USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 3
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Mr. Helms was one of the most public- spirited and enterprising men of his com- munity, and took deep interest in all things for its betterment. He was a recognized leader in Lyndon township and a strong Republican in politics, being often sent as a delegate to the county conventions of his party and several times to the state con- ventions. He was a prominent member of lodge No. 750, F. & A. M., and of the commandery at Sterling, and at the time of his death all neighboring lodges sent letters of condolence to the family. Those who knew him best speak in unqualified terms of his uprightness and integrity in business affairs, and his willingness to aid any enterprise for the public good. Mrs. Helms, an estimable lady, of many sterling qualities, is still liv- ing in the same house with her son-in-law, Charles A. Hamilton.
M RS. SARAH M. WHITE, who resides on section 4, Lynden township, traces her ancestry back several generations, be- ing of Scotch extraction on her father's side,
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and of English on her mother's. She was born in Craftsbury, Orleans county, Ver- mont, September 21, 1818, and is a daugh- ter of Nehemiah M. and Sally (Durrell) Lyon, the former a native of Woodstock, Connecticut, born November 25, 1789, and the latter a native of Concord, New Hamp- shire, born October 27, 1788. They were mrried in Craftsbury, Vermont, February 27, 1814, and to them were born eight chil- dren, all of whom reached maturity. Royal C. married Betsy Wilkins, and they were the parents of six children-Willard, Sarah, Dow, Delight, Virginia and Emma. Of these, Virginia and Delight are deceased. Royal C. Lyon was born in 1814, and died in 1873. He first lived in Lodi, Medina county, Ohio, from which place he removed with his family to Michigan, where his death occurred. Baxter, born in 1816, married Sarah A. Vaughn, by whom he had eight children: Sylvester, Martha (de- ceased), Marcus, Edwin (deceased), Dwight, Frank (deceased), Rhoda (deceased), Ella and Cora. After a separation, he later married Mrs. Jane Ritter, née Stewart, a widow lady, by whom he had two children: William (deceased), and Myrtie. He also lived for a time in Medina county, Ohio, but afterwards came to Whiteside county, and later moved to Newton, Kansas, where he died in 1889. Sarah M. is the subject of this sketch. William H., born in 1821, married Harriet Persons, and to them were born Royal M., Harriet, Sarah, deceased; Jennie, Ada and Ida, the two last named being twins, Ada now being deceased. Will- iam H. never came west, but died in Crafts- bury, Vermont, in 1872. Augustus, born in 1823, married Mary Widdleton, and they had four children, the first born dying in infancy. The others were May, Angie and
Frank. The family made their home in Massachusetts for some years and then re- moved to Peoria, Illinois. Judah, born in 1825, married Laurinda Ketchum, and they have seven children: Chauncy, deceased; Chauncy, Celestia and Caroline, twins, the former being deceased; George, deceased; Royal and Ed. From Craftsbury, Vermont, Judah moved with his family to Lodi, Ohio, a few years later to Lyndon township, then to Wisconsin and later to Etna, Washington, and there died. Mar- cus, born in 1828, never married. He came to Whiteside county, and died in 1858, be- ing killed in a runaway. Martha, the twin sister of Marcus, born in 1828, first married Thaddeus Leonard, by whom she had one daughter, Susan E. Her husband dying, she later married Charles Ristew, and is now living in Sterling. They have four children: Charles F., in Chicago; Sarah, deceased; Julia M. and Minnie.
Nehemiah Lyon, the paternal grand- father of our subject, was born October 9, 1753, and April 16, 1778, married Betty Bugbee, who was born July 6, 1753. They were the parents of nine children: Hitty, Walter, Baxter, Betty, Lucretia, Sally, Nehemiah, Walter (second) and Benjamin. Lemuel Durrell, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. White, and father of Sally Lyon, was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary war.
Sarah M. Lyon grew to womanhood in her native state, and on the 14th of May, 1845, was united in marriage with Ruel Hurlburt, who was born December 27, 1819, in Clover, Orleans county, Vermont, and by this union four children were born, of whom the first three-Martha L., Mar- cus M. M. and Nathan H., died in early childhood. Zella E., who was born De- cember 26, 1856, was married December
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30, 1874, to Ira H. Slater, who was born near New Laceyville, Susquehanna county, October 3, 1854. His father, Roswell Slater, came to Lyndon, Whiteside county, in 1855. He was a soldier in the Union army, be- longing to the Seventy-fifth Illinois Volun- teer Regiment, and died in July, 1863. To them have been born five children, as follows: Ruel, born June 5, 1876, died May 20, 1880. Pearl A., born May 20, 1878, was married December 30, 1896. to Fred Ansen, and they have one son, Floyd, born January 26, 1898. Ruby L., born July 1, 1880; Martha V., born February 14, 1882; and John A., born May 16, 1884, are all at home.
