USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 49
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COL .. BAZEL D. MEEK.
Col. Bazel D. Meek, an old and promi- nent attorney of Eureka, and at present chairman of the board of supervisors for Winford county, Illinois, was born near Vernon, the county seat of Jennings county. liliana, December 6, 1828, and is a son of Henry B. and Parthenia .A. ( Perry ) Meck. the former a native of Kentucky, born near Somerset. Pulaski county, in 1804.
Jacob Meek. the great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Lincolnshire, England. He came to this country in logo. when a boy. in company with a brother, and settled on the James river. in Virginia. He married and moved to North Carolina, but later moved to Hagerstown, Maryland, where his death oc- curred. In his family were thirteen sons and three daughters, one of his daughters, Nancy marrying Paul Hulse, who fought so bravely through the Revolutionary war. Jacob Meck with his sons, was in many of the bat- tles with the Indians in the early part of the seventeenth century.
Lewis, Nathan and David, his sons. funghi through the Revolutionary war, Bazel. the grandfather of our subject, being too young to participate. Lewis, the first horn of the family, was supposed to have been killed at Braddock's defeat, and a younger half brother was named Lewis. It was the latter who served throughout the Later the first born Lewis appeared. and thus it was that there were two sons by the name of Lewis in the family.
Haze Meck, the grandfather, who was Irenear Hagerstown, Maryland. in 1703. Va a monber of the Home Guards during the Ko mary war, and was in a number yo ogut- with the Indians. He moved to Lentes . 1700, and there married Mis
Roberts, who, with her parents, moved to Kentucky with Daniel Boone. By occupa- pation he was a farmer. He was prominent in politics, and for eight years was sheriff of Pulaski county. Tall of stature, he was a man of fine physique and manly in his bear- ing. and one in whom the people would in- stinetively trust. From Kentucky he moved to Jennings county, Indiana, and there also served as sheriff for a period of eight years. In 1833 he came to Woodford county, Hli- nois, and while he never here engaged in active labor, he purchased a tract of land in Greene township, but died in a house near the father of our subject about 1840. Politi- cally he was a Jacksonian Democrat. For many years he was a member of the Baptist church, but was one of those who united to form the First Christian church in Walnut Grove, now Eureka. He was very active in the church up to the time of his death, and was a firm believer in the gospel of Christ.
Henry B. Meek, the father of our sub- ject. grew to manhood in Kentucky, and when a young man moved to Jennings county. Indiana, where he was united in mar- riage with Miss Parthenia A. Perry, who was born near Knoxville, Tennessee, and a daughter of Ransom Perry, who moved from Tennessee to that country in an early day. The family was originally from North Caro- Imna. While residing in Tennessee, Ran- som Perry took an active part in public af- fairs, serving as probate judge, and also in other official positions. Loyal to his coun- try. he served as a soldier in the war of 1812. From Indiana he later moved to Missouri. le cating near Carthage, Jasper county, where he died about 1857.
On the 12th of April. 1830. Henry B. Week, with his family, landed at Walnut Grove. Woodford county, but which was
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then a part of Tazewell county, and there made a permanent settlement. He first pur- chased a small tract of land, which he im- proved, and to which he added from time to time until he had about thirteen hundred acres, a part of which he later deeded to his children, leaving him about eight hundred acres at the time of his death. He was a thoroughly practical farmer, and was more than usually successful. He was not an as- pirant for office and would accept none, save that of commissioner of highways, taking the position that he might use the office to se- cure beter roads. One of the pioners of the county, he did his duty faithfully and well and those now living are receiving the bene- fit of his labors, together with those of his associates. He was a member of the Chris- tian church, a faithful disciple of Christ. and one of the solid, substantial men of the community. He died in September. 1883. and his wife in December. 1888. She was also a member of the Christian church and loyal to the lowly Nazarene. They left a family of five children, three sons and two daughters.
The subject of this sketch came to Wood- ford county when about sixteen months okl. his mother riding on horseback and carry- ing him in her arms from the Indiana home. On the home farm in Walnut Grove, his boyhood and youth were spent. in the winter attending school in the old log school house near his father's place, while his summers were spent in assisting in the farm work. For a time he attended school in Cherry Grove Academy, in Knox county, and later was a student in Knox College at Galesburg. After leaving college he was engaged in teaching for two winters.
