USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 36
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JOSEPH O. ALBRECHT.
Joseph O. Albrecht, one of the foremost men of Waldo township. Livingston county. is a native of Illinois, born in Princeton Bu- reau county. December 19. 1859. and is a son of John and Annie (Gacho ) Albrecht, natives of Germany. In 1838, at the age of four years, lohn Albrecht was brought to this country by his parents, who settled in Bureau county, Illinois. In the early days of Chicago, the grandfather, Jacob Albrecht, hauled his wheat to that city from Bureau
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county in a wagon which he hewed out of logs. Throughout life he followed farming, and at one time also owned and operated a brewery at Princeton. He died in 1877. In his family were eight children, five sons and three daughters, of whom two. Christo- pher and John Albrecht. are prosperous farmers living at Tiskilwa. Bureau county.
The father of our subject followed farm- ing in Bureau county until 1865. when he came to Livingston county and bought the west half of section 3. Waldo township. for which he paid ten dollars per acre. Here he prospered. and at the time of his death owned seventeen hundred and twenty acres of land besides several business blocks in Flanagan. He died February 12, 1900, at the the age of sixty-six years, two months and twenty-two days. He was well known and highly respected. and had many friends throughout this section of the state. On the 8th of March, 1859. he married Anna Gacho, and to them were born the following children : Joseph O., our subject: August, who was born June 16. 1861. and died February 16, 1892; John, who was born May 12, 1863, and died February 21, 1885: Christopher, who was born December 24. 1865. and died October 20. 1800; Jacob, who was born February 20. 1869, and died April 16, 1889: and Benjamin, who was born Novem- ber 23. 1871, and now resides in Waldo township. Livingston county. The mother of these children departed this life Decem- ber 25, 1873, and on the 220 of November. 1874. the father married Barbara Nafeiger. also a native of Germany, by whom he had eight children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Magdaline, Septem- ber 18, 1875: Peter, February 17, 1877: Annie, March 5. 1879: Samuel. August 21.
1883: Lydia. July 5. 1886 : William. Septem- ber 12. 1888; and Daniel, February 16, 1894. The oldest daughter is now the wife of Peter Good, of Waldo township.
The early education of Joseph O. Al- brecht was acquired in the public schools near his boyhood home, and under the able direc- tion of his father he soon acquired an ex- cellent knowledge of every department of farm work. He has made agriculture his life occupation, and now owns and operates a quarter-section of land on section 9. Waldo township, and also has eighty-two acres on section 2. besides one hundred and sixty acres in lowa. He is a wide-awake, pro- gressive farmer, of good business ability and sound indøment, and is meeting with re- markable success in life.
On the ioth of February. 1884, Mr. . Al- brecht was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie, daughter of Christopher and Mary ( Ingold ) Ringenberg, of Tiskilwa. Bureau county, and they now have one child. John W., born December 1, 1885. Mr. Albrecht has held several local offices and takes a keen interest in the welfare of his township and county.
JAMES E. GRAHAM.
James E. Graham, who is now living a retired life in the village of Long Point, and is efficiently serving as assessor of his town- ship, has made his home in Livingston county for over a third of a century, having come here from near Wenona, La Salle county. in 1865. He was born at Port William, Clinton county, Ohio, in 1842, a son of Thomas B. and Elizabeth ( Ellis) Graham, also natives of Ohio. The father was of Scotch ancestry, the mother of Ger-
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man and English descent. When a young man Thomas B. Graham learned the trade of a millwright and cabinet-maker, which he followed throughout life, dying in Ohio in 1884. Hle left four children who reached years of maturity, namely : Lydia, who married Thomas Greer and died in Ohio about 1855: John W., an attorney and jus- tice of the peace of Harrisonville. Cass county, Missouri; Asa A., an attorney and real estate dealer of Topeka, Kansas; and James E .. the subject of this sketch. After the death of the father, the mother married Absalom Kinsey, by whom she had five chil- dren, but only two are now living: Isaac W .. a farmer of Long Point township. Liv- ingston county ; and Malinda, wife of James Merrill, in the employ of the Union Tea Company at Champaign. In 1854 the fam- ily moved to Marshall county, Illinois, and a year later to La Salle county, where Mr. Kinsey followed farming, but both he and his wife spent their last days in Long Point township. Livingston county. She was born June 11, 1813, and died July 19. 1894.
