USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 43
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of Daniel Murphy and has three children, Ilarold, Zeta M. and Francis: Jennie is the wife of Dr. Perisho, a practicing physician of AAncona, Illinois ; one son died in infancy : and Cornelia .A. is a graduate of the Pontiac high school and is now at home with her parents.
After his marriage Mr. MeKinney rented land in MeLean county for six years and then purchased a small tract from his father- in-law, in Reading township. Livingston county, but continued to operate rented land until 1872, when he bought one him- (red and sixty acres of Mir. Hunt and lo- cated thereon, making it his home ever since. He has successfully engaged in general farin- ing, and besides his farm property he now owns building lots in Pontiac. Streator and Chicago. He and his wife were formerly members of the United Brethren church, and in politics he is independent, voting for whom he considers the best man, re- gardless of party lines. For twenty years he most efficiently served as road commis- sioner in Reading township, and all its iron bridges were built under his supervision. He was a school director for a number of years, and built the Prairie Creek school house. In 1899 he and his wife traveled all through the west and spent several months in California. They are widely and favor- ably known and have a host of warm friends in the community where they have st long made their home.
MYRON W. TAMBLING.
Myron W. Tambling, the present effi- cient supervisor of Round Grove township and one of its leading citizens, was born
in La Salle county, Ilinois, January 20, 1850, and is a son of Villeroy .A. and Har- riet S. ( Morgan ) Tambling, natives of New York and Connecticut, respectively. The progenitor of the Morgan family in America was James Morgan, who was born in Wales in 1607, and removed with his family from that country to Bristol, England. prior to 1636. In March of the latter your he and two brothers, John and Miles, sailed for America and landed in Boston during the month of April. John became one of the earliest colonists of Virginia, and Miles was one of a colony from Roxbury, Massachu- setts, to found the city of Springfield, that state. James Morgan, from whom our sub- ject is descended, located in Roxbury, and there he was married. August 6, 1640. to Margery Hill. Their son, Captain John Morgan, married Rachel Dymond, and among their children was William Morgan, who wedded Mary Avery. Their son, Cap tain William Morgan, married Temperance Avery, and they became the parents of Cap- tain Avery Morgan, who served as sergeant in the battle of Bunker Hill during the Rev - olutionary war. He married lydia Smith. Our subject's maternal grandparents were William and Ora ( Pellet ) Morgan.
Villeroy .A. Tambling, our subject's fa ther, was born February 25, 1820, and when a young man removed from New York to Chester, Ohio, where he was married. May 17. 1843. to Harriet Smith Morgan, who was born April 13. 1814, and died Septem- ber 13. 1850, leaving five children, namely : Catherine E. now a resident of Lakewood. Chautauqua county. New York: Mary 1 ... who first married a Mr. Kellogg, and second L. L. Kenyon, of Batavia, and is now de ceased : Ora A. wife of W. H. Kyle. . Terre Haute, Indiana : Myron W. our -nb
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ject : and Robert S .. a farmer of Buchanan, Michigan. Soon after his marriage the fa- ther of these children moved to La Salle county, Illinois, where he entered govern- ment land, but soon disposed of it and about 1851 returned to Ohio, where his wife died. He then came back to Ottawa, La Salle coun- ty. Illinois, where he remained until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he en- listed at the first call for troops, becoming a member of the Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. under command of Colonel Wal- lace. Later he re-enlisted in Company C. Fifty-third Regiment and participated in the battles of Hatchie's Run and Holly Springs, where Colonel Earl was killed. After serving three years he veteranized and was commissioned lieutenant of the Thir- teenth United States Colored Troops. After the war Lieutenant Tambling located in Ot - tawa. where he worked at the carpenter's trade, but for some time he has been living at the Veterans Home in Napa county. Cali- fornia.
