USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
For ten years Captain Witt was a mem- ber of the Illinois National Guard, and rose from second lieutenant to captain of his company, thus gaining his title. During the strike of 1877 he was in active service with his company for three months, being sta- tioned at Braidwood. After his election to the office of sheriff he had to disband the company as his men refused to elect another captain, so well was he loved by them, and he was given permission to disband then by Governor Cullom.
It was in 1882 that Captain Witt was elected sheriff of Livingston county, which office he filled for four years with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. At one time he had thirty-two prisoners in the jail. Later he was appointed an officer
42
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in the Illinois State Reformatory under Dr. Scouller, but resigned after holding the po- sition for two years and four months. and returned to Dwight. where he was engaged in business for a year and a half. Subse- quently he conducted a bakery in Pontiac. but is now living retired, enjoying a well earned rest. His beautiful home at No. 603 West Grove street, is pleasantly located on the banks of the Vermilion river in what is now the best portion of the city. and the lawn and garden surrounding it cover one acre of ground. The Captain and his wife are leading members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, of Pontiac, and are highly re- spected and esteemed by all who know them, while their circle of friends through- out the county is extensive.
WILLIAM KIMBER.
William Kimber, a thorough and skill- ful farmer residing on section to. Esmen township. Livingston county, six m les west of Odell, was born near the city of London. England. October 10. 1853. a son of Jesse and Alice ( Hacket ) Kimber, natives of the same country. In 1873 he crossed the broad Atlantic with his parents, and on land- ing in New York proceeded at once to La Salle county, Illinois, where his brother and sister had located four years previously. There the father rented land and engaged in farming for several years, but finally came to Livingston county and spent his last days on a farm in Esmen township with our subject, dying here May 11. 1885. The wife and mother departed this life October 19. 1883. and both were laid to rest in Es- men township cemetery. In their family
were three children : Mary, wife of Samuel Mills, of Grundy county: Percival, a farmer of Esmen township. Livingston county ; and William.
Our subject was given good educational advantages in his native land. On the emi- gration of the family to America, he assisted his parents and worked as a farm hand by the month for six years. He was married in De Kalb county, January 1. 1880, to Miss Caroline Rose Tomlin, a native of Adams township. La Salle county. Her father, James Tomlin, was born in England, and came to America in 1842 when a young man, and located in Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Kimber were born seven children, namely : Bertha May. now the wife of Henry War- ner, of La Salle county; Jesse Arthur, Ella Alice. Edward James. Dora Ann, Caroline Eliza and William Andrew, all at home.
For five years after his marriage Mr. Kimber operated a rented farm adjoining his present place, and in 1884 bought eighty acres where he now resides, but did not lo- cate thereon until a year later, though he had engaged in its cultivation for two years. To the original purchase he has since added a forty-acre tract. and now has a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good and substantial buildings. He is an industrious, enterpris- ing and progressive man, and to these char- acteristics may be attributed his success, for he received no outside aid.
By his ballot Mr. Kimber supports the men and measures of the Prohibition party. and he served one term as a member of the school board, but has never cared for offi -. cial honors. Religiously both he and his wife are earnest and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Esmen
43
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Center, of which he is a trustee. In the standing. He was probably the first manu- facturer of brick in that county.
Sunday school he has served several years as superintendent.
WILLIAM W. WASSOM.