James E. Graham was educated in the schools of La Salle county, and remained with his mother until he entered the Union army during the civil war. at the age of eighteen years. Hle enlisted as a private July 1. 1861, in Company C, Forty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and remained with his regiment all through the war. tak- ing part in the battles of Pea Ridge, Perry- ville. Stone River. Chickamauga and Mis- sionary Ridge, and in all the engagements of the Atlanta campaign. Although he had many narrow escapes, he was never wound- ed, and was never in the hospital but for a single night. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged as commissary sergeant September 26, 1865.
After being mustered out Mr. Graham located in Wenona, Illinois, and in 1866 came to Long Point township, Livingston county, where he has since made his home with the exception of one year. On the 29th of November. 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Long, who was born near Danville, Vermilion county, Illinois, November 30, 1843. a daughter of Reuben and Phema ( Lucas) Long, natives of Ohio. Mr. Long was born June 18, 1813, and died September 29, 1885. He was of Irish and German and his wife of German and English extraction. She was born July 5. 1816, and is still living on the home place near Cornell. She became a resident of Vermilion county in 1831. her husband in 1839, and in 1852 they removed to Living- ston county, being among the early settlers of Amity township. Both held membership in the Christian church, and has always af- filiated with the Democratic party. In their family were eleven children, eight of whom are still living: Emma, wife of our sub- ject; Clarissa, who is the widow of Ellis Kinsey and lives near Flanagan, Illinois; Orlean, who lives near Cornell. in Amity township; Joseph, who lives near Long Point; John (win of Joseph), who is a carpenter and lives with his mother near Cornell: Charlotte, who is a widow and also lives with her mother : Lucretia, wife of Les- lie Lawrence, living near Flanagan; and Samantha, wife of Charles Talbott, of Amity township. To Mr. and Mrs. Graham were born three children, of whom one died in infancy. Leon, born August 30, 1872, was educated at Eureka College, and is engaged in school teaching. He married Laura Filby, and has one som, Wilbur. Arvilla Mac, born October 7. 1876, is the wife of Louis Stilson, a prosperous farmer of Han-
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cock county, Iowa, and they have two chil- dren. Gladys and Milburn.
After his marriage Mr. Graham took up his residence upon a farm in Long Point township, and successfully engaged in gen- eral farming until his removal to the village of Long Point in March, 1898, since which time he has practically lived a retired life. He purchased a pleasant home, and also eighteen lots within the corporation limits. In politics he is a pronounced Republican. and has served the people faithfully and well as constable: school director for sev- eral years, and assessor for the past five years. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army Post. No. 784. of which he is chaplain, and both he and his wife are active members of the Christian church of Long Point, of which he is an elder.
GEORGE WINTHAM.
George Whitham is a prominent busi- ness man of Cornell, where he is now suc- cessfully carrying on operations as a dealer in hardware, agricultural implements and grain. In all of his undertaking's he has steadily prospered. his excellent success be- ing but the logical result of his careful and correct business methods.
Mr. Whitham is a native of Washington county. Pennsylvania, born near Wheeling. West Virginia, January 30. 1854. His father, Alexander B. Whitham, was born in Brown county, Ohio, and when a young man went to Washington county, Pennsylvania. where he married Martha J. Davis. In early life he folowed the shoemaker's trade, but later devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. On first coming to Illinois, in Fel-
ruary, 1857. he settled in Marshall county, and did not locate in Livingston county un- ti! 1876. Ilere he spent his last days on a farm and died October 22, 1886.
Our subject grew to manhood in Mar- shall county and was educated in the Lacon high school. .After the removal of the family to Livingston county, he aided his father with the farm work, and continued to engage in agricultural pursuits in Esmen township. until coming to Cornell in 1893. when he purchased an established hardware and implement business, which he has since carried on with marked success. Since 1895 he has also dealt in grain and now ships large quantities from Cornell. He is one of the most active, enterprising and progressive business men in his section of the county.
