USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 47
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(red and sixty acres in La Porte county, In- nia, born in Perry county, October 26, 1870, diana. His wife is also the owner of an eighty-acre tract. Since 1889 he has devoted considerable attention to buying. feeding and shipping stock, and now ships on an average of forty-five car loads of cattle and hogs annually, and has a herd of seventy steers fattening for market. He is a most progressive and energetic business man, and is meeting with marked success in his un- dertakings.
On the 16th of September. 1891, in Es- men township, Mr. Brunskill was united in marriage with Miss Olive Rhodes, a native of Wisconsin. Her parents. Leland M. and Caroline ( Clark ) Rhodes, were born, reared and married in New York, and from that state removed to Walworth county, Wiscon- sin, where he improved a farm, making it his home until 1878, when he came to Liv- ingston county. Illinois, and purchased the farm of three hundred and twenty acres on ' which our subject now resides. Here Mrs. Brunskill was reared and educated. She presides with gracious dignity over her home, and holds membership in the Baptist church. Politically Mr. Brunskill is an in- dependent, and by the people he was elected and filled the office of township clerk for three years, but he has never cared for po- litical preferment, his time being fully occu- pied by his extensive business interests. While independent in politics, his choice for president in 1900 is William J. Bryan.
HARRY WRY WAGENSELLER.
Harry Wry Wagenseller. one of the rising young farmers of Avoca township. Livingston county, is a native of Pennsylva-
and is a son of Thomas and Mary ( Rice ) Wagenseller, also natives of that state, and of German descent. His ancestors settled in Pennsylvania in the early part of the nine- teenth century. By trade the father of our subject was a carriage maker, but for some time was engaged in mercantile business, and after coming to Illinois, in 1871. con- ducted an eating house in Chenoa, McLean county, until his death, in 1873. He had four children, of whom William and John died in childhood. Juniata W., the only daughter, is now the wife of John Green, a promising young farmer living near Pon- tiac, and to them were born two children, but one died in infancy, and Mabel M. is living. Harry W., our subject, completes the family. After the death of her husband the mother conducted an eating house at Weston for a time. In 1876 she married Richard Stratton, a prosperous farmer of Livingston county, and they took up their residence upon his farm, but are now living in Fairbury, where Mr. Stratton purchased a comfortable home on retiring from farm life.
Our subject received the greater part of his education in the common schools of Liv- ingston county, and also took a six months' course at Baker's Business College at Bloom- ington, fitting himself to carry on any voca- tion on business principles. In 1888 he went to Nebraska and opened the first school near North Platte, since which time a school has has been conducted in that district cach year regularly. At the end of a three months' term he returned to Illinois. Hle lived with his mother until he attained his majority and superintended Mr. Stratton's farm, carrying on a successful business for him until 1895, when Mr. Stratton moved
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to Fairbury, and Mr. Wagenseller pur- chased eighty acres of land on section 19. Avoca township, paying for the same ninety dollars per acre. He continues to operate Mr. Stratton's farm, consisting of a half- section of land, and his own eighty acres. and is successfully engaged in general farm- ing and stock raising. Ile is not only a thorough and systematic farmer, but is a man of good business and executive ability.
In 1895 Mr. Wagenseller married Miss Fanny Gooll, who was born in Illinois, in 1872, a daughter of Marvin and Jennie Goold. now residents of Eppards Point township, where the father carries on gen- eral farming. In the Goold family were eight children, of whom four died when young. Those living are Helen, Jay, Roy and Fanny. Mr. and Mrs. Wagenseller have two children : John Richard and Ruth Mae, who are the joy of the household.
Politically Mr. Wagenseller has always adhered to the principles of the Republican party, but has never sought office. He favors good schools and gives his support to all enterprises calculated to advance the moral, intellectual or social welfare of the community in which he lives. Religiously he is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Lodemia, and is now a member of the board of trustees.
t. V. ELLINGWOOD. M. D.
