USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 40
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The birth of the Rev. Horace Tiffany occurred upon the parental homestead in Delaware county, September 4, 1831. He received the benefits of the public schools of that period and later attended the New York Conference Seminary at Charlottes- ville for two years. Thus thoroughly equipped for the arduous duties of life. the young man commenced his career as a teacher and for seven consecutive years de- voted himself to educational work.
In 1855 Mr. Tiffany removed to Vic- toria, Illinois, and for three years subse- quent to his arrival here he taught school.
In 1858 he began preaching the gospel as a local preacher and in September, 1860, he joined the Central Illinois con- terence of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was licensed to preach the gospel. In 1862 he was ordained to the office of deacon and two years later was con- stituted an elder in the church. For forty years he has dwelt in Livingston and other counties and for a score of years he was one of the regular circuit riders. five con- gregations being under his charge during a part of this period. In many a humble home he conducted funeral services, officiated at weddings, participated in happy reunions and gatherings of the country people and old settlers, and wherever he went he found the genuine, hospitable welcome, character- istic of our pioneers. He is greatly loved in hundreds of these homes and no one in this section of the state is more certainly en- shrined in the hearts of the young and old. He has dwelt in Cornell for several years and previously lived in Reading and Rooks Creek townships, this county. For some four years he devoted his time as county missionary in Livingston county in Sunday school work and was greatly blessed in the noble enterprise. In accordance with his convictions of duty, he has given his influ- ence to the Prohibition party for the past quarter of this century, but in his early manhood he was a Republican.
In Otsego county. New York, Mr. Tiffany and Lucy J. Teel. a native of that county, were united in marriage. March 27. 1851. She was called to the better land, June 12, 1897, and her place in this com- munity can never be filled. Seven children mourn the loss of their revered mother, and her lovely life and high example will al- ways prove an inspiration to them, as to all
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who knew her. O. M. and Arthur E. are engaged in newspaper work, the latter being the editor of the Cornell Journal. O. M. and L. 11. Tiffany are residents of Tama county, lowa: W. B. is enaged in the grain business at Oneida, Illinois: Orrin S. is a carpenter of Streator, Illinois, and William S .. of Cornell, is one of the street commis- who owns a jewelry establishment in Cor- nell.
It was in 1800 that Mr. Biddle came sioners. Rosa is the wife of C. G. Connett, to the United States and first located in
WILLIAM BIDDLE.
William Biddle, a prominent and well- to-do farmerof Newtown township. Livings- ton county, is an Englishman by birth and training. He was born in Staffordshire No- vember 7. 1833, and is a son of Lionel and Elizabeth ( Cumberbach) Biddle, who spent their entire lives in that county, where the father followed the occupation of farming. In the family were ten children, but two died before attaining the age of twenty years, and all are now deceased with the exception of Jane, wife of James Sjiffer- botham, of England, and William, the sub- ject of this sketch.
In the schools of his native land Mr. Biddle acquired his education, and when a young man commenced working in the mines, following that pursuit for forty years. He was married, in England, in 1853. to Miss Harriet Barnett, and they have be- come the parents of three children, two born in that country and one in Illinois. ( 1) William, the eldest, is now engaged in min- ing in Missouri. He is married and has three children : Albert, who lives with our subject : John and Herbert. The wife and mother makes her home in Streator. (2)
John A., who is living upon a part of his father's farm in Newtown township. is mar ried and has two children, Lyle and Cecil. (3) Walter, who is engaged in farming near Walnut, Lee county, Illinois, is mar- ried and also has two children. Bertha and Guy.
Pennsylvania and later in Ohio, but in the spring of 1870 came to Streator, La Salle county. Illinois, where he followed mining for twenty years, and then came to Livings- ton county. In 1880 he purchased his pres- ent farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 28, Newtown township, and has since devoted his time and energies to agri- cultural pursuits. As he was a good miner, he is also a good farmer, and is meeting with most excellent success in his opera- tions, carrying on general farming and stock raising. He has tiled, fenced and im- proved his land, making it a most desirable farm. Religiously Mr. Biddle and his fam- ily are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and politically he is identified with the Democratic party, but has never been prevailed upon to accept office, though he takes an active and commendable interest in public affairs, and does all in his power to advance the interests of his township and county.