William W. Wassom is one of Pontiae's highly respected citizens, whose useful and well-spent life has not only gained for him the confidence of his fellow men, but has also secured for him a comfortable compe- tence which enables him to lay aside all business cares and live retired. A native of Illinois, he was born in Spring Valley, Bu- reau county, December 1, 1848, and is a son of Jacob and Jane ( Scott) Wassom. The father was born in Pennsylvania, but when a small boy accompanied his parents on their removal to Tennessee, where he was reared, and as a young man came to this state, lo- cating in Bureau county. There he was married, and subsequently removed to Bur- lington, Iowa, where he purchased a farm and successfully engaged in general farm- ing and stock-raising, where he remained seven years. Then returning to Bureau county he purchased a farm on the site of the present village of Spring Valley. He was a prominent man in his community and took an active interest in the early schools. He died there August 25, 1879. The wife and mother died when our subject was only four years old. Both were earnest mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. She was a native of Virginia, and a daughter of Robert Scott, of Scotch descent, who was one of the earliest settlers and most pros- perous farmers of Bureau county. He manufactured the brick of which his house was constructed, and that building is still
Wilham W. Wassom was educated in the schools of mall townsmp, and remamed with his father until coming to Livingston county in 1868, when he took up his resi- dence in Nevada township. Wile living there he was married, June 29. 1871, to Miss Hannah Sharp, a native of Farm Ridge, Illinois, and a daughter of George and Catherine ( Spence ) Sharp. Her father was born in Ireland of English parentage, being a son of Noble Sharp, who never emi- grated to America. George Sharp was married in Ireland, and later crossed the At- lantic to Toronto, Canada, whence he re- moved to Farm Ridge. Illinois. Subse- quently he took up his residence in Dwight, and later upon a farm in Nevada township, this county. He was highly respected and was called upon to fill different township offices. Mr. and Mrs. Wassom have a fam- ily of six children, namely: Jacob, a resi- dent of Marengo, lowa: Charles Bert, who is living on the Blackstone farm, in Sun- bury township: Fannie, who married Ev- erett Ferguson, of Saunemin, this county, and has two children. Laurine and Lela; Ada, who resides at home and is success- fully engaged in teaching in the schools of this county; George, who was graduated from the Pontiac High School in 1900; and Catherine, who is still attending the high school.
On locating in this county, Mr. Wassom found considerable wild game and much of the land was still in its primitive condition. He purchased eighty acres of raw prairie in Nevada township, which he at once com- menced to break, fence and improve. Pros- pering in his new home, he purchased more land until he owned five eighty acre tracts,
44
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
which he tiled and put in first class condi- tion, making one of the best improved farms in the township. He also owned an- other eighty-acre tract in Sunbury town- ship, and in connection with the operation of his land was engaged in stock raising. He always kept a good grade and had con- siderable registered stock on hand, being among the first to introduce it. In 1895 he moved to Pontiac and bought a pleasant home at No. 608 North Mill street, where he has since lived retired.
Politically Mr. Wassom has always been identified with the Republican party, but has never held office, his home being in a strong Democratic township where his party conkl get nothing that the Democrats would take. He was an efficient member of the school board for some time, and helped to erect the school buiklings in his township. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and while liv- ing in the country he served as superintend- ent of the Sunday school one year and took « leading part in church work, filling all of the different official positions. He was a member of the building committee when the church was erected in Nevada in 1873, and hauled the first load of stone for its founda- tion. He is now connected with the church in: Pontiac. Wherever known he is held in high regard, and justly merits the confi- dence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
HON. ROBERT R. WALLACE.
In the legal profession, which embraces some of the finest minds in the nation, it is difficult to win a name and place of promi- nence. In commercial life one may start
out on a more advanced plane than others; he may enter into a business already estab- lished and carry it further forward, but in the legal profession one must commence at the beginning and work his way upward by ability, gaining his reputation and success by merit. People do not place their legal busi- ness in unskilled hands, and those who to-day stand at the head of their profession, must merit their position. AAmong the most promi- nent lawyers of Livingston county is Robert R. Wallace, of Pontiac, who served as coun- ty judge for the long period of twenty-one years.
"the Judge was born in Belmont county, Ohio, March 13, 1835. a son of David and Frances ( Ross) Wallace. Ilis paternal grandfather was David Wallace, who came to this country from the north of Ireland and was a strong United Presbyterian in re- ligions belief. The maternal grandfather, Robert Ross, was of Scotch descent, and also a stanch member of the United Presbyterian church. The Judge's father was born in western Pennsylvania, and reared there and in eastern Ohio, while the mother was born near Chambersburg, in eastern Pennsylvania, and when yonng removed to the western part of that state. During his active life David Wallace engaged in farming in Bel- mont and Guernsey counties, Ohio, and in 1869 came to Illinois, locating near Biggs- ville. Ilenderson county, where he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until his death in 1875. His wife still survives him and is now living with a daughter in Kansas at the age of ninety-one years.
