USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 24
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who guaranteed the payment for the build! ing of the church. His contributions to the work amounted to three thousand dollars. He served as class leader and steward and did all in his power to promote the growth of the church. For several years prior to his death he lived in town and devoted most of his time to church work. He was one of the first justices of the peace of his neigh- borhood, elected in 1861, and in that office he served through the exciting period of the war. lle was also school treasurer for sev- eral years, and held that office at the time of the erection of the new building. He died September 5, 1893, respected by all who knew him. His widow, who was born January 14, 1814. still survives. They had five sons and two daughters, all of whom are living, namely : James G., now of Fair- bury: Edward R., of Forrest : William W., of Monticello, Indiana; J. S., of this re- view : Albert, who is living on the okl home- stead: Emma J .. now the wife of H. B. Watson, of Forrest; and Lydia F., wife of Nathan Hurt, of Oakland, California.
Mr. Francis, whose name introduces this review, began his education in Ohio. Ile worked on the home farm through the sum- mer months and in the winter attended the district schools. With his parents he came to Livingston county in 1860, and in 1864, at the age of nineteen, he enlisted in Com- pany E. One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry. He was sent to Chatta- noga and joined his regiment at Atlanta, just before Sherman started on the march to the sea. He took part in that celebrated movement, participated in all the engage- ments of that campaign and was in the Grand Review at Washington. He was dis- charged from Company E and assigned to the Forty fifth Illinois Regiment. sent to
Springfield, and was there paid off and dis- charged, in June. 1865.
For two years thereafter Mr. Francis remained on the home farm. In 1800 he came to Forrest and was employed as a clerk in a general store until 1871, when he began dealing in general merchandise on his own account. continuing in the business until 1876, when he returned to the farm. llc then engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in connection with his brother Albert he es- tablished the first tile factory in this part of the state. continuing its operation with marked success until the fall of 1885. when he soll his interest to his brother and came to Forrest. Here he began dealing in coal and feed at his present location. He soon secured a large trade, and in 1892 he ex- tended the field of his operations by pur- chasing a half interest in a grain warehouse and elevator. He began buying and ship- ping grain, carrying on a very extensive business, with Chicago as his market. He afterward became sole proprietor of the en- terprise, which he carried on very prosper- ously until April. 1900, when he sold out. ' He still deals in coal, feed and stone and takes contracts for stone work and building. His business interests are always carefully directed, and his sound judgment and un- faltering energy have enabled him to work his way continuously upward. For seven or eight years he has been a director in the Building & Loan Association of Forrest.
On the 16th of August. 1881. Mr. Fran- cis was united in marriage to Miss Ella S. Williamson, a daughter of William J. and Nancy ( Snedeker ) Williamson. Her father was from Russellville, Brown county, Ohio, where he spent his entire life, engaged in farming. Both he and his wife were very earnest and ardent members of the Presby-
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terian church of Russellville. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Francis have been born nine children, seven of whom are living : Lulu W., Bertha 1., Nancy M., Mary E., Jos'e, Lawrence D. and Morris L. The two deceased were Walter, who died at the age of four years; and Homer, who died when two months old. They have a beautiful three-story brick resi- dence in Forrest -- the first brick house in the city, and the household is noted for its charming hospitality.
llis fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called upon Mr. Francis to serve in positions of public trust. He served as highway com- missioner from 1884 until 1898, during which time all of the iron and steel bridges of the township were built. He was a mem- ber of the board of education three terms and was on the building committee when the school-house was enlarged. lle and his wife are members of the Congregational church, and he also served on its building committee at the time of the erection of its house of worship. He has twice served as superintendent of the Sunday-school and has always taken an active part in the work of the church, contributing most liberally to its support. Hle belongs to Forrest Post, No. 114, G. A. R., has several times been its commander and has been its representative to encampments. Ile is a charter member of the Modern Woodmen Camp at Forrest, has six times been its principal officer and has twice been delegate to the grand lodge. As has been indicated in this sketch, Mr. Francis is a prominent factor in business, social and political life in Forrest. 1Ic withholds his support from no movement or measure calculated to prove of public good, and is indeed a public-spirited and valued citizen; in business his word is as
good as any bond that was ever solemnized by signature or seal; and in private life he has an unassailable reputation, which com- mands the respect and has won him the con- fidence of all.
