USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 44
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tholomew, whose father. General Joseph Bartholomew, was a hero of the Revolution- ary war. He also had been noted as an Indian fighter, and many a time had partici- pated in the early warfare with the red- skins. One of the very first to locate in Mc- Lean county, he built a fort near the present town of Clarksville, and was well known, far and wide. After living in McLean and Hancock counties for a few years subse- quent to his marriage, James Bradley took up his permanent residence in Livingston county, and improved a farm in Amity town- ship. His death took place at his old home here in 1862. His widow, who attained the ripe age of eighty-five years, passed her last years at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Coe, in Pontiac, Illinois, her death occurring in January, 1899.
Joseph M. Bradley was born at Clarks- ville, Illinois, September 28, 1840, and though, in his boyhood he had few advan- tages, in an educational way, he early mas- tered the elementary and essential branches of knowledge. He is practically a self- made and self-educated man, for he has been dependent upon his own resources since he was a mere youth. For several years he rented farms and in 1874 he had acquired sufficient capital to purchase land of his own. Though the homestead where he dwells to- clay has been in his possession for twenty- six years, he did not take up his residence here until 1885. In the meantime he con- tinued making improvements upon the place, which, by long years of well applied industry and investments, he succeeded in bring- ing to its present high state of excellence. He cleared away much of the timber with which the land was encumbered, planted fruit trees and constructed fences and farm buildings. Success has attended his efforts
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as an agriculturist and stock-raiser, and most of his financial ventures have prospered.
During his entire mature life Mr. Brad- ley has had the welfare of the people deeply at heart, and in his own community has borne his share of the duties devolving upon him as a patriotic citizen. Since the time when he cast his first presidential vote, in 1864, he has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party. When just arrived at his majority he was elected to the office of con- stable, and later he was honored with the position of highway commissioner, in which capacity he served efficiently for nine years. He also held the post of township collector for one term, and was clerk of the township five consecutive terms. During the past three years he has been a justice of the peace, and frequently he has been sent as a dele- gate to different conventions of a political nature. Few of our citizens have been more influential in promoting the cause of educa- tion than he, and to his earnest efforts must be attributed much of the prosperty of the "little red school houses" of this locality.
In 1878 Mr. Bradley married Florence, daughter of Samuel and Julia A. Patterson, and sister of S. H. Patterson, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Bradley was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and came to Illinois in child- hood. She was reared in La Salle county, and received a good education in the schools of Ottawa. Mabel E., eklest child of our subject and wife, and now one of the suc- cessful teachers of this county, pursued her higher studies in the Pontiac high school and in Dixon ( Illinois) College. Samuel M. is employed in a mercantile establishment at Pontiac, and Daisy M., Julia and Joseph Ross are still living at home with their par- ents, who are giving them good advantages.
HON. JAMES .A. SMITIL
Hon. James .A. Smith, of Chatsworth, has been closely identified with the history and growth of Livingston county for a third of a century. Like many of our prominent citizons he is a native of Ohio, born in Ver- million, August 6, 1845. His father, Aaron B. Smith, was a native of New Jersey, and a lawyer by profession. He came to Ilinois in 1846, and located in Ottawa, where he en- gaged in the practice of his profession with fino success. He is distinguished in a histor- ical way as having drawn up the first bill introduced in the legislature of this state for the establishment of a free school, that of a school in his adopted city of Ottawa,
During his boyhood days James A. Smith attended the public schools of Ottawa and read law in the office of his father until he was seventeen years oldl. He then ac- cepted a position as bookkeeper and cashier for a prominent firm in that city, which posi- tion he hold until 1867, when he came to Chatsworth and engaged in the grain busi- ness. He continued in that business for money on real estate. In 1880 be purchased the Chatsworth Plaindealer and has since been engaged in its publication, making it one of the most substantial and newsy papers in Central Illinois. This business he has carried on in connection with other private interests that has required much of his time and attention.