In his youth Col. Meck had a strong de- sire to take up the study of medicine, but
circumstances prevented it. In 1849-50 the gold fever was raging throughout the coun- try, fabulous stories being told of the dis- covery of gold in California, and the great wealth in waiting for the adventurous ones. With several others, he started across the plains to the New Eldorada, with a mule train, crossing the Missouri river at St. Jos- eph. Missouri, April 28, of the same year. which was the quickest trip, with teams. that had been made across the mountains up to that time. They were the first that year to cross, with wagons, the snow of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
On his arrival in California Mr. Meek went into the Trinidad mines, but was soon taken sick and for the sake of his health he went north to Oregon, going first to Port- land, and then on to the Tenoletin plains. There he was connected with lumber mills and was in that line of business for two years. Having had experience enough. he returned home in 1853. by Central America and New York.
It was the intention of Mr. Meek, on coming home, to engage in farming, but he was soon afterwards nominated for county treasurer and assessor of the county on the Democratic ticket and was duly elected. While serving his term of two years he read law, and was then nominated and elected county judge, filling that position one term.
On the breaking out of the Civil war. in 186t. he received permission from the gov- ernment to raise a regiment, and on the 20th of December, 1861, it was mustered into the service as the Eleventh linois Cavalry. Mr. Meeks receiving a commission as lieutenant- colonel, while Robert G. Ingersoll was made colonel. The regiment went into camp at Peoria, where it remained until early in Feb- ruary, 1862, when it was sent to Benton
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barracks, near St. Louis, Missouri, and early in March it was ordered south into Tennes- "ce, where it a few weeks later took part in the battle of Shiloh. It was next in the march to Corinth, during which time Col. Meck had charge of the picket lines of the Sixth Division. He was then taken sick and was away from his regiment about four weeks. Returning he took part in the bat- tles at luka. Hudson, Lexington, Tennessee, Parker's Cross Roads, and other minor en- gagements, and was also on many guerrilla skirmishes with the enemy. During the greater part of his term of service he com- manded the regiment. Colonel Ingersoll be- ing away on detached service. For a short time he was also in command of his brigade. In consequence of the great loss in his regi- ment and its reduction in numbers, he re- signed his commission in the fall of 1863 and returned home.
Shortly after his return from the service Colonel Meck was examined for admission to the bar, and was licensed to practice in all the court- of the state. Locating in Eureka he engaged in practice, and from that time 1, the present he has been associated in most of the important cases in Woodford county and very often the special cases in adjoining counties. His success has been gratifying. indeed, and his record has been a clean one and always satisfying to his clients.
Chlenel Meek has always been prominent in localaffairs, and he has done much for the upbuilding and general welfare of his county. In 1808 he was for the second time elected county judge and filled the office ac ceptaby for a term of four years. He has or ed as supervisor of his township a minta Ver bi terms, and each time was elected and ser el as chairman of the board. He has serve las a men ber of the scho Ilward about
twenty years, and was a member when the large school house in Eureka was erected. His interest in the cause of education is shown by his long service in a thankless office. Before the war he also served as county superintendent of schools, during which time he did much to place the schools in the front rank, and in the adoption of progressive methods. In politics he has al- ways been a Democrat. and has taken an active part in the county and state conven- tions of his party. In 1896 he was an al- ternate to the national Democratic conven- tion which assembled at Chicago.
Colonel Meek was made a Mason in Taylor Lodge, Washington, Illinois, in 1854. and later was a charter member of W. C. Hobbs Lodge, No. 306, of Eureka, and was one to suggest its name. He was the third one to hold the office of worshipful master in the lodge. He was also a charter member of Dan Miles Post. No. 270, (. A. R., of Dureka, which was named in honor of one of his old friends, and was its first com- mander, a position which he is filling in 1900.
On the 22 of October. 1856. Colonel Meek was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Ward, of Canton, Illinois, but a native of Ohio, and a daughter of J. F. Ward, who moved from that state at an early day, locating in Eureka. By this umion four children have been born, as fol- lows: Parthenia, now Mrs. W. C. Mitchell. of Chicago: William D., of Chicago: Frank 1 ., an attorney of Peoria, Illinois; and Hlen- It B .. who is in the internal revenue service al l'eoria.