During his boyhood Judge Wallace at- tended the common school of his native county and completed his education at Mon- mouth, Illinois, where he received the de- grees of V. B. and A. M. and was graduated
R. R. WALLACE.
47
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
with the class of 1861. In December of that year he responded to his country's call for troops, enlisting in Company K. Seventy- fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was first sent to Xenia, Ohio, and from there to Camp Chase, Columbus, where he was en- gaged in guarding prisoners for a time, and later with the Army of the Cumberland he participated in all the battles from Nashville to Atlanta, and after the fall of the latter city took part in the defense of Nashville. Later he was on post duty near there and Memphis until the close of his term of enlist- ment. He had re-enlisted in the same regi- ment and was promoted to captain during the summer of 1864, remaining in the ser- vice until 1866.
Judge Wallace had previously com- menced the study of law, and after the war continued his studies at Ottawa, Illinois, being admitted to the bar in April, 1867. In the fall of that year he located in Chats- worth, Livingston county, where he was en- gaged in general practice until his removal to Pontiac in the spring of 1874, having the previous fall been elected county judge on what was known as the anti-monopoly ticket. He took the office in December, 1873, and held it five consecutive terms-a longer period than other county officer has been retained in one position. This fact clearly indicates his efficiency, popularity and fidelity to duty. During all this time he continued to engage in active practice, and is to-day one of the leading general practitioners of the county. He is an honored member of T. Lyle Dickey Post, G. A. R., and is past commander of the same.
Illinois, and to them were born four chil- dren : Ross S., now chief engineer of the People's Gas & Electric Company, of Peoria ; Francis; Lucile, and Grace, a teacher in the schools of Joliet. The family have a pleas- ant home at No. 303 East Howard street, and are prominent members of the Presby- terian church of Pontiac.
MILLER HOTALING.
Miller Ilotaling, a successful farmer and land owner on section 31, Avoca township, and a resident of Livingston county since 1876, was born in Greene county, New York, July 30, 1850, and is a son of Rich- ard and Helen ( Miller ) Ilotaling, both na- tives of that state and of German descent. The father died in New York in 1882, where he had followed farming since early man- hood. His wife survives him and lives on the old Miller homestead, which was occupi- ed by her father for sixty years, never pass- ing out of the family. She is now seventy- three years of age, and has always been act- ive. Our subject's paternal grandfather served as lieutenant through the war of 1812. The family were formerly Whigs, and upon the formation of the Republican party joined its ranks. To Richard Hotaling and wife were born eight children, five of whom are still living, namely: Annie, wife of John Jacobs, of Hazelton, Pennsylvania : Augusta, wife of Harry Herr, of Athens, New York; William, who lives with his mother on the old Miller homestead; Van Allen, a pros- perous farmer and land owner of Livingston county, Illinois; and Miller, the subject of this sketch. Jacob. the oklest son, was a
On the 3d of June, 1867, Judge Wal- lace was united in marriage with Miss C. Louise Strawn, a daughter of Isaiah and Elizabeth (Champlain ) Strawn, of Ottawa, member of the Seventh New York Artificry
48
THE BIOGRAPHICAL. RECORD.
during the civil war, was taken prisoner and sent to Andersonville, where he was incar- cerated twenty two months before ex- changed, and contracted disease from which he died in 1865, just as he was released.
Miller Hlotaling received a common school education in his native state and grew to manhood on his father's farm. On leaving the parental roof at the age of seven- teen years he came to Illinois and worked as a farm hand for two years in MeLean county, at the end of which time he rented a farm and carried on farming quite suc- cessfully in that way for a number of years. In 1885 he purchased fifty acres of rich and arable land on section 31. Avoca township. Livingston county, and has since engaged jo general farming here with marked suc- cess. lle has added to the original pur- chase another fifty-acre tract: has made many valuable improvements on the place and to-day has a most desirable farm. He gives his entire time and attention to the improvement and cultivation of his land.
