. 1865. Mr. Collins married Miss Eliza J. Turner, a native of England and a daughter of George Turner, who came to the United States in 1844 and started as operator in the first woolen mills at Dayton, Illinois. Mrs. Collins died in La Salle county Febru- ary 6, 1872, leaving five children : George ; William : Martha J., wife of Simon Slyder, of Owego township. Livingston county ; Charles : and Warren. Mrs. Slyder is the owner of a can of cherries put up by her mother in July, 1859. and they are still in a perfect state of preservation and which are claimed to be the oldest in the state. . \11 of the sons are married and live in Esmen township with exception of Warren, who makes his home in Pontiac township. Mr. Collins was again married, in Livingston county, October 20, 1872, his second union being with Miss Rachel Wilkerson, who was born and reared in Boonesboro. Kentucky, and came to McLean county, Illinois, with her parents, John and Mary Wilkerson. By this marriage four children were born, namely: Mary, wife of Samuel Spears, a farmer of Pontiac township: Grace, wife of Arthur Donahue, a farmer of Minnesota; John E. and Sadie, both at home.
Politically Mr. Collins and all his sons are stanch supporters of the Republican party. He was originally a Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce in 1852. On the 5th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company C. Eighty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, but was soon discharged for disability, after being confined in the hospital at Nashville for some time. He is now a member of the T. Lyle Dickey Post. No. 105. G. A. R., at Pontiac. Always a friend of education and our public schools, he was for some years an active member of the school board both ir La Salle and Livingston counties. He has been a resident of this state for sixty- two years and has therefore witnessed al- most its entire development, at the same time aiding in its advancement and progress.
ALBERT L. YATES.
Albert L. Yates, a successful veterinary surgeon of Dwight, Illinois, was born in this county November 21, 1868, a son of Dr. Christopher and Almira ( Beal) Yates, both natives of New York, the former born in Montgomery county December 25. 1837, the latter in Yates county December 23. 1842. The father, who was also a prominent veterinary surgeon, enlisted in the govern- ment service in that capacity during the Civil war and served over three years. After the war he located in Livingston county, Illinois, and engaged in farming on the Smith farm in Dwight township for some time, then removed to Kankakee coun- ty and from there to Iroquois county, but i!1 1880 he returned to this county and again
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took up his residence on a farm in Dwight township. His sons then being old enough to carry on the farm work, he devoted his time to the practice of veterinary surgery. In 1885 he moved to the village of Dwight and from that time until his death he gave his entire attention to practice. Politically he was an active worker for the Republican party and held a number of local offices in Livingston county. He was a man of fine physique, being over six feet in height, was well informed, intelligent and generous to a fault, and possessed a kindly disposition. Fraternally he was a member of the Masonic order and Grand Army of the Republic. His wife died in Dwight township October 27. 1881. and his death occurred in the village November 17. 1892.
After the death of the mother the eldest daughter took her place as far as possible, and the family remained together on the farm, which the boys operated. There were eight children, namely: George C. and William E., who are now farmers of South Dakota: Albert L., our subject ; Nellie M., wife of John Perkins, of Montgomery, Kane county, Ilinois; Bert. a farmer and school teacher of South Dakota: Harry, who was born July 2. 1877, and died December 21. 1880; Alice, wife of William Neel, of Kane county ; and Lefa M., wife of Fred Neel, a brother of William.
The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed upon the home farm and as he grew up he received excellent practical train- ing and experience in veterinary work from association with his father. He assisted him in his work and also pursued a course of study under his direction. He then passed a creditable examination and was granted a license by the state board. After his fa- ther's death he succeeded to his practice and
was alone until 1895, when he formed a partnership with M. L. Livingston, a grad- tate of the Ontario Veterinary College, but after being associated with him in practice for two years he purchased his interest and has since been alone. Possessed of excellent ability and skill in his chosen profession he has built up a large practice, and by his straightforward course has won the esteem of the community in which he lives. Po- litically the Doctor is a stanch Republican. and fraternally is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Sons of Veterans.
Mr. Yates was married. May 29. 1900. to Miss AAgnes Chalmers, of Dwight, which was her home from childhood. She is a member of the Congregational church of Dwight.
SAMUEL H. NICHOLS.
