USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 48
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1831. to Miss Sophia Parker, and from there removed to Syracuse, where as a black- smith and carriage maker he was engaged in business for many years. About 1883 he came to La Salle, Illinois, where he carried of the same business, being one of the pio- neer carriage makers of that place, but in 1860 he sold his property there and moved to his farm in Blue Mound township. MeLean county, not far from Bloomington. To the improvement and cultivation of that place he devoted his energies for some years, but finally disposed of it and made his home with a son in Delavan, Wisconsin, where he died about 1893. His wife died at the home of a daughter in Chicago, five years later. Both were earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
George W. Hemstreet received his edu- cation in the schools of his native city. and there he was engaged in business with his tather for a short time. but later learned the trade of a mason, to which he ever after- ward devoted his attention. He came to Pontiac. Ilinois, in 1855. and engaged in building, working on the most prominent buildings erected at that time, including the first brick court house at this place. Here he continued to follow his chosen occupa- tion until the outbreak of the civil war. He was married, May 14. 1858, to Miss Nancy M. Rolhns, of Pontiac. He enlisted in the Fifty-third Hinors Volunteer Infantry, and participated in all of the engagements in which his regiment took part up to the battle bi Jackson. Misssippi, where he was killed July 12. 1803. He entered the service as orderly, and at the time of his death had risen to the rank of lieutenant, being pro- moted for gallant and meritorious service on the field of battle. Besides his widow. he left one daughter, Minnie M .. now a resi-
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dent of Chicago. He was highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him, and in his death the community realized that it had lost a valued citizen.
Mrs. Hemstreet is a native of Cicero, In- diana, and a daughter of Philip and Martha (De Moss) Rollins. The father was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, and as a youth removed to Indiana, where he met his fu- ture wife, then a widow-Mrs. Hannaman. There he engaged in farming until October, 1842, when he came to Livingston county. and located two miles east of Pontiac, where he built a log cabin on his two-hundred-acre tract of wild land. To the further improve- ment and cultivation of his farm he gave his entire time and attention, and prosper- ing in his undertakings, he added to it until he had a valuable land of three hundred acres under excellent cultivation. Upon that place he continued to make his home until his death, which occurred January 9, 1897. and his wife passed away July 22, 1896. She was long an earnest and faithful mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Rol- lins was baptized into the same church late in life. He served as justice of the peace and school director, and filled other local offices in a most creditable manner. At the corner of Plum and Howard streets he built the first brick house ever erected in Pontiac. and lived there for five years that he might give his children better educational advan- tages than the country schools afforded, af- ter which he returned to his father. He had much to do in selling and conveyancing land, and was a business man of much more than ordinary business ability. In his fam- ily were two sons and three daughters, be- sides a step-son, Peter Hannaman, who re- sided in Pontiac until recently, but is now living in Los Angeles, California. IFis 24
own children were: Charles W., who lived on a farm adjoining the old homestead and died recently at the age of sixty years : Nan- cy M., now Mrs. Hemstreet; Martha M., wife of Mr. Lidell, of Chicago; Emeline. widow of Harry Hill; and William H., who lives on the old home farm.
Mrs. Hemstreet well remembers when with her parents she came to Livingston county, driving through Pontiac when not a tree or a house marked the site of that present thriving city, and she has watched with interest its entire growth and develop- ment. For thirty years she has been an act- ive member of the Presbyterian church, has served as president of the Ladies' Aid So- ciety of the church, and has taken a promi- nent part in all its work. She has also been a leading member of the Ladies' Relief Corps, an auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Republic, and often meets with them at their encampments. Wherever known she is held in high regard and her friends are many in the city which has so long been her home.
REV. M. P. O'BRIEN.
Father O'Brien, pastor of St. Patrick's church, of Dwight. Illinois, was born in county Waterford. Freland, in 1846, and when a boy of five years moved to England with his parents. John and Anastasia ( Fo- ley ) O'Brien, also natives of county Water- ford. The family located in county Dur- ham, England, where the father followed his chosen occupation of farming up to within a year of his death, when he returned to Ireland and there died. In his father's family were four children, three of whom are still living, namely : Peter, James and M. P.