In 1874 Mr. Hotaling was united in marriage with Miss Flora Pulsipher. a na- tive of Oneida. Knox county. Illinois, and to them were born four children: Lewis, who graduated at Eureka College and is now a Christian minister at Kentland, In- diana: Philip, who was graduated at the same institution, and is now assisting his fa- ther on the farm; Leah and Chloe, who are both at home. The wife and mother died at their home in Avoca township in 188;, and in 1800 Mr. Hotaling married Miss Martha Van Wormer, a native of Brimfield. Peoria county, by whom he has three children, Edna. Millie and Leola. 3hs. Hotaling is a daughter of William and Mar tha (Shepherd) Van Wormer, her father being a veteran of the Civil war and why for
years was engaged in farming. Both he and his wife are yet living, and are mem- lers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
As a Republican Mr. Hotaling has al- ways been an active worker in the interests of his party, and has held several minor offices in the township, faithfully fulfilling every trust reposed in him. In 1899 he was elected supervisor. He has been a school director fifteen years, always taking a stand for good schools and teachers. Re- ligiously he is a member of the Christian church, in which he is serving as elder, and socially is a member of the Court of Honor of Fairbury. He is a man of rather un- pretentious nature, but is well liked by all who know him. Mrs. Hotaling is also a member of the Christian church.
HENRY C. JONES.
Henry C. Jones, a well-known citizen of Pontiac, Illinois, was born in Cicero, Ham- ilton county, Indiana. February 11. 1838, a son of Henry Jones, who was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, where during his youth he learned the blacksmith's trade. When a young man he removed to Cicero, Indiana, and turned his attention to mercantile busi- ness. Here he married Emily De Moss, a daughter of James De Moss, a French Ilu- gruenot and a carpenter by trade, who passed his last days as a farmr in Livingston county, Ilinois. The parents of our subject came to this county in 1845, but after a short time spent here they removed to the ter- ritory of lowa. locating at Bellevue, where our subject began his education. In 1847 the family returned to this county, and after following farming for a short time the fa-
49
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ther, in 1849, went to California, where for several years he was engaged in mining and mercantile pursuits. Re turning to Pontiac in 1855 he again engaged in mercantile busi- ness here, and was, in 1857. elected county judge. In 1859. resigning his office of coun- ty judge here, he returned to the Pacific slope in company with our subject and fif- teen young men. He engaged in mercantile business in Shasta, California, and became one of the most prominent and prosperous men of that place. He was elected a member of the board of supervisors, and was also alcalde( or mayor ) of Shasta. In connec- tion with his other business he was quite extensively engaged in gold mining. Ile did much to build up the town and was rec- ognized as one of its most influential and prominent citizens. After the Civil war he supported the Republican party and took a leading part in public affairs. He died in Shasta in 1893. and the mother of our sub- ject died in the same place in 1868, leaving tive children. of whom Henry C. was third in order of birth.
During his boyhood our subject attended the public schools of Pontiac, and when his education was completed clerked in his fa- ther's store until going to California in 1859. They made the trip overland with horseless vehicles ( ox teams ) and were six months mpon the way. They passed through St. Joseph, Missouri, went up the Platte when the Indians in that region were quite hostile, and passed through what is now Ogden, Utah, and through Nevada. Arriving at Shasta, California, which was a good min- ing town, father and son opened a store and as merchants soon built up a good trade. For some years they were interested in placer and later in quartz mining. Our sub- ject continued in business with his father
until 1864, when he enlisted in the yoluin- teer service and was elected lieutenant of his company, but when they were put in bar- racks and the regulars sent to the front. he resigned. That he might see some active service he went, via Panama, to New York with the intention of enlisting there. but the war ended before he found the oppor- tunity.
Returning to Livingston county, Illinois, Mr. Jones entered the newspaper field. and with Mr. Renoe established the Free Press at Pontiac. Later he bought the Sentinel, the oldest newspaper in the county, from James Stout, and, consolidating the two, published a paper known as the Sentinel and Press. Mr. Renoe was a Democrat, while he was a Republican, but Mr. Renoe later withdrew, leaving Mr. Jones as sole editor and proprietor, and the paper resumed its old name as Sentinel. He continued the publication of the Sentinel for nine years, during which time he built up a good cir- culation and made it the leading Republi- can paper in the county. Selling out in 1875. he went to Texas, and engaged in the auxiliary newspaper business in Dallas, getting out patent insides. In this enter- prise he was remarkably successful, having a list of two hundred and sixty-two local papers to supply. He also published the Planter and Farmer, and in that undertaking was also successful, but on account of the ill health of his wife, he disposed of his in- terests in Texas and removed to Santa Cruz, California, where he owns a valuable prune ranch.
