USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 57
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Harriet C., widow of Bariga and a resident of Peoria, Illinois: William, a hardware merchant of Deer Creek. Illinois; Mary, wife of J. 11. Frame, of Eureka; Edward, a business man of the same city : and Ida, wife of J. 11. Morris, of Eureka. The wife and mother died November 30. 1894.
In 1854 Mr. Pifer moved to Braceville, Illinois, where he opened up a farm, but soon rented it and engaged in the tinning busi- ness at Gardner Station until coming to Eureka in September. 1858. Here he kept a college boarding hall for two years and also opened a hardware store on the west side of the square, where he built a good two-story frame store, and carried complete stucks of stoves, tinware, etc., doing the leading hardware business of the place for thirty-two years. In connection with his sen he also owned a grocery store and was prominently identified with the early business of the city. Hle erected a good residence north of the railroad, and in 1867 built the house which he now occupies. Beside this he owns two other houses on the same block and has other real estate in the city. He centinned in active business until 1892, when he sold out and has since lived a retired life. enjoying a well earned rest. free from the cares and responsibilities of business life.
Mr. Pifer was reared a Democrat, but Le- came a strong anti-slavery man and a sup- porter of the Republican party. He served as township treasurer twenty two years and was also road commissioner for some time. Schonel director five for six years and school trustee for some years, having always taken : great interest in promoting educational af- Furs udl working hard for the betterment of the -1 24 Hle was a member of the Union Le gie dương the Civil war, and has long lech como tal with the Christian church
of Eureka. He is widely and favorably known and is held in high regard by his fel- h w citizens.
LOTT SULLIVAN. 1
Lott Sullivan, a respected citizen of Minonk, bears the Christian name which has appeared in his family for many generations, and, indeed, it can be traced backward for four hundred years, to the time of the Con- tiscation act. His paternal grandfather, Lott Sullivan, held the position of agent of the estates of Simon Purdin in Ireland at the time of the battle of Waterloo. Calling in his tenants, the proprietor demanded that they renew their leases, and as they refused to do so he promptly turned them out of their homes as soon as their leases expired. He is a son of Lott and Margaret (O'Con- nor ) Sullivan, natives of county Clare. Ire- land. The father, who was a quiet. unos- tentatious man, came to the United States with two sons, James and Dennie, hoping to found a new home in a land where better opportunities for making a livelihood were afforded. AAfter passing four years in New York and Pennsylvania, he went to Illinois. and thenceforth, until his death, at the age of sixty-eight. he dwelt upon a farm in La Salle county, Ilis wife, who died when about fifty years of age in the Emeraldl Isle, possessed an exceptionally fine education. for she was an Irish and English scholar, having been a diligent student under the in- struction of her father. John O'Connor, who had been trained for the priesthood and had been given unusually superior advantages He was an only son, bearing his father's en- tire name, and his wife was a Miss Sallie McGraw in her girlhood. Bridget, thei:
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first-born, became the wife of Patrick Cof- fee, and Elizabeth was the wife of John Ducy, while William, the only son, died 1111- married.
Born November 20, 1835, on the parental homestead on the banks of the Shannon river in county Clare, Ireland, Lott Sullivan, of this sketch, spent his boyhood in the beanti- ful isle which was destined to suffer terribly from the ravages of famine. Some pitiable cases of need came within his observation and he even saw one man who had died from starvation. Three of the brothers, Michael, Dennis and William, are farmers of La Salle county, Illinois, and two brothers are deceased, namely: James and John. The five sisters, Maggie, Nora. Elizabeth, Bridget and Nora ( the second of the name) died, and were placed to rest at the side of their mother in their native land.
After mastering the rudiments of educa- tion and agriculture Lott Sullivan conchided to join his father and brothers in the United States, and in 1852 made the voyage across the broad Atlantic. He went to Chester county. Pennsylvania, where they were em- ployed and soon found work on a farm. where he remained about two years. He then became a citizen of Peoria county, Illi- nois, and by energetic labors and economy managed to obtain a financial start. \t length he bought two hundred and twenty acres in Woodford county, improved the farm and still owns it. He made his home there until 1870, when he came to Minonk. Later he purchased a quarter-section of land in Marshall county, and during the years of his residence there greatly increased the value of the place. In the first year of the Civil war he found that he could not sell a load of corn and hanled it home. Later he took upwards of six hundred bushels to
Lacon and sold it for fifteen cents a bushel. That same corn was later disposed of at an increase of a dollar a bushel, and at one time Mr. Sullivan sokl corn at the same price, one dollar and fifteen cents per bushel.