On the 1st of October, 1870. in Esmen township. Mr. Whitham marr'ed Miss Emma .A. Rhodes, who was born near Lake Geneva. in Walworth county. Wisconsin, her father. Leland M. Rhodes, being one of the pio- neers of that county, and a native of New York. He brought his family to Livingston county, this state in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Whitham have five children, namely : Mil- ton .A .. Charles E., Mina May, Gracie and Carrie. Mrs. Whitham is a member of the Baptist church and takes an active part in the work of the church and Sabbath school. Fraternally Mr. Whitham is a member of the Modern Woodman Camp at the same place, and has served as clerk a number of years. In his political affiliations he has been a life-long Democrat, and has taken quite an active and prominent part in local politics. He has filled the office of assessor, collector. township clerk and president of the village board. In 1895 he was elected supervisor and has served as such for six consecutive years. Although he has not met with strong
GEORGE WHITHAM.
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opposition he was re-elected by an increased majority at each election. He has most ably and satisfactorily represented his town- ship on the board, has been appointed a mem- ber of a number of important committees, and is now chairman of the one on rules. His public and private life are alike above reproach, and he well deserves the success that has come to him.
EUGENE A. VANIEY.
Eugene A. Vahey, a popular conductor on the Wabash Railroad and a prominent citizen of Forrest. Illinois, was born in Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania, August 31. 1851, and is a son of Eugene and Julia ( Cosgrove) Va- hey. The father was also a native of that state and a contractor on railroad work. doing an extensive business. He helped in the construction of the Erie Railroad, Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western, and Lehigh Valley Railroads, but during the last twenty years of his life lived retired from active business. He made his home in Pittston. Pennsylvania, during the greater part of his life, and died there January 10, 1892, while his wife passed away September 15, 1882. Both were members of St. Paul's Catholic church of that place, and in politics the fa- ther was a Democrat.
Our subject was educated in the common and high schools of Pittston, and for two years was engaged in the grocery business at that place. Selling out his interest, he became connected with railroad work, in 1873, as brakeman on the Wyoming divis- ion of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, with which he was connected three years. He then went to Jersey City, New Jersey, and
entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and remained with them until March 15, 1882, making up passenger trains in the yards at that place. Coming west. Mr. Vahey entered the service of the Wabash Railroad on the 27th of that month. as switchman at Forrest, Hinois, and six months later was appointed yardmaster. at a time when all freight stopped here. 11e served in that capacity until September. 1888. when he went upon the road as con- ductor. running at first from Forrest to Chicago. Later he was assigned to the Streator run, which is one of the best on the road, as he gets home every night. In point of service he and Mr. Stewart are the oldest employes of the Wabash Railroad living in Forrest, and have the entire confidence and respect of the company.
On the 25th of November, 1875. Mr. Vahey was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Garrison, of Paterson, New Jer- sey, a native of that place and a daughter of David and Mary A. (Garrettson ) Garri- son. The father, who was a carpenter and a son of Henry Garrison, spent his entire life in that city, and Mrs. Vahey's maternal grandfather, Henry Garrettson, was also an old resident of Paterson. Our subject and his wife have two children : Marguerite, and Charles E., a teacher at Reading, Illinois.
Mr. Vahey owns a nice home and other property in Forrest. He has been very suc- cessful in business affairs, and was one of the promoters, incorporators and member of the first board of directors of the Forest Building & Loan Association. Originally he was a Democrat in politics, but in 1896 voted for MeKinley, and still affiliates with the Republican party. He served as city clerk one term, and as alderman of Forrest two years. Fraternally he is a prominent
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and influential member of Wabash Division, 1812. David B., one of his sons, and fa- No. 260. O. R. C., of which he has been sec- ther of our subject, was born in Juniata county about 1818, and departed this life in 1863. at his old home in the Keystone state. His wife. Sarah, was a daughter of Thomas Knox. also of Pennsylvania, and of Irish extraction. retary and treasurer, and was a representa- tive to the conventions held in Atlanta in 1895 and Detroit in 1899. He has always taken a leading part in the affairs of his di- vision. Mr. Vahey is also connected with Forrest Lodge. No. 614. F. & A. M., the Chapter and Commandery at Fairbury : and Olive Branch Lodge. No. 154. K. P., of which he has been chancellor commander and deputy grand chancellor of his district. instituting new lodges, including the one at Long Point, and installing the new officers at each election. In all the relations of life he has been found true to every trust re- posed in him, and is justly regarded as one of the valued citizens of Forrest. Mr. and Mrs. Vahey are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Forrest.