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During his boyhood and youth Father O'Brien attended St. Augustine's Catholic school at Arlington, and after completing his studies at that institution he taught school in London and Liverpool at the French Christian Brothers school for two years. He was then advised by his spiritual director to the study of Paul and enter the ranks of the priesthood, which he decided todo. With this purpose in view he went to Italy at the age of eighteen years, stopping first at Turin and later at Montori. After Is ordination he was attached to the diocese in northern England, in charge of churches in Hexham and Newcastle, where he re- mame l'as priest for a number of years.
On coming to America Father O'Brien entered the Peoria diocese, and for six years was pastor of St. Mary's church at Carthage. Donors, luring which time he made many improvements in the church property. Ile Conducted services in Carthage two Sundays out of the month; while one Sunday was spent n La Harpe, the other in West Point and Giddings Mount, as he was in charge of the mu gregations at all four place -. In July. Syn, Father ('Brien came to Dwight - peter of St. Patrick's church, and has -in e eretal their new house of worship at austin & even thousand dollars. The tur- I'm 2 . Were all put in by the Springfield Mandbesturing Company at a cost of forty- Let nad dollars, and the heating appa- It- It system cost one thousand D Ltler O'Brien also built St. Ber- 5 -drat So bury, Livingston coun- I Was, at a cost of eight thou- 00 00 -- It is also well heated and fur- may the same manner as the Dwight -bile doug li meefat.gable energy pour. In thechurches have been
Hle holds services at each church two Sun- days in the month.
The parish of Dwight is one of the oldest in the diocese of Peoria, and has had as out- missions at different times the parishes of- Odell, Pontiac, Kinsman, Flanagan, Ran- som and Campus. It has had a resident priest since 1867. its first pastor being Rev. I .. Dunne, who served from 1867 to 1870; followed by Rev. L. Hanley, from 1871 10 1877: and Rev. J. Halpin, from 1878 to 1882. The last named was succeeded by Rev. J. Recouvreur, who remained until 1885. Then came Father Belanger for a vear, who was succeeded by Rev. S. B. lledges, who remained until 1889. Rev. F. B. Moore succeeded him and remained until 180 ;. He began the new church, which was completed by his successor. the present pastor. Rev. M. P. O'Brien, who has labored untiringly for the church and its interests.
THOMAS A. DANIELS.
This well-known citizen of Flanagan. Illinois, an honored veteran of the civil war. was born in St. Louis, Missouri. April 19, 1847, and is of English and Scotch descent. Ilis paternal grandfather, John Daniels, was for many years a prominent marble mer- chant of Liverpool, England, and when last heard from was still doing an extensive busi- ness at that place. The father. John Dan- iel-, Jr., was born in Liverpool, and came to America with his twin brother. Henry, in 1845. when quite young, locating first in St. Louis. There he married Margaret Turnbull, a native of Edinburg, Scotland. who came to this country with her parents when only eleven years old. For several
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years her father was engaged in business as a merchant tailor at St. Louis, and there reared his family, numbering the following named children : Georgiana, wife of Sam- uel J. Richards, of St. Louis: Kate, wife of Alexander Yale, of the same place; Bessie, wife of James Graham, of Nashville, Ten- nessee : Margaret, mother of our subject : John, who died while serving as an officer in the Confederate army during the civil war: William, who is operating a flouring mill near St. Louis: and Frank, a resident of that city. The children born to John and Margaret (Turnbull) Daniels were as follows : Thomas A., of this review : Frank, who died in Ferndale, California. November 2. 1894 : William, a harness deal- er, of San Francisco, California ; and Ella. who is the widow of Edward Grogan, a shoe merchant of San Francisco, and is now engaged in missionary work in Japan and China. The father of this family died in 1854. at the age of twenty-six years, and for her second husband the mother married his twin brother. Henry Daniels, who died shortly after their marriage. She now makes her home at 1625 Church street, San Francisco, California.
