USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 28
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Fraternally Mr. Baker is a member of Verona Lodge. No. 757. F. & .A. M., of Verona, in which he has held office. He is idependent in politics, voting for the man whom he believes best qualified for office re- gardless of party lines. Ile efficiently served as commissioner of highways for two terms of three years each and put up the first iron bridges and stone abutments
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in Highland township during his term. For a number of years he and his wife have traveled in the west quite extensively, and can now take life easy after their early years of toil and privations. . As a business man Mr. Baker has been remarkably successful, and his career affords an excellent example to the young in that he commenced life without capital, but having a determination to succeed he industriously applied himself until he has acquired a handsome property, and has also won the confidence and respect of his fellow men in a marked degree.
JAMES BROWN.
The career of him whose name heads this review illustrates most forcibly the pos- sibilities that are open to young men who possess sterling business qualifications. It proves that neither wealth or the assistance of influential friends at the outset of his career are necessary to place him on the road to success. It also proves that ambition, perseverance, steadfast purpose and inde- fatigable industry, combined with sound business principles will be rewarded, and that true success follows individual effort only. For many years Mr. Brown was actively identified with the agricultural and stock raising interests of Livingston county, but is now living a retired life in Dwight, hav- ing accumulated a handsome competence through his own well directed efforts.
lle was born in Oneida county, New York, September 14. 1828, a son of David and Sophia ( Mumford ) Brown, the former a native of Scotland, the latter of Connecti- eut. When David Brown was ten years of age he was brought to America by his fa-
ther, David Brown, Sr., a stocking weaver by trade, who settled in Herkimer county, New York, and in the midst of the forest cleared and developed a farm of one hundred acres, upon which he set ont one of the finest orchards in the country. In those early days it often happened that he sokl his best apples for six cents a bushel and farmers would come from miles around to get them. He also owned and operated a cider mill, manufacturing from two to three hundred barrels of cider in one season. He died at the age of sixty-six years, his wife at the age of eighty. In their family were twelve chil- dren. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Captain William Mumford, of the Revo- lutionary war, died at the age of about sev- enty, while his wife lived to the advanced age of ninety-five years. To them were also horn twelve children. . After reaching man- hood, David Brown, Jr .. also followed farming and became quite well-to-do, being able to give his children good educational advantages. He died at the age of ninety years, while the mother of our subject de- parted this life at the age of forty-four. For his second wife he married Cornelia Marvin, but had no children by that marriage. By the first union nine children were born, seven of whom reached years of maturity, namely : Charlotte, Jeanette, Mary, David, James, John and Elizabeth. All are living with the exception of Jeanette, and all are residents of New York state except our sub- ject.
During his boyhood James Brown at- tended the public schools of his native count- ty until fifteen years of age, when he went to live with his uncle, James Brown, a lawyer of Oswego, New York, who sent him to school and also assisted him in his algebra, geometry, trigonometry, philosophy and as
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tronomy at home during the evenings, in this way acquiring a good education. Hle was a student at the Whitesboro Academy, U'tica, New York, for a time, and after leaving that institution taught school for six winters, while through the summer months he engagel in farming.
At the end of that time Mr. Brown had saved one thousand dollars, which he invest- ed in cattle, and for five years was success- fully engaged in the butcher business. He then went to Wayne county, New York, where he bought some dairy stock, which he shipped to Herkimer county, and from that time on was extensively interested in the stock business, traveling all over western New York and Canada buying dairy stock most of the time and shipping the same to every stat on from Buffalo and Eric.
Coming to Livingston county, Illinois, in 1867. Mr. Brown purchased an improved farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Nevada township but did not locate thereon until 1869, and the first year raised nothing as the season was so wet. He had married July 27. 1866. Miss Eudora Wood, a native of Oswego county, New York, and a dangh- ter of Moses Wood, one of the early settlers of that county and a successful farmer and cattle dealer. She was the second in order or birth in a family of twelve children, nine of whom grew to maturity. Mr. and Mrs. Brown had one son on coming to this coun- ty, and here the family circles was increased by the birth of seven other children. They were as follows : James, who died at the age of eighteen months ; Eva, who married Wil- bur Reed, a business man of Chicago, and has two children. James and George; . Ide- laide, at home: George, who is engaged in the stock business and resides at home : Ma- bel, who died at the age of three years : Da-
vid, who died at the age of five years; Blanche, who is attending school in Dwight; and one who died in infancy.