Colonel and Mrs. Meck are members of the Christian church and take qinte an act- ive interest in its work. Their home has been in Eureka since 1858, and nome are
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more highly respected or have more friends. The Colonel has owned and traded a great deal in land, and in business life has met with marked success. For seventy years he has been a citizen of the county, and the greater part of the time since reaching man- hood has been in public life, and it can safely be said that no service required of him but has been faithfully discharged for the best interests of all. Ilis life record is worthy of emulation.
HENRY C. BAIRD.
For almost half a century this gentleman has been prominently identified with the business and social interests of Eureka, and is numbered among its most honored and highly respected citizens. He was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey. August 4. 1830, a son of Nicholas D. and Susan ( Creed ) Baird, also natives of that state. the former born in New Brunswick, the lat- ter in Trenton. His paternal grandfather. Abram Baird, familiarly known as okl Major Baird, having served with that rank in the militia, was of Scotch extraction and a di- rect descendant of the old Huguenots, from whom the family seem to have inherited their religious tendencies. Our subject's mater- nal grandfather, Rev. John D. Creed, was a Presbyterian minister of Trenton, New Jer- sey, but soon after the birth of Mrs. Baird the family moved to New Brunswick. Ile was also of Scotch descent. Nicholas 1). Baird, the father of our subject. was princi- pally engaged in business as a miller and grain dealer throughout his active business life. At one time he owned most of Bools Island in the Delaware river, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and was one of the most
prominent men of New Brunswick for many years in early life. Meeting with failure in some of his undertakings he taught school for some time to recuperate his fortune. Ile was known as Captain Baird, being com- mander of vessels, three of which he loaded and started for the West Indies with the in- tention of founding a colony, but the vessels were wrecked and he lost everything with the exception of the money he had in his pocket when picked up. He remained in West Indies for some time. Later in life he lived with our subject in Woodford coun- ty, Illinois, but finally returned to New Jer- sey, where he died in 1890. He was of a so- cial, genial nature until becoming feaf, when he seemed to shun others. Religiously he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while the mother of our subject was a Presbyterian. She died in New Jersey when our subject was only a few weeks old.
Being leit motherless, Henry C. Baird was reared by his maternal grandmother, who at that time was the wife of John Stry- ker. of Neshanic, New Jersey. After the death of her second husband she moved to Bound Brook, the same state, where she made her home with her son, John Creed. She was a wonderfully intelligent woman and well educated. From the age of ten years until reaching manhood Mr. Baird lived in Bound Brook and was educated at the old high school of that place. In early life he learned the harnessmaker's trade. and opened a shop of his own in Hunterdon county before he reached the age of twenty years. When he sold that he embarked in the Daguerrean business, being among the first to turn his atention to that art. lle traveled quite extensively over New Jersey, meeting with remarkable success, and for a number of years conducted a gallery in Rah-
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way, that state, but his health failed and he was obliged to retire from the business. In the spring of 1855 he came to Illinois and spent one year in recuperating. Hle then re- turned to New Jersey, but the following year took up his residence in Concord. (now Dan- ver- 1. Illinois, where he purchased a harness shop and conducted the same until coming to Eureka July 15. 1857. Hearing this was a temperance town and going to grow up as such. he determined to make it his home. He bought property and opened a harness shop. manufacturing the first harness made in this section of the state. He did a good business and furnished employment to two hands. lle is now the only man living which was in business here at that time. Until 1865 he continued to work at his trade. and in the meantime became interested in the real estate and insurance business, to who was in business here at that time. and attention. Ile has been the leading in surance agent of the place since 1859. rep- Presenting both fire and life insurance com- pannes.
On the 7th of October, 1858. Mr. Baird was united in marriage with Miss Caroline 1. Townley, of Westfield, New Jersey, a daughter of David Townley, a representa- tive of one of the old families of that place. They had been engaged for seven years. Their children are, Lillian, at home ; Maggie. wife of James A. Roberts, of Chicago; and Susan, wife of Lewis Hodgson, of lowa.