JACOB GINGRICH.
Jacob Gingrich, who, during the ent re span of his life, nearly three-core years, has been associated with the development and rapidly increasing prosperity of Livingston county, is honored and respected by all who enjoy his acquaintance. He always has
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given his earnest support to schools and public enterprises calculated to benefit this community and the state in general, nor has he been remiss in the wider duties of a patriotic son of America.
The subject of this review is of German ancestry, though his father. John Gingrich, was born within the borders of France. For a wife the latter chose Barbara Garber, a German lady, and together they came to the hospitable shores of the United States sixty years ago. They settled in Woodford coun- ty. Illinois, cleared and improved a farm and extended their possessions until eight hundred acres comprised their landed es- tates. The father departed this life in 1845. and to his widow was left the task of rear- ing their nine children. All lived to matur- ily and four of the number still survive.
The birth of Jacob Gingrich took place in Woodford county, Illinois, July 28, 1842, and it was not until during the last year of the Civil war that he removed from his na- tive county. He aided his mother and brothers in the management of the home- stead, and when he was a mere youth he mastered the carpenter's trade and gave his attention to that calling exclusively for two or three years. When the president issued his first call to the lovers of the Union, he was one of the first in his county to respond: Ile enlisted in April. 1861, and served for three months, in the meantime assisting in taking Columbus, Kentucky, and participat- ing in various campaigns. He was seriously ill about the time that his three months' en- listment was completed, and he was honor- ably discharged from the service. Return- ing home he took up the duties of the old homestead when he had sufficiently re- covered and remained there about three years.
In 1864 Mr. Gingrich and Susan Far- rell were joined in wedlock. She was born in Ohio and is of German parentage. Eleven children bless their union, namely : Gusta- vus, who is married and is engaged in farm- ing in Iowa; John; David, who is married and living in Flanagan, Illinois: Peter : Eunice, wife of Leonard Harris, of this county: Emma; Lizzie and Priscilla, who are successfully engaged in teaching in this county ; Manuel ; Jacob, Jr. and Susie. All have received excellent educational advan- tages and are well qualified for the battles of life.
Ruring the first year of their married life our subject and wife lived upon a rented farm near Chenoa. McLean county, Illinois. Subsequently they removed to Waldo town- ship. Livingston county, and for fourteen years resided upon two farms in that local- ity. Then, coming to Amity township, Mr. Gingrich rented land for a period, and in 1888 invested his carefully saved funds in the property where he now dwells. Here he owns two hundred and ninety acres, about two-thirds of which is under the plow and producing good crops each year. The land was timbered, save a tract of swamp and twenty-seven acres of cleared land. at the time that it came into his possession, and there was no improvements in the shape of buildings. He built a small house and in- (lustriously began the great task of clearing and developing the farm. and to-day the place bears little resemblance to that of long ago. Substantial fences and farm buildings speak well for the enterprise of the owner. and the numerous fruit and shade trees add greatly to the beauty of the place.
In political matters Mr. Gingrich is a Democrat, though he has no aspirations to occupy public positions. He believes in lo-
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cal improvements and has materially aided in the maintenance of good government, well-cared-for bridges and proper educa- tional facilities for the young. He enjoys the confidence of his neighbors and all with whom he has had dealings, and to his chil- dren he will leave the priceless heritage of an untarnished name.
CHARLES ALBERT DIXON.