Almost immediately after their marriage Ruel Hurlburt and wife came to Whiteside county, arriving here June 19, 1845, and settled on a farm now owned by Mrs. White. Here Mr. Hurlburt engaged in farming, and here all their children were born. At the time of their arrival the coun- try was thinly settled, and there were no roads worthy of the name. The land pur- chased by Mr. Hurlburt was wild prairie land, on which not a furrow had been turned. He at once commenced the im- provement of the place, and in due time had a well improved and well cultivated farm. He continued to farm until his death, April 24, 1860. His death was deeply lamented by his family and their many friends.
In December, 1860, Mr. Hurlburt was united in marriage with Matthew White, who was born in Craftsbury, Vermont, in April, 1821. He was an old schoolmate of Mrs. Hurlburt. They remained on the old homestead, and Mr. White continued to manage the farm until he, too, was called to his reward, He died October 18, 1884.
and our subject was for the second time left a widow. She still remains on the home farm, which consists of one hundred and twenty-five acres of well improved land. She is a consistent member of the Congre- gational church, and is well known and highly respected in the community which has been her home for more than half a century.
ROBERT A. NORRISHI. Among the progressive and enterprising farmers of Whiteside county who thoroughly under- stand their business and pursue the avoca- tion of their chosen calling in a methodical and workmanlike manner, is the subject of this biography. He resides on section 2, Mount Pleasant township, where he owns and operates a valuable farm of three hun- dred and sixty acres.
Mr. Norrish was born on his pleasant farm, December 18, 1866, and is a son of Robert S. Norrish, of Morrison, who is represented on another page of this volume. After attending the district schools of Mount Pleasant township for some time, he became a student at Beloit College, Beloit, Wis- consin, and later entered the Sterling Busi- ness & Phonograph College, at Sterling, Illinois. After completing his education, he returned to the home farm, which he oper- ated with his brother for one year, and then conducted it alone after his father's retire- ment from business. In the spring of 1899, he purchased the place, which comprises three hundred and sixty acres, and is now carrying it on with marked success. He has always given the greater part of his at- tention to stock, breeding some and feeding more, and usually ships to the city markets about four car loads of cattle each year and
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two of hogs. He is also interested in horses, principally coach horses, and generally has upon his place from twenty-five to thirty head. He is a man of good business ability, energetic and progressive, and generally carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
On the 5th of February, 1892, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Norrish and Gertrude Harnham, who was born in Ustick township, Whiteside county, February 3, 1871, and is a daughter of John C. and Jane (Ridley) Harnham, natives of Lincoln- shire, England, who are now living on sec- tion 34, Ustick township, honored and highly respected citizens of that community. Our subject and his wife have one child, Frank Parnham, born September 10, 1895. Mrs. Norrish is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Morrison, and both she and her husband are held in high regard by all who have the pleasure of their ac- quaintance. He is not identified with any particular political party but casts his ballot in favor of those candidates which he be- lieves best qualified to fill the offices.
G EORGE W. BIRT, a representative farmer of Whiteside county, who owns and operates a well improved and highiy cultivated farm of one hundred and sixty- four acres on section 17, Ustick township, was born February 1, 1858, in the same township, about a half mile from his present home. His father, Henry J. Birt, was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1825, and was a son of George W. Birt, a native of the same county and a weaver by trade, being employed in the silk mills of England in early life. After his emigration to Amer- ica, he worked in woolen mills in New
Hampshire until 1841, when he and his son Henry J. came to Whiteside county, Illinois, passing through Chicago when it was a mere hamlet. They took up land in Clyde township, but after residing there for a few years removed to Ustick township, where the grandparents both died. In their family were six children.
