USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
Although Mr. Quinn has been a resident of Livingston county only seventeen years, he has by the improvements of his property hore been identified with its development for many years. As a Democrat he takes an active interest in political affairs, and gives his support to those enterprises which tend to advance the interest of his adopted coun- try. Ile has served as trustee of the village of Strawn for fourteen years, and village treasurer nine years, and his official duties were always most faithfully and conscien- tiously discharged. Religiously both he and his wife are devout members of the Roman Catholic church, and are highly respected and esteemed by all who know them.
WALSH BROTHERS.
Walsh Brothers, consisting of L. F. and T. M. Walsh, are the leading merchants of Campus, Illinois, carrying a large and well selected stock of general merchandise, furni- ture, hardware, agricultural implements, car- riages, wagons, coal, lumber, lime, cement, and all kinds of building materials. They also do a large undertaking business, keep- ing a hearse and full equipments for the same. In size and quality of stock and char- actor of the building, their department store would grace a much larger town, it being something not often found in a place the size of Campus, though Campus cannot be judged by the average Illinois village of three hundred population, possessing as it dois a standpipe and good water works; a church and Sisters' school, both fine brick structures ; and numerous elegant residences. The people are enterprising and progressive and give to the place an air of thrift. Walsh Brothers have an elegant and com- modious two-story brick beuildling, fifty by eighty feet, with a basement, which was erected by them in 1897 to take the place of the old frame building recently destroyed by fire. Forming a partnership, they pur- chased the business of J. J. Foltz & Son, in 1891, and continued business at the oldl stand until it was reduced to ashes. Besides their store building they have another large build- ing in which seasoned lumber is kept. They do an extensive business as contractors and builders, and have erected many of the buildings in Campus and vicinity, including nearly all those in the new mining town of Cardiff, where in the spring of 1900 they put up a large store, which will be conducted as a branch store of the one at Campus, and be in charge of J. H. Walsh, another brother.
333
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Thomas M. Walsh, the junior member of the firm of Walsh Brothers, is a nativo of this county, born in Broughton township. February 15, 1866, and is a son of Patrick and Ann (Smith) Walsh, both natives of Ireland. The father emigrated to America in 1849, and six years later took up his res- idence in Livingston county, Illinois, being one of its early sottlers and successful farm-
ers. Ile is now living a retired life in Cam- pus. In his family are nine children, name- ly: John P., a resident of Chicago; L. F., the senior member of the firm of Walsh Brothers; Kate E., at home; Thomas M., the junior member of the firm ; Mathew, who is in the employ of his brothers; James H., who has charge of the branch store in Car- diff ; Mary .A., wife of William Mortison of Chicago; George C., who is with his broth- ers, and Blandina, bookkeeper for her brothers.
On the home farm Thomas M. Walsh grew to manhood, his early education being obtained in the common schools and the high school of Dwight. Subsequently he took a literary course at St. Viature's College, and a commercial course at Dixon College, from which he was graduated in 1890. The fol- lowing year he formed a partnership with his brother L. F., as previously stated, and has since successfully engaged in active busi- ness at Campus. Fraternally he affiliates with Campus Camp, No. 2619, M. W. A., and politically is identified with the Repub- lican party. He has served as postmaster of Campus since 1897; has filled the office of justice of the peace since 1892, and has been a member of the board of education for tho past six years. As a business man he is wide-awake, progressive and energetic, and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, while as a citizen he
has promptly and faithfully discharged every duty that has devolved upon him. On the 9th of February, 1892, he married Miss Mag- gie Steger, who was born and reared in Round Grove township, this county, a daugh- ter of Christian and Louise Stoger. By this union were born three children, namely : Francis Herbert, Clyde AN., and Philomean, who died at the age of seven years.
L. F. Walsh, the senior member of the firm of Walsh Brothers, is also an enterpris- ing business man of known reliability. He was born March 18, 1860, was reared on the home farm and attended in the local schools, completing his education, however, by a general course at the Northern Indiana Nor- mal School at Valparaiso, Indiana, He was married, November 27, 1896, to Miss Lena Flynn, a daughter of Patrick Flynn, and to them have been born three children, Viola, Leo and Bernice.
JAMES P. GOURLEY.
