USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 45
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In the death of his wife Mr. McCormick lost a devoted companion and faithful help- meet. She was a most estimable lady, well liked by all who knew her, and always took an active interest in everything which would advanced the welfare of her family. She was never ill, but passed quietly away eight min- tites after suffering a stroke of paralysis. She and her husband traveled quite exten- sively over the east and west, and spent many pleasant days in this way.
Mr. McCormick has always affiliated with the Democratic party, has efficiently served as road commissioner for tuche years, being again re-elected in 1900, and has also filled the office of school director. Fraternally he is a member of the Mutual Aid of Odell.
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WHAT IS LIFE ?
Life is a narrow vale between the new and the old, .
A narrow path between two mountains bold,
In vain we try to look beyond those peaks so high, Still we see nothing but the varied blue in the sky;
Tho' we weep aloud with anguish and care,
Our voice is lost on the empty air. And the only answer we receive as the years roll by,
Is the resounding echo of our wailing cry; But love and hope see a star, and list- ening can hear
The rustle of angel's wings as their shadowy forms draw near. We are humble mortals born of hopes and fears,
And our path through life is strewn with smiles and tears. Of all there is in life of sad griefs and joys bright,
There is not much between the happy morn of birth and death's sad night. We march on through life ever veiled in mystery and dread, For there comes no answer from the voiceless lips of the dead.
Tho' the stars may look down upon us with compassion and love, From their far away places in the blue heavens above, Tho' learned in art and science as taught here below, We can never tell in what channels our lives will flow.
Tho' we cry aloud in our vain efforts the future to learn, No answer will ever-no never-return; Tho' the heavens for information we eagerly scan,
We never can tell the true destiny of man.
- REVILO.
FRANKLIN OLIVER. 4
Franklin Oliver, deceased, was numbered among the pioneer settlers of Livingston county. locating in what is now known as Oliver's Grove, about five miles south of Chatsworth. He was born in Bordentown, New Jersey, April 8, 1786, and by profession was a civil engineer and surveyor, and was following that occupation at the breaking out of the war of 1812. He enlisted in the service almost as soon as war was proclaimed and served through it with distinction. He was at one time employed as general man- ager for Josepli Bonaparte, ex-king of Spain, a brotlier of the great Napoleon the First. He was married three times, his first wife being Hannah L. Ruckle, a native of New Jersey, whom he married in 1819. She bore him five children, as follows : Ed- ward R., who served as a private soldier in the Mexican war, and was also a captain in the Confederate service during the civil war. He now resides in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he owns Montreal ranch, consisting of twenty thousand acres, and is one of the wealthy meu of that region; Elias B., who is a surveyor residing near Topeka, Kan- sas; Helen and Franklin C., who are both deceased, and James, who is a civil engineer, and is engaged in engineering and mining at Ophir, California.
In 1833 Franklin Oliver came with his family to Livingston county, Illinois, set- tling, as already stated. in Oliver's Grove, which continued to be his home until his deatlı. He was one of the first county sur- veyors of Livingston county, and selected and surveyed all the swamp land in the county. He also became the owner of four thousand acres of choice land in Livingston and adjoining counties, but never actively
MISS GERTIE ROSS.
The Author's Little Niece.
در
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engaged in farming, the land being only used for pasturing during his lifetime.
John Oliver, the father of Franklin Oli- ver, was born and educated in Dublin, Ire- land. He emigrated to this country some- time prior to the Revolutionary war, in which he served as quartermaster-general. He was a warm friend of Benjamin Frank- lin, who at one time gave him a portrait of himself, being one of only three that were ever made. It was painted by Francis Hop- kins, one of the signers of the Declaration of luxlependence. The family yet have that portrait in their possession, and it goes with- out question to say that it is highly prized. John Oliver was the pioneer of the Oliver family who settled in Bordentown, New Jersey.
For his second wife Franklin Oliver mar- ried Sarah Wert, in 1846, who was born in Illinois, and by this union there was one (laughter. Caroline, now the wife of Theo- dore Dorr. residing in Livingston county. For his third wife he married Amaretta Smith, in 1850, who was born in Oswego county, New York, March 6, 1833. Her father, Luther L. Smith, was born in West- minster, Vermont, and married Amaretta Fellows, who was a daughter of Captain Fellows, of war fame. His father, Luther Smith, was also born in Vermont, where he married Love Leavitt, of Vermont, whose mother was Love Howard, and whose grand- parents achieved fame by coming over in the Mayflower.