Henry J. Birt was quite small when brought by his parents to the new world and was only sixteen years of age when the family came to this county. Here he married Miss Louisa Craiton, who was born in Ohio of German parentage. By this union four children were born: (1) Mary is the wife of WV. D. Yopst, a mason of Albany, Illinois, and they have three children. (2) Ella, a resident of Independence, Iowa, first mar- ried Albert Harn, by whom she had two children, and is now the widow of Daniel Blue, by whom she had one child. (3) George W .. our subject, is the next of the family. (4) Alfred C., who lives on the old homestead in Ustick township, married Hepsie Stowell and has three children. Throughout life the father engaged in agricultural pursuits, making a specialty of stock raising. He died April 14, 1887, and his wife passed away January 29, 1895. Both were ear- nest and consistent members of the Method- ist Episcopal church, and in politics he was first a Republican, but later voted in- dependently.
Our subject received his education in the district schools of Ustick township, and remained under the parental roof until his marriage, which was celebrated February 5, 1877, Miss Nellie Farwell becoming his wife. She was born in this county, September 3, 1859, and is a daughter of Solomon and Margaret (Plank) Farwell, both natives of Denmark, Lewis county, New York, the
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former born January 11, 1827, the latter September 21, 1828. Her grandfathers, Solomon Farwell, Sr., and John Plank, both spent their entire lives in the Empire state. The father, who was a carpenter by trade,
family, which was founded in America by Thomas Paine (as the name was then spelled), who came to this country from England and was made a freeman of East- ham, Massachusetts, in 1639. His son, came to Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1855, . Elisha Paine, was born at that place, and and located in Unionville, where he worked at that occupation for a few years. He then purchased land in Ustick township and turned his attention to farming, but is now living retired in Unionville. His wife is still living and with one exception all of their nine children still survive, Mrs. Birt being the fifth in order of birth. To our subject and his wife have been born eight children: William E., born March 26, 1880, Lula, born April 11, 1882; George H., born August 26, 1884; Emma, born November 22, 1886; Millie Dale, born May 3, 1889; Lee H., born March 16, 1893; Nellie M., born February 5, 1895; and Ella L., born May 28, 1897. All are still living and are at home with the exception of Millie Dale, who died September 18, 1893.
Mr. and Mrs. Birt began their domestic life upon his present farm in the home he had previously built, and there he has since suc- cessfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, keeping on hand a good grade of horses, cattle and hogs. Politically he is thoroughly independent, always voting for the men whom he believes best qualified to fill the offices, regardless of party ties.
EDWIN WATERS PAYNE, an honored veteran of the Civil war and a promi- nent citizen of Morrison, where he has made his home since October, 1865, was born in East Lebanon, New Hampshire, February 8, 1837, and is a worthy representative of an old and distinguished New England 2
there he was married, January 20, 1685, to Rebecca Doane. Four years later they re- moved to Canterbury, Connecticut. His brother, John Paine, was one of the ances- tors of John Howard Payne, the author of Home-Sweet Home. Rev. Elisha Payne, son of Elisha and Rebecca (Doane) Paine, was born in Eastham, Massachusetts, De- ceniber 29, 1693, while his parents were there on a visit. He was a minister of the Separatists church and was imprisoned five different times for preaching the gospel with- out a license from the established church. He was a noted evangelist, preaching in several different coloneis, and devoted his entire time to the work after 1742, prior to which time he was a distinguished attorney of Connecticut November 24, 1720, to Mary Johnson, and died at Bridgehampton, Long Island, August 26, 1775.
Colonel Elisha Paine, son of Rev. Elisha and Mary (Johnson) Payne, was born in Canterbury, March 7, 1730, and was a brother-in-law of Colonel Aaron Cleveland, of Revolutionary fame. In 1774, Colonel Payne removed to East Lebanon, New Hampshire, of which place he became a prominent lawyer and successful farmer. He held the rank of lieutenant, colonel in King George's Thirteenth Regiment, New Hampshire Militia, and took a very active and influential part in public affairs and in the politics of his state. He was one of the most prominent men of New Hampshire for some years, was dean of Dartmouth College, and lieutenant-governor of Ver-
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mont in 1784, on the organization of the state. He died in East Lebanon, July 20,
1807. He married Anna Waldo, April 12,
1753. She died May 15, 1759, in Connecti-
cut. For his second wife he married, May 20, 1762, Elizabeth Spaulding, of Plainfield, Connecticut, who died in East Lebanon, New Hampshire, August 29, 1809. Their son William, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Plainfield, Connecticut, Septem- ber 18, 1772, but the greater part of his life was spent in East Lebanon, New Hamp- shire, where he followed farming. At Kill- ingly, Connecticut, he was married March 19, 1807, to Ruth Waters, who died Octo- ber 13, 1849, and his death occurred in East Lebanon, January 24, 1826. Her father, Daniel Waters, was a lieutenant in the Fifth Connecticut Infantry during the Revolutionary war and served two terms of enlistment. Through him our subject is eligible to membership in the Society of Sons of the American Revolution.