James P. Gourley, a representative farmer and highly esteemod citizen of Esmen township, residing on section 17, was born in llarrison county. West Virginia, October 8, 1860. His father, Alfred Gourley, was born and reared in the Old Dominion, and when a young man went to West Virginia, locating in Harrison county, where he mar- ried Rebecca Jane Farris, a native of that state. There the father continued to carry on farming for somo years, but in 1865 moved to Livingston county, Illinois, where two of his brothers had previously located. He first came to the county in 1855, but soon returned to West Virginia and did not locate permanently here until ten years later, when
1
334
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
he purchased land in Amity township. He prospered in his new home, being a thorough farmer and good business man, and became the possessor of a valuable farm of four hun- dred and forty acres. Upon that place he continued to make his home throughout life, dying there May 30, 1898. His wife sur- vives him, and continues to reside on the old homestead with her son Charley.
In Amity township James P. Gourley grew to manhood, and was educated in the country schools near his home. He as- sisted his father in the operations of the farm until nineteen years of age, and then worked on the farm of a cousin for two years. On the 24th of December, 1882. in Livingston county, he was united in marriage with Miss Ida Buren, who was born and reared in Grundy county, Illinois, and they have be- come the parents of seven children, namely : Ray, Fay, Clarence, Earl, Flavius, Florence and Edith. All are living with the excep- tion of Fay, who died at the age of eight years, and the sons aid their father in carry- ing on the farm.
After his marriage Mr. Gourley located on the farm where he now resides, but after operating it for four years he moved to the Buren farm in Grundy county, in 1886, and lived there for the samo length of time. In 1891 he returned to the farm in Esmen town- ship, Livingston county, on which he now re- sides. Here he owns sixty acres, and also operates an adjoining one hundred and sixty acre tract belonging to the Gourley heirs, and eighty acres more near by. He also rents one hundred and sixty acres of pasture land. He owns a valuablo farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres in St. Joseph county, Indiana, and in connection with his brother Charles has a piece of three hundred acres in LaPorte county, that state. In connection
with farming he is engaged in stock raising, his specialty being hogs, but he also keeps a good grade of cattle, including some full- blooded registered Durhams. He is ac- counted one of the most successful farmers and stock men in his part of the county, and is numbered among its most reliable and pro- gressive business men.
In politics Mr. Gourley is independent and cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland, the Democratic nominee, his last for William McKinley, the Republican can- didate. Fraternally he is a member of the Cornell Camp of Modern Woodmen, and he is held in high regard by all with whom he comes in contact either in business or social life.
ARTHUR MARSHALL.
Arthur Marshall, a prominent and rep- resentative farmer of Livingston county, was born near Sandy Hill. Washington county, New York, March 16, 1834, and died in Dwight, May 30, 1899. . As his parents died when he was quite small, he remembered nothing of his mother and but little of his father. His early life was spent in western New York and Pennsylvania, and in 1857 he came to Illinois, locating first in Bureau county, but in March of the following year he drove across the country to Livingston county, where he continued to make his home until his death. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Union township, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his energies until 1898, and in his farming operations was quite successful. He was a lover of good stock, especially horses, and he fed cattle and hogs exten- sively. In politics he was a strong Repub- lican, very radical in his views, but would
335
TIJE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
never accept any public office whatover, say- ing that he would not be president if he was capable and the position was offered him. Until late in life he was a member of the Presbyterian church, but in 1895, with his wife, he united with the Congregational church of Dwight. As in other affairs he never would accept office, though he took an active interest in church and Supnday school work and was an efficient and and abie leader in the Sunday school. He was noted for his kind and obliging disposition and was always willing to assist those in neol even at an in- convenience to himself. Surely the life rec- ord of such a man is worthy of perpetuation and will be read with interest by his many friends and acquaintances throughout the county.
