USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 61
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Frank Briggs, as our subject is famil- iarly known, grew to manhood on the home farm in New York, and received but limited school advantages during his youth. When a young man he went to Georgetown, Brown county, Ohio, where he served a four years apprenticeship to the cabinetmaker's trade, and also gained an excellent knowledge of the undertking business, to which he devoted
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his time of evenings and Sundays. Later he worked as a journeyman for three years, and then conducted a shop of his own at George- town for two years. Selling out in 1851 he came to Metamora, Illinois, and engaged in the manufacture of furniture, opening a shop of his own in 1854.
During the Civil war Mr. Briggs laid aside all personal interests to enter the ser- vice of his country. In August, 1862. he enlisted in Company E. One Hundred and Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. lle entered the service as a private, but at the second election on the organization of the regiment at Peoria, was elected first lieu- tenant and served in that capacity until taken ill, when on the advice of the army surgeon he resigned early in the year 1863. His first engagement was at Chickasaw Bayou, Mis- sissippi, and he also took part in the battle of Arkansas Post. On receiving his dis- charge Mr. Briggs returned home and re- sumed the furniture and undertaking busi- ness, which he carried on until 1875. He has since given his exclusive attention to undertaking and embalming, being a prac- tical entbalmer, and he receives -a liberal share of the public patronage. On first com- ing to Metamora he bought a lot and erected a residence and shop, where he has now car- ried on business for over forty years.
In December, 1847, in Brown county. Ohio, Mr. Briggs married Miss Clarissa Stitt, who was born and reared in George- town. a daughter of Joseph K. Stitt, a na- tive of Kentucky. She chied of smallpox -April 13. 1872, and was laid to rest in Oak- wood cemetery. Mr. Briggs was again mar- ried. July 30. 1874. his second union being with Elizabeth A. Compton, a native of Kentucky, who came to Woodford county,
Illinois, at the age of thirteen years, and was reaerd near Eureka. This wife died in 1898. By the first union Mr. Briggs had five chil- dren : Hattie E., wife of William Mitchell, of Ashville, North Carolina: Alice E., who is now her father's housekeeper: J. F., a farmer of Ford county, Illinois : William K., a carpenter and joiner, who is now assisting his father in the undertaking business; and Ed C., also a carpenter and joiner of Wood- ford county. By the last marriage there is one daughter. Nellie A., who is successfully engaged in teaching music and resides at home.
From youth up Mr. Briggs has been a strong temperance man, never using intoxi- cants in any form, and for years he has been a stanch suporter of the Prohibition party. Ile cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, and was identified with the Republican party some years. Ile effi- ciently served as village trustee several years, being always elected on the temperance tick- ei. Ile has been a life-long Methodist and now supports the union service at Metamora, while both daughters are active workers in the Christian Endeavor Society and Sunday school. A man of most exemplary habits and strict integrity, he has the confidence and esteem of all, and is well worthy of repre- sentation in a work of this kind.
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JOHN A. IVINS.
This well known retired farmer of Caze- novia, Illinois, and honored veteran of the Civil war, was born in Tyler county, Ohio, in April, 1837. a son of Samuel and Phœbe Ivins. The father, who was a native of Penn- sylvania and a pioneer of Ohio, moved to
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Indiana in 1844, and there spent the re- 1865, and was paid off at Indianapolis, In- mainder of his life, dying in that state in diana. 1865. The mother died in Indiana before the family left that state. They had seven children, namely: Margaret, deceased : De- lilah, of Arkansas; David, of Low Point, Woodford county, Illinois; John .A., our subject : Henry, of Arkansas: George, who served through the war in the same company and regiment as our subject and is now a resident of Wabash. Indiana ; and Abbie. also of Indiana.