Samuel H. Nichols, a dealer in paints. wall paper. etc., at No. 113-115 West Water street, Pontiac. and one of its leading busi- ness men, was born in that city January I. 1863. a son of Samuel B. and Lucretia (Fox) Nichols. The father was a native of Norwich, England, where he was reared and educated. At the age of twenty years he crossed the broad AAtlantic and settled in Hamilton, Canada, where he was engaged as a sailor on the great lakes and followed that life for some years. He came to Pon- tiac. Illinois, on the 4th of July, 1853. ar- riving in this city on the first train that came over the Chicago & Alton Railroad. He had been previously married, at Cincinnati, Ohio, to Miss Lucretia Fox, a native of Keene, New Hampshire, and a daughter of Samuel and Dorothy Fox, and by this union
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were born two children : Schwartz, of Chicago, and Samuel H., our subject. After coming to Pontiac the fa- ther engaged in the restaurant business, which he continued until his death, which oc- curred September 30, 1865, He was a sol- dier of the Mexican war and a man highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him. His wife survived him many years, dying at Pontiac, in 1887, at the age of six- ty-three years.
The subject of this sketch is indebted to the public schools of Pontiac for his edut- cational advantages. During his youth he learned the painter's and paper hanger's trade and worked as a journeyman until 1884. when he embarked in the same busi- ness on his own account, and has succeeded in buikling up a large and lucrative trade. He has the only exclusive wall paper and paint store in the city or in fact in the coun- ty, and occupies two large sales rooms, No. 113 and 115 West Water street, keeping on hand a large stock of paints, oils, brushes, wall paper, room moukling, etc. Mr. Nich- ols devotes his entire time to the store, tak- ing contracts for large jobs of painting and paper hanging, and furnishes employment to a large force of skilled workmen.
On the 8th of September, 1888. in Pon- tiac. Mr. Nichols married Miss Mollie Har- rison, of Carthage, Missouri, a daughter of John W. and Mary Ann Harrison, of that city, where her father is engaged in business as a dealer in staple and fancy groceries at 731 West Chestnut street. At present Mr. Nichols is living at 705 West Howard street, Pontiac, in a modern two-story frame dwelling erected by him in 1898.
He is an active and prominent member of Pontiac Camp, No. 5. M. W. A., of which he is at present banker, and a member of
Mrs. L. G. the Pioneer Reserve Association, in which
order he is serving as local deputy. Re- ligiously he is a member of the Presbyterian church. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and in the spring of 1900 was its candidate for alderman from the second ward, where he is so well and favorably known, it having always been his home. As a business man he ranks among the ablest in the city, being enterprising, energetic and industrious, and the success that he has achieved in life is due to his own well-directed efforts, for in start- ing out in life for himself he was without capital or influential friends to aid him, but to-day is a prosperous and successful busi- ness man.
JOHN MUNSON.
John Munson, one of the honored vet- erans of the Civil war and a well known farmer residing on section 20, Owego town- ship, four miles from Pontiac, was born November 28, 1842, in Denmark, where he was reared and educated. Ile worked on a farm and learned the carpenter's trade be- fore his emigration to America in 1860. On landing in this country he proceeded to La Salle county. Illinois, where he found employment as a farm hand for one year. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B. One
Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, which formed a part of the Army of the Tennessee, and he participated in the battle of Hartsville, Tennessee, where he was taken prisoner with his regiment. Ile was held a captive at Murfreesboro until paroled and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, and later to Camp Douglas. Chicago, where he was exchanged at the end of six weeks. In
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the meantime he contracted inflammatory rheumatism and was sent to the hospital. When he had sufficiently recovered his health to be about he was placed on hospital duty and served in that capacity until hon- orably discharged at the close of the war, in 1865. 1le has never yet fully recovered from the effects of his army service.
On receiving his discharge Mr. Munson joined a brother in Livingston county, but later returned to La Salle county, where he spent one year. At the end of that time he located permanently in this county, where he and his brother operated a rented farm for two or three years, and for three years he clerked in a store in Pontiac. Subsequently he engaged in the clothing and gents fur- nishing business in that city for five years. and at the end of that time traded his stock of goods for a farm west of Pontiac, but sold that place at the end of a year and bought the farm in Owego township where he now resides. At that time it was but slightly improved, but he has planted an orchard, erected a neat and substantial resi- dence and a good barn. and to-day has a well-improved and valuable farm of eighty acres. He also has another eighty acres on section 18. the same township. This prop- erty has all been acquired by industry, per- severance and good management, for he came to this county empty-handed and has had to make his own way in the world un- aided.