Mir. Marshall was three times married, first on the 24th of January, 1861, to Miss Mary Thompson, a native of Guernsey county, Ohio, and a daughter of Mitchell and lane Thompson. At an early age she and her three brothers were left motherless. She came to Livingston county to keep house for two of them, William and Hugh, and the other, Jefferson, located here later. The first two were soldiers of the civil war, and after their return from the war lived in Union township, this county, but Hugh is now a resident of Pontiac, while Jefferson resides in Miles City, Montana. Mr. Mar- shall made the acquaintance of his wife whilo she was keeping house for her brothers, but she removed to her father's home to be mar- ried, and came as a bride to this county the second time. She died June 12, 1800, leav- ing three children: (10) William E., born October 8, 1861, died June 5, 1895. (2) Mary J., born January 23, 1864, is a gradu- ate of the Dwight schools, and for some time was a teacher of Livingston county. She 18
had charge of an Indian agency school in the west for a time, and was also connected with the llaskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas, but is now teaching in Glendive, Montana. (3) Anna L., born October 14, 1800, is the wife of James W. MeKinzie, of Glendive, Montana.
Mr. Marshall was again married, March 7.1871, his second union being with Margaret G. George, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio, April 9, 1831, a daughter of John and Ann (Cross) George, the former a native of Ireland, the latter of Maryland. Being loft an orphan, her father came to America at the age of nine years and grew to man- hood in Ohio. He owned and operated a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Dwight township, this county, where he made his home until 1864, and then moved to Dwight, where his death occurred in 1872. He was a liberal supporter and active workor in the Presbyterian church, in which he served as elder for many years. In his fam- ily were twelve children, ten of whom grew to maturity, and four are still living, namely : Sarah A., widow of Benjamin Ogg, and a resident of l'arker, Missouri ; James C., a retired farmer of Washington, Kansas; Liz- zie M., the third wife of our subject, and Rebecca, widow of Henry McDonald, of Al- gona, lowa. Those deceased are as follows : Win. C., born October 29, 1820, died No- vember 29. 1820; Mary, born May 17, 1842, diel the same day: Leating, born October 5. 1835, married Jesse Cowgill, and died May 25. 1862, leaving two children, John Mc- Daniel and Margaret .A. ; Priscilla, born Oc- tober 12, 1829, married John Cowgill, of Guernsey, Ohio, where she died in 1808, leaving six children ; John C., born October 10. 1833. served three years in the Union army during the civil war, and made his
336
TIIE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
home in Dwight township. this county, where he died September 17. 1899: Louisa, born June 15, 1837, died unmarried at the age of twenty-nino years and thirteen days ; and Benjamin Cross, born May 22, 1839, married Ollie Burr, and died in Nevada, Illinois, in 1866, leaving two children, John and Mary. The father of these children was born De- cembor 25, 1796, and died August 12, 1877, while the mother was born May 25. 1804. and died May 25, 1885. Mrs. Margaret C. Marshall, the second wife of our subject, died January 10, 1887. leaving one daughter, Minnie M., now the wife of George Crandell. residing on the old homestead in Union town- ship. They had three children, but Olive, born February 25. 1895. died April 27, 1897. Those living are Mary M and John M.
On the 29th of October, 1888. Mr. Mar- shall married Lizzie M. Brown, a sister of his second wife, who was an invalid for sev- eral years prior to her death, and Lizzie had made hor home with them for two years. She was born October 23. 1844, and was first married May 7. 1868, to Edgar D. Brown, by whom she had four children, namely : Edgar C .. a resident of Schoolcraft. Michigan ; Frank, a soldier in Porto Rico; and Eleanora M., who is attending school in Peoria, Illinois. By her second marriage, Mrs. Marshall has one child, George .A., born December 14. 1889. She has made her home in Dwight since 1898, and is highly respected and esteemed by all who know her.
PETER G. NELLIS.
Peter G. Nellis, who for many years was auditor of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, but is now practically living a retired life in
Pontiac. Illinois, is a man whose worth and ability have gained him success, honor and public confidence. He enjoys the well- earned distinction of being what the world calls a "self-made man," and an analyzation of his character reveals the fact that euter- prise, well-directed effort and honorable dealing have been the essential features of his prosperity.
Mr. Nellis was born in Fort Plain, New York, April 11. 1825. a son of Gerritt and Madeline ( Ehle) Nellis, both natives of Palatine Bridge, New York. His paternal great-grandfather was a bishop of the Lu- theran church, and a resident of Schenec- tady. New York. The maternal grand- father. Peter Ehle, was descended from Gorman stock and was a farmer by occupa- tion. When a young man the father of our subject moved to Fort Plain, of which place he became a well-known and prominent farmer. In roligious belief both he and his wife were Lutherans. Ile died at Fort Plain, while his wife, who was born in 1800, died December 22. 1889.