John A. Ivins accompanied the family on their removal to Indiana, where he was reared and educated. When the war of the Rebellion broke ont he offered his services to his country, enlisting at Indianapolis, July 15. 1861. for three years, in Company D. Eighteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was mustered into the United States service at that place and assigned to the Western army. Ile participated in the bat- tles of l'ea Ridge. AArkansas, and Springfield, Missouri, the siege of Vicksburg, and the engagement at Jackson, Mississippi. He was also on a scouting expedition in Texas, and took part in the Red river campaign. Dur- ing the siege of Vicksburg he was wounded three times, being shot through the shoulder and wrist, and receiving another gunshot wound in the back. He was confined in the hospital at Jefferson City, Missouri, for some time. In 1864 he re-enlisted for three years or during the war, in the same company and regiment, which this time was assigned to the Eastern army, and he took part in the battle of Petersburg and the mine explosion, and then joined General Sherman in time for the Carolina campaign. Hostilities hay- ing ceased, he was honorably discharged at Savannah, Georgia, on the 28th of .August.
In Jennings county, Indiana, Mr. Ivins was married, in 1867, to Miss Nancy AAnna Ball, a native of that county, and a daughter of Samnel and Minerva ( McFarland ) Ball. who came to Woodford county, Illinois, in 1878, and settled in Cazenovia township. They died in the township of Cazenovia. Mr. and Mrs. Ivins have six children, namely : Mrs. Elizabeth Barnes, a resident of Part- ridge township, Woodford county; Mrs. Martha MeFarland, of Iroquois county, Il- linois: George, who is married and lives at Low Point. Woodford county; Mrs. Emma Ivins, of Cazenovia; and Robert and Ora, both at home.
In 1874 Mr. Ivins left his old home in In- diana and came to Woodford county, Illinois. Hle was successfully engaged in farming in Cazenovia township until his retirement from active labor. lle now owns a fine resi- dence and sixteen lots in the village of Caze- novia, where he makes his home. lle is a supporter of the men and measures of the Republican party, and takes an active inter- est in promoting the welfare of his town and county, encouraging and aiding all enter- prises tending to benefit the public. Hle en- joys in a high degree the confidence and es- teem of his fellow citizens, and well merits their respect.
EDWIN AA. CHILDS.
Since 1856 Edwin A. Chills has been prominently identified with the interests of Woodford county, and is now efficiently serving as supervisor of El Paso township. He was born in Jennings county, Indiana,
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May 6, 1840, a son of Henry and Polly ( Howard) Chikls, natives of Massachusetts and New York respectively. On the pater- nal side he is of English and rench descent, and on the maternal of English and Scotch extraction. Ilis parents were married in New York, and in 1838 moved to Indiana among its pioneers, but four years later re- turned to New York. In 1856 they came to Illinois and took up their residence in Woodford county, where the mother died in 1884. The father then returned to his old home in the Empire state, where he died in 1888, but his remains were brought back to lilinois and buried by the side of his wife. He was a very well educated man, and suc- cessfully engaged in school teaching and farming. In politics he was a stanch Re- publican. Ilis children were Edwin A., our subject ; Albert, who died in 1871 ; Oscar, an attorney of Boston, Massachusetts; and Mary, wife of Edwin Stowell, a farmer of New York state. Our subject's paternal grandfather was a soklier of the Revolution- ary war, and participated in the battles of Bunker Hill and Lexington.
Edwin .A. Childs was principally reared and educated in New York, being sixteen years of age when the family came to Wood- ford county, Illinois, where he grew to man- hood and early acquired an excellent knowl- edge of farm work. Ile continued to assist his father in the operation of the home farm until he started in life for himself. At the breaking out of the Civil war he was en- gaged in teaching, but in 1862 he laid aside all personal interests and joined the boys in blue, becoming a member of Company A. Eighty-sixth Ilinois Volunteer Infantry. He took part in the battles of Perryville, Chick- amanga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Rome
and Kenesaw Mountain, besides many skirmishes and other battles. He was in act- ive service with his regiment until captured at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864. He was held a prisoner at Andersonville, Flor- ence and Charleston until the war ended, and was then paroled and taken to Wilmington, where he was released. Returning to his home, he engaged in farming, and in 1870 made his first purchase of land, consisting of eighty acres in El Paso township, which he converted into one of the model farms of that locality. In connection with general farming he gave considerable attention to stock, shipping principally hogs and cattle, and meeting with good success in that branch of his business. In November, 1899, he sold his farm and purchased his present home in El Paso.