William Payne, Jr., father of our sub- ject, was born in East Lebanon, New Hampshire, February 15, 1808, and there grew to manhood and was educated. On the Sth of November, 1832, he married Miss Eliza Wells, who was born in the same place, January 16, 1808, a daughter of Reuben and Polly (Sweetland) Wells, also representative, of old New England families. William Payne followed farming in his native state until 1838. when he came to Vergennes, Jackson county, Illinois, and purchased a tract of wild land on which he made his home until coming to Albany, Whiteside county, in 1845. Subsequently he removed to Newton township and en- tered government land, upon which he en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until 1873, owning and operating a fine farin of two
hundred acres. He was called upon to fill several township offices. In 1873 he laid aside active labor and removed to Morrison, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred November 16, 1892. His wife died November 17, 1895. They were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he served as class leader and steward in both the church at Morrison and in the country. Of the seven sons born to them, three died in early life: Allen W. died April 6, 1848; Charles A. died April 18, 1848; and George H. died February 16, 1848. The others were all soldiers of the Civil war; William A., now a resident of Morrison, was captain of Company F, Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry; Edwin Waters, our subject, and Lucian Augustine, now of Hastings, Nebraska, were members of Company A, Thirty-fourth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry; and Ira Arthur was sergeant in the same company, of which his brother, William A., was captain, and was killed in the battle of Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863.
Edwin Waters Payne, of this review, was educated in the common schools of this state and the Mt. Morris Seminary. He assisted in the work of the home farm until nineteen years of age and then took up the carpenter's trade, which he followed for five years and a half or until his enlistment, August 25, 1861, soon after the first call for three years' men. He was one of the orig- inal sergeants of his company and filled that position until discharged April 7, 1865. With the Army of the Cumberland he par- ticipated in the battles of Shiloh and Liberty Gap, and was all through the Atlanta cam- paign, including the engagements at Resaca, Rome, Kenesaw Mountain and Jonesboro, and constant skirmishing for four months.
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In 1862 he was detailed in the recruiting service and was connected with that depart- ment for four months. At Jonesboro, Sep- tember 1, 1864, during the last battle fought for the possession of Atlanta, he lost his right arm, and was sent to the hospital in Atlanta, where he remained until the 23d of October. He arrived home November 4, but gangrene set in and the arm had to be re-amputated November 21. On the Ist of March, 1865, he left home to join his regi- ment at Goldsboro, North Carolina, expect- ing to serve as lieutenant, but was not ac- cepted on account of the loss of his arm, and was soon discharged. On his way home he stopped in Washington, being in that city on the night of President Lincoln's assassin- ation.
Locating in Morrison in 1865, Mr. Payne served as deputy county clerk for four years, and was then elected county clerk, which office he most creditably and acceptably filled for twenty-five years-the longest period any one ever held office in this county. During his incumbency the business of the office was largely increased, and he was the first to oocupy the new office rooms and arrange them. He was also one of the aldermen of the city for six years, and dur- ing his first term of two years the water works were established. On the expiration of his term, December 3, 1894, he opened an insurance and real estate office in Morri- son, and now represents a number of impor- tant companies and is doing a good business in that line. He loans money on farm lands and for the past three years has been special tax examiner and has paid taxes for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company in Illinois.
On the 14th of February, 1884, Mr. Payne was united in marriage with Miss
Cornelia Hudson, who died April 13, 1882, leaving no children. He was again married, December 30, 1884, his second union being with Miss Letitia Happer, by whom he has one son, Edwin Happer, born September 21, 1887. They have a pleasant home on North street, and are active and prominent members of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Payne is now a trustee. He is also a prominent member of Alpheus Clark post, No. 118, of which he has been com- mander one term and quartermaster three terms. He is widely known and is quite a popular and influential citizen of his com- munity. At his first election he received all but eleven votes cast in the county, and at another time all but fifteen, and with one exception was always elected without any exertion on his part.