WILLIAM LARGE.
William Large, a representative farmer of Pleasant township, Livingston county, who owns a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 14, was born in England, March 15, 1856, and when a year and a half ofl was brought to America by his parents, Leonard and Sarah ( Mitchell ) Large. The family first located in Wood- ford county, Illinois, where the father pur- chased land and engaged in farming for a time, but about 1873 sokl that property and bought eighty acres of land in Pleasant Ridge township, Livingston county, south of our subject's present farm. Ile im- proved that place and made his home there until death. There the mother is still living at the age of seventy.
The greater part of the education of our subject was acquired in the public schools of Woodford county, though after coming to Livingston county he atended school for four or five winters, his advantages along that line being beter than the aver- age boy of that time. When not in school he assisted in the work of the farm, and at the age of twenty-one commenced operating a farm on his own account, meeting with success from the start. Prior to his mar- riage he purchased his present place, which at that time was only partially improved. lte has since built a good house and barn, set out trees and placed the land under a high state of cultivation. In connection
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with general farming he is engaged in stock raising, making a specialty of hogs. Besides his property here, he owns land in White and Jasper counties, Indiana, which he has im- proved, and he is acknowledged as one of the most successful farmers of the county.
On the 20th of September, 188t, Mr. Large married Miss Clara Sutton, a daugh- ter of J. B. Sutton, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. She died July 3. 1893. leaving four children : Maude, Dw.ght. Marion and Ethel, who have been given good school advantages and are still at home. Mr. Large is an active member and liberal supporter of the Methodist Episco- pal church, of which his wife was also a member. He is also connected with the Court of Honor and affiliates with the Re- publican party. Wherever known he is held in high regard and his friends are many throughout the county.
GEORGE W. MCCABE.
George W. MeCabe, the leading banker of Chatsworth and one of the representa- tive business men of Livingston county, is a native of Ilinois, born in Brimfield, Peoria county, March 1, 1863. llis father, Pat- rick MeCabe, was a native of Ireland, and in 1845 came to the United States, landing in New Orleans. During this time he en- listed and served about eighteen months in the Mexican war. Ile settled in Peoria county. Illinois, three years later, but in New Orleans he was married, in 1850, to Cath- erine Fox, who was also born in Ireland and came to America about the same time as her husband. Since his marriage he has made his home permanenty in this state,
and until 1894 carried on farming very suc- cessfully, though devoting most of his time to the stock business. He came to this country with the hope of securing a home. and with the characteristic energy of his race he succeeded far beyond his expecta- tions, and was the owner of a well- improved farm of two hundred and forty acres in Peoria county. In 1894 he re- tired from active labor and moved to the city of Peoria, where he purchased a com- fortable home and resided there until his death, August 14, 1900, at the age of sev- enty-eight years. His widow survives him, being seventy-one years of age. To this worthy couple were born eight children, of whom live are still living, namely: Alice is now the widow of J. McClary, of Chicago. Edward D .. a graduate of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and now a promi- nent attorneys of Peoria, has been success- inily engaged in practice for several years and is one of the best probate and chancery attorneys in the city. Ile served four years under President Cleveland as government storekeeper at Pecria. Elisha B. follows farming on the old home place in Peoria county. George W., our subject, is next in order of birth. Kate E. is at home with her parents in Peoria.