Charles Albert Dixon, one of the repre- sentative citizens of Newtown township, residing on section 5. is a native son of Liv- ingston county, born May 18. 1852. His parents. Charles and Sarah ( Hodges ) Dix- on, were born, reared and married in Eng- land. and on their emigration to America first settled near Dixon. Lee county, Ilinois. In early life the father followed the mason's trade, but after coming to this state engaged in farming and the manufacture of brick in connection with work at his trade. From Dixon he removed to Magnolia. Putnam county, and in 1848 came to Livingston county, where he purchased one hundred and seventy-five acres of land at the govern- ment price of one dollar and a quarter per acre. Our subject now holds the original deed for the same. At that time it was all wild prairie, and the first home of the fam- ily in this county was a rude structure built of rails, the cracks being stopped up with mud. They endured many hardships and privations : all grain had to be hauled to Chi- cago with ox team. the trip consuming two weeks, while the driver had to camp out at night by the side of the road. Chicago at that time was quite a small place. In his new home the father met with well merited
success and was able to spend his last days in retirement from active labor at Streator. where he died in 1879. llis wife departed this life in 1871. He was an ardent worker in the United Brethren church, helped to erect many churches of that denomination and contributed liberally to their support. In his political views he was a Republican and did all in his power to advance the interest of his party.
Our subject grew to manhood upon his father's farm and was educated in the cen- mon schools. When quite young he took up auctioneering, and has since devoted a portion of his time to that calling, dealing in all kinds of goods and meeting with most excellent success. As a general farmer he has also prospered and is now the owner of one hundred and thirty-five acres of land of the old homestead. He has created a new house and barn, planted an orchard, tiled the land and otherwise improved it, transforming it into one of the most de-ir- able places of its size in the township. He devotes considerable attention to stock mais- ing for market and breeding purposes, mak- ing a specialty of Poland China hogs and Norman horses. He has made farming a study, and by perseverance. industry and good management has met with most grati- fying success.
In 1875 Mr. Dixon was unitol in mar- riage with Miss Annie Mason, a native of La Salle county and a daughter of Edward and Nancy Mason, who have been deal for a number of years. She is one di a imly of three children, the others being June H. supervisor of Streater township and a resident of Streator ; and Celestia, wie of Henry Deen's, of the same place. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon have two children : Clarissa Mac, who was educated at the Streator high
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school, and Arthur Calvin. a graduate of the same school, and now cashier and book- keeper in N. L. Arthur's store at Streator.
By his ballot Mr. Dixon supports the men and measures of the Republican party. and has hell several minor offices, serving a: school director nine years, constable four years and thistle commissioner six years. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge. No. 534. of Long Point : the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan, No. 22. of Streator, and the Modern Woodmen Camp. No. 1444, of which he has been banker for two years. He is widely and favorably known throughout the county, and by those who know him best he is held in the highest regard.
F. M. PATTERSON.
F. M. Patterson, a prosperous and sub- stantial citizen of Reading township. Liv- ingston county. Illinois, was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1840, and is a son of J. W. and Jemima ( Lovell) Patter- son, also natives of Greene county, which was the birthplace of his paternal grand- father. Daniel Patterson. The latter's par- ents were from Paterson, New Jersey, which place was named for early representa- tives of the family in this country. His ancestors came originally from Scotland and settled on this side of the Atlantic in early Colonial days. Those bearing the name of Patterson took part both in the Revolution- ary war and the war of 1812.
In early life the father of our subject learned the brickmaker's trade, which he followed for some years in Pennsylvania and later engaged in farming. In 1854, in com-
pany with his wife and children, he came west and located in Cook county, Illinois. ten miles from the court house in Chicago. which city at that time contained about forty thousand inhabitants. There he was man- ager of a brickyard one year, and four of his sons worked in the same. At the end of that time moved to Deer Park township, La Salle county, where he engaged in farm- ing upon rented land three years, and in 1858 became a resident of Sunbury town- ship, Livingston county, where he also rented land for a time. . At the breaking out of the civil war he enlisted in the Eleventh Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, and after being mustered in at Ottawa went immediately into active service with his regiment. He was in a number of notable engagements. and was killed at the battle of Fort Donel- son in 1862. In politics he was a Republi- can, and always took an active part in local affairs. His wife survived him about fif- teen years, and died at her home in Streator. In their family were eight children, namely: Stephen P. was for many years a farmer of Reading township, but is now living a retired life in Streator: Rachel A. is the wife of J. Fowler, of DeKalb, Illinois; Jesse H. has made his home with our sub- ject for the past twenty-five years; Francis Marion, our subject, is next in order of birth; Hugh S. is engaged in lead and sil- ver mining in Denver, Colorado: Barnett W., deceased, was a farmer of Deer Park township. La Salle county; Arthur I. is a mason of Streator ; and Carrie S. is the wife of Dr. E. E. Williams, a practicing physi- cian of Streator.