Mr. Smith has hell a number of import- ant public positions, chief among which has been the Democratic representative from the Eighteenth district, of which Livingston county forms a part. for three terms, ser - ing in the thirty-sixth, thirty seventh and thirty-eighth general assembly. His record there is a most commendable one. He at
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once took a prominent part in the councils of his party and was placed on various im- portant committees. In the thirty-sixth general assembly he was on the educational committee which codified the school laws of the state. In the thirty-seventh assembly he was chairman of the committee on muni- cipal corporations, and in the thirty-eighth assembly he was chairman of the committee on congressinal apprtionment, and his com- mittee framed the congressional apportion- ment bill which is the law at the present time. During his three terms he was on the steer- ing committee of his party, and in the last two terms he was the disciplinarian of this committee. Ho was one of the one hundred and one members of the legislature that voted for General Palmer in his memorable con- test for the United States senate in 1891. His associates had in him the utmost confi- dence and he was regarded by them as a worthy leader.
Mr. Smith was president of the village board of Chatsworth for thirteen years, eleven of which were consecutive. When he was first elected president of the board the village was heavily in debt. but during his administration not only were substantial improvements made, but the debt was entire- ly wiped out and money left in the treas- ury. During his term of office. and through his efforts, a good system of water works was installed and paid for, electric lights were secured for the village, and four miles of brick walk were laid. His last term ex- pired in 1895, and the village owos him a debt of gratitude which will be hard to repay.
For twenty-two consecutive years Mr. Smith .was a member and secretary of the Chatsworth school board, and during all that time he was the guiding spirit of the board. Few men not actually engaged in
school work have been more closely in touch with the public schools, and he has ever had the interests of the schools at heart, and was willing to give of his time to make them more efficient.
As a delegate to county conventions for twenty-five years, and as a delegato to con- gressional and state conventions, and to the national Democratic convention at St. Louis in 1888. he has done valiant service for the success of his party, but like many other pa- triotic Democrats, he was not in sympathy with the views expressed in the platform adopted by the Democratic national conven- tion which assembled in Chicago in 1896. He is a Democrat from principle and not for the spoils of office.
Mr. Smith is one of the largest real estate owners in central Illinois, and has large property interests in the village which has been his home for thirty-three years. He is the owner of sevoral fine buildings in the village, including the one occupied by Bush- way & Co., of which he is the company. lle and his family enjoy the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends, and judg- ing from the record of his life he is worthy of all the honors bestowed upon him.
ISAAC Q. TANQUARY.
Isaac O. Tanquary, deceased, was iden- tified with the agricultural interests of Liv- ingston county for twenty years, and was accounted one of the most highly respected citizens of Fayette township, his home being on section 8. A native of Ohio, he was born in Pickaway county. in 1815, and his early life was passed at his birthplace, where he received a common school education. In
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ISto he came to Illinois and first located in are deceased. (6) David died in Fayette Marshall county, where he engaged in farm- township, Livingston county, in 1870, at the age of twenty-seven years. (7) Will- iam J., born in Marshall county. December 23. 1857, was educated in the common schools of that county, and resides on the home farm with his mother. He is an industrious, en- ergetic man, independent in politics, who votes for the man who in his judgment is best qualified to fill the office. (8) Jahial died in infancy. ing upon rented land for a number of years. In 1875 he moved with his family to Liv- ingston county and purchased a farmi on sec- tion 8, Fayette township, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he broke and placed under a high state of culti- vation. He erected thereon a good, sub- stantial farm house, a barn and other build- ings, and soon made the farm one of the best in that section of the county.