Myron W. Tambling was an infant when his parents returned to Ohio, and was only six years old when his mother died. after which he came to Illinois with his father. He was eleven years old when his father entered the army and from that time has made his own way in the world. During the school years, when eight, nine and ten years old, he attended school in Ottawa. When his father went to the front. in 1861. he went to work on a farm, attending school winters. In November, 1870, he came to Dwight to accept a position as clerk with Oison Potter, a hardware and implement dealer, with whom he had previously lived on a farm in La Salle county. After clerking for him three years he entered the Grand Prairie Seminary at
Onarga, Illinois, where he pursued a scien- tific course, with the intention of teaching. He spent one summer in the employ of Par- sons & Hetzel. successors of Mr. Potter, traveling in the interests of the firm, and then returned to the seminary. Later he taught school in Iroquois county, and dur- ing the winter of 1875-76 taught in district No. 3. Round Grove township, this county.
On the 8th of March. 1876. Mr. Tamb- ling married Miss Emma E. Slyder, who was born in La Salle county December 27. 1853. Her father. Jesse Slyder, was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, and at the age of fifteen engaged in teaming from Cham- bersburg. that state, to Pittsburg and Balti- more. In 1837 he married Hannah L. Lininger. of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and to them were born eight children. namely: William H., born August 25. 1839. died on the home farm February 3. 1866. unmarried; Susan C .. born August 10, 1841, is the wife of Z. Simonson, of Dennison, Texas : Samuel L., born May 31, 1843. was a soldier of the Civil war; Jesse L., also a soldier, born March 14, 1845. is an auctioneer living in Dwight : Harriet L., born January 12. 1847, who was married at the same time as her sister. Emma, to James Il. Foster, who is master mechanic in a stamp mill at Colorado Springs, Colorado: David M .. born February 2, 1849, is a resident of Dwight: Daniel J., born Sep- tember 6. 1851. is employed in the stamp mill at Colorado Springs: and Emma E., wife of our subject, completed the family. In the spring of 1853 this family removed to Peru, La Salle county, Illinois, and in 1856 came to Round Grove township. Living- ston county where the father bought school land-three-quarters of section 16-but let his brother-in-law. Henry Jones, and a
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friend from Pennsylvania. Cyrus Thomas, and a recognized leader of the Republican have two quarter-sections. He made his home in the northeast quarter and owned and operated a good farm of two hundred acres. In 1868 he moved to Dwight, where he lived retired throughout the remainder of his life. At the time of his death, which occurred October 15, 1808, he also owned the southwest quarter of section 16, which is now a part of the estate. He was a cele- brated auctioneer, and for some time made that his business. He took an active in- terest in public affairs, was a supporter of the Republican party and held several town- ship offices, including those of supervisor and school trustee. Ile was reared in the Lutheran faith, but after his removal to Dwight united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. llis estimable wife died October 9. 1890.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Tambling are Albertus M., who married Harriet Beatty, daughter of J. Il. Beatty, and resides in Round Grove township: Jesse .A., at home: Harriet L., a popular teacher of Round Grove township: Robert R .. Myron E .. Emily Alice, Villeroy G. and Lila B., all at home.
Since his marriage Mr. Tambling has made his home in Round Grove township and has successfully engaged in farming and school teaching. He taught five winter terms in district No. 3, one in district No. 5 and one in district No. 9. In connection with general farming he has given consider able attention to stock raising, and always keeps a good grade of stock. He owns and operates a good farm of one hundred and twenty aeres on section 9.
Mr. Tambling is one of the most prom- inent and influential men in his community
party in Round Grove township. He has always taken an active part in public affairs. was a member of the school board when the school house was built in his district, was elected collector in ISSO and re-elected for the succeeding term. He served as school trustee one year. township treasurer two years, and in 1895 was first elected super visor, which office he has now filled six coll- secutive years with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. During his first term the town house was built. He is an active member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church of Cam- pus, to which his wife ako belongs, and served as superintendent of the Sunday school for some years. Fraternally he is a charter member of Dwight Lodge. No. 513. I O. O. F., and is also a member of Campus Camp. No. 2010. M. W. A., and Dwight Lodge, No. 35. 1. O. M. . 1.
CHARLES 11. GREGORY.
Four and a half decades cover the period of the Gregory family's residence in his ingston county, and few of its pioneers and founders have been more highly es- teemed and honored. That beloved and revered minister of the gospel, Kes. T. J. Gregory, father of the subject of this article. did a great and noble work in this region. aund his name was lovingly and inharly spoken in hundreds of households whose atmosphere had been brightened and made happier by his presence and timely aid. Both he and his estimable wife were natives of Lancashire. England, whence they emi- grated to the United States in 1855, at once
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1
settling in this country. The wife, whose maiden name was Ellen Hokltsworth, was also a licensed minister, and frequently oc- cupied the pulpit and assisted her husband in revival meetings. She was born August 31. 1820, and died August 16. 1900. He died in 1886.