In 1892 Mr. Jones returned to Pontiac and acquired a three-fifths interest in the electric light plant, having helped to develop the enterprise. This company was incor- porated as the Pontiac Light. Heat & Power
50
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Company, and has grown to large propor- tions. Mr. Jones served as its president for seven years, though he recently sold his interest in the same. He has been a tax- payer in Pontiac for over thirty years and is recognized as one of her most progressive citizens, giving his support to those objects which he believes will prove of public bene- fit. Socially he is a member of the Pontiac Lodge. No. 294. F. & A. M.
On the 25th of September, 1873. Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Miss Mary .A. Bancroft, a native of New York, and a daughter of Luther Bancroft, of Pon- trac. They have one daughter, Nellie .A .. who with her mother is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Pontiac.
LUTHIER C. HAYS.
Luther C. Hays. a practical and enter- prising agriculturist of Eppards Point town- ship, owns and operates two hundred and fifty acres of land on section 32, constitut- ing a valuable and highly improved farm, pleasantly located nine miles south of Pon- tiac and three and a half miles northeast of Chenoa. His possessions have been ac- quired through his own efforts, and as the result of his consecutive endeavor he has won a place among the substantial citizens of his community.
Mr. Hays was born in Brown county, Ohio. July 27, 1836, and is descended from an old Connecticut family of Scotch-Frisch origin. His great-grandfather, Celia Hays, was a native of that state and a pioneer of Pennsylvania. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, while the grandfather. Warren llays, aided in the defense of his country during the war of 1812. The lat-
ter was born in Pennsylvania. and married a Miss Stark, a cousin of Rev. Lorenzo Dow. Abiel Hays, father of our subject. was born in New York. in 1813, and from that state removed to Kentucky and later to Brown county, Ohio, where in the midst of the for- est he cleared and improved a farm. There he wedded Mary Kennedy, a native of Vir- ginia, and a daughter of James and Mar- garet Kennedy. In 1855 he brought his family to Illinois, driving across the coun- try with an ox team and locating first in Woodford county, but a year later he re- moved to Chenoa township, McLean county, where he bought land and improved a farm, making his home there for some years. He helped organize that township, which was previously only a voting precinct. His last days were spent upon a farm in southern Ilinois, where he died in 1890, at the ripe old age of seventy-seven years, and his wife died in 1884, at the age of sixty-nine years. Our subject is the oldest of their family of seven children, two sons and five daughters. all of whom reached years of maturity, the others being as follows: Arminda J., de- ceased wife of E. C. Hyde : Clarissa . \., who married John G. Dodge and died in 1898; Ellen, deceased wife of Elijah Cole : Minerva E .. wife of A. D. Polk, of Minneapolis, Min- nesota; Eva, who died when a young lady. and Thomas J., a resident of San Diego. California.
Luther C. Hays was a young man of nineteen years on the removal of the family to this state, and he aided his father in open- ing up and developing the farm in McLean county, remaining with him until his mar- riage. He was educated in common and se- lect schools of his native state. With the exception of the oldest. all his sisters engaged in teaching school in MeLean county.
51
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
In Chicago, Illinois, September 26, 1860. M., Eva E., John S. and Lottie L., all at home.
Mr. Hays married Miss Matilda Fraser, a native of Canada and a daughter of Louis and Mary Fraser, who were born in that country of French ancestry, and removed to Chicago during the childhood of Mrs. Hays. They began their domestic life upon a farm of forty acres in McLean county, to which our subject added until he had one hundred and twenty acres. He continued to operate that farm until 1888, when he purchased the two-hundred-and-fifty-acre tract of land in Eppards Point township. Livingston county, where he now resides. It was known as the 'Squire Payne farm. being entered by him in 1852. Since tak- ing possession of this place, Mr. Hays has remodeled the residence, built a good barn, set out fruit and ornamental trees, and made many other improvements which add greatly to its value and attractive appearance.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.