Francis M. Patterson began his educa- tion in the schools of his native county, and for a time attended school in Deer Park township, La Salle county, and Sunbury
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township. Livingston county, Illinois. He was fourteen years of age when he came with the family to this state, and began his business career as an employe in a brickyard near Chicago. Later he worked at farm labor during the summer season, while he attended school through the winter months. In 1867, with his mother, he moved to Streator, where he learned the carpenter's trade with William H. Milligan, a contrac- tor and builder at that time, and later he engaged in the same occupation on his own account for about fifteen years, and the same time operating a planing mill, which was the first built in Streator. He erected the first school house in that place, and did an extensive business, a large portion of the city being built under his supervision. Mr. Patterson also owned and conducted a lumm- ber yard. In 1887 he purchased his pres- ent farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sections 11 and 12, Reading township, from the Plumb estate, and has since engaged in farming and stock raising, in which he has also met with marked success. He annually feeds many cattle and hogs which he sells to the local dealers. In 1898 he leased forty acres of his land to a syndicate of Streator for the purpose of sinking a coal shaft, and from that source now receives a royalty of fourteen cents for screen coal and ten cents for mine run. He owns city property, both business and dwelling houses, in Streator, and has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Fillmore county, Nebraska. In 1894 he erected upon his farm in Reading township a fine residence of nine rooms, fin- ished in oak, with closets and a cellar.
In politics Mr. Patterson is a stanch Re- publican, and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864. He has been a delegate to numerous county conventions
of his party, and was chairman of his dele- gation the last time. For two terms he served as school director, and in the spring of 1895 he was elected supervisor of Read- ing township, which positions he creditably filled until the spring of 1890. He was chairman of the committee on swamp lands two years, and at different times was a mem- ber of nearly all the more important com- mittees. He is pre-eminently public-spirted and progressive, and gives his support to any enterprise which he believes calculated to advance the general welfare of his town- ship or county.
PILLANDER MORGAN.
Philander Morgan, a highly respected and honored citizen of Strawn, Illinois, now living a retired life, is a worthy representa- tive of the early pioneers of this section . i the state, and a true type of the energetic hardy men who have actively assisted in de- veloping and improving this beautiful and fertile agricultural country.
Mr. Morgan was born October 11. 1835. in La Salle county, Illinois, on a farm north of Streator, and is a son of Res and Re- becca A. ( Reeder ) Morgan. The family was founded in America in 1024 by three brothers, natives of Wales, who first settled in Virginia, but later one went to the Caro- linas, another to Kentucky, while the great great-grandfather of our subject remained in Virginia and founded the village of Mor- gantown. that state. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The one that In- cated in the Carolinas was the father of General Morgan of Revolutionary fame. Our subject's grandfather. William Morgan,
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was a native of Virginia, where he made his home for many years, and then moved to Uniontown. Pennsylvania, where he en- gaged in the manufacture of nails by hand. In 1833 he came to Illinois and settled north of Streator in La Salle county, where he died about a year later.
Ress Morgan, father of our subject, was born in Fayette county. Pennsylvania, in 1808, and remained there until 1828, when he came to Pekin, Illinois, and enlisted as a private in the Black Hawk war. He was in Stillman's defeat and remained in the service until hostilities ceased. being dis- charged at Ottawa in 1832. He then spent one year at his old home in Pennsylvania, and at the end of that time returned to Illi- nois, where he soon afterward married Miss Rebecca .A. Reeder, a daughter of David and Sarah ( Whittaker ) Reeder. Her father was a native of Virginia and a planter by oc- cupation. In 1784, during his boyhood, he removed to Cincinnati, where he was later engaged engaged in mercantile business 111- ti! 1829. and then came to Pekin. Illinois. where he followed farming for a time. He was the first county judge of Tazewell coun- ty. In 1834 he settled north of Streator in La Salle county, where he died in 1852. his wife in 1860. leaving five children, of whom the mother of our subject was fourth in order of birth. The Whittaker family. from which she was descended, was also of Welsh origin and was founded in New Jer- sey in 1620, making their home there for many generations. Her grandmother Whit- taker moved to Ohio in 1782, and in 1829 came to Illinois.