The birth of Charles H. Gregory oc- curred here, in section 29. Amity township, June 27. 1860. His avantages education- ally were not of the best, but he made the most of his opportunities, and by private study and reading has made himself a well- informed man. He remained with his fa- ther until he was twenty-two years old, sharing his labors and caring for him with filial love. After the fathers death, the young man bought out the interests of the other heirs, and thus became the sole owner of the old homestead-a place of one hun- dred and sity acres. He has been especially successful as a stock raiser, and prosperity has attended most of his business ventures. By tiling and fencing. the planting of fruit and shade trees and building a pleasant, mod- ern house and keeping the barns, and keep- ing the barns and everything about the place in excellent repair, he has won a reputa- tion for thrift and neatness, and at the same time has rendered his farm one of the desira- ble country homes of the neighborhood.
On the 27th of January, 1887, the mar- riage of Mr. Gregory and Miss Olive Widdi- field took place at Dana, Illinois. Mrs. Gregory was a native of La Salle county, and was the only daughter of Mark and Sarah Widdifield. Wilbur, the first born child of our subject and wife, died at the age of five years. Two children are left to them, namely, Lela M. and Adrian Donald. Mark Widdifield was born in New York. and has been a well-known citizen, resid-
ing near Dana for forty years. He is now living retired at Dana. The mother was Sarah Dowdall, who was born in Peoria county, Illinois, and was a daughter of Alex- ander Dowdall, a pioneer.
In national affairs Mr. Gregory is a true blue Republican. Personally he never has sought or desired office, but, owing to the special interest he takes in the cause of education, he has served as a member of the district school board for fully ten years. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, his membership being with the Cornell Lodge. Mrs. Gregory is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, and both contribute liberally of their means to the support of worthy enterprises.
Mrs. J. Gregory died August 16, 1900; birthday AAugust 31, 1820.
WILLIAM LUNING.
William Luning, who resides on section 51. Long Point township, has been a resi- dent of Livingston county since 1871. com- ing to the county from Marshall county. He was born in Prussia, Germany, Octo- ber 22. 1835, and is a son of Bernard and Mary Luning, both of whom were natives of Germany, where their entire lives were spent. They were the parents of eight children, all of whom are yet living in their native country save our subject.
William Luning spent his boyhood and youth in his native land and was educated in the common schools. In his youth he learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed for a short time after coming to the United States. When twenty years of age he came to this country, landing at New
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York city, where he spent one year work- ty, Illinois, where he purchased a farmi ing at his trade. On his arrival he knew nothing of the English language, but his youth was in his favor, and he soon acquired a knowledge of the language of the coun- try, as well as of its methods of doing busi- ness.
In 1856 Mr. Luning concluded to try country life, and for the next three years he worked on farms near the city, commencing of six dollars per month, together with his board. Being of a frugal and saving nature. he laid by enough in that time to bring him to Illinois. Locating in Marshall county, he worked as a farm hand for the succeed- ing five years, and then, renting a small farm, he commenced life in earnest. As a bachelor he worked and managed his farm for two years. Realizing then the need of a "better half." he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Anthony, who was born in Wayne county. Pennsylvania, and dangh- ter of Charles and Susan Anthony, both of whom were also natives of Pennsyl- vania, but who removed to Wisconsin and later to linois, locating in Marshall coun- ty. Her father was by occupation a farmer, and after following that calling for a time in Marshall county, he located in Wenona, Illinois, where he is now living a retired life. His wife, the mother of Mrs. Luning, died about 1802, having been the mother of six children, all of whom are living but widely scattered. Mrs. Lumning being the only one living in Livingston county. Mr. Anthony later married again, and by his second union were born to him five children, of whom four are living, all making their homes in Marshall county.