In 1868 Mr. Childs was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary A. Mann, who was born in Massachusetts, December 11, 1847, and when quite young came west with her parents. They first located in Wisconsin, and came to Illinois in 1858. Mrs. Childs died on the farm February 22, 1899, leaving one daughter, Lillian E., who is with her father.
Fraternally Mr. Childs is an honored member of S. T. Rogers Post, No. 531, G. A. R., of El Paso, and has filled all the of- fices in the same. As a Republican he has taken an active part in local politics, and is now a member of the county central commit- tee. He has served his fellow citizens faith- fully and well as supervisor since 1897, and is now chairman of the fees and salary com- mittee and a member of the finance commit- tee, with which he has been connected since first elected to the office. Ile has been presi- dent of the El Paso district agricultural
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board for five years, and has ever taken an active and commendable interest in those enterprises calculated to advance the inter- ests of his town and county or promote the general welfare. He is pre-eminently pub- he-spirited and progressive, and has most ably discharged his official duties.
JOSEPH THEEN.1.
This gentleman, who is one of Meta- mora's substantial business men, was born in Prussia, Germany, January 17, 1840, and at the age of six years came to the new world with his parents. Mathias and Anna Margaretta ( Peffenhontz) Theena, also na- tives of Prussia. For two years the family made their home in Chicago, which was then a small place, and in 1848 moved to Peoria. where the father worked at his trade as a mason, and where the children were reared. In his native land Mathias Theena had served in the German army, and when the Civil war broke out in his country he enlisted in the One Hundred and Eighth Ilinois Volunteer Infantry. He died in Peoria, in 1863. when home on a furlough. His wife survived him a number of years, and passed away in 1885. Of their four children Joseph is the oldest ; Anna is the wife of Robert Cretter, of l'e- oria: Margaret is the wife of John Goddard. of Kansas; and Michael is a resident of Chillicothe, Illinois.
len successfully engaged in the butcher business at this place, with the exception of two years along in the '70s. Besides his Imsiness property he owns about two hun- dred acres of land in and near the city, which he operates in connection with his butchering business. He also deals in live stock. On starting out in life for himself he had no capital, and his success in life is due entirely to his industry, perseverance and good management.
On the toth of April. 1869, Mr. Theenn was married, at Peoria, to Miss Catherine Kallister, who was born in Bohemia, but was reared in Peoria. Ten children were born to them, five sons and five daughters, name- ly: Joseph W., a business man of Peoria; Michael F., Cecelia, Carrie, Lillian and Ella (twins), Les, Emma, George and Edward, all at home. The family are all communi- cants of the Catholic church and Mr. Theena has been one of the official members for some years. In his political views he is an ardent Democrat, but at local elections, where no issue is involved, he supports the men whom he believes best qualified for the office regardless of party lines. He has al- ways taken an active and commendable in- terest in public affairs, and has served as one of the trustees on the village board for some time. He is widely and favorably known throughout his adopted county, and has many warm friends in the city where he makes his home.
During his boyhood and youth Joseph Theena attended school in Peoria and at the age of eleven years commenced learning the 11 CONRARD butcher's trade with John C. Calhoun, witl. whom he remained four years. At the end In America laly is king and the sovereignty that her liberty loving per- of that period in 1869, he came to Metamora and opened a shop of his own, having since ple acknowledge is that of business.
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The men of most influence in a large com- munity in this enlightened age are its enterprising, progressive representatives of commercial interests, and to this class be- longs Mr. Conrard, a prominent merchant of Metamora. Illinois. He was born in the province of Alsace Lorraine, France, Sep- tember 19. 1835, and is a son of Louis and Mary ( Rousselle ) Conrard, also natives of France, and representatives of old French families. The father spent his entire life as a business man in Alsace Lorraine. Our subject is the third in order of birth in the family of five children, the others being Mrs. Mary Ann Gomien, a widow residing in Hamilton county, Ohio; Mrs. Mary Gasper. a widow of Alsace Lorraine; and Louis and Emil, both business men of that place.