When he located here Mr. Brown had about one hundred steers, and being unable to buy corn to feed them he went to Mason county, where he purchased five thousand bushels and shipped to his home. He con- tinued to feed from one hundred and fifty to two hundred head of cattle each year un- til 1888, when he turned his attention to the raising of blooded stock, making a specialty of Norman draft horses, starting in this business with a capital of seven thousand dollars. He was interested in that enterprise until 1897, when he retired from business, having at that time ninety-five head of horses. He had previously given considera- ble attention to the raising of Poland China hogs, shipping about two hundred each year. He never sold any of the grain that he raised upon his land, but fed it all to his stock. Ile still owns eight hundred acres on sections 12, 13 and 24, Nevada township, and also has fourteen hundred acres of land in LaPorte county, Indiana, which he pur- chased in 1897. and which is partly improved and cultivated. Ile formerly owned lands in Kansas and Nebraska, but has since dis- posed of them. He has building property in Dwight, where he removed in November, 1899, and has since made his home. Start- ing out in life for himself with no capital his success seems almost phenomenal, but it is due to his own industry, enterprise. per- severance and good management.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is identified with the Republican party, but has never taken an active part in politics aside from voting, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business in-
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terests. He and his wife have returned to New York on visits several times. After a useful and honorable career he can well afford to lay aside all business cares and live in ease and retirement, enjoying a well earned rest.
SAMUEL HOKE.
Samuel Hoke, deceased, was for many years prominently identified with the agri- cultural and business interests of Livingston county, and also took quite an active and in- fluential part in public affairs, especially along educational lines. He became a resident of the county in 1859, coming here from Williamsburg, Blair county, Pennsyl- vania, then a part of Bedford county, and spent his last days in Odell.
Mr. Hoke was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, April 24. 1827, a son of Jacob and Margaret Rebecca Hoke, natives of Gettysburg. Pennsylvania, whose parents came from Germany to America sometime during the eighteenth century. The father of our subject was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was a potter by trade, following that occupation in Gettysburg and McCon- nellsburg, Pennsylvania. Samuel was the youngest in his family of ten children, six sons and four daughters, of whom Mrs. Julia Phenice, of Tacoma, Washington, is now the only survivor.
In the common schools of his native county Samuel Hoke acquired his education and remained with his father until reach- ing man's estate. In early life he learned the trade of paper hanger and cabinet-maker in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and for eleven years worked at the same in that state. Taking an active part in political
affairs, he sered as deputy sheriff of his na- tive county, school director and trustee.
On the 18th of April, 1850, Mr. Hoke was united in marriage with Miss Laura M. Kenney, who was also born in Bedford county, November 22, 1831, a daughter of Alexander W. and Hannah E. ( Harvey) Kenney. Her ancestry were residents of Pennsylvania for many generations, and were among the first settlers of Philadel- phia. She is only one of a family of seven children now living .. Having received a good common school education, she success- fully engaged in teaching for several years. and also served as assistant in the postoffice at Williamsburg, of which her father was postmaster for twenty-five consecutive years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hoke were born six sons and one daughter, namely: ( 1) .Alex- ander R. took a course at the Wesleyan Nor- mal School. of Bloomington, Illinois, and followed teaching for some time, but is now employed at the State Reformatory in Pon- tiac. He is married and has two children. Frank F. and Samuel L. (2) Hannah M. is the wife of J. W. Honchins, who was graduated at a college in Chicago and en- gaged in teaching during his active business . career, but is now living retired in Odell. He owns a large amount of land in Illinois and Nebraska. (3) William E. is repre- sented on another page of this volume. (4) Charles H., who is now living in Pontiac and serving as deputy sheriff of the county, was formerly engaged in the undertaking business in Odell for some time, and has filled the offices of constable and collector. He is married and has one daughter, Georgetta D. (5) George K., a farmer and liveryman. died at his home in Odell from the effects of injuries received in the collapse of a brick building during a cyclone in 1886.