In Marshall county Mr. Tanquary was married, in 1842, to Miss Mary Jane Wat- kins, a native of Athens county, Ohio, and a daughter of Isaiah and Mary (Douglass) Watkins. The father was born in Wales, and when a young man came to the United States, locating in Athens county, Ohio. He chied in 1830 at the age of forty years, his wife in Marshall county, Illinois, in 1865, at the age of seventy years. To Mr. and Mrs. Tanquary were born the following chil- dren : (1) AAngeline married Ethan Drake, of Marshall county, and died in Kansas, where they moved in 1873, leaving seven children, Robert, Alvin, Joseph. George, Ly- man. Carrie and Nellie. (2) Caroline died in Fayette township, Livingston county, in 1878. (3) Nancy is the wife of John Bus- sard, village marshal of Strawn, and they had six children : Charles, Angeline. Ida, Henry and Grover, all living; and Pearl, deceased. (4) Lucinda married J. S. Mar- shall, a carpenter of Strawn, and died in that place at the age of twenty-seven years, leav- ing three children : Le Roy, Grace and Lilly. (5) Elizabeth is the wife of Lewis Nighson- ger. a farmer of Marshall county, and their children are: Lulie. Lillie. Solomon, Bay- ard, William. David. Elvirah, Edith. Evan- gel. Alta and Ray. Of these Lulie and Bayard
Mr. Tanquary was a self-made man, whose success in life was due to his indus- try, perseverance and good management, and at his death he left his family in com- fortable circumstances. Ilis widow still resides on the farm on section 8. Fayette township. He died there September 18. 1895. honored and respected by all who knew him. Politically he was identified with the Republican party, but never took a very active part in politics, caring nothing for official honors, although he was a public- spirited man and an advocate of all meas- ures that tended toward the improvement and advancement of the community in which he lived. He was a devout member of the Methodist church, and his life was ever in harmony with his professions.
NEWELL P. GEORGE.
Newell P. George, one of the most sue- cessful and enterprising farmers of Brough- ton township. Livingston county, whose home is on section 1. was born in Sunapee, New Hampshire, July 23. 1832, and is a som of Worthen and Rachel ( Emerson ) George, both of whom belonged to oldl New England families and traced the'r ancestry back to Scotland. For generations the George tam-
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ily have flourished in New Hampshire, and at one election twenty-three votes wore cast by those bearing the name in one town. Elijah George, our subject's paternal grand- father, was a soldier in the war of 1812. The father followed farming throughout life and died in 1881. The mother had died when our subject was only ten years old. They were consistent and faithful mombers of the Baptist church, and the father was a Democrat in politics. Of the six children born to them one daughter died in infancy. The others are Clifton and James, both res- idents of Newport, New Hampshire; Mary, wife of Rufus Baker: Abbie, widow of Oliver Buell, who was a resident of Prince- ton, Illinois, for many years, where she now resides ; and Newell P.
Our subject obtained a good high school education in his native state, and commenced teaching school at the age of twenty-one. making his home with his father up to this time. Later he worked for a Mr. Buell in the mercantile business for five years and has profited much by that experience. While thus employed he was married, in 1855, to Miss Thucy A. Weeks, who was born in Vermont, in 1837, but was living with her parents in Massachusetts at the time of her marriage. By this union six children were born, of whom Charles H. died in 1892, at the age of thirty-five years, leaving a wife and two sons, Newell J. and Frank. Those living are as follows: (1) Eugene H., a farmer of Broughton township, Livingston county, is married and has three children ; Oliver and Olive, twins, and Harry. ( 2) Frank S., who lives on the old Clapp farm in Broughton township, is married and has three children, Cora, Mabel and Hazell. (3) Bert is engaged in farming east of Eming- ton. (4) Dell is married and also lives in
Broughton township. (5) Edward is mar- ried and lives on the old home place. The sons have received good common school educations and are now prosperous farmers and men of good habits.
On first coming to Illinois, Mr. George settled in Kendall county, where he rented land and successfully engaged in farming until 1869, when ho removed to Livingston county and purchased forty acres of partially improved land in Broughton township. Here he steadily prospered and at one time owned two hundred and forty acres of land and still retains one hundred and sixty acres, which he has placed under a high state of cul- tivation and improved by the erection of good and substantial buildings, including a comfortable modern residence. He taught school for two years after coming to this state, but has principally engaged in general farming and stock raising. Although he came to Illinois a poor man, he has by hard work and good managemcat become quite well-to-do, and is now assessed higher than any other man in the township.
Politically Mr. George is an ardent Dem- ocrat and has most cro litably and acceptably filled the offices of road commissioner twelve years and school director twenty-five years in his district, having always taken an active interest in maintaining good schools. His support is always given any enterprise which he believes calculated to advance the moral, intellectual and material welfare of his adopted county, and both he and his wife aro widely and favorably known.