C. V. Ellingwood. M. D., of Chats- worth, Illinois, is a well known physician of established reputation, both in medicine and surgery, having a very extensive practice in Livingston and adjoining counties. was born in Eastport, Washington county,
Maine, October 12, 1858. His father, Cap- tain M. A. Ellingwood, was born on Grand Menan island, an English isle off the coast of Maine, and who for many years followed the seas. When nineteen years of age he took charge of a vessel as its captain, and continued to hold that position until he left the ocean and settled down to the life of a farmer. He married Matilda Pendleton, a native of Deere island, also an English isle off the coast of Maine. They became the parents of two sons, Clarence .V. and C. V. The former is a resident of Whitewater, Wisconsin. In 1870 Captain Ellingwood came with his family west and located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and there his death occurred in 1898. Ilis widow is yet living in that city.
The subject of this sketch spent much of his early life on the ocean with his father. and with him visited nearly all the foreign countries. He was twelve years of age when the family moved to Whitewater. Wisconsin, and in the high school and the Normal school at that place he received his literary education. Leaving school, he en- gaged in telegraphy, and continued in the same capacity until 1885. when he entered Bennett Medical College, Chicago, having in the meantime, as the opportunity was afforded him, read medicine. Pursuing the regular course he was graduated from that institution in March, 1887. In the follow- ing summer he came to Chatsworth for the practice of his profession, arriving here on the oth of August. the day before the terri- ble wreck on the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad, in which a large number were killed and many were severely injured. For an entire week following he secured little or no sleep, his attendance, with other local physicians, being required to give relief to
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the suffering. The experience and skill Union, Connectient, Mutual, Penn Mutual shown by the Doctor on that occasion has been beneficial to him in the years follow- ing. He has always kept up with the prog- ress made in his profession, and in 1895 took a post-graduate course in the Chicago Polyclinic Hospital.
In 1883 Dr. Ellingwood was united in marriage with Miss Fannie . A. Bentley, a na- tive of Michigan, and daughter of H. J. Bentley, who settled in that state at an early day, coming west from New York, of which state he was a native. During his active life he followed farming, but he is now liv- ing retired, making his home with our sub- ject in Chatsworth. Mrs. Ellingwood was one of two chiklren. Ilall. her brother, was drowned when but seven years of age. To our subject and wife two children have also been born. Lulu A. is now attending St. Mary's Academy, Notre Dame, Indiana. a noted seminary for young ladies. Jennie is attending the academy at Chatsworth.
Fraternally Mr. Ellingwood is a member of Chatsworth Lodge, No. 539. A. F. & A. M .: of Fairbury Chapter, No. 99. R. . 1. M. : St. Paul's Commandery, No. 34, of Fair- bury ; and of the Mystic Shrine, Peoria, and of the Peoria Consistory. In politics he is a Republican, and a firm believer in the prin- ciples of the party. He has been trustee of the village two years; a member of the board of education nine years, three years of which time serving as its president. He has served as pension examiner, and secretary of the Livingston county board of pensioners. lí: is now examining physician for his locality for nearly all the leading life insurance com- panies, including the Washington National, the Equitable, Home, Phoenix, Mutual Life of New York, New York Life, John Han. cock, lowa Life, Manhattan, American,
and Security Trust and Life. He is local surgeon for the Illinois Central Railroad, and is a member of the International . Issn- ciation of Railroad Surgeons. As a physi- cian and surgeon he ranks among the best. as a citizen he is enterprising and ready at all times to assist any worthy enterprise. His friends are many throughout Livingston and adjoining counties, where he is so well known.
JOHN B. SUTTON.
John B. Sutton, the well-known post- master at Wing, and one of the early edu- cators of Livingston county, was born near Zanesville, Ohio, January 31, 1831. llis father, Samuel Sutton, was born near Egy Harbor, New Jersey, where he grew to manhood and engaged in farming for a time, but later he was interested in the produce business in Philadelphia. From that city he moved to Ohio, locating on a farm near Zanesville. There he married Eliza- beth Slack, a native of Bucks county, Penn- sylvania, and a daughter of John Slack, who on leaving Pennsylvania went to Loudoun county, Virginia, and later moved by wagons to Ohio, also settling near Zanesville. The Slack family is of Pennsylvania Dutch de- scent, while the Suttons are of English ex- traction. During the childhood of our sub- ject his parents located in Adamsville, Ohio, where they made their home until death. The father served as justice of the peace for some years, and was a man of consider- able prominence in his community.