In his native province Mr. Conrard grew to manhood and for eight years attended the common schools, acquiring a good practical education in the French language. He served an apprenticeship of two years to the shoemaker's trade, and then worked at his trade for the same parties until his emi- gration to the United States in 1853. Ile took passage on a sailing vessel at Havre, and after a voyage of thirty-five days, du- ing which they experienced some severe weather, he landed in this country. Hle pro- ceeded at once to Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade two years, and later was similarly employed at St. Louis. We next find him among the Indians on the plains in the employ of fur trading com- panies in what is now North Dakota, where he spent one year, and then returned to St. Lonis for a short time.
In 1857 Mr. Conrard came to Illinois, and after working for about a year at his trade in Tremont, Tazewell county, went to Eureka, where he had his first experience
at farming, being thus employed two years. He came to Metamora in 1861 and opened a shoe shop. At first he engaged in business only in a small way but as his trade increased he put in a stock of ready-made boots and shoes, and later added a stock of general merchandise. He erected a store building and successfully engaged in business until 1866, when his store was destroyed by fire. He then built a good brick block, but in 1889 this was also burned. With character- istie energy, however, he at once rebuilt a double store, and now carries a large and well-selected stock of dry goods, clothing, shoes and groceries, in fact everything found in a first-class establishment of the kind. He has gained an enviable reputation for good goods and fair dealing, and has ac- cordingly built up an excellent trade. Re- sides his pleasant residence and store, he now owns two farms in Jasper county, Indiana.
In Washington, Illinois, May 5. 1858, Mr. Conrard was united in marriage with Miss Mary This, also a native of France, who came to America when a young lady. They have a family of six children, namely : Charles and Joseph D., who are both in the store with their father; Mary, wife of J. L. Finch. of Chicago: Eulalie, Victoria and Blanche, all at home. Two others died in infancy.
Since casting his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant in 1868, Mr. Con- rard has been unswerving in his allegiance to the Republican party, but has never sought nor desired public office, preferring to devote his undivided attention to his extensive busi- ness interests. However he has been elected and served several terms as a member of the village board. Mr. Conrard has made two trips to his native land to visit the friends and scenes of his youth, but has never yet
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had occasion to regret his emigration to
Among the leading and successful busi- ness men of El Paso is the popular druggist. John B. Michels, who has been prominently identified with the interests of the city since 1890. He was born in Hermann, Missouri, January 8, 1865, and is a son of Peter and Mary ( Straub) Michels, both natives of Germany, the former born in Prussia, the latter in Baden. They came to the United States in early life and were married in Her- mann, Missouri, where they still continue to make their home. The father has fol- lowed various occupations, and though he came to this country empty-handed is now in comfortable circumstances. He owns a pleasant home in Hermann, and receives a pension in recognition of his services in the Civil war. He is now seventy-three years of age, his wife sixty-seven. In religious belief they are Catholics, and in politics the father is a Democrat. Of the nine chiklren born to them two died in early childhood. Those living are Arnold B., a merchant of Germantown, Illinois; Katrina, wife of Thomas Behrens, a wine grower of Her- mann, Missouri : John B .. our subject : Lena, wife of John Epple, a farmer of Morrison, Missouri: Mary, wife of Joseph Haas, a farmer of El Paso township. Woodford county, Illinois: Annie, wife of Leo Stein. of St. Louis, Missouri: and Eliza, at home with her parents.
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In the public schools of his native place America for here he has steadily prospered. John B. Michels acquired his education. and is to-day one of the substantial citizens of Metamora, as well as one of its most prominent men. At the age of fourteen years he left home and started out in life for himself, working first in a general store at Morrison, Missouri. Subsequently he was employed as clerk in a drug store at Carlyle, Illinois, and for three years was with a Mr. Winheim, a chemist JOHN B. MICHELS. from Germany. While with him he became a licensed pharmacist. passing the required examination at Springfield, and being one of six who passed in a class of thirty-eight. He was then nineteen years of age. Later he was employed as prescription clerk by Charles A. Strathman, a druggist of El Paso for four years, and in 1889 entered into partnership with that gentleman. A year later this partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Michels embarked in business for himself with a capital of only nine hundred dollars. He purchased a stock valued at about fifteen hundred, but it has since been increased from time to time to meet the growing demands of his trade, and now amounts to eight thon- sand dollars. In the meantime Mr. Michels purchased his present store building and the one adjoining for fourteen thousand dollars. and has bought other property in the town. For his own home he has erected a modern Queen .Ann cottage at a cost of four thou sand dollars. All of this property has been acquired through the industry, perseverance and good management of the owner, who is to-day numbered among El Paso's most pro- gressive, energetic and successful business men, and the prosperity that has come to him is certainly well deserved.