The early education of George W. Mc- Cabe was acquired in the common schools of Brimfield. and he later took a commer- cial course at St. Viatur's College at Kan- kakee, and a business course at Bryant & Stratton's College, in Chicago. During the year of 1892 he read law with his brother in Peoria, but the following year came to Chatsworth and purchased a lot, upon which he erected a modern fre-proof bank building, beginning work in April and opening for business in October of that year. Almost
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immediately he secured a liberal patronage. and is now doing the leading general bank- ing business of the community, having as his assistant H. S. Cowling, a prominent young man of Chatsworth. He is enterprising, energetic and progressive and has conducted the business for seven years without the loss of a dollar. lle is also quite extensively interested in real estate and loans, and is president of the Peoria & Eastern Telephone Company, a growing concern, having sex- eral exchanges in the system. In 1897 Mr. MeCabe purchased a lot at the corner of Fourth and Hickory streets and erected a modern residence, fitted with all improve- ments, and one of the handsomest and most convenient houses in Chatsworth. On the 2d of August. 1900, was incorporated the Commercial National Bank of Chatsworth, with capital stock amounting to twenty-five thousand dollars, of which amount Mr. Mc- Cabe took nineteen thousand dollars. To the new institution he turned over the entire as- sets of his private bank, and it was mainly through his efforts that the bank was organ- ized. Believing that a National bank afforded more security to the depositors of the bank. and would the better secure the confidence of the community, he undertook the work of or- ganization and incorporation. This new in- stitution will afford to the citizens of Chats- worthand vicinity every facility for safe banking, and under the general management of Mr. MeCabe it will secure the confidence of the community, as he occupies the po- sition of cashier and general manager. The other officers of the bank are Stephen Herr, president : John F. Ryan, vice-president ; and H. S. Cowling, assistant cashier.
On the 29th of September, 1897, Mr. C'abe married Miss Thresa M. Kehoe, a na- tive of Chicago, of which city her father has
been a progressive merchant for several years. By this union have been born two children: Katherine G. and George K. In politics Mr. MeCabe is a Democrat on na- tional issues, but in local affairs always sup- ports the men best qualified to fill the offices regardless of party lines. He is a member of the State Bankers' Association of Illinois, and for over six years has been a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Chats- worth, in which he has held the office of chancellor commander for some time. Re- ligiously he is a member of Sts. Peter's and Paul's Catholic church. In manner he is pleasant and genial, and is quite popular both in social and business circles.
JOHN W. FELLOWS.
John W. Fellows, one of the oldest resi- dents of Pleasant Ridge township. Livings- ton county, Illinois, was born in Otisco. Onondaga county, New York, September 13, 1820, a son of Daniel and Jerusha ( Ful- ler ) Fellows. The father was.a native of Germany and a farmer by occupation. In the county of his nativity our subject was reared and educated in much the usual man ner of farmer boys of his day.
There Mr. Fellows was married, ()c- tober 20, 1846, to Miss Margaret MI. Len- son, who was born September 5. 1828 Her father. Nicholas Lenson, was also a native of Germany, and on his emigration to the United States settled in Tully township. Onondaga county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Fellows have four children living, namely : James II., a wholesale dealer and mant- facturer of candy in Kankakee, Illinois : Stephen, resident of Watseka : Daniel D., of
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Wing, and Alfred W., who wedded Mary Tobenski and lives at home with his parents. Nicholas .A. went south as a foreman in 1869 and is supposed to have died of yellow fever, and J. Henry died in Wing, Illinois, at the age of forty-two years, leaving five children.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fel- lows continued their residence in New York until 1852, when they started west. They made the journey by boat from Buffalo to Chicago, where they arrived on the 2d of November, that year, when that city was quite small, and then drove across the coun- try with a team to Plainfiekl, Will county, Ilinois, where Mr. Fellows engaged in farm- ing upon rented land for seven years. The following two years were spent in Mclean county. Determined to have a home. Mrs. Fellows worked hard until she had earned though to purchase eighty acres of land in Pleasant Ridge township, Livingston coun- ty, to which she still holds the deed. The family located here in 1862, and the logs for their first home were hauled from Avoca. In 1781 a good frame residence was built and is still the home of the family. Mr. Fellows purchased eighty acres of land ad- joining his wife's property, has tiled the en- tire amount and placed it under a high state of cultivation. They have planted shade trees and converted the place into a pleasant home. Ile has always engaged in general farming and has been quite successful. . \1- though he has never taken a very active part in public affairs, he has served as school director and takes an active interest in all enterprises for the public good.
Since the age of twelve years Mrs. Fel- k ws has been an earnest and consistent men- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been a subscriber to the Christian Advo-
cate since the first number of that paper was issued. She is quite fond of reading and is a most estimable lady. She and her lausband have watched with interest the won- derful changes that have taken place in this region since locating here, have seen the wolves, deer and wild turkeys disappear, the railroad, telegraphs and telephones in- troduced, and towns and villages spring up.