Thomas AA. Daniels was only a month old when his parents moved to Nashville. Tennessee, but after the death of his step- father, in 1859. the family returned to St. Louis. Later they lived in Independence and St. Joseph, Missouri, and from the lat- ter place again returned to St. Louis, where the mother made her home until going to California. Thomas A. was educated by private tutors. He was quite young when the civil war broke out, but on the 8th of August. 1802, at the age of fifteen years, le enlisted at Benton Barracks, St. Louis. in Company C, Thirty-third Missouri Vol-
unteer Infantry, as a musician, in which ca- pacity he served all through the war. In the fall of 1862 he was in the southwestern Missouri campaign against General Price. and returning to St. Louis in a very danger- ous condition, he was sent to the Fifth street hospital. On his recovery he went south. up the Yazoo river, and participated in the storming of Fort Pemberton, and in the operations in the rear of Vicksburg. He next went to Helena, Arkansas, and was in battle at that place, July 4. against General Price. Ile was in the Black river and Mer- idian campaigns against General Johnston, and took part in the Red river expedition, being in several engagements on the Louis- iana side. With his command he next went up the Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee. and was in battle at Tupela against General Forrest. After the defeat of Sturges, Mr. Daniels was sent to the Overton Hospital in Memphis, dangerously ill. While conva- lescing he was sent to Fort Pickens, and there volunteered to act as guard over new recruits, bounty jumpers and deserters. While returning to. Memphis, he took part in the engagement at Grand Prairie, where he was slightly wounded. After the battle of Nashville he was sent to Fort Pickens, later to Schopafield Barracks, St. Louis and from there to Camp Douglas, Chicago. In Jan- uary, 1865, he was transferred to Company A. Fifteenth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, and was ordered to Cairo, where he was mustered out July 13. that year, by gen- eral order of the war department.
At the close of the war Mr. Daniels served an apprenticeship at carriage making in Joliet, Illinois. In 1868 he removed to Odell, where he worked at his trade until 1887, and later followed the same occupa- tion at Wilmington. Since 1889 he has
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made his home in Flanagan and is numbered among its honored and highly respected citi- zens. Fraternally he is a member of the Grand Army Post of Pontiac.
On the 24th of December. 1870, Mr. Daniels was united in marriage with Miss Mary . \. Hahn, daughter of Jacob and Helen ( Muller ) Halm, of Odel, and by this union have been born eight children, namely : Lil- lian Eglantine born October 9. 1871. is the wife of J. J. Miles, of Flanagan: Margaret Elizabeth. born December 26. 1873. is the wife of C. B. Howe, of the same place : Viola Elsie. born October 25, 1875. is the wife of R. G. Murphy, of Flanagan ; Bessie Rosa Lola, born October 25. 1878, is the wife of Dr. J. K. Means, of Pontiac : Elsie May Aferetta, born January 20, 1881, is clerking in the postoffice at Flanagan : Cleve- land Francis, born December 11. 1883, died August 21. 1895 : Grover Clifford, born May 4. 1885. and George Valentine, born Feb- ruary 14. 1888, are both at home.
MARSHALL DE FOREST WILDER.
Among the leading agriculturists of Waldo township. Livingston county, is the subject of this review, who was born in Washingtonville. Oswego county, New York, May 17. 1836, a son of Edson and Susan (Titus) Willer. The former died March 4. 1896. The mother is yet living and makes her home in Pontiac. Our sub- ject attended school almost uninterruptedly until sixteen years of age, and then entered the employ of Levi Matthews, of Mexico- ville, with whom he remained four months. Returning home at the end of that time he accepted a Clerkship in the store of E. V.
Robbins, but on the first of the following December he entered the seminary at Fort Plain in Montgomery county. New York, where he studied until spring, when he re- sumed work in the store. remaining with Mr. Robbins' successors, Pruyn & Alton. until January. He then attended school until spring, when he procured employment as clerk for I. C. & AA. N. Harding. re- maining with them two years. In 1855, at the age of twenty years, he removed to Peoria county, Illinois, where his father rented land, and in connection with his two brothers he engaged in farming. Two years later they bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, but in 1864 sold that place and came to Livingston county, whore they jointly purchased a farm of two hun- dred and fifty-six acres. In partnership they engaged in its operation until 1880, when the connection was dissolved by mutual con- sent. Our subject now owns a well-in- proved and highly cultivated farm in Waldo township, and is successfuly engaged in its operation.