John B. Sutton was reared in Musking- um county, Ohio, and obtained his education in the country schools and those of Zanes-
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ville. Ile remained on his father's farm until reaching manhood, and then engaged in teaching school during the winter months and in farming during the summer season. his time being spent in this way from the age of eighteen to fifty years, missing only a few winter terms. In Muskingum coun- ty, he was married. February 12. 1852, to Miss Johanna Hanks, a native of that coun- ty. Her father. Jeremiah Hanks, was from Virginia, and was a second cousin of Abra- ham Lincoln.
In 1865 Mr. Sutton sold his farm in Ohio and moved to Wayne county. Jowa. where he purchased one tract of two hun- dred and forty acres of land. another of two hundred acres. He made a number of im- provements upon these and engaged in their cultivation until 1868, when the doctors ad- vised a change of climate in the hopes of lx nefiting his wife's health, and he came to Livingston county, Illinois. Ile first lo- cated in Indian Grove township and pur- chased a farm near Fairbury, which he im- proved, and in connection with its cultiva- tion he engaged in school teaching. On selling that place. in 1880. he bought a farm in Charlotte township, upon which he made most of the improvements. The first house he erected thereon was destroyed by fire. but was soon replaced by another. and he also built good barns, cribs and other build- ings. Ile tiled the land. planted an orchard and set out shade trees, making his farm one of the best in the township. This place he still owns, but has made his home in Wing since June, 1897. and has erected a comfortable residence there.
Mrs. Sutton died October 20, 1898, leav- ing four children, namely: ( 1) Charles. whose wife is dead, has two children, Ivy and Effie, and now lives in Wing. ( 2)
Albert, who lives on his father's farm, mar- ried Mmina Williams, and they have five children. Edna. Lois, John. Clifford and Homer. (3) Howard and (4) Elmore are with their father. One daughter. Clara Ann, married William Large, and died Jaly 3. 1894. leaving four children : Maude E .. Dwight. Marion and Ethel May.
While a resident of Ohio, Mr. Sutton served as clerk of his township. and in Char- lotte township. Livingston county, was two or three times elected justice of the peace. but refused to qualify. Since casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont he has been a stanch Republican, and a dele- gate to the different conventions of his party. For a number of years he had been a patron ci the Wing postoffice, and in September. 1897, was appointed postmaster, which ofice he has since most creditably filled. Besi les his residence he has erected a postoffice bu Id- ing in that place. Mr. Sutton is one of the five charter members of the Methodist Epis- copal church of Wing, which was organized in a school house. and was chairman of the building committee when the church elifice was erected. He has always taken an active and prominent part in church work and has served as class leader and steward.
WILLIAM W. ZOLLINGER.
William W. Zollinger, who is success- fully engaged in agricultural pursuits on sec- tion 13. Sullivan township, Livingston county, Illinois, was born on the 30th of June, 1852, in Franklin county. Peansyl- vania, of which his parents. George K. and Mary ( Britton ) Zollinger, are also natives. The father followed farming for many
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years, but is now living retired in Green vil- lage, that county. Both he and his wife are seventy-three years of age. In politics he is a Democrat, and has been active in advance- ing the interests of his party. His father, Frederick Zollinger, was of German extrac- tion and a life-long resident of Pennsyl- vania. Our subject is the oklest in a family of three children, the others being Lucy. wife of J. D. Ludwig. of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania : and Maggie L .. wife of El- mer Bollinger, of Green, that state.
In the county of his nativity William W. Zollinger was reared and educated. At the age of twenty-two years he came to Liging- ston county, Ilinois, and found employment in Sullivan township at twenty-two dollars per month. Here he worked for five years. On the 20th of February. 1880, he wedded Miss Mary Martin, a native of Bureau county, Ilinois. Her father. James Martin, was one of the early settlers of that county. and a large land owner, having four hun- dred and eighty acres there and nine hun- dred acres in Livingston county. For some time he made his home in Sullivan town- ship, the latter county, and in 1890 moved to Oklahoma territory, where he died six years later. In his family were seven chil- dren : Sarah, Emma, Jane, Sanford, Mary, William and Ella, all yet living. Sarah, the wife of G. W. Boeman, of Cullom. and Mrs. Zollinger are the only ones living in Liv- ingston county. Our subject and his wife have two children : George W. and Lee W., both attending the district school.