ALFRED ERICKSON.
Livingston county has no truer patriot or more industrious, upright citizen than he of whom the following sketch is penned
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His course in life has been pursued in a straightforward manner, eminently worthy of commendation, and the young man of this period can find no example better fitted for his emulation and inspiration.
One of the five children of Erick and Anna M. Nelson, the birth of our subject took place near Stockholm, Sweden, Septem- ber 1, 1835. He grew to manhood on a farm and received fair educational advan- tages, and, as the years passed. he be- came more and more determined to seek his fortune in the United States. In 1860 he took passage in a sailing vessel, bound for New York city, and for seven weeks and four days was tossed to and fro upon the broad Atlantic, one severe storm lasting four days, when all of the ship's sails were furled and she seemed entirely at the mercy of the waves. From New York, Mr. Erickson pro- ceeded to Galesburg, where some of his friends were then residing, and ere long he obtained a position on a farm, and during the ensuing year acquired a fair knowledge of the language and custom of this country.
That the young man had indeed become a devoted son of the land of his adoption was proved when, in August, 1861, he vol- unteered his services in the defense of the Union, and from that day to this he has faithfully performed every duty devolving upon him as a citizen. As a private of Company C. Forty-second Illinois Infantry, he served in the army of the Cumberland, and participated in the battles of Island No. 10, Corinth and Murfreesboro. At the last named place he received a flesh wound in the left leg, and was sent to the local hospital, and later transferred to one at Nashville, thence to Louisville and Chicago. When he had sufficiently recovered he was assigned to the veteran reserve corps, and thus filled
out the term of his enlistment, which expired in September, 1864, when he was honorably discharged at Chicago.
Returning to Knox county, Mr. Erickson worked in a factory until he had entirely re - gained his health, and then he went to Mon- tana, where he engaged in freighting for some time. The ensuing year he turned his attention again to agriculture, and in the spring of 1867 bought an eighty-acre tract of land in Livingston county. Only fifteen acres had been broken and a small cabin constituted the chief improvement on the place. AAt the end of a few years he had reduced the entire farm to cultivation, and by means of fences, ditches and tiling made a model homestead. Buying another tract of forty acres, in section 4, Rooks Creek township, and later one hundred and twenty acres more, he thus increased the home farm to two hundred and forty acres. Sulse- quently, when a favorable opportunity offered, he purchased another quarter-section of land, and now has a farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres in Amity township. By strict attention to business, economy and judicious investments, he gradually amassed a song fortune, and few, in this community who commenced making their own way in the world without means have been more successful.
From the time of his settlement here. Mr. Erickson has used his influence in be- half of good roads, schools and churches and everything of lasting benefit to the county and state. Since 1864. when he cast his first presidential ballot for Lincoln, he has been a loyal adherent of the Repub- lean party. With the exception of a period when he acted in the capacity of a school director, he has never held public office. as he prefers to keep to the quiet walk of life,
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and finds his time well occupied in looking after his varied business interests. With: liis estimable wife, he holds membership in the Lutheran church, and is a liberal con- tributor to religious and benevolent organ- izations.
In 1871, Mr. Erickson and Helen Even- son were united in wedlock in this county. She is a native of Norway and was a child of five years when she accompanied her par- ents to the United States. They located in Amity township, this county, and there the parents dwelt until they were claimed by death. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Erickson, but only one of the number survives, Caroline, wifeof Charles Carlson, who is engaged in carrying on a por- tion of our subject's home farm. They are the parents of three children : Alfred. Emery and Florence. Emily, who wedded Frank Carl- son, died and left two little ones to mourn her loss, namely: Arthur and Clara. The angel of death indeed left our subject and wife desolate, when, within two short weeks. three of their dear ones were victims of diph- theria. Ida was in her tenth year; Edward. the only son, was a promising little fellow. five years old, and Tilda was only two years old. The many sincere friends of the family truly share their sorrow, and in many ways have manifested a deep esteem in which they hold these worthy pioneers.