On the 30th of December. 1874. Mr. Munson was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Duff, a native of Huntingdon county. Pennsylvania, who came to Illinois with her father. Charles Duff, in 1866, at the age of about fifteen years, locating on a farm in Pontiac township, this county. By this union were born two children. Eva, the
elder. is now the wife of Benjamin Miller, a farmer of Owego township, and they have two children. Wilbur John and Frances Eliz- abeth. Louis D., the only son of our sub- ject. assists in the operation of the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Munson have given a home to a little girl. Toleto Hansen, whom they are now rearing.
Politically Mr. Munson is a stanch sup- porter of the Republican party, having cast his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant in 1868, and for every nominee of the party since that time. Socially he is a Master Mason, and religiously both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Pontiac. They are widely and favorably known and have a host of warm friends in the community where they re- side.
HORATIO N. VAUGHAN.
Horatio N. Vaughan, whose home is at No. 522 North Chicago street, Pontiac, Illinois, is one of the prominent citizens of that place, a leader in musical circles. He is a native of Springfield. Sullivan county, New Hampshire, and a son of John and Mary ( Moran) Vaughan. Her paternal grandparents were Samuel and Elizabeth ( Rider ) Vaughan, natives of Halifax, Nova Scotia, who moved from there to St. Mar- tin's. New Brunswick, where the grandfa- ther died at an advanced age. He followed the ship carpenter's trade throughout life, but also devoted a great deal of time to the study of music and was a proficient player on several instruments, his favorite being the violin. He was a member of an orchies- tra and band in St. Johns, New Bruns- wick.
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John Vaughan, the father of our subject, was also born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was married at St. Martin's, New Bruns- wick, but soon afterward he left Canada and removed to Sullivan county, New Hamp- shire, where all of his ten children were born, our subject being the youngest. There he engaged in farming on quite an extensive scale, though, during his early life in Nova Scotia, he had followed the ship carpenter's trade. In 1837 he came to Hlinois and was one of the first settlers of Princeton, where he conducted a hotel for ten years and then lived retired until his death, which occurred in 1877, when he was eighty-seven years of age. Only two of his family are now living, our subject and his brother, John, a retired merchant of Seattle, Washington.
Until he attained his majority, Horatio N. Vaughan remained under the parental roof and was educated in Illinois by private tutors. At the age of twelve years he com- menced the study of music and received in- struction on the violin from some of the best local teachers of that day. He contin- ued his studies for a number of years and he has since given his time and attention to that art as a profession. About 1862 he became connected with the band and orches- tra of a theatrical company, and, as leader of the orchestra, traveled with some of the leading theatrical and show companies as the Van Amberg, and others, at that time. Leaving the road in 1872, he taught music as a band instructor in various cities of Illi- nois and Wisconsin until locating in Ponti- ac in December, 1877. Here he formed a class on the violin, and with the exception of a few years spent in Seattle, Washington, he has since taught music at this place. About nine years ago he organized and be- came leader of the Vaughan orchestra of
Pontiac, consisting of fourteen pieces, which still exists and is the leading musical organi- zation of the city, its services being in great demand. Most of the players were former pupils of Mr. Vaughan.
In May, 1880, at Pontiac, Mr. Vaughan married Miss Margaret A. Stites, a daugh- ter of Dr. J. J. Stites, one of the prominent physicians of this city. She is a highly ed- ucated lady and also an accomplished mu- sician, receiving her musical education at the College of Music in Cincinnati, under the management of Theodore Thomas, one of the most noted musicians this country has produced. She plays first violin in her hus- band's orchestra, and as teacher of the piano forte has a large private class. She is also supervisor of music in the public schools of l'ontiac, a position she has most creditably filled for a number of years, and which re- quires much of her time and attention every day. As will be seen Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan are among the most prominent musicians of the city and are entirely devoted to their art.
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