A fact which speaks well for his popu- largely through his own unaided efforts. He this, that Mr. Sullivan, though an Irishman, living in a community largely made up of German- Americans and of different religious faith, was so good a citizen and kindly a neighbor that he was elected to numerous township offices, and for nine years served in the capacity of justice of the peace. He thoroughly justified the confidence placed in him and proved himself a true son of his adopted country. In his political preferences he is a Democrat, and religiously he is a Catholic, as his ancestors were before him.
In 1856 Mr. Sullivan married Bridget Tuohy, daughter of John Tuohy and a native of the same part of Ireland as our subject. She came to this country in 1848 and dwelt here, happily, until her death December 13, 1800, when she was in her seventy-second year. Of her six children two. Mary and Michael, are deceased. William resides in Toluca. Marshall county, Illinois, and John, who married Katie Martin, lives on his fa- ther's old homestead in this county. Lott, Jr., married Anna Burns and has three chil- dren. Earl. Leo and Lauretta. Maggie, the only living daughter, is living at home with our subject.
PETER BELSLEY.
.At the time of his death. Peter Belsley was one of the prosperous farmers and busi- ness men of Roanoke township. Woodford county, and his possessions had been acquired
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largely thrugh hi own unaided efforts. He had also won, by an honorable, upright life. an untarnished name, and the record which he left behind him is one well worthy of perpetuation. He was a native of Wood- ford county, born in Spring Bay township. December 7. 1841, and was a son of Joseph and Barbara Belsley, in whose family were eleven children. Those living are Christian, Joseph, John, David, Solomon and Benja- min.
In his native township Peter Bekley was reared and educated in much the usual man- ner of farmer boys of his day, and he re- mained on the home farm until his mar- riage. It was in 1866 that he wedded Miss Catherine Schertz, who was born in Worth township. Woodford county, September 15. 1840. fler parents, John and Magdalena Schertz, were natives of Alsace Lorraine. France, now a part of Germany, and were married after their emigration to America. After spending one year in New Orleans they came to Ilinois and took up their resi- dence in Woodford county, where they con- tinned to make their home throughout life. the father dying in Lin township, the mother in Worth township. They were farming people and were highly respected and esteemed. Siv of their children are still living, namely : Christian, a resident of Metamora township. Woodford county; Catherine, now Mrs. Belsley: Annie, wie of Joseph Livingston, of Hamilton county. Nebraska : John, a resident of Aurora, Ilam- ilton county, Nebraska: Peter, of Panola townslup. Woodford county, Ilinois; and Joseph, of Walde township, Livingston county One daughter, Magdalena, is de- ceasel The father was married a second time and by that union had one son, Jacob, it res dert of California. Mr and Mrs. Bel-
sley became the parents of nine children. whose names and dates of birth are as fol- lows: Anna Il., January, 1868: John J., September. 1869: David C., July, 1871; Michael E., September, 1873; Mattie E., August, 1876; Amos .A., August, 1878; Bar- bara MI., September, 1880; Kathryn .\., De- cember, 1883 : and Benjamin R .. December, 1886. They have all received good com- mon school educations and one son took a collegiate course. All are at home with ex- ception of John J., who is engaged in farm- ing for himself in Roanoke township. He married Mattie Riscer, and they have one child, Vera Fern.