AAfter his marriage Mr. Luning continued to farm rented land in Marshall county for two years, and then moved to La Salle colin-
raw prairie land and continued farming for three years. Later he sold and purchased eighty acres of his present farm, and where he has since continued to reside The last tract he improved by building fences, tiling the place, setting ont fruit and ornamental trees, and putting it in first-class condition. Success crowned his efforts, and to the home farm he later added eighty acres, in addi- tion to which he owns an improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 30, Amity township. For many years he gave his time principally to stock raising, making a specialty of hogs. He now operates at general farm and is doing well.
To Mr. and Mrs. Luning twehe chil- dren have been born, nine of whom are yet living. Two died in childhood. Hattie grew to womanhood, married Henry Drum- met, by whom she had three children, Eva. Tern and Arthur. She died July 5. 1898. Those living are as follows: Melissa is now the wife of George Drummet, and they have four children, Lallie. Effic. Orpha and John. The family reside in Long Pom township, where Mr. Drummet owns and operates a farm of two hundred and fifty acres. Minnie is the wife of Hans Klend worth, and with their four children, Goldie, Flossie, Lee and Dewey, they reside in Long Point township, where he owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Dead, (Iii- ford and Ira are their children. Emma married Albert Miller, and they have one daughter, Lena. Their home is in Dane. La Salle county, where he is engaged in gen- cral merchandizing. Nellie is the wife of Archie Winters, and they have two children. Mournie and Birdie They reside in Ammy township, where Mr. Winters is engaged in farming. Laura is the wife of Charles
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Earp, and their children are Hazel and Alta. Their home is in Amity township. where Mr. Earp has a farm of eighty acres. Will- iam C. lives at home, assisting his father in operating the home farm. Pearl and Jo- seph Fifer are also living at home.
In politics Mr. Luning is a Republican, and while he manifests an interest in political affairs, he would never accept any township office, although often urged to accept some position. He is a firm believer in Spiritual- ism. As a citizen he is highly esteemed.
RUDOLPH G. SMITH.
Rudolph G. Smith, police magistrate of Flanagan and one of the popular young business men of that place. is a native of Livingston county, born in Nebraska town- ship. May 20. 1870, and is a son of Charles A. and Elizabeth ( Hess) Smith. both na- tives of Germany. The father came to America in 1846, and after a brief residence in New York came to Illinois, locating in Nebraska township, Livingston county, where he has since been extensively engaged in farming. Ile has been prominently iden- tified with the Democratic party in his lo- cality, and in 1892 was its candidate for the office of sheriff of Livingston county, but owing to the permanently established po- litical complexion of the county was de- feated. He has held several township offices with credit to himself to the entire satisfac- tion of his constituents. Ilis wife, who came to this country with her parents at the age of four years, died in 1899. They reared a family of eight children, namely : Anna MI., now the wife of Frank Edwards, of Geneseo, Illinois : May E., wife of John
Smith, of the same place: Charles P. Henry W. and George F .. all residents of Nebraska township: Rudolph G .. our subject : Jennie, wife of Frank Earl, and Perry L., all of Ne- braska township.
On the home farm Rudolph G. Smith grew to manhood and was educated in the district school and Dixon College, Dixon, Illinois. In 1893 he located in Flanagan, where he was engaged in the mercantile bus- iness two years, and since that time has car- ried on operations as an insurance, real es- tate and collecting agent, in which he has met with well deserved success.
On the 6th of August, 1894. Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Hulda Mette, of Flanagan, and they now have one child, Valda Eveline, born June 9, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are both members of the Christian church, and he is also connected with the Knights of Pythias. In 1896 he was elected police magistrate of Flanagan to fill an unexpired term of three years, and so acceptably did he fill the office that in 1899 he was re-elected for a full termof four years. The Democratic party finds in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and he is usually an active member of its conventions. In 1900 lie was an alternate delegate to the na- tional convention at Kansas City, where William J. Bryan was nominated for presi- dent.
THOMAS H. THOMSON.
Thomas H. Thomson is one of the hon- ored pioneers of Illinois, and within his recollection remarkable changes have been wrought on these western prairies. Where herds of deer and other wild game wandered when he first saw this region, flourishing
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towns and villages have sprung up, railroads have been constructed, and fertile, produc- tive farms have been developed. In this grand work of civilization he has borne no unimportant part, and no one, therefore, is better entitled to a place on the roll of honor of his state and county.