After his marriage Ress Morgan lived in Pekin for a time, and in 1833 moved to La Salle county, where he was engaged in the sawmill business and in farming. He served
as county treasurer and assessor from 1848 to 1852. In the latter year he and our sub- ject crossed the plains to California with o teams and spent three years in prospect- ing and mining. returning to Illinois in 1855. In 1860 he moved from La Salle to Livingston county and located in what was then Belle Phairie township, but is now Fay- ette township, having been set off from the former. Here he continued farming until his death, which occurred in the village of Strawn in 1880. His wife also died in that place in 1883, and the remains of both were interred at Gibson, Illinois.
This worthy couple were the parents of nine children, all born in La Salle county, of whom our subject is the eldest. (2) Mary is the wife of Moses M. K. McDowell, a stock raiser of Gibson, and they have two children : Frank and Thomas, who are en- gaged in the commission business at the stock yards in Chicago. (3) Foster, a farmer of Francisville, Indiana. married Sarah Case, and they have one childl. War- ren. (4) David R., now a farmer of Lake City. Jowa, married Virginia McDowell, of Fairbury, Illinois, and they have two children, Paul and Geneva. (5), Courtland, a nursery man of Spring Valley, Minnesota, married Alice Taylor, of that state, and they have three children : Jessie R., Estella and Weaver. (6) Rebecca was for many years engaged in teaching in the district schools of Livingston county, but is now living in Gibson, Illinois. (7) Sarah is the wife of Charles Mackey, of Streator, who is in the mail service, and they have two children : Belle, wife of Lewis Patch, of Streator, where he is engaged in operating a foundry, and Bernice, wife of William Gillett, who is engaged in mercantile business in Streator. (8) Laura is the wife of F. C.
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MeDowell, a stock raiser of Gibson. (9) Nettie is engaged in the millinery business in the same place.
Philander Morgan is indebted to the common schools of La Salle county for his educational advantages. At the age of six- teen he went with his father to California. where they engaged in prospecting and min- ing for three years, and then returned home by way of the Panama route. In 1860 he came with his family to Livingston county. the father having a farm of eight hundred acres in what is now Fayette township, but at that time formed a part of Belle Prairie township. He assisted in the arduous task of breaking the land and placing it under cultivation. Since the death of his parents he had looked after the property accumulated by himself and father, but is now practically living a retired life in the village of Strawn, where he owns a home. He also has some village property in Gibson, and owns a large amount of farming land in lowa, where he spends some time looking after his interests in that state.
Politically Mr. Morgan is a Jeffersonian Democrat and has taken quite an active and prominent part in local politics, having served as supervisor of Fayette township one term, assessor eighteen years and high- way commissioner for the same length of time. He laid out all the roads in the town- ship and gave to it the name of Fayette, after the county in which his father was born, and which was also the birthplace of Richard Hannah, then supervisor of the township. Our subject's sister Mary was the first to be married in the new township. and Mary Jane McCormick, now the wife of William Somers, of Strawn, was the first child born there. Mr. Morgan has seen al most the entire development of this region.
and as a public-spirited and enterprising man he has aided materially in promoting its interests, assisting in transforming the cultivated districts in the state. He has been a member of the village board a great many years and president of the same ten years.
JOHN IL. BRUCE.
John Il. Bruce, whose pleasant home is situated in section 34. Amity township. Liv- ingston county, is one of the substantial ag- riculturists of this section of the state. Ile has been a witness of the major portion of its development and has himself played no unimportant part in the transformation of the wilderness into the beautiful. productive farm lands of to-day.
Mr. Bruce, who is a second cousin of General John A. Logan, is a son of Thomas and Ellen ( Logan ) Bruce. The father, a native of Scotland, departed this life when our subject was young. The mother was a daughter of John A. Logan, who also came of the stanch old Celtic stock, and whose birthplace was in the northern part of Ireland.
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