In early life Mr. Belsley followed thresh- ing and corn shelling, of which he made a success, and after his marriage operated a rented farm for a time. He had some land deeded him by his father. In 1866 he came to Roanoke township and located on the place now owned by Solomon Belsley, it belonging to their father at that time. In 1875 our subject purchased the farm now occupied by his widow, and throughout the remainder of his life successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising here. He had twenty-nine acres of timber land be- sides three-quarters of a section, which he tiled, broke and improved, converting it into one of the most desirable farms of its size in the county. He erected thereon a com- fortable residence and commodious barns, and made other improvements which added greatly to the value and attractive appear- ance of the place. Progressive and enter- prising, he was among the men who sunk the coal shaft at Roanoke, and was president of the coal company until his death, which occurred October 24. 1899. He was one of the best known men of his township, and always gave his support to any enterprise
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calculated to benefit the community. always took an active interest in maintain- ing good schools and efficiently served as director for many years. He held other township offices and affiliated with the Demo- cratic party. He was a member of the Mennonite church, though he gave liberally to the support of all religious denominations, and never withheld his aid from any object which he believed would promote the moral, social or material welfare of his township or county. He had a large circle of friends and acquaintances and was held in high re- gard by all who knew him.
JOHN E. REED.
For the past nine years the subject of this sketch has successfully engaged in agri- cultural pursuits upon his preent farm on section 11, Linn township, having come here from Belle Plaine township, Marshall county, in 1891. He was born in Perry county. Ohio, March 17, 1851, and is a son of John W. and Evaline ( Holcomb) Reed, also na- tives of the Buckeye state. For some years the father owned and operated a farm in Wisconsin, and from that state came to Illi- nois, in the fall of 1865, locating in Marshall county, where he continued to follow farm- ing for some time. For three years he conducted a hotel in La Rose, and since 1880 has been proprietor of the Reed House at Varna. Marshall county. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and religiously is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, having always taken an active part in its work. Of the eleven children born to himself and wife, one daughter died in Wis- consin at the age of four years, and one
He son, Grant, died in La Rose, Illinois, at the age of twelve. The others are as follows: Clark E .. a plumber of Davenport, Jowa, and formerly superintendent of the water works of that city; Caroline, wife of Rob- ert Whitten, of Marshall county, Ilinois; John E., our subject ; Almeda, wife of Mark Wilson, a farmer of Colorado; Etta, wife of August Sangbush, of Washburn, Ilinois; Charles and Ephraim, who died in Colorado; Julia, wife of James B. Foster, of Marshall county, Illinois, and Belle, wife of Samuel Myers, of Galesburg. The children all re- ceived good common-school educations. The father is now seventy-six years of age. the mother seventy.
John E. Reed attended the public schools of Wisconsin, and remained at home. aiding in the work of the farm until reaching man- hood. In 1873 he was united in marriage with Miss Sophia J. Perry, who was born in Marshall county, Illinois, September 7, 1851, a daughter of Elijah and Nancy ( Hat- ton ) Perry, natives of Kentucky and early settlers of Marshall county. They had a family of eleven children, of whom five sons and three daughters are still living, namely : John, a resident of Marshall county ; Sophia J., wife of our subject : Zachariah, at home; Forsyth, a resident of lowa; Maggie, wife of A. 11. Davidson, of Linn township. Wood- ford county: Frank E., a teacher of La Rose: Ella .A., at home ; and Cora V., wife of Andrew Snow, of Marshall county. The father is now deceased, but the mother is still living and makes her home with two sons in Marshall county. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have four children: Carrie F., wife of Frank Wrythmiller, a farmer of Marshall county; Ellson L., who is taking a commer- cial and teacher's course at Dixon College, Illinois ; Rose P. and Jay E., both at home.
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The children have all attended the public schools and have had advantage of a college
Since his marriage Mr. Reed has always joll med general farming and stock raising and has successfully operated his present farm on section 11. Linn township. Wood- ford county, for the past nine years. The Republican party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and since ISop he has been a member of the county central committee. He takes an active part in campaign work, and has most creditably filled a number of township offices. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen Camp. No. 1821, at Washburn. and religiously is a member of the Christian church, m which he is serving as deacon.
HON. JOHN L. McGUIRE.
Ireland has furnished to the United States many bright and enterprising young men, who have become prominent in busi- hess and public hic. Though born across the water, they are thoroughly American in thought and feeling, and are patriotic and sincere in their love for the Stars and Stripes. Among their number is Mr. Me- Guire, one of the leading citizens of Meta- mora, Illinois, who is now practically living a retired hfc.