THOMAS K. BARTON.
For a quarter of a century Thomas K. Barton has dwelt in Livingston county, and during this period has become well-to-do and prominent. His life has been exempla- ry and worthy of emulation, and unbounded confidence in his integrity and high stand- ard of honor is felt by the friends and neigh- bors who have long enjoyed his acquaint- ance.
A native of Juniata county, Pennsylva- nia, Mr. Barton is a descendant of sterling German pioneers of that state. His pater- nal grandfather. Ephraim Barton, was born in Germany, and at an early day in this country's history cast in his lot with our people. He participated in some of the In- dian wars, and also fought in the war of
The birth of Thomas K. Barton oc- curred December 15. 1844. and for twenty- two years he resided on his father's farm in Juniata county. In 1866 he determined to seek his fortune in the west, and, coming to Illinois, he found employment with farm- ers in La Salle county. At the end of a year he leased a farm, and soon afterwards returned to the old home, with the purpose of escorting his mother and younger brothers and sisters to the new home he had loyally provided for them, as the father had passed to his reward. Mary, the eldest sister, be- came the wife of George Vanata, and died in 1897. Nancy, the next in order of birth, wedded Joshua Frazer and lives in Ne- braska. Samuel Barton is a citizen of Ver- milion county, Illinois, and Susan, the youngest of the family, is deceased.
For five years subsequent to his return to this state Thomas K. Barton and the other members of the family dwelt together, the circle being unbroken. His home was upon a farm in La Salle county, and he continued to lease the place until 1875, when he re- moved to another homestead, this being lo- cated in Long Point township, Livingston county. In 1883 he bought eighty acres in section 30. Amity township-his present home, and here he found a great task be- fore him, for the improvements were very poor, a log cabin and a few acres of broken prairie constituting them. With character- istic energy he commenced the work of mak- ing this a model farm, draining low lands
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by means of tiling, building fences, a large, convenient house and good barns and other necessary buildings. He also expended some time and means in planting fruit and shade trees, and at length he bought forty acres of adjoining property, thus increas- ing his possessions to one hundred and twenty acres.
In all of his cares and joys, Mr. Barton has been cheered and aided by his devoted wife, formerly Miss Sarah E. Smith. They were married in La Salle county, February 14. 1872, and have been numbered among the upright. worthy inhabitants of this state since they reached maturity. Mrs. Bar- ton was born in Juniata county, Pennsylva- nia, and was reared and educated there. Oi the five children born to our subject and wife four are living, their little Jesse having died when young. The eldest, Frank D., is married and resides in Cornell, where he is engaged in mercantile pursuits. Laura. who received an excellent education. com- pleting her studies in the Dixon ( Illinois ) College, is one of the successful teachers of this county. Leroy, an enterprising young man, is at home, assisting in the manage- ment of the farm. Frederick Carl. the youngest, also is with his parents.
The first presidential ballot of our sub- ect was cast for Lincoln in 1864. In na- tional affairs, he supports Democratic nom- inees, while in local elections he is inde- pendent of party lines. For fifteen years he served as a member of the school board. thus evincing the genuine interest which he feels in the vital matter of educating the young. Ile had the honor of being presi- dent of the board during the greater share of that period, and to his heartfelt concern in the subject much of the prosperity of our school system may be attributed. With his
estimable wife he holds membership in the Methodist Protestant church. Fraternally he is identified with the Cornell Lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a trustee of the lodge building.
GIBSON B. BROWNSON.
Gibson B. Brownson, the present super- visor of Indian Grove township, in which the city of Fairburg is located, was for many years one of the leading contractors and builders of that place, and many notable examples of his skill are to be seen in this section of the county, but he is now living a retired life. Thoroughly reliable in all things, the quality of his work is a convine- ing test of his own personal worth and the same admirable trait is shown in his con- scientious discharge of the duties of different positions of trust and responsibility to which le has been chosen in political life.
Mr. Brownson was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, July 30, 1832, a son of Elisha Brownson, whose birth occurred in Massachusetts, May 27. 1791. The pa- ternal grandfather. Isaac Brownson, was also a native of the old Bay state and a soldier of the Revolutionary war, being with Wash- ington when he crossed the Delaware at Trenton. When Elisha was eight years oldl the family moved to Susquehanna county. Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood, and was married, October 20, 1823. to Mary Titus, who was born December 23. 1803. After his marriage he moved to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he cleared a heavily timbered tract of land and trans- formed it into a good farm. There the grandfather lived retired until his death.