Of the three children born to this worthy couple our subject is the oklest. He at- tended the common schools of his native town and completed his education by an academic course. He remained on the home farm until he attained his majority and about 1848 came west by boat from Buffalo to Detroit, by rail to Kalamazoo, then the west- orn terminus of the Michigan Central Rail- road, and from there crossed the lake to Chicago. After spending a short time in that city, he made a prospecting tour through northern Illinois and Wisconsin, and finally located in Lockport, Illinois, whore he en- gaged in merchandising, being one of the first merchants of that place, which at that time was a competitor of Joliet.
337
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mr. Nellis spent two years in Lockport, and those he was married. February 21. 1850. to Miss Louise Jennison, who was born and reared in Dundee. Scotland, and is a daugh- ter of Captain Robert and Susan (Clarke ) Jennison, the former a native of Weymouth. England, the latter of Dundee, Scotland, here the family made their home until coming to the United States in 1846, at which time the father was a retired officer of the Royal navy. They located in Chi- cago, but later removed to Lockport, where Captain Jennison owned a section of land. though he never actively engaged in its operation. Hle spent his last days in Os- wego, Illinois, where his wife also died. Mr. and Mrs. Nellis have three children : Gerritt John, a resident of Chicago: Rufus L .. of Denver : and Mrs. Louise Slocum, of Pontiac.
After his marriage Mr. Nellis disposed of his business in Lockport and accepted the po- sition of paymaster for the Illinois Central Railroad, then being built at Cairo. The rails were brought from England, and from New Orleans were towel up the Mississippi river on flatboats. He handled large sums of money for the road at a time when banks and checks were fow and robbers plenty. Ile remained with the company during the entire construction of the road. General Me- Clellan being chief engineer and later vice- president. After its completion Mr. Nellis served as the first agent at Vandalia, and later was transferred to LaSalle, being three years at each place. He was next appointed traveling auditor for the Chicago & Alton Railroad with home and headquarters at Chicago, receiving his appointment when Roswell B. Mason was president and general manager of the road, and J. C. MeMullen general superintendent. He remained with
the company thirty-five years, traveling the wholo extent of the road, which in extent of time is unparalleled by any case in railroad history. He was also considered one of the finest accountants in the United States, and most acceptably filled the position of auditor until the retirement of T. B. Blackstone, the president, in 1900, though he is still with the road in a local way. For years he has made his home in Pontiac, where, in 1800, he erected the present residence where he now lives. He is widely and favorably known throughout the state and has a host of warm friends in his adopted city.
BENJAMIN BARICKMAN.
Benjamin Barickman, who resides on section 30, Newton township, is numbered among the pioneers of 1832. the date of his arrival being at the time of the celebrated Black Hawk war. Ho was a lad of eight years at the time, and has a vivid recollec- tion of the stirring events of that day. Ile is a native of Adams county, Ohio, born De- cember 11, 1824, and is the son of Daniel and Mary ( Pitchenger) Barickman, both of whom were natives of Maryland, where they were united in marriage, and which was their home until their removal to Ohio in an early day. They made their homo in Adams county, that state, until 1832, when they came to Illinois, making the journey in a large "prairie schooner" drawn by oxen. On their arrival they located on what is now section 30, Newton township, the farm yet being in the possession of our subject.
Securing his location, Daniel Barickman set about the erection of his house, the typi- cal log cabin so well remembered by the
338
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
older resi.lots of the county. At that time there were but few persons residing in what is now Livingston county, but prairie wolves. deer and other wild game were in abundance. Our subject has counted as many as fifty deer in one drove in the early day, and it was many years before they were all extinct in this section of the country. Prairie chick- ens were so numerous they at times destroyed the growing corn.
Daniel Barickman was a son of Daniel Barickman, a native of Germany, who came to this country with his wife early in their married life, locating in Maryland, which re- mained their home during the remainder of their lives. Daniel and Mary Barickman were the parents of nine children. Bartley. James, Prudence. Daniel, Harriot, Benja- min, Jacob, Mary Ann and Upton. Of these, four are you living. Prudence. the widow of Wesley Bishop, is living in Web- ster City, lowa. Daniel is living a retired life in the city of Streator. LaSalle county. Harriet is the wife of Preston Bishop and they make their home in Towanda. Illinois. The death of the father occurred when he was seventy-four years okl, and the mother when she was seventy-one years old. In politics, he was originally a Whig, but later a Republican, and in political affairs he always manifested a commendable interest.