THEODORE MCCORMICK.
This well-known and popular citizen of Odell township. Livingston county, Illinois, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, October 26, 1837, and is a son of Seth and Mary ( Ilill) McCormick, also natives of
that state and representatives of one of the oldest families. When a young man the father learned the trade of a wagonmaker, which he followed during his residence in Pennsylvania, but on first coming to Illinois in 1857. he turned his attention to agricul- tural pursuits, operating a rented farm in Stephenson county three years. He then came to Livingston county and purchased a tract of unimproved land in Odell township, which he converted into a good farm sup- plied with all necessary improvements for successful farming. Later he rented his place and purchased a home in Odell, where he also opened a wagon shop and worked at his trade. He died there January 8. 1882, at the age of sixty-five years, and his wife,, who was always strong and healthy. died at the home of her youngest daughter, in Ne- braska, in 1892, at the age of seventy-three. Both were earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in pol- itics the father was a Republican for many years but later joined the Democratic party. To this worthy couple were born eleven chil- dren, of whom three died in childhood. The others are as follows : Theodore, our subject. is the only one now residing in Livingston county: John is a stock raiser of Stafford county, Kansas: Henrietta is the wife of Orville Inman, of Benton county, Iowa : Oliver was a member of an Illinois regiment in the Civil war and died of disease at Chat- tanooga: Margaret is the wife of David M. Brown, of St. Louis; Robert is a farmer and stock raiser of Gage county, Nebraska; Nancy is the wife of Frank Lee. a city offi- cial of Beatrice, Nebraska: and Daniel P. is a mechanic living in Coloradc. The two youngest were born in Illinois, the others in Pennsylvania.
Theodore McCormick was educated in
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the district schools of his native state, and commenced work as a laborer. In 1856 he came to Illinois, and while at Freeport cast his first vote for Buchanan. After working as a farm hand for one year, he was joined by his father and the other members of the family, and they worked together three years in Stephenson county before coming to Livingston county. Here our subject re- mained with his father one year, and then commenced farming for himself upon rented land.
On the 19th of December, 1861, Mr. Mc- Cormick married Miss Martha J. Snyder. who was born in Pennsylvania, November 16, 1842, and died September 30, 1899. Her parents, Daniel and Mary ( Williams ) Snyder, were also natives of Pennsylvania. where the mother died when Martha was young. The father afterward married again, and by the second union had one son. Frank P., an attorney of Chicago. Ilis last days were spent in Mendota, Illinois. By the first marriage there were four chil- dren : Albert, a resident of Mendota; Mar- tha J., deceased wife of our subject ; Kate. widow of Isaac Eckert and a resident of Mendota ; Julietta, wife of Henry Bockoven, of Clark county, South Dakota. To Mr. and Mrs. McCormick were born four chil- dren, namely: Seth, born January 4. 1863, is a farmer of Pontiac. He married Louisa Drake, and has two children, Mattie and Elmer. (2) Nettie, born August 16, 1865, is the wife of J. W. Ferguson, of Topcka. Kansas, and they have two children, Irma and Harry. (3) Albert, born September 30, 1871, lives at home and manages the farm. (4) Mattie, born March 24, 1876, is keeping house for her father.
Mr. McCormick engaged in farming upon rented land until 1868, when he pur-
chased eighty acres of partially improved land in Odell township, which he operated three years, and then had charge of his fa- ther's farm for the same length of time. . \t the end of that time he purchased another eighty-acre tract in the northern part of the township, and, meeting with success here, he subsequently bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 25, where he now resides, having sold his two eighty-acre tracts. In carlier days he handled stock quite extensive- ly, but now gives his entire time and atten- tion to general farming. MAthough he has met with many reverses, through sickness, bank failures and hog cholera. he has stead- ily prospered, overcoming all the obstacles in the path to success, and is today one of the substantial citizens of his community. Ile has made all the improvements upon his father's farm, including the erection of a beautiful home in 1893, at a cost of about two thousand dollars. His land is thor- oughly tiled and under a high state of cul- tivation.
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