OWEN MURTAUGH.
Owen Murtaugh, an honored and highly respected citizen of Chatsworth, is the pos- sessor of a handsome property which now enables him to spend his declining years in the pleasurable enjoyment of his accumula- tions. The record of his life, previous to 1890. is that of an active, energetic, meth- odical and sagacious business man, who bent his energies to the honorable acquirement of a comfortable competence for himself and family.
Mr. Murtaugh was born in county Louth, Ireland, June 8, 1826, and belongs to a race of people who have been renowned for their energy and willingness to brave any danger that they may better themselves, Ile received his education in the common schools of his native land and remained in Ireland until twenty-six years of age, when he resolved to try his fortunes on this side of the Atlantic. Coming to what was then considered the far west. he heated in Bing- hamton. now Amboy. Lee county, Illinois, before the Illinois Central Railroad had been surveyed. Ile purchased eighty acres of raw prairie land near Sublette, that county, which he partly improved and then disposed of at a profit. Hle had previously worked as
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OWEN MURTAUGH.
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REV. WILLIAM M. MURTAUGH.
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a farm hand for some time, and with the money thus obtained he purchased that prop- erty. Later he purchased a tract of muim- proved land in Marshall county, where he made his home for some time.
While residing there, Mr. Murtaugh was married, in 1855, to Miss Bridget Lawless, also a native of Ireland, and an only dangh- ter, who came to America with her parents in 1849, and died in 1864. By this union were born two sons: William Matthew, born in 1860, took a business course at St. Viateur's College, in Kankakee, and began studying for the priesthood at Watertown, Wisconsin, where he remained three years. Later he attended school in Montreal, Can- ada, for a year, and was graduated from St. Mary's in Baltimore, Maryland, being or- dained to the priesthood at Peoria, Illinois, in 1888, by Bishop Spalding. He served as assistant to Father Hedges, of Pontiac, Illinois, for one year, and for nine years was stationed at Keithsburg. Illinois, where by his business ability and good management he built a fine church and parsonage. In 18g8 he was transferred to Sheffield, and is now doing a good work in improving that parish. Francis, the younger son, owns and operates a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Charlotte township, Liv- ingston county. Ile married Sarah Har- rington, and they have four children: Agnes ML .. Hazel G., Owen W. and James J. F .. all attending the district schools.
Soon after his marriage, upon seeing the men who were returning from the gold fields of California, and hearing the reports they made, Mr. Murtaugh decided he conkl make money there, being young and strong. as well as willing to brave any dangers that he might add to the comfort of himself and his young wife. After making prepara- 13
tions for the journey he went to New Or- leans by way of the Mississippi river, and then crossed the Isthinus, and by steamer proceeded to San Francisco, where he landed after an interesting voyage of four weeks. For eighteen months he followed mining and prospecting, meeting with hardships and encountering many Indians and wild beasts in the mountains. Feeling abundantly re- paid for his labors, his thoughts turned to- ward home and the bride he had left in Illi- nois, in 1857, by way of the Panama route, he returned to Marshall county, llli- nois. In March of the following year, with his family, he came to Livingston county and purchased a quarter-section of land in Charlotte township, which at that time was all swamp and prairie land. The nature of the country is shown by the following ad- venture which one day befell him. He started from Pontiac with about eight hun- dred feet of lumber, but owing to the poor condition of the raods was obliged to throw about half of the load off when half way home, and nearly all of the remainder when within five miles of home, where he arrived on horseback with only a few boards, find- ing that an empty wagon was a load of itself through the swamps. The family camped out for a few weeks until he coukl erect a cabin. After eleven years of hard labor he succeeded in getting his land well improved. Not having enough land, Mr. Murtaugh sold his farm in Livingston county. in 1869, and by moving about a mile away purchased four hundred and forty acres in Ford county, which was then but poorly improved, but he soon transformed it into a most desirable farm, and successfully engaged in farming there until 1890. Ile made a specialty of stock raising, and also bought and fattened stock for the Chicago
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markets, shipping on an average of two car- loads of cattle and the same amount of hogs per year. He met with success in all his undertakings and became one of the well- to-do men of his community. He sold one hundred and twenty acres of his farm and gave the proceeds to his son Francis to give hiin a start in life, but still retains three hundred and twenty acres, which he rents, it bringing him a snug income. In 1890 he purchased a pleasant home in Chatsworth, for which he paid one thousand dollars, and which he has since greatly improved, and there he is now living a quiet, retired life, free from all care and responsibility.