For many years Mr. Baird has been an active and faithful member of the Christian church and served as superintendent of the Sunday school for eighteen years, a longer period than any other has filled the same offre Ding his entire residence in Eureka le ho taken an active part in promoting the text of the college: was one of its
trustees for a number of years, and for sev- eral years served as treasurer of the same. lle was also a trustee of the town during his early residence here and for years has filled the office of police magistrate. Politically he has been identified with the Republican party since its inception, and has been a del- egate to different conventions of his party. Mr. Baird is a worthy representative of that class of citizens who lead quiet. industrious, honest and useful lives, and constitute the best portion of a community. Wherever known he is held in high regard, and as an honored pioneer and highly respected citizen he is certainly deserving of honorable men. tion in the history of his adopted country
BELA M. STODDARD.
Bela M. Stoddard enjoys the honor of being the pioneer business man of Minonk. as for thirty-five years he has conducted a profitable trade here. Probably no one in the county is better known, and wherever he is known. his praise is frequently on the lips of the people. Though his financial ventures have been extensive, his methods of transacting business have been so upright and just, so true to every contract and prom- ise, that no one envies his success and no one criticises his career. His name is a guarantee of good faith, and his neighbors and business associates have the utmost confidence in his integrity and sound judgment.
It is no surprise to learn that our sub- ject comes of the sterling old Puritan ances- try, his father, S. A. Stoddard, having been it native of Connecticut, while the mother. Nancy M. ( Merrill ) Stoddard, was born in Maine. At an early day the father removed
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to New York state, where he was married. and in 1857 he removed with his family to Mclean county. Illinois. There he pur- chased a quarter-section of land and for eighteen years was occupied in its cultiva- tion. The first election hell in his town- ship was at his house, and a sugar-bowl, in which sixteen or seventeen ballots were de- posited. served as the ballot-box. In 1875 he took up his residence in Chatsworth, where his devoted wife died seven years later in her eighty-second year. He survived her eleven years, dying at the venerable age of ninety-one. Both were almost life long members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and possessed the grand traits of character, innate and acquired, which mark the true Christian. Kindly and sympathetic by na- ture, they ever sought to lend a helping hand to the poor and afflicted, and thus won the undying love and esteem of all who knew them. . As might be expected of such a man. the father was strongly opposed to slavery. and was a stanch friend of the Union. When the Republican party was organized he joined the ranks of the party which had espoused the cause of the down trodden, and thenceforth cast his influence in that direc- tion.
Of the eleven children born to this wor- thy couple three died in infancy. Nathaniel. who has been twice married, is a farmer in the vicinity of Rockville, Missouri. Char- lotte, widow of Doctor Brigham, resides in Chicago, and George, whose wife, Laura, Boyington, has passed away. lives in Seattle, Washington. Julia, who wedded E. S. Thomas, has entered the silent land. Mahala married Monzo Straight, and their four children, Judd A., Dora. Ora B. and Frank K .. are respected citizens of the several communities in which they dwell. J. . 1.
lives in Chatsworth, Ilinois; O. B., in Belle Flower, Illinois, and F. K., in Omaha. Ne- braska, while Dora, formerly a teacher in the Minonk high school, is now a citizen of Chicago, The father died in 1862, when the children were young, and the mother reared them with great wisdom and tender- ness. She was called to her reward in 1897. when in her sixty-fourth year. For forty- six years she had been a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and pos- sessed the sincere love of all who knew her. Simon Avery, the youngest brother of our subject, was one of the brave boys who wore the blue in the Civil war, and after serving faithfully at the post of duty for about a year, he was instantly killed during the bat- tle of Peach Tree Creek, Tennessee. lle had enlisted as a private soldier in the see- ond year of the war, in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment of Illinois In- fantry, and was only about twenty-one years old at the time of his sad death. Nancy, the youngest member of the family, is the wife of John Wickersham, of Kansas City.
B. M. Stoddard was born in Chautauqua county, New York, September 10, 1840, and accompanied his parents to finois when he was seventeen years of age. He received thorough training in agricultural methods and in the schools of the district obtained a liberal education. After the Civil war was declared he enlisted for three months, in the Seventy-first Illinois Infantry, and was sta- tioned at Mound City, Illinois, on garrison duty, most of this period. Returning home he engaged in farming until the close of the war. when he came to Minonk.