Luther L. Smith came to Livingston county when Mrs. Oliver was a small chiki. Ile settled on what is known as Smith's Mound, north of Pontiac, and which is the highest elevation in the county. The ma- ternal grandfather of Mrs. Oliver, Captain Fellows, who served in the Revolutionary
war, went into the service as a teamister when very young, and was promoted to a captaincy during the war. His father was Colonel Fellows, who heki that title during the Revolutionary war. Captain Fellows married Miss Anna Grant, of Old Hartford, Connecticut, relative of General Grant. .Adelia Smith, a sister of Mrs. Oliver, was the first lady teacher in Pontiac, teaching school in the okl court house. She was a very talented lady, and the belle of Living- ston county. She is now the wife of llor- ace Scripture, of Oswego, New York. Ada- line Smith, who died young, was also a school teacher and a minister in the Methi- odist church. She was a fine public speaker. Jerome B. Smith lives on the oldl homestead on Smith's Mound, where he owns about six hundred acres of well improved land. Solomon J. Smith is now living retired near Chicago. Niles was a soldier in the civil war, and served until the end. He later went to Oklahoma where he died in 1895.
To Franklin and Amaretta Oliver were born three children: Revilo, John L. and Florence. Revilo, ex-mayor of Chatsworth. the famous song composer, author of "Sol- (liers of the Maine," the great Spanish- American war song; "The Hero of Manila." the famous Dewey song: "Nineteen 11un- dred Years Ago," a Christmas song and chorus relating to the Savior of the world; "The Volunteers," a war song and chorus, representing the largest army in the world, and other beautiful songs and poems. He has the distinction of being both an author and inventor, a characteristic seklom found in one person. He inherits his Christian and poetic nature from his mother, who is a noble, Christian woman, and a great finan- cier. Ilis family consists of his mother and his little niece. Miss Gertie Ross, whose
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photograph appears in this work. She is a bright little girl of considerable oratorical ability, to whom the poet is very much at- tached. He also has the distinction of being the first and only person in the world who bears the name of Revilo, which is consid- ered by many to be the sweetest and pret- tiest name known to the English language, being a new name originating with his fa- ther, from whom he inherits his mechanical ingenuity. One thing that makes him lo- cally famous is the peculiarity of his name. Revilo, when read backwards spells Oliver, and Oliver when read backwards spells Re- vilo. He is a natural orator and a good judge of law and equity, and, like most all poets, he is endowed with a genial, kind- hearted and sympathetic nature, but when thoroughly aroused by injustice he is tin- yielding and of a warlike disposition. He is styled Revilo, the Christian poet, because there is something about his compositions that reminds one of the other world. His songs and poems are sad, but beautiful. They have a sublimity of thought and a tenderness of feeling that touches the heart of everyone.
John L., who is residing on part of the home farm, is a successful agriculturist and raiser of blooded stock, is married, and has five children-Ralph, Daisy. Arthur, Orvile and Oma. Florence is the wife of Thomas Ross, and they now reside in Lake Village, Indiana. He is a farmer, and also a horse trainer and track driver. They have four children-Gertie, Charles, Joseph R. and Murrell D). The first named makes her home with her uncle, Revilo and her grand- mother Oliver, and is a bright and talented young elocutionist.
Ann Oliver, a sister of Franklin Oliver. was a nattiral artist, and some of her work
is in possession of the family at the present time. She is buried at Pontiac, where she distinguished herself during the cholera epi- demic of 1848 by taking care of a number of afflicted ones, who all recovered, but she her- self was taken with the dread disease and her life was thus offered a sacrifice to others.
Franklin Oliver, after a long and useful life, died September 19, 1881. His widow, Mrs. Amaretta Oliver, survives him, and now makes her home in the city of Chats- worth, where she owns a fine residence. She is also the owner of over eleven hun- (red acres of choice farm land in Living- ston county, from which she derives a hand- some income.