In 1865. Mr. Murtaugh was again mar- ried, his second union being with Miss Alice Cleary, who was born in freland in 1828. and came to America in 1852. After living in the east for a time, she came to Will county, Illinois, in 1859, and was living there at the time of her marriage. Three children were born to them, namely: Mary, who died in 1889: Eugene P., who was killed by the kick of a horse, June 8, 1891 : and Alice E., an accomplished young lady. at home with her parents.
In politics Mr. Murtaugh is a Democrat. though he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and at local elections supports the men whom he considers best qualified to fill the offices regardless of party lines. He has never been radical in his views. Dur- ing his early residence in this county he served as school trustee. and filled the same office in Ford county for twenty-one years, also road commissioner for several years. He is a member of the Catholic church of Chatsworth, and is highly respected and es- esteemed by all who know him, his pleasant. genial manner winning him many friends. In 1873 Mr. Murtaugh returned to Ireland
to visit the scenes of his boyhood, and on his arrival there found that his father. Matthew Murtaugh, had been dead about three months. He spent three months in renew- ing early acquaintances and traveling over Ireland and Wales, and also visiting several places of interest in Scotland. As he ex- presses it, he "went for a good time and had one."
HARVEY BUTTON.
There is no rule for achieving success, yet certain elements are always found in the acquirement of prosperity and these are close application, indefatigable energy and sound judgment-qualities which have proven salient features in the success which has attended the efforts of Mr. Button and made him one of the substantial citizens of Forrest. From a humble apprenticeship, he has advanced steadily step by step, until he has long since left the ranks of the many to stand among the prosperous few, and at all times his career has been such as to command the public adimration and the re- spect and confidence of those with whom he has been associated. He is now engaged in looking after his real estate investments, including both city and country property, but for many years he was a well known figure in railroad circles.
Mr. Button was born at Palatine Bridge, Montgomery county, New York, November 11, 1838, a son of Jesse and Nancy (Van Slyke) Button. His father was born in Syracuse, New York, in March, 1820, and the grandfather was Jesse Button, who was probably a native of Syracuse, but was born of English parentage. He became a promi- nent farmer near Syracuse and died in that
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city at the advanced age of eighty years. period he ran from Aurora to Galesburg The father of our subject was reared at Syracuse and in early manhood went to Pala- tine Bridge, where he engaged in contract- ing and buikling. There he married Miss Van Slyke, a daughter of William Van Slyke, who was born at Palatine Bridge or in that locality. lle was a farmer and a member of the Lutheran church. His father was a native of llolland, but came to .Amer- ica in colonial days and served in the Revo- lutionary war with the colonial army.
The father of our subject removed to Little Falls. New York, about 1849, and there continued contracting and building until he was killed while raising a building, in 1861. He left seven children, of whom our subject was the eklest son and second child. The mother, who lived in Illinois for some years, died at Palatine Bridge, in January, 1898, at the age of eighty, her birth having occurred on the Ist of March, 1818. The parents were worthy members vi the Universalist church.
Mr. Button, of this review, was edu- cated in his native town and at Little Falls, spending two years in an academy. He then learned the trade of a machinist, serv- ing regular apprenticeship of three years. In 1856, soon after its completion, he went to Detroit, Michigan, and there began rail- road work, being employed near Windsor, on the construction of the okl Great Western Railroad. He was then working on the Michigan Central from Detroit, filling the position of fireman until 1860, when he was made an engineer, and ran from Detroit to Marshall. He served in that capacity for two years, after which he spent six months on the construction engine of the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy, running from Men- dota, Illinois. After the expiration of that
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