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He was married and had one daughter, Laura R. (6) Samuel L., deceased, was graduated at the Odell high school in 1885. and the Northern Illinois Normal School at Dixon in 1886, and followed teaching for several years, but was preparing to enter the ministry at the time of his death in 1887. (7) Frank Lincoln, who lives at home with his mother, has a good education and is a harness maker by trade. He took the gov- ernment census in Odell in 1900.
After his marriage Mr. Hoke continued to reside in Pennsylvania until 1859, when he sold his property there and came to Dwight, Illinois, where he was engaged in the furniture and undertaking business for six months. He then located on the farm ir Odell township, which he had previously purchased. it being a tract of eighty acres of wild prairie land, which now forms a part of Union township. He erected build- ings thereon, made many other improve- ments, and added to his property until at one time he had five hundred acres of val- table land, nearly all improved by himself. During the civil war he was drafted but hired a substitute, and met with excellent success in his business affairs during that period. Although his early training fitted him for far different work, he prospered in his farm- ing operations, being a man of sound judg- ment, observant and energetic. He made a specialty of the raising of horses and cattle, and was wonderfully successful.
Mr. Hoke was one of the men who laid out the school districts of Union township, and his wife was one of the first teachers, conducting a school in their own home, in addition to taking care of her three chil- dren. She taught six months for twenty dollars per month and with the money thus earned purchased their first horse.
Theirs was the third school house of the township, and was built on land donated by Mr. Hoke for that purpose. He served as school director and school trustee for many years, and was one of the influential Repub- licans of his community, with which party his sons also affiliate. For over twenty years he successfully engaged in farming, and in 1880 moved to Odell, purchasing the house now occupied by his widow. He sold one hundred and sixty acres of his land and engaged in the loan and real es- tate business, still retaining two hundred and forty acres of the original farm, which is all under a high state of cultivation. At the age of eighteen years Mr. Hoke joined the Sons of Temperance, and was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Presbyterian church, though he later in life attended the Congregational church. He died at his home in Odell, May 23, 1898, honored and respected by all who knew him. His estimable wife still carries on the business left by him, and has met with excellent success in all her business ventures, being a woman of more than or- dinary business ability and sound judgment.
JAY G. BARNHIZER, M. D.
Jay G. Barnhizer, M. D., a prominent and successful homeopathic physician of Forrest, Illinois, was born in Thornburg. Jowa, January 11, 1875, and is a son of Joseph and Samantha (Stout) Barnhizer. Ilis paternal grandfather was Joseph Barn- hizer, a native of Holland and a soklier of the Revolutionary war, who lived to the ex- treme old age of one hundred and six years. The father was born, reared and educated
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in Pennsylvania, and in early life went to Ohio, where he married Samantha Stout, a native of Leipsic, that state, of which place her father. Elisha Stout, was one of the pioneers and a wealthy farmer and miller. He was also one of the early members and a minister of the Christian church. In 1874 the Doctor's parents moved to Coal Creek, lowa. His father had been successfully engaged in milling in Ohio, and traded his milling property there for a half section of land near Thornburg, Iowa, which place he improved and operated with marked success until 1888, when he sold out and moved to California. After a short time spent in Pasadena, he returned to lowa and pur- chased a farm adjoining Sigourney, in which town he lived until his death, which occurred April 9. 1898. He was quite wealthy, his capital being largely invested in stock. Re- ligiously both he and his wife were promi- nent members and active workers in the Christian church, and practically building the church at Sigourney. She died Decem- ber 9. 1893.
Dr. Barnhizer obtained a good common- school education, graduating at the high school of Sigourney in the class of 1891. and he then read medicine with Dr. F. A. Straw bridge, of that place in 1893 and 189.4 Ile took his first course of lectures in the medical department of the lowa State Uni- versity at lowa City, in the latter year. and was graduated at the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College in 1898, the same year tak- ing a post graduate course at that institu- tion. For a year he was engaged in practice at Gilman, Illinois, and in April, 1899. came to Forrest and opened an office. Although he has been here only a short time, he has already built up a large and constantly in- creasing practice, and the liberal patronage
he enjoys attests his skill and ability in his chosen calling. He is examiner for the Court of Honor. On the 24th of October. 1899. Dr. Barnhizer married Miss Eliza- beth D. Bond, of Sigourney, lowa, a daugh- ter of Lorenzo D. Bond, and the young couple have already made many warm friends in their adopted city.