On the 25th of May. 1873. Mr. Wilder was united in marriage with Miss Fran- ces Adelaide Dingman. daughter of Henry and Lavinia ( Ferguson) Dingman, of Oswego county, New York. Her fa- ther, who was of German descent. was born in 1797. and died July 12. 1876. while her mother, who was of Scotch origin, was born in 1811, and died July 12. 1864. Their other children were as follows: Johanna, deceased wife of Thomas Tripp; Margaret, deceased wife of Jonathan Salisbury, of Iowa: James. of Oswego county. New York, who married Olive Sheldon: Hannah, the second wife of John Cain, his first wife being her younger sister, Mary Jane; Henry, who married]
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Mary Smith and lives in Jefferson county. New York: Lavinia, wife of Martin H. Thomas, of Oswego county. New York; Samantha, wife of James Kelly, of Read- ing, Michigan; Elvira, who first married Newton Ames, who died in the army, and second married John Raymond, of Canada; and Annetta, wife of Delos Watkins, of Oswego county, New York. Mrs. Wildre was born in Orwell, Oswego county. April 14, 1840, and is the tenth in order of birth in this family of eleven children.
Our subject and his wife have four chil- dren: Netta D., born January 24, 1874. was married February 10, 1897, to Gilbert Blaine Farman, of Gridley, Illinois, and has one child. Marshall Howard, born July 31, 1898; Mary J., born September 6, 1875, was married October 15, 1895, to Charles Shanebrook, of Gridley, and has one chikl, Clarence Chester, born August 14, 1896. Henry 11 .. born Docember 6, 1876, and Cleo Pearl, born September 8, 1885, are both at home.
During the Civil war, Mr. Wikler en- listed in February, 1865, in Company B. Seventh Illinois Cavalry, and was commis- sioned second lieutenant. His command was assigned to General Sherman's army and from Springfield, Illinois, went to New York, thence down the coast to Morehead City, North Carolina. From there they marched to Raleigh, where they joincl the regiment, and remained with it until the surrender of Johnston. They participated in the grand review at Washington, D. C., and while thore received orders to proced to Texas, but these orders were afterward countermanded and they then went to Louisville, Kentucky, where they wore mus- tered out of service. Mr. Wilder was hon-
orably discharged July 9. 1865. AAmong his most highly treasured possessions is a sword presented him by his company at Springfield, Ilinois.
In his political views Mr. Wildler is a Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas. In April, 1897, he was elected township clerk, which office he held continuously until 1882, when elected supervisor, and re-elected the follow- ing year, after which he refused longer to accept the office. In December, 1878, he was appointed township collector to fill a vacancy and when he retired from the office of supervisor was re-elected township clerk, which position he filled for many years. He was census enumerator in 1890, and has held the office of justice of the peace since 1896. In September, 1899, he was appointed supervisor at a meeting of the board of auditors to fill a vacancy, and on the expiration of that term in the spring of 1900 he was elected to that position, which he is now so creditably and acceptably filling. Fraternally he is a member of Martin Post, No. 291, G. A. R., of Gridley, and he is highly respected and estcemed by all who know him.
HENRY SEMANS.
On the 5th of November, 1878. there passed away at his home in Reading town- ship. Livingston county. Henry Semans, who for several years was prominently iden- tified with the agricultural interests of that section. A native of Illinois, he was born in LaSalle county, May 11, 1835, and was the son of Ezra and Mary ( Macky Semans, natives of Pennsylvania, and early settlers of LaSalle county, where the father took a farm, making his home there throughout
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the remainder of his life. He died at the age of sixty-four years, his wife at the age of seventy-eight. In their family wore six children, namely : Amanda, Macky and Henry, all deceased : Cirena, wife of David Besore, of Ottawa: Mary A. widow of Ephraim Boserman and a resident of Ot- tawa; and Almira, also a resident of that place.
In the common schools of his native county. Henry Semans acquired his educa- tion, and he remained at home until he at- tained his majority. On the 17th of De- cember, 1860, he was united in marriage with Rebecca Wade, a native of Massachu- setts, and to them were born six children. as follows: Robert Il., who is engaged in the creamery business in Streator, Illinois, married Eva Harris, and they have two chil- dren, Lloyd H. and Virgil R. Arthur is connected with the Illinois Central Railroad at Chicago. Hugh D., a resident of New- ton township, who is engaged in farming on the home place, married Nellie Defen- baugh, and they have three children, Glady's, Selma and Zola. Eliza is the wife of W. Il. Barickman, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. Nora is at home with her mother. Melvin, who manages the he me place, married Emma Barickman, and they have one child, Lester.