The first purchase of land by Daniel Barickman was of two hundred and forty acres on which he erected his cabin and at once commenced to improve. Not a iur- row had been turned, and there was no sign of civilization. Indian wigwams were to be seen in the timber, and there was nothing but the Indian trail and the path made by the deer as they came out of the timber. Commencing the improvement of the place. he soon had quite a large tract under culti-
vation, and in due time he addol to his original purchase and became a well-to-do farmer. He continued to reside on his original farm until his death.
The primary education of our subject began in the common schools of his native state, and soon after the arrival of the fam- ily in Livingston county his father employed a man named Button to teach school in an out-house on his place, and to that school he went, and later in a log school house erected about two miles from their home. There were yet no roads located and the children went through the timber to the school. In winter time it was very hard to make their way through the snow, which sometimes was very deep. An education, however, obtained under such circumstan- ces is apt to be appreciated.
The carly life of our subject was one of hardship. The farm must be improved, and every member of the family must do his part. With his parents he remained. assisting in the development of the place until he was about twenty-two years of age, when he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Latham, a native of Connecticut, and daughter of Lyman S. Latham, one of the early settlers of the county, who came from the Nutmeg state about 1845, locating in what is now Reading township. By this union eight children were born, of whom three-Augusta, Franklin and Benjamin- died in childhood. The living are : Daniel, a farmer of Newtown township; Prudence, wife of Joseph Che, living in Chicago; Car- ric, wife of Cephas Coe, living in Reading town-hip: Charles M., county judge of Liv- ingston county, residing in Pontiac; and Willis 11 .. who is married and living on and operating the home farm.
After his marriage Mr. Barickman con-
339
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tinned to reside on the home place, which he managed for his father for some years, and of which he later became the owner. To the original farm he added eighty acres, which he has since deeded to one of his sons. As a farmer he ranked among the best in the coun- ty, and was fairly successful. He continued to actively engage in the management of the farm until 1898, since which time he has been living a retired life.
For many years Mr. Barickman has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. and for the greater part of the time he served his church as a member of the official board. Ile has always taken an active in- terest in church work, and is a strong be- lever in the teachings of the lowly Naza- rene. In politics he was originally a Whig. with which party he was identified until its dissolution, since which time he has been an ardent Republican. He was never an office- seeker, but believed in every man doing his duty: politically, in the advocacy of the prin- ciples and the proper support of his party.
For sixty-eight years Mr. Barickman has been a citizen of Livingston county. As already stated, when he came here the coun- try was almost an unbroken wiklerness. Wolves, deer and wild game of all kinds was in abundance. One could scarcely look out from the door without seeing wolves or deer. His brother was a great hunter, and was considered the best shot on the river. Our subject was a hunter of no mean ability. and has in his time killed many deer in the vicinity of his home. He remembers on one occasion that a party of hunters were out with their hounds on a deer hunt, and one of the number shot a buck, which plunged into the river. The dogs were sent in after him, but the deer, fighting for his life, almost drowned the dogs before an end was put to
his existence. Many anecdotes and incidents of pioneer life are related by Mr. Barick- man, to the wonder and amusement of the younger generation. But in the almost three-score years and ten that he has lived in this county he has witnessed many changes indeed. He has seen the old plow, with its wooden mold-board, give place to the mod- ern implement of steel, the sickle and the flail superseded by the reaper and the steam thresher; the log cabin replaced by the stately farm house with all the comforts of the nineteenth century. He has seen the coming of the railroad. the telegraph and the telephone. He has seen town and cities spring up, and churches and school honses find a place on almost every hillside, and in every hamlet. Aladdin, with his lamp, could never unfold greater wonders than he has witnessed since becoming a citizen of Livingston, one of the best and most pros- perous of the counties in Illinois, In the im- provements that have here been made he has borne his part, and he has a right to the years of rest which it is hoped that he may be able to enjoy.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.