June 20, 1889. Mr. Michels married Miss Sophia Wetzel, who was born in St. Louis. Missouri, in 1867. a daughter of Frederick and Komma (Seitz) Wetzel, who are still living in that city. There she was reared
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and educated and was employed as a teacher in the city schools for a time. Three chil- dren were born to our subject and his wife. but one died in infancy. Those living are Arnold, aged ten years, and Josephine, aged four years. The family are communicants of the Catholic church, and Mr. Michels is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He affiliates with the Democratic party : served as alderman of the second ward one term, and was town clerk in 1890.
GEORGE ANDREWS.
Among the representative citizens of El Paso there are none whose success has been more worthily achieved than that of the sub- ject of this sketch. Through his own well- directed efforts and good management he has gained a comfortable competence and is now able to lay aside all business cares and live a retired life.
Mr. Andrews was born on the 3Ist of May, 1848, in Stamford, Lincolnshire, Eng- land, of which place his parents. James and Elizabeth ( Plowright) AAndrews, were also natives, the former born April 5, 1821, the latter February 27, 1826. The father was a natural mechanic, being able to turn his hand to almost anything in the mechanical line, and for years was overseer of a stone quarry in his native land. but after coming to this country turned his attention to farm- ing. It was in 1855 that he brought his family to America, and he first settled near Tonica, La Salle county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for three years. Sub- sequently he made his home in Knox county for a time and then returned to La Salle
county, but afterward went to Putnam coun- ty, and in 1862 took up his home in Living- ston county, looking in each county for a home giving the best advantages. He made his first purchase in Livingston county of one hundred and sixty acres of wild prairie land. which he improved with the aid of his sons, and to which he added from time to time until he had a half section of land in Waldo township. Coming to this country with no capital and a large family to sup- port, he met with success in his undertak- ings and continued to actively engage in farm work until his death, August 5. 1883. His farm is one of the best improved places in Waldo township, Livingston county. As a Republican he took an active interest in political affairs, and was a patriotic and loyal citizen during the Civil war, giving his sup- port to the assistance of soldiers and their families at home. He served as road com- missioner and in other minor offices, and took a commendable interest in educational affairs and the maintaining of good schools. He Helped to organize the schools in his town- ship, having them located every two miles. In all enterprises for the advancement of the county, he took an active part. He was an active worker and supporter of the Con- gregational church, and was highly respected by all who knew him. Shortly after his death his widow moved to Gridley, McLean county, where she made her home until called from this life. October 30, 1899.
To this worthy couple were born four- teen children, four of whom died in infancy, and nine reached years of maturity, namely : Thomas, of Pontiac, who is represented on another page of this volume: James, a re- tired citizen of Minonk : George. our subject ; Mary .A., wife of James Greenhalgh, a farm- er of Oregon ; Robert, who is connected with
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the custom house at Portland, Oregon : Betsy, wife of George Murray, of Waldo township, Livingston county; Henry G., who lives on the old home farm in that township ; Rebecca J., wife of C. L. Wilcox, of the same township: and Everett E., also a resident of Waldo township. Livingston county.
George Andrews received his education in the common schools near his boyhood home and assisted his father in the opera- tion of the farm until he attained his ma- jority, after which he worked as a farm hand for one year. He then rented land and com- menced farming on his own account, and as soon as he had acquired enough capital in- vested it in land, his first purchase consist- ing of eighty acres of partially improved land in Waldlo township, Livingston county, to which he subsequently added. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of land in that township; one hundred and sixty acres in Iroquois county, and eighty acres in MeLean county, besides his home prop- erty in El Paso. He successfully engaged in general farming until 1888, when he and his family spent six months in Oregon and California, sight seeing, and has since made his home in El Paso. In 1808 he erected his present beautiful residence, costing when complete about thirty-five hundred dollars. During his residence here he has engaged in buying and shipping stock to some extent, and has also dealt in real estate, meeting with good success in both undertakings.
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