For a year or more Mr. Stoddard was a partner of D. S. Thomas, conducting a gen- eral merchandising business, and then the firm of Stoddard & Newton was organized.
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Gradually they became more and more ex- tensively engaged in buying and selling grain, and at length, in 1876, they dissolved their business conection. Mr. Newton taking the store and its trade as his share. and Mr. Stoddard assuming the management of the grain business. He owns two eleva- tor in Minonk and one at what is called Stoddard's Siding, near Chatsworth. This fertile country has contributed in grain a large proportion of the state's revenue. and our subject long ago had the foresight to predict this, and thus won a reputation for sagacity.
The marriage of Mr. Stoddard and Sarah E., daughter of Reuben P. and Lydia .A. ( Edwards) Bell, was solemnized March 10, 1868. The father, who died in Minonk, August 4. 1893, was born in Kentucky, March 3. 1810, and was a pioneer farmer of Marshall county, Illinois. His grand- father. Joseph Bell, a native of Pennsylvania. was a hero of the Revolution. He settled in the wildls of Kentucky in 1788, and lived to attain the great age of ninety-five years. Mrs. Stoddard has one sister living. Ade- laide, wife of William S. Marquis, of Rock Island, Illinois.
The eldest child of our subject and wife i- Reuben B., who is associated in business with his father in Minonk, and is a member of the firm of B. M. Stoddard, of Minonk. Illmms. Bertel M. is connected with the Toluca firm of B. M. Stoddard & Son. He married Minnie Simiter, and their son is 1100l Bea M. Zadel M. and Malita E. were graduated in Lake Forest Seminary Este the first hours of their respective JE-ses, alle first named being in that of 1805 and the Better in the class of 1890. Dorothy 1 . 6 Donald A. are at home and are stu- det- - the local school.
Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard are Presbyterians, and he is a trustee in the Minonk church. In political faith, he is a Republican, taking great interest in the issues of the day. Public-spirited, he has con- tributed materially to the prosperity of the community in which his lot has been cast, and his extensive financial operations have accrued to the benefit of the people of this locality in many ways ..
COLUMBUS A. ROBESON.
Among the pioneers and representative citizens of Woodford county probably none is better known than Columbus .A. Robe- son, of Eureka. He is a native of the county, his birth occurring in the village of Bowling Green, November 2, 1841. His father, James Robeson, was born in South Carolina, May 21, 1797, and was a son of AAndrew Robeson, a native of Ireland, who on coming to this country, located in South Carolina. and during the boyhood of James moved to Kentucky, locating near Hopkinsville, where he followed farming. In 1832 he came to this state and made his home with the father of our subject until his death. On reaching manhood James Robeson mar- ried Jane Earle, who was born in Christian county, Kentucky, almut 1807. a daughter of Balise Earle, one of the pioneers of that state. Soon after their marriage they came to Illinois and settled in the little village of Washington, Tazewell county, but shortly afterward became residents of Bowling Green. Woodford county, where the father opened a store, hauling his goods mostly from Peoria, but also from Chicago. He was one of the very first merchants of the
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county, and did a successful business until our subject was two years old, when he sold out and moved to a large farm, which at that time was all wild land and which he improved in a most creditable manner. llis first home was an old log cabin. In his farming operations he also met with suc- cess and at one time owned a half-section of valuable land. When well advanced in years he retired from active labor and moved to Secor, where he died January 19. 1888. As one of the prominent and in- fluential men of his community he was called upon to fill several important official posi- tions, including a number of county offices, and also represented his district in the state legislature. lle was rather independent in polities but usually supported the Democratic party. At an early day in Kentucky he united with the Christian church, and served as a minister of that denomination for ser- eral years, being one of the first in Woodford county. In that capacity he traveled all over the county by private conveyance : hell ser- vices in houses, barns and groves, and organ- ized a great many churches. Ile was also an elder of the church for many years, and when not engaged in farming devoted his time to church work. His estimable wife died in 1878. They had ten children who reached years of maturity, our subject being one of the younger.
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