WILLIAM T. GARDNER.
William T. Gardner, dealer in hard- ware, stoves, tinware, staple and fancy gro- ceries, Chatsworth, Illinois, was born near Lawrence, Kansas, June 6, 1862. and is a son of John J. and Mary ( Lambourne ) Gardner, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of England. She is a sister of Mrs. D. B. Puffer, of Chatsworth. John P. Gardner emigrated from Scotland to Canada, where he resided for a time. Ile was a coal miner in the old country, and was engaged in that occupation for some years. From Canada he removed to Kansas where he engaged in farming. but later came to Illinois and located near Streator, where he remained a short time and then removed to Deer Park township, La Salle county : James. engaged in farming. Ile yet makes his home in that township, where he owns a tarm of two hundred and fifty acres. His wife died in 1898. They were the parents of fourteen children, eight sons and six daughters, of whom two died in childhood, and Emma. in 1898, at the age of nineten years. The living are Matthew T .. a farmer of Pleasant Ridge township. Livingston county: William T., the subject of this sketch: Mary, wife of Emerson Calkins, of La Salle county : John, living in Iowa Falls,
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Iowa: Jennie, wife of Thomas Nicholson. living in Iowa Falls, lowa: Fred, also of lowa Falls: Nellie, wife of L. Calkins, of Der Park township. La Salle county ; James. of Vermillonville. La Salle county; Char- lotte, wife of Roy Logan, of La Salle county ; Sadie and George, residing at home with their father. In politics John P. Gardner is a Democrat, but has never sought or would serve in any official capacity. Religiously he is an Adventist. For several years he has been living a retired life in Vermillion- ville.
The subject of this sketch was but a small child when his parents removed to La Salle county, Illinois, and on his father's farm in that county he grew to manhood. and in the district schools he received his education. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, when he came to Charlotte township, Livingston county, where he engaged in farming for himself. After remaining on that farm for two years he went back to La Salle county. and. in 1885, was married to Miss Anna Hampson, who was born near Washington. Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Lindsey and Martha (Earl) Hampson, both of whom were also natives of Pennsylvania, where their mar- riage occurred. They later moved to La Salle county, Illinois, but are now deceased. They had a family of three sons and three daughters, all of whom are living, as fol- lows: Mary, wife of William Eaton, of Deer Park township, La Salle county; Anna, wife of our subject : William. Clara. James and Minor, all of whom are living in La Salle county.
After his marriage, Mr. Gardner engaged in farming on a forty-acre tract. lle re- mained there for three years, left it, but re- turned and remained there five years longer,
when he was compelled to give up farming Ile then moved to Chatsworth, purchased a lot, erected a building and opened up in the restaurant and hotel business on the 15th of AAugust. 1893. He continued in that business very successfully until Novem- ber. 1898, when he closed out and put in a stock of hardware and groceries. He now carries a full line of shelf and heavy hardware, stoves and tinware, staple and fancy groceries, and is doing a good business. Owning the building in which his store is located, his expenses are light, and he can and does compete with stores in the larger towns.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have been born five children, as follows: Gertrude, Edith, Edna, Ola and Leslie J., all of whom are pupils in the public schools, with the exception of the last named.
In politics Mr. Gardner is a Democrat. and while he has invariably refused to ac- cept public office, was elected a member of the board of education in 1900. Fraternally he is a member of Camp No. 1829. M. W. A. He is on the working team in his camp, and takes great interest in its proceedings. As a citizen he is enterprising and progress- ive, ever willing to do his share in advancing the welfare of his adopted city and county.
WILLIAM S. SKINNER, M. D.