WILLIAM WILLARD SHEDD.
William Willard Shedd, formerly a prominent farmer of Yates township. Mc Lean county, who is now living a retired life in Fairbury, was born in Alstead. New Hampshire, July 14, 1835 and is a son of William and Abigail ( Wallace ) Shedd. also natives of that state, the former born in Mason, in 1801, the latter in Greenfield. in 1810. Both belonged to old New England families, and the paternal ancestry was of French descent. the maternal of Scotch. In their family were nine children, namely : Mary E., now the widow of John G. Graves and a resident of Evanston, Illinois: Silas L., a resident of Corvallis, Oregon : William W., our subject : Herman, who served as a private in the Civil war and was killed at the battle of Fair Oaks, in 1862: Jonas W .. a resident of Rensselaer, Indiana : Spalding S., also a resident of that place: Edwin, of Lewiston, California : John G., a member of the firm of Marshall Field & Company, of
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Chicago : and one who died in infancy. The father was a prosperous farmer of Ner Hampshire, but after his children were al grown and had left the parental roof. he sold the old home and came to Illinois to live with them. He died at the home of his daughter in Knox county, Illinois, in De- cember, 1875 : and his wife died at the home of our subject in Fairbury, in December, 1894. Both were faithful members of the Congregational church and active workers in the same.
Our subject received his education in the common schools of his native state and aided in the work of the home farm until eighteen years of age, when he found employment as a clerk in a general store for two years. He was then appointed as an attendant in the asylum for insane at Taunton, Massa- chusetts. a position he held one year. De- ciding to go to the far west. on the 12th of April. 1860, in company with W. W. Kiger and family, John Hardenburg and William Phillips, he started to cross the plains with ox teams. They crossed the Mississippi river at Oquawka and the Missouri at Council Bluffs. . At that time there was not a house standing on the present site of Omaha. They continued their slow journey to Salt Lake and Honey Lake Valley, and arrived in Ore- gon September 1, taking five months to complete their trip. They met many Indians on the plains, but they were nearly all friend- ly. doing considerable trading with the emi- grant trains that were continu misly crossing to the gold regions. Mr. Shedd remained in Oregon some time and found employment at good wages. In the spring of 1863 he conducted a second pack train into the wilds of Idaho, and spent six years in the west, mostly in California and Oregon.
chased eighty acres of land in Yates town- ship. McLean county, which at that time was wild prairie and swamp land. but by industry and perseverance he soon placed it under cultivation. After erecting thereon a rude house, he returned to his boyhod home in 1867 for a wife, and was there united in marriage with Miss Rhoda M. Graves. He brought his bride to his newly acquired home in Illinois, and for many years successfully followed general farming and stock raising in McLean county. He added another one hundred-and-sixty-acre tract to his posses- sions, and built a pleasant residence. By good management and hard work he placed the land under cultivation and made many improvements thereon. Ile soll eighty acres at a good profit, but still retains one hundred and sixty acres, which he now rents while living retired in Fairbury, enjoying a well- earned rest. Mr. and Mrs. Shedd are the parents of three children, namely : Hlerman. who is successfully engaged in farming on the old homestead, is married and has two children. Mary R. and Florence M .: John W. is a leading dentist of Chicago : and Dora G. is at home.
Politically Mr. Shedd has always been identified with the Republican party, and has held office almost continuously sinceattaining huis majority, being one of the leading and influential citizens of his community. He served as assessor for twelve consecutive years, supervisor two terms, and township school trustee twenty years, having always taken a firm stand for good schools. He has served his fellow citizens most faithfully and to the best of his ability. Reaching the age when he felt farm work too arduous. he purchased a lot in Fairbury in 1894 and erected a modern residence, fitted with all
In 1866 he came to Illinois and pur- conveniences obtainable and there he is liv-
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ing a quiet, retired life with his wife and daughter. He has been elected justice of the peace and is now filling that office. He is a man of jovial disposition, who makes many friends and is held in high regard by all with whom he comes in contact either in business or social life.