Viter his marriage Mr. Zollinger pur- chased eighty acres of land in Ford county. just across the line from Livingston cam- ty, and after living there for thirteen year- bought his present farm of two hundred acres on section 13. Sullivan township.
Livingston emanty. He is engaged princi- pally in general farming, but devotes con- siderable attention to the raising of Norman draft horses. Success has attended his well- directed efforts and to-day he is one of the well-to-do citizens of his community as well as one of its most highly respected men. For- merly he affiliated with the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows and was a supporter of the Democratic party until 1896, when he voted for William McKinley and sound money. le has served as road commissioner three years and school director nine years, and has always taken an active and commend- able interest in educational affairs.
WILL L. TALBOTT.
Will L. Talbott, the present well-known and popular sheriff of Livingston county. was born in lowa City, lowa. September 23. 1862, and is a son of Lewis William and Lorena (Outwell ) Talbott. His paternal grandfather was William Talbott, at one time chief of police in Indianapolis and a soldier of the Revolutionary war from New Jersey. He was a pioneer of Indiana. In- cating first at Bloomington, near ludanapo- lis, and later removing to that city. where he died. The mother of our subject was it native of Kentucky and a daughter of Thomas Outwell, who belonged to a promi- nent family of that state, but was a strong anti-slavery man and Abolitionist. He was also an carly settler and made his home in a village near Indianapolis until after the marriage of his daughter.
Lewis W. Talbott, our subject's father. was born and reared on a farm in Indiana and later followed farming. In covered
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wagons drawn by ox-teams he and his wife crossed Indiana and Illinois; were ferried across the Mississippi river at Davenport, and proceeded to Iowa City, in 1846, 10- cating there before the town was established. There he engaged in merchandising for many years, and also served as city marshal at an early day when the locality was con- sidered the frontier. Later he served as alderman of the city, and for three years was a member of Company I, Twenty-sec- ond lowa Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war, and for one hundred days as first lieutenant in the Thirty-third Regiment. Among the many engagements in which he took part was the siege of Vicksburg. Ile was never wounded, but contracted disease, which ultimately cansed his death. He con- tinned to engage in merchandising after the war until failing health cansed his retire- ment. Ile was a good musician in early days and was a prominent and active mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, his home being the stopping place for circuit riders. Ile served as class leader, steward, trustee and superintendent of the Sunday school, in fact was one of the pillars of the church to which he belonged. He was al- ways an active Republican and held differ- ent local offices. Ile died in 1888, honored and respected by all who knew him. Ilis estimable wife and eight children survive
Our subject, who is the fifth child and youngest son in this family, began his edu- cation in the common schools of Iowa City und completed the high school course. Hav- og considerable oratorical ability and de- ring to become an actor, he went upon Ile stage at the age of eighteen years and Hent ten years before the footlights, meet- 1: at marked success. He played in all
of the principal cities of the United States and Canada.
On the 30th of December, 1890, Mr. Talbott married Miss Grace E. Munger, of lowa City, a daughter of Don A. Munger, who was for some years proprietor of the Phoenix hotel of Pontiac, and one of the Munger Brothers, who had hotels all through this section of the United States. Later he moved to Iowa City, where he was proprietor of the St. James, the leading hotel of the place, for some years. By this union has been born a daughter, Helen Lorraine.
On leaving the stage, Mr. Talbott was engaged in the hotel business in Sandwich for one year, and on selling out came to Pon- tiac, after which he was a commercial trav- eler for a Chicago house five years. He was then appointed deputy sheriff and filled that position two years. As a Republican he has taken an active and prominent part in local politics, and in 1898, out of five candidates, received the nomination of his party for sheriff. He was elected by a majority of fourteen hundred and thirteen, though the usnal majority was less than ten hundred, it being the largest majority ever given a candidate in this county. fle assumed the duties of the office December 5, 1898, and up to the present time has had charge of over two hundred criminals and has proved a most efficient and capable officer. He worked up the case of the Cornell Bank rob- bery, the Rightsell murder case, and a great many others, such as horse stealing, high- way robbery, etc. As a detective he has been remarkably successful, and he has also performed a large amount of civil business in a most satisfactory manner. The duties of the office have never been more ably or satisfactorily discharged than under his ad- ministration, and he is certainly the right
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man in the right place. Socially Mr. Tal- bott is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America and he has been a member of the board of managers of the last named organization for a number of years. He also belongs to the Toilers and Pioneer Reserves.