William S. Skinner. M. D., a prominent and successful physician and surgeon of For- rest, Illinois, was born in London, Ontario, Canada. January 20, 1872, and is a son of George R. and Dina ( Reeves) Skinner, na- tives of the same place. His paternal grand- father, Rev. James Skinner, a Presbyterian minister, removed from Scotland to Canada
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in 1837. and for twenty-six years was pas- tor of a church in the township of London, Ontario. He also served as superintend- ent of schools for Middlesex county a num- ber of years, and died there abont 1866. The Doctor's maternal grandfather. Will- jam Reeves, was a native of England, an early settler of London, Canada, where he followed the occupation of farming through- out life. The father of our subject engaged in the same pursuit, and became quite an extensive dealer in real estate in Dakota. Ile is now a resident of Manitoba, where he conducts a large stock and grain farm. In his family of seven children the Doctor is the second in order of birth.
Dr. Skinner began his education in the public schools of London, Ontario, and spent three years at the Collegiate Institute. He next attended the Western Medical College, of London, one year and then entered the medical department of the Northwestern University, at Chicago, where he took a full three-years' course, during which time he was assistant to Professor MeDiarmiel, who occupied the chair of gynecology and ob- stetrics in the Post-Graduate School. He was graduated in 1899 and took a competi- tive examination for a position in the Ly- ing-in Hospital, and standing third highest was resident physician there for a time. He then came to Forrest and opened an office. buying the practice of an old physician. He has had a remarkably successful career for " young a man and his practice is steadily increasing. His practice now is of a general character, tending toward a specialty in sur- gery. The Doctor is now a member of the board of health of Forrest and assistant physician for the Wabash and Toledo, Pe- oria and Warsaw Railroads, in which ca- pacity he does much work.
On the 4th of November. 1899. Dr. Skinner was united in marriage with Miss Mabel Cracraft, of Forrest, formerly of Wilmington, Illinois. She is a well-edu- cated lady and has successfully engaged in teaching school. Both the Doctor and his wife are active members of the Congrega- tional church, and she is now serving as see- retary of the Ladies' Aid Society and holds the same office in the Eastern Star. Fra- ternally the Doctor is a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. He is the med- ical examiner for the Union Central Life In- surance Company, of Cincinnati.
WILLIAM LOUIS RABE, M. D.
William Louis Rabe, M. D., is a skilled physician and surgeon of Dwight, whose knowledge of the science of medicine is broad and comprehensive, and whose ability in applying its principles to the needs of sui- fering humanity has gained him an enviable prestige in professional circles.
The family to which the Doctor belongs was founded in America by his paternal grandfather. Jacob Rabe, a native of Ger- many, who came to this county when a young man prior to the war of 1812. His ancestors had for many generations been widely known throughout Prussia, and two of his brothers were publishers at Berlin. On his arrival in America he located on a tract of land near what was then the unin- portant little town of Monongahela, Penn- sylvania, where he spent the remainder of his life as a farmer. There he married and reared a family of three children, and was a soldier of the war of 18812. Being a temperate man and of good habits, he
WILLIAM LOUIS RABE, M. D.
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lived to the extreme old age of one hundred years and three months, and preserved his mental and physical strength to a remark- able degree. He was noted for his indus- try and integrity, and whether at home or among his neighbors preserved that equa- nimity of temper and well-bred manner which at once singled him out as a gentleman by birth and breeding. The celebrated opera singers, the Rabe sisters, belonged to the same family, and were widely known throughout Europe, where they made a for- tune by their talent, who in the early '30s and Hos twice crossed the Atlantic to please and delight the Gothamites with the songs and melodies of Fatherland.
John Rabe, the Doctor's father, was born on the old homestead near Mononga- hela, Pennsylvania, and in the schools of that locality fitted himself for the teacher's profession, which he followed for some time. also farmed during summer. On reaching manhood he married Miss Eliza- beth Luce, also a native of Pennsylvania, and to them were born the following chil- dren : Melesendra, wife of Dr. Henry Mor- rison, of Pittsburg ; Amanda, wife of Samuel A. Frederick, of Ohio: Maria, who died at the age of sixteen years ; Iliram, a capitalist of Clyde, Ohio; John, a physician of Mo- nongahela, Pennsylvania ; and William L., our subject. In 1820 the father moved with his family to Jefferson county, Ohio, and purchased a farm, which continued to be his home until called to his final rest in 1872. He was a man of more than ordinary ability. and was at once recognized as a valuable addition to the community. Religiously he was a prominent member of the Presby- terian church, and politically was first a Whig and later a Republican. As one of the leading citizens of his township he was 15
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