When it is considered that Mr. Thon- son commenced his career in America with- out any financial means and has made his competence by the hardest labor and inde- fatigable energy, his example is one which should be followed by the younger genera- tion, most of whom possess advantages which were not his portion. His father, Thomas T. Iverson, was born in Norway, in 1777, and passed his entire life in his native land. His wife bore the maiden name of Malinda Thomson, and their three sons were: Iver H. Thomson, now a resident of La Salle county, Illinois; Thomas H., of this sketch, and Richard 11., of Humboldt conn- ty, łowa.
The birth of T. H. Thomson occurred upon his father's farm, near Stavanger, Nor- way, May 3. 1826. Ile early learned the vari- ous duties pertaining to a farm, but had no educational advantages in his boyhood. Com- ing to the conclusion that America was the "land of promise," he made his plans ac- cordingly, and. bidding farewell to his relatives and friends, sailed from the sea- port of Stavanger, May 17, 1849. The voyage consumed about six weeks, and thence he went to Buffalo, and by way of the great lakes to Chicago. Going direct to Ottawa, Illinois, where two of his ac- quaintances were residents, he soon obtained a position with a farmer, receiving seven dollars a month, in addition to his board. For two years he industriously worked and economized, later investing his little capital 2:2
in an ox-team, with which he commenced the arduous task of breaking prairie. After spending several seasons at that business, he bought forty acres of land in La Salle com- ty, and for ten years toiled bravely, im- proving the place, which he finally sold at a fair price. This was in 1865, since which year he has been numbered among the citi- zens of Livingston county, for he then pur- chased one hundred acres of land in section 4. Rooks Creek township, and has since looked upon this as his permanent home. Twenty acres of this property was covered with timber, and about the same amount had been broken for cultivation. This prepared ground and a little cabin, constitutted the sum total of improvements, but the years which have since rolled by have seen great changes, and today the farm is a monument to the skill and ambition of the owner. Af- ter reducing the land to cultivation, and when he had built a substantial house and barn and fences, he realized good returns from each year's work, and, from time to time invested the proceeds in more land. To-day he owns three farms in this county. aggregating six hundred and twenty-five acres, and in addition to these. he has a good homestead of two hundred and forty acres, situated in Hardin county, lowa.
The marriage of Mr. Thomson and Isa- belle Johnson, likewise a native of Norway. was celebrated in La Salle county forty five years ago. Of the ten children who blessed their union two have been called to the better land, Eveta M. dying when young. and Maria passing away in 1884. The sons, six in number, are successful and up- right citizens, all engaged in agriculture. Thomas M. Ole -A., T. E., E. J. and A S. are residents of this county, while M. I. the second son, is a farmer of Clay county,
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Minnesota. Anna M. is the wife of E. P. Friest, of Hardin county, Iowa, and Chris- tina S. is the wife of J. C. Munson, of Amity township, Livingston county. The two younger sons are at home, aiding in the work of the farm.
Since he received the right of franchise Mr. Thompson has been a loyal friend to the Republican party. He has been averse to holding public office, personally, but has not neglected any of his duties as a citizen, and has evinced his interest in the cause of edu- cation in material ways. With his estima- ble wife, who was reared in Norway, he has been a member of the Lutheran church since youth.
JOSEPH M. BRADLEY.
Joseph M. Bradley, residing in a com- fortable, modern farm house, beautifully sit- uated on an eminence of the western bank of the Vermilion river, is one of the honored pioneers of Livingston county, and, as such, deserves a prominent place in the chronicles of her development.
The family of which Mr. Bradley is a sterling representative has been noted for the spirit of enterprise and venturesomeness which has ever animated the explorer and pioneer-the van of civilization. His grandfather, Esquire Bradley, as he was called, owing to the high offices held by him in his rural community, was one of the earliest settlers in Brown county, Ohio. In that wilderness our subject's father, James, was born in 1808. When twenty years of age the ambitious young man de- termined to further explore the then far west, and thus, in 1828, he became a resi- cent of Illinois. Later he went to Mc- Lean county, and there married Nancy Bar-
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