JUDGE THOMAS KENNEDY.
Hon. Thomas Kennedy, the present county judge of Woodford county, is recog- nized as one of the leading members of the legal profession in the county. He was born on a farm in Minonk township, December 6, 1858, and is a son of Thomas and Cath- erine (Flynn) Kennedy, the father a native of Ireland and the mother of New Hamp- shire. She died in 1863. at the age of thirty-two years, leaving a family of five children, of whom Thomas is the subject of this sketch. Mary and Charles reside upon the home farm in Minonk township. Wood- ford county. Emmeline lives in San Fran- cisco, California. Elizabeth Rose taught school for awhile in Woodford and La Salle counties. She is now employed as a stenog- rapher and bookkeeper in the office of the Chicago & Minonk Coal and Tile Company.
Thomas Kennedy. sr., lived in Ireland until he was about eighteen years of age when he went to Jersey island, off the coast of France, where he lived about four years. Hle came to the United States about 1851. landing at Boston. About 1854 he came west with Mr. Fisher, a pork packer of Lacon, Marshall county, Illinois, and en- tered the employ of that gentleman, with whom he continued for two or three years.
Ile then came to Minonk, Woodford county. in 1856, and went on a farm on section 2. belonging to Mr. Fisher, and there contin- ued to reside for eleven or twelve years. The farm is now owned by Michael Mc- Namara. Afterwards he rented the farm now owned by Joseph E. Hindret, in the same township, where he remained for ten years. In 1875 he bought the farm now known as the Kennedy farm on section 4. Minonk township, to which he removed in 1878, and there continued to reside the re- mainder of his life. He died November 1, 1878, when about fifty years of age, leaving an unimpeachable reputation for honesty and faithful performance of life's duties.
On those farms in Minonk township the subject of this sketch grew to manhood, and by reading such books as were obtain- able and attending the common schools of the neighborhood during the winter months, obtained his education. After attaining his majority he taught school for about three years, and in 1884 commenced reading law with M. L. Newell of Minonk, and in June, 1886, was admitted to practice in the courts of the state. After his admission he worked for his preceptor for one year. In Septem- ber. 1887, Mr. Kennedy moved to Meta- mora, then the county seat of Woodford county, where he engaged in general practice for a year and a half, during which time he served as master in chancery of Woodford county. In 1888 he was elected state's at- torney of the county, and served in that office eight years. From 1880 to 1803 he was in partnership with M. L. Newell at Minonk, Ilinois, under the firm name of Newell & Kennedy. Mr. Newell moved to Spring- field, Illinois, in 1893 and Mr. Kennedy suc- ceeded to the business of the firm. In 1808 he was elected county judge for a term of
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four years and is now filling that responsible position, with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the people.
On July 12. 1894. Judge Kennedy was married to Miss Clara E. Hart, of Bloom- ington Illinois, daughter of Allen Hart, me of the early settlers of Palestine town ship, in Woodford county. For several years prior to her marriage. Mrs. Kennedy was a teacher in the public schools of Mi- nonk where she won an enviable reputation as a teacher. One child has come to bless their union, Kaywin Kennedy, born Decem- ber 24. 1805. The family reside in a pleas- ant home in the city of Minonk. The Judge spends only part of his time at his office in Minok, his duties as county judge requir- ing his presence at the court house in Eureka. the first week of each month and every Thursday.
Since his admission to the bar, the Judge has been in active practice and has met with gratifying success. He is well read in law and is a therough student. He has the confidence of his colleagues in the profession. and the people trust him implicitly. . \ life- ling resident of the county, he has made many friends and is held! in the highest c-leem.
GEORGE W. HEMSTREET.
George W. Hemstreet, one of the patriots "la give up their lives for the preservation , the Good and the curse of freedom, was Dorian Syracuse. New York, November 20. 1535 HIS father. William Hemstreet, was 1 min Holland. November 15. 1807. and when a molly came to this country with 1 rents Hle was married in Lafayette. ( mit). New York, March 10.
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