F FRANK E. FITCH. Among the pro- gressive, energetic and successful farmi- ers and stock raisers of Whiteside county, who thoroughly understand the vocation which they follow, and are consequently enabled to carry on their calling with profit to themselves, is the subject of this sketch. He is actively engaged in agricultural pur- suits on section 15, Lyndon township, where he owns a fine farm of two hundred and eighty-two acres.
Mr. Fitch was born in the same town- ship, November 21, 1852. His father, George W. Fitch, was born in Pike, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, February 21, 1822, and when young removed with his parents to Ohio, where the family made their home for a few years. In 1837, at the age of fifteen years, he came to Whiteside county, Illinois, and took up his residence in the western part of Lyndon township. The
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country at that time was very new and un- settled, and surrounded by primitive pioneer scenes he grew to manhood. On attaining his majority he purchased a farm of the government. He successfully engaged in farming up to within a few years of his death, which occurred August 10, 1887. He retired from active labor but still re- sided on his farm. During his business ca- reer he was also a prominent and successful stock buyer, and was one of the popular and influential men of his community. In politics he was a Republican, and for one year he filled the office of supervisor. On the 4th of February, 1845, he was united in marriage with Miss Ellen D). Millikan, who was born in Stockbridge, Massachu- setts, March 24, 1825,a daughter of Daniel F. and Aurelia (Pease) Millikan, natives of Washington and Stockbridge, Massachu- setts, respectively. From that state they removed to Ohio, where they lived for eight years, and in 1838 came to Whiteside coun- ty, Illinois, locating in Lyndon, where their home was the third or fourth building erected in the village. Her father was a shoe- maker by trade but also followed farming to a limited extent. He died August 18, 1879, and his wife passed away March 20, 1875.
Of the eight children born to George W. and Ellen D. (Millikan) Fitch, three died young. Robert H. died at the age of twenty-two years. Flora A. married Charles Abernethy, of Fairmount, Nebras- ka, and died March 18, 1895, leaving one child, Winnifred, who is now living with an aunt in Nebraska, while her father is in California with his parents. Frank E., our subject, is the next of the family. Emily A. first married Judson Pollard, by whom she had one child, Genevieve, and is now the
wife of A. Megrew, of Denver, Colorado. Nellie A. is the wife of Walter D. Ambler, who is engaged in the dry goods and gro- cery business in Weeping Water, Nebraska.
Frank E. Fitch was educated in the Lyndon school, and remained at home, working for his father most of the time until he came into possession of the old homestead by purchase in the spring of 1884. He has since added many improve- ments to the place, and is successfully en- gaged in general farming and stock raising, giving particular attention to the latter branch of his business.
On the 18th of July, 1883, Mr. Fitch was married to Miss Carrie M. Sweatt, who was born in Canon City, Minnesota, Sep- tember 20, 1864, a daughter of Meltiah C. and Cynthia (Amy) Sweatt, natives of the New England states. They had seven chil- dren, of whom two died in infancy; Orlando J. is a mason of Osakis, Minnesota; Clar- ence A. is a carpenter of North Dakota; Elroy E. is a farmer of Osakis, Minnesota; Carrie M. is the wife of our subject, and Arthur, also a resident of Osakis, wedded Mary Judkins, and they have two children, Frank and Percy. Mr. Sweatt died April 1, 1897, and his wife departed this life No- vember 25, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Fitch have two children: Flora A., born in 1885, and Genevieve, born in 1899.
Although Mr. Fitch still lives upon his farm, he has rented the place since 1894, and has practically laid aside business cares and is living retired. He casts his ballot with the Republican party, but has never aspired to any political prominence. Relig- iously his wife is a member of the Congre- gational church, and he is highly respected and esteemed by all with whom he comes in contact.
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R EV. JAMES W. SKINNER. Only the history of the good and great comes down to us through the ages. The truc re- ligion has been the strongest influence known to man through all time, while the many false doctrines that have sprung up have flourished only for a day and then van- ished. More potent at the present time than at any period in the world's history are the work and influence of Christianity, and among those who are devoting their lives to its inculcation among men is Mr. Skinner, the honored pastor of the Presby- terian church at Morrison. He is one of the leading ministers of that denomination in this section of the state, and his life is a source of inspiration and encouragement to all who know himn.
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