He was born in county Tipperary. Ire- land, August 27. 1844. a son of John and Bridget (Om) Mefinire, also natives of that country. where the mother died soon after the birth of our subject. In 1853 the 1, ther came to America and located in Cin- um ati. Ohne, where he died two years later. I thor family were three sons and three canghter- who reached years of maturity.
but only Mrs. Catherine Murray, of Louis- ville, Kentucky, and our subject are now living.
Mr. MeGuire was reared on a farm and inured to many hardships, receiving a very limited education. He is therefore almost wholly a self-educated as well as a self-made man. He crossed the Atlantic with his fa- ther, and in March. 1858, at the age of thir- teen years, came to Woodford county, Illi- nois, where he has since made his home. Here he began life empty-handed among strang- ers, but he steadily overcame the obstacles and difficulties in his path, and is now en- abled to lay aside all business cares and en- joy the fruits of former toil.
In January, 1862, Mr. McGuire enlisted as a private in Company D. Fifty-first Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. The first engagement in which he participated was the battle of New Madrid, followed by the battles of Island No. 10, Stone River and Chickamauga. During the last named en- gagement he received a gunshot through the body, and was taken prisoner the same night, being sent to the Richmond hospital, where he remained for seven months, and was then paroled and sent to Baltimore, where he was granted a furlough. While at home he re- ceived word of his exchange, and then re- joined his regiment in time to take part in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain and the .At- lanta campaign. Later his command was sent back to Tennessee and joined General Thomas' army at Nashville. They took part in the battle at that place and at Franklin, and assisted in driving Hood from the state. At the close of the war Mr. McGuire was baynorably discharged at Huntsville, Ala- bama, in March, 1865, and returned to his home in Woodford county.
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JOHN L. McGUIRE.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
After working by the month as a farm liand for two or three years he engaged in operating rented land for several years, and then purchased a tract of eighty acres in Metamora township, which he improved. Later he rented that farm and bought a par- tially improved place of eighty-five acres, on which he made his home for several years. He has bought and sokl other lands, and still owns a valuable tract of three hun- dred acres, known as the old Page place, ad- joining Metamora. to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his energies for some years.
In Woodford county, November 24. 1870, Mr. McGuire married Miss Adelia Page, a native of Gilmanton, New Hamp- shire, and a daughter of Adino and Arvilla ( Page) Page, one of the pioneers of Wood- ford county, where she was reared and edu- cated. Prior to her marriage she successful- ly engaged in teaching for a time. By this union three children have been born : May, who died at the age of twenty years ; Myra, a graduate of the School of Oratory of the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, Illi- nois ; and John .A., at home.
In 1868 Mr. McGuire cast his first vote for U. S. Grant, but since that time has been identified with the Democratic party, and has taken an active and prominent part in local politics. He has been a delegate to numerous county, congressional and state conventions of his party, and has been elected to important official positions, serving nine consecutive years as supervisor and repre- senting the county in the thirty-ninth and fortieth general assemblies. Among his as- sociates in the house was Mr. Alschuler, the present Democratic candidate for governor of Illinois. He was a member of five impor- tant committees during his first term and
eight the last, and took a very active part in the work of that august body. He was a member of the school board for nine con- secutive years, president of the village board for five years, and is now one of the justices of the peace of the township, having held the office for thirteen years. During his service as mayor of the city the water works were put in.
Mr. and Mrs. McGuire are members of the Baptist church, but now attend the Union Protestant church of Metamora, and give liberally of their means to its support. He is also a member of the Grand Army post at lureka, the Modern Woodmen camp at Met- amora; Eureka Lodge, F. & A. M .; Wash- ington Chapter. R. A. M .; El Paso Com- mandery. K. T .: and Mohamet Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Peoria. During his long residence in Woodford county he has championed every movement designed to promote the general welfare, has supported every enterprise for the public good, and has materially aided in the advancement of all social and moral interests. After a useful and honorable career he can well afford to lay aside all business cares and live in case and retirement.