Robert Wade, the father of Mrs. Semans, was born in Leeds, England, and in that country followed mining until nineteen years of age, when he came to America and located at Fall River, Massachusetts, where he secured employment in a cotton m ll, as a muslin bleacher. There he mar- ried Eliza Wilson, also a native of England. born in Manchester. In 1840 they came west by way of the Great Lakes to Chicago, and there by stage to Ottawa, which was
then a small village of two or three houses and one store. Mr. Wade purchased a tract of land near the present site of Streator, and there successfully engaged in farming until within a few years of his death, when he retired from active life. He died on the 27th of October. 1882, at the age of seventy- six years, and his wife departed this life at the age of fifty-nine. Mrs. Semans was the older of their two children. the other being Elizabeth, deceased wife of James Sexton, who is now living in Streator. They had two children.
After their marriage in 1860, Mr. and Mrs. Semans came to Livingston county. and he purchased a partially improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Reading township, to the improvement and cultiva- tion of which he devoted his energies throughout the remainder of his life. As his financial resources increased, he added to his landed possessions from time to time. until at his death he had three hundred and sixty acres. His remains were interred in Wolf Creek cemetery, in Otter Creek town- ship. La Salle county. By his ballet he supported the men and measures of the Democratic party, but never carol for pub- lic office. He not only gained a comforta- ble competence, but also won the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact either in business or social life.
A. C. SCHLOSSER.
This enterprising and progressive young business man of Panola, was born in Bloom- ington. McLean county, Illinois, September 9. 1806, and is a son of George and Eliza- beth (Huffman ) Schlosser, natives of Ger- many, who came with their respective par-
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ents to America when young and settled in Ohio, being among the first settlers of that state. There their marriage was celebrated. On coming west they located in Blooming- ton. McLean county, Illinois, where they reared their family of ten children. The father, who followed farming throughout the greater part of his life, died October 5. 1899. at the age of sixty-four years and nine months, but the mother is still living, and now resides in Merna. McLean county.
The subject of this sketch remained at home until he attained the age of twenty- two years, and then engaged in farming for two years. In March, 1802. he embarked in the grain business at Hudson, Illinois, but remained at that place only four months before coming to Panola, where he and a partner. James AA. Esler, rented the north elevator on the Illinois Central Railroad, and where they engaged in the grain business for about two years and a half, since which time Mr. Schlosser has been alone in business. In 1896 he purchased the south elevator. which he still conducts, and in the summer of 1900 erected another large elevator of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railroad at Enright. a small station about two and a half miles east of El Paso, where he is also engaged in buying grain. Ile has been han- dling between three and four hundred thou- sand bushels of grain annually, and with the added capacity of his new elevator at Eu- right the volume of his business will be largely increased. He also conducts a coal and lumber yard, and carries on an extensive live stock business at Panola; also a coal yard at Euright in connection with his ele- vator there. He is one of the most energetic and progressive business men in his section of the county, and is meeting with excellent success in his undertakings.
In April, 1899, Mr. Schlosser was elected supervisor of Panola township, which office he is now most creditably filling. discharg- ing its duties with his characteristic business ability and fairness. In his political views he is a stanch Democrat, and one of the act- ive supporters of that party in Woodford county. Fraternally Mr. Schlosser is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America.
THE FARMERS BANK OF ROANOKE.
AAmong the banks of Woodford county none have met with beter success than the Farmers Bank of Roanoke, which was or- ganized in 1894, soon after the fire of 1893. which burned out the bleck which it now occupies, it being opened for business Octo- ber 10, 1804. It is connected with the bank of Henry Denhart & Company, of Wash- ington, Illinois, and does a general banking. real estate and Joan business. When opened for business its deposits amounted to ten thousand six hundred and eighty-eight dol- lars, which was increased to seventeen dol- dollars the second : sixty-two thousand dol- lars the third : over ninety thousand dollars the fifth; and one hundred and forty thou- sand dollars at present : thus showing a grad- ual and healthy increase. By its safe, con- servative methods the bank has gained the confidence of the people in its vicinity, and has a rich country to draw from. Its officers are Henry Denhart, of Washington, presi- ident : Henry D. Harms, of the same place. vice-president: and Louis W. Harms, of Roanoke, cashier : all upright, reliable men, of good business and executive ability.
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