W. H. BRICKMAN.
W. H. Barickman, a prominent musician and a successful farmer, residing on section 30, Newtown township, Livingston county, Illinois, was born upon his present farm, May 11, 1865. a son of Benjamin and Mary Augusta Barickman, represented elsewhere in this volume. He began his education in the district schools of Reading township, the same county, and later attended college at Dixon, Illinois, where he gave special at- tention to the study of music. Since his return home in 1889 he has had charge of the farm. and now successfully operates two hundred and seventy-five acres of land in Newtown township. He also owns one hundred and three acres on section 19, the same township, which he rents.
On the Ioth of July, 1889, Mr. Barick- man was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Semans, a native of Livingston county, and a daughter of Henry and Rebecca Semans, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. By this union have been born five children, namely : Earl Wade, Ray W., Winifred, Charles Max and Edwin K.
In his social relations Mr. Barickman is a charter member of AAncona Camp, No. 1835, M. W. A .; in politics is identified with the Republican party. For the past seven years he has served as school director
in district number ten, and takes an active interest in all enterprises calculated to ad- vance the moral, social and material wel- fare of his community. He has always been an ardent lover of music, and has devoted considerable attention to the study of that art, as he possesses much talent in that di- rection. He has a good voice, and is able to play on several different instruments. For the past ten years he has been a musical di- rector, and at present is instructing two brass bands of eighteen pieces each, and an orchestra of eight pieces, principally string instruments. He also has many private scholars, and was formerly a cornet player in the Fourth Regiment Band located at Streator. lle is quite popular, both in mu- sical and social circles, and justly merits the high regard in which he is held.
AMMON DEFENBAUGH.
Ammon Defenbaugh, one of the most successful farmers and stock raisers of Reading township, Livingston county, as well as one of its most enterprising and pub- lic-spirited citizens, was born in Newtown township, that same county, May 27, 1854, and is a son of Elijah and Catherine ( Defen- baugh) Defenbaugh, a sketch of whom ap- pears on another page of this volume. He was only able to attend school about three months during the year, but continued his studies in the district schools, as he found opportunity, until he attained his majority. He aided his father in the work of the home farm until the latter's death in 1886, and then commenced farming on his own ac- count. He now operates seven hundred and seventy acres of land in Reading township,
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four hundred acres of which belongs to him. Having become thoroughly familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, he met with marked suc- cess at the beginning of his career, and today is one of the most prosperous farmers of the township. He feeds annually about one hundred head of cattle and two hundred hogs, in this way using all the grain raised upon his land. As a business man he is re- hable, energetic and progressive, and has the entire confidence and respect of those with whom he comes in contact.
Fraternally Mr. Defenbaugh affiliates with AAncona Camp. No. 1835, M. W. A., and politically is identified with the Demo- cratic party. He has always taken an ac- tive interest in anything pertaining to the good of his party; for the past twenty years has been committeeman of Reading town- ship; and for many years has been a dele- gate to county, congressional and state con- ventions. He takes a prominent and in- fluential part in local affairs; was assessor of his township one year, and supervisor three years, during which time he was a member of several of the most important committees, including the one on jail and jail accounts. He has also served as school director and is now school trustee.
GEORGE E. BENNETT.
George E. Bennett, a highly esteemed farmer of Rooks Creek township, Living- ston county, is a citizen of whom it may be truly said wherever he has resided the com- munity has been the better and more pros- perous for his presence. He has firmly stood for public improvements, schools and
churches, and progress in all lines, and by voice and means has used his influence for the good and right. As he justly deserves, success has attended his industrious, well ap- plied efforts in business, and his innumer- able friends in this portion of the state re- joice in his good fortune.
In tracing the ancestral history of our subject, it is found that he is of French de- scent, on both sides of the family. His paternal grandfather, Colonel Green Ben- nett, won his title during some of the early wars of this, country. He resided in Che- mung county, New York, in the early part of this century, and there his son, Thomas S., father of our subject, was born and reared to manhood. lle married Mary Brown, likewise a native of Chemung county, and in 1850 they removed to Kendall county, Illi- nois. Later the family located in Kane county, and in 1867 they removed to this county, with which their name has since been closely associated. Mr. Bennett was summoned to the silent land in 1869, and was survived a score of years by his widow, who made her home with her son George until her death, in February, 1899. This beloved couple, whose lives have much of inspiration to the younger generation, are now sleeping their last sleep in Johnson cemetery.