J. B. GOODWIN.
The well known and highly respected citizen of Roanoke, Illinois, was born in Salem, Roanoke county, Virginia. Septem- ber 22, 1865, and is a wrthy representative of old and honored families of that state. The Goodwins were among the very earliest settlers of the Old Dominion, the family be- ing founded in Augusta county at a very early day in the history of the colony. Our subject's grandfather. Joseph Goodwin, was
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a native of that county, and his wife who bore the maiden name of l'olly Jenkins, was also of Virginian stock. Ile died during the childhood of John Goodwin, father of our subject. The latter was born in 1830, and spent his entire life in Roanoke county. his occupation being that of farming. Ile married Elizabeth Gaines, also a native of Roanoke county, and a daughter of Major Kemper Gaines, who served with distinction as an officer in the war of 1812. Her brother. Thomas Gaines, was a soldier of the Mexican war and a commissioned offi- cer in the Civil war. He died in Clarks- ville. Texas. Mrs. Goodwin's grandfather, Colonel Gaines, was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war. It will thus be seen that her family has been well represented in the wars of his county. Her grandfather was a native of Scotland and located in Vir- ginia at a very early day.
Our subject was the fifth in order of birth in a family of seven children, the others being as follows: Thomas P., and C. E., both residents of Salem, Virginia: Anna. wife of George Kern: Laura V., wife of E. 31. Gross: Zella, wife of Robert Sears; and Kemper. With exception of our subject all make their home in Salem, Virginia.
In the county of his nativity J. B. Good- win grew to manhood, his education being obtained in its public schools. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade, but later gave his attention to carpentering an engin- cering. continuing to follow those occupa- tions in Virginia until 1885, when he came west and settled in Roanoke, Illinois. Here he was employed as engineer at the tile fac- tory for two years, and then returned to carpenter work, which he followed in Roan- oke and viemity until the spring of 1807. when he took charge of the Roanoke electric
light plant for Isaac Snyder and has since run it. He has also had the management of a gristmill for Mr. Snyder.
On the 3rd of March, 1892, Mr. Good- win was united in marriage with Miss Mayme L. Hollenback, a daughter of Sam- uel Hollenback, who lives near Belle Plaine, Woodford county. Politically Mr. Good- win is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and socially is a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. He is widely and favorably known and during his resi- dence in Roanoke has made many warm friends.
ALEXANDER HAWK.
Among the leading and influential farm- ers and stock raisers of Linn township, Woodford county, who thoroughly under- stand their business, and pursue the voca- tion of their chosen calling in a methodical and workmanlike manner. is the subject of this biography. He resides on section II, and owns a well improved and highly culti- vated farm of one hundred and twenty acres.
A native of Illinois, Mr. Hawk was born in Tazewell county, September 5. 1845, and is a son of Philip and Sarah ( Kerr ) Hawk, both natives of Brown county, Ohio, the former born in 1816, the latter in 1815. llis paternal grandfather, John Hawk, a soldier of the war of 1812, died about 1825, when Philip was only nine years oldl, and the maternal grandfather. - - Kerr, died in 1818, when the mother of our subject was but three. The parents were reared and educated in their native county, and there they were united in marriage. In 1844 they came to Illinois and first settled in
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Tazewell county, where the father purchased land and followed farming for ten years, At the end of that time he came to Wood- ford county, and from the unbroken prairie developed a fine farm, owning at the time of his death two hundred and forty acres. During the '70s he speculated in land and was quite successful. He died at his home in Linn township, in 1898, after a residence there of forty-one years. In politics he was a Democrat, but took no active part in polit- ical affairs, though he always gave his sup- port to any enterprise calculated to prove of public benefit.
Our subject is the second in order of birth in a family of eight children, all of whom reached years of maturity. The others were as follows: John, born in Ohio, served four years as a soldier of the Civil war, an died on the oldl homestead in Linn township, in 1876. Minerva is living on the home farm. Mary wedded William Hopwood, and died at the age of twenty- two years, leaving one daughter, Lillie, now the wife of Isaac Black. Sarah married Samuel Whitmore, of Roanoke township. Woodford county, and died at the age of twenty-five years, leaving one son, John, now a resident of California. James is living in Linn township. Maria L. lives on the old homestead. Flora is the wife of Samuel Robinson, of Cazenovia township. Woodford county. The children were all educated in the district school near their early home.
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