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which occurred when our subject was but twenty-one years of age. In 1856 the father brought his family to Ilinois and took up his residence in Livingston county, where be spent the remainder of his life. dying June 22. 1874. During the war of 1812. he tried to enlist. but on account of his health was not accepted. In politics he was an old-line Whig, a stanch Abolitionist, and later a Republican. His wife died Novem- ber 20. 1869.
Our subject had but a limited opportun- ity to acquire an education, not being able to attend school more than one year during his boyhood, but in later years he devoted considerable time to reading and study, and in this way obtained a good practical edu- cation. During his youth he served a three years' apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade in New York, only a short distance from his home, and received one hundred and fifty dollars for his three years' work, out of which he had to clothe himself. In 1854 he came west on a prospecting tour and passed through this county before the rail- road was built, and not a house marked the present site of Fairbury, while Pontiac was a mere hamlet. Being homesick he did not remain here long. but spent two years trav- ing over the west. Being a good carpenter. he could always find employment, and spent one summer working at his trade in Miss- issippi. In this way he saw much of the country. In December. 1856. he located in this county, which has since been his home. One year was spent in Avoca, which was then quite a thriving little village. while Fairbury was unknown, and he was one of the few to vote on the township organization. On leaving Avoca he took up his residence on a farm and in connection with its opera- tion worked at his trade in Fairbury, assist-
ing in the erection of one of the first houses of that place.
In September. 1861, Mr. Brownson joined the boys in blue, becoming a member of Company K. Third Illinois Cavalry, which was sent to Springfield to organize and from there to Missouri, being with Fremont when he made his raid on Spring- field, that state. Our subject was with his company until they reached Helena, Arkan- sas, and was then sent to the hospital. On his recovery he joined the Mississippi Marine Brigade, which was located on the river, being in the cavalry department going up and down that stream with horses on boats, and whenever they discovered any scouts landed and chased them. Mr. Brownson was mustered out at Vicksburg. August 29. 1864. with the rank of sergeant.
After his return north he worked for a time at his trade in St. Louis, and then re- turned to Fairbury, which had continued to le his home. In partnership with his brother. he did an extensive business as a contractor and builder and gave employment to four- teen or fifteen men at one time. He erected many of the residences, business blocks and other houses of Fairbury, also built the Catholic church-the first in the place ; the Presbyterian church which is still standing : and other churches throughout the county. Not a man living here has had as much to do with the construction of buiklings as has practically lived retired. His own our subject, but for the past year or two he pleasant residence was erected the year of his marriage.
On the 11th of March, 1868. Mr. Brown- son married Miss Susan Ormsby, of Brad- ford county. Pennsylvania, a daughter of Levi Ormsby, and to them have been born two children, both of whom were provided
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with good educational advantages. Alice. entire life has been spent in this immediate the older, attended school in Dixon, and le cality, and here, where he is so well known. In bears a reputation for uprightness and justice and a conscientious regard for the rights of others and his duty as a citizen and head of a household. prior to her marriage engaged in teaching in Fairbury. She is now the wife of John D. Watkins, of Cleveland, Ohio, and they have one son, John. Nellie 1. was educated at the Wesleyan University, at Bloomington, and is now a successful teacher in the public schools in Fairbury. The family attend the Presbyterian .church.
By his ballot Mr. Brownson has always supported the Republican party, and in 1868 served as assessor of Pleasant Ridge town- ship. For nine years he was an active and efficient member of the school board of Fair- bury, during which time the first brick school house was erected there, and was a member of the board of village trustees when the water works was put in. In November, 1895. he was appointed to fill a vacancy as supervisor. and at the next election was elected to that office. He has since been re- elected and is still filling that office in a most creditable and satisfactory manner. He has taken an important part in the work of the board, and has proved a most com- petent and trustworthy official, his duties having always been most faithfully dis- charged. Fraternally he is a member of Aaron Weider Post. G. A. R .: Tarbolton Lodge. No. 351, F. & A. M., and the Inde- pendent Order of Mutual Aid, in all of which he has held office.
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