George E. Bennett was born on the okl family estate in Chemung county. New York, November 9, 1848, and, as he was young when he was brought to Illinois, he knows no other home. Here he received a common school education, and laid the foun- dations for his future success by practical application to his chosen calling. When he was less than twenty years of age he came to this county and purchased eighty acres of land in section 10, Rooks Creek township-
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his present homestead. True, this was a wild tract of land, and about its only im- provement was a small cabin, but the young man, with true foresight, believed that a fine farm could be developed here. Within a few years he had developed the land and reaped good harvests each year. Besides this. he rented additional land, which yielded large crops annually, and later he increased the boundaries of his farm to two hundred and eight acres.
With characteristic enterprise, Mr. Ben- nett was the first one in this township to purchase and lay tiling, the experiment being made in 1883. when he laid thirteen hundred rods of tile, at a cost of eleven hun- dred dollars. This venture proving a suc- cess, as some land that otherwise had not been of much value was thereby made highly productive, he invested more capital in til- ing, and his example was followed by many of his neighbors. Today a pleasant modern farm house, well built barns, a thrifty or- chard and beautiful fields of grain and hay proclaim the judicious care and industry of the owner.
The marriage of Mr. Bennett and Martha E. Douglas was solemnized in this county, February 1, 1881. Her father, Reason N. Douglas, was one of the carly settlers of Livingston county, coming here from Ohio. Mrs. Bennett was born in this pioneer home, and was reared to maturity here, enjoying the benefits of the common schools and com- pleting her education in Eureka ( Illinois) College, after which she engaged in teach- ing. Four children bless the union of our subject and wife, namely : Myron E., Mary E., Thomas R. and Mabel. Leroy, the first born, died at the age of three and one-half years.
Upon receiving the right of franchise,
Mr. Bennett voted for General U. S. Grant, but of late years he has kept free from party obligations, and uses his ballot for the plat- form and nominee which he deems best suited for the emergency and times. For many years he served as a member of the board of education, as township clerk and trustee, and gave entire satisfaction to the people in his discharge of his duties of citizenship. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are members of the Baptist church in Gray- mont, and, besides being one of the official board, he is a great worker in the Sunday school, and is president of the Sunday School Association of this township.
F. K. HACK.
F. K. Ilack, a well-known citizen and leading agriculturist of Sullivan township, Livingston county, Illinois, residing on sec- tion 14, was born February 4, 1862, in that township, just two miles south of his present home, and is a son of Frederick and Martha (Knorr) Hack, natives of Bavaria, Ger- many. The father was born March 6, 1828, and in the spring of 1852 emigrated to the United States. From New York city he went to Pittsburg, and found employment as a farm hand in Butler county, Pennsylva- nia, where he remained four years. Ile then came to Grundy county, Illinois, and two years later to Livingston county, where he has since made his home. In 1857 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of government land in Sullivan township. which at that time was very swampy and all wild and unimproved, but he soon trans- formed it into a good farm. He added to his landed possessions from time to time as his
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financial resources increased until he had came from Pennsylvania to Livingston over six hundred acres of well improved and valuable land, some of which he sold for ninety-two dollars and a half per acre. His success in life was due entirely to his own unaided efforts for he started out empty- handed. le engaged in farming until the village of Cullom sprang into existence, when he embarked in the lumber and hardware business at that place and later he also dealt in grain. For many years he was promi- nently identified with public affairs, repre- senting Sullivan township on the county board of supervisors three years, and serv- ing as road commissioner eighteen years, school director sixteen years, and president of the village board several years. He was formerly a Republican in politics, but now votes independently, and is an active and faithful member of the Lutheran church. On the ist of June, 1852, he married Miss Martha Knorr, who died July 4, 1898, and he is now living retired among his children in Sullivan township. In his family are the following : Elizabeth, wife of Ezra Grush, of Dwight township, Livingston county ; Lena, wife of Ernest Opperman, of Sullivan township: Caroline, wife of An- drew II. Haag, supervisor of Sullivan town- ship : Katie, who married Leonard Haag and dlied at the age of twenty-six years; Ezra. who is living on the old home farm in Sulli- van township; and Frederick K., our subject.
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