USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 45
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Mrs. Scott departed this life October 21,
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1899, and her remains were interred in Riverside cemetery, Sterling, where a monument now marks her last resting place. The children born to our subject and his wife were as follows: Walter is a business man of Montmorency; Edwin was a physi- cian of Oakland, Coles county, Illinois, where he died in July, 1892; Eleanora died in infancy; Celestia is the wife of William E. Richardson, who is now at the soldiers' home in Danville, Illinois, while his wife and daughter live in Rock Falls; Hiram B. is principal of the Lewis Academy in Wich- ita, Kansas, and a minister of the Christian Church of Valley Center, that state; Eliza J. is the wife of Bernard Miller, of Prairie- ville, Lee county, Illinois; Franklin A. died in infancy; Alice A. is the wife of Charles Hollis, of Rock Falls; Jesse F. is a physician of Oakland, Illinois; Orange M. is a farmer of Palo Alto county, Iowa; Bertha L. is the wife of Joseph Jenkins, of Panora, Guthrie county, Iowa; and Hattie A. lives with her father in Rock Falls.
Mr. Scott cast his first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren, and supported the Democratic party until 1860, since which time he has been an ardent Republican. He has made a guess on each election since 1 840 and his predictions have always proved correct. He now predicts that President Mckinley will be re-elected in 1900. He filled the office of school director for some years and has also been commissioner of highways, but has never cared for political preferment. In early life he was a Presby-
terian in religious faith, but he and his daughter now hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Since May, 1839, he has made his home in this county, and has therefore witnessed almost its en- tire development. In those early days he
killed a large number of deer and wolves, besides great quantities of wild game of all kinds, and his wife also killed numerous prairie chickens and animals that preyed upon her domestic fowls. He has seen the wild and swampy land drained and trans- formed into highly cultivated and product- ive farms and ever bore his part in the work of improvement. As an honored pio- neer and representative citizen of his adopt- ed county he is certainly worthy of prom- inent mention in her history and his sketch will be read with unusual interest by his many friends.
C HARLES J. LONGSDON. Whiteside county has been the home and scene of labor of many men who have not only led lives that should serve as an example to those who come after them but have also been of important service to the community through various avenues of usefulness. Among them must be named Charles J. Longsdon, who passed away at his home in Sterling, March 17, 1896, after a life rich in those rare possessions which only a high character can give.
He was born in Charleston, South Caro- lina, January 4, 1830, and was the son of an English squire, William Longsdon, of Great Longstone, England, who was a magistrate of the Queen's bench. The es- tate of the family was known as Longstone, while the Norman name for it was Longes- dune. Our subject could trace his ancestry back through an unbroken line for twenty- eight generations to the eleventh century. The first of the family in England was Serlo de Longsdon, a Norman, who distinguished himself in the battle of Hastings as aide de camp of William the Conqueror and in re-
CHARLES L. LONGSDON.
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ward for his services a grant was made, en- titling him and his successors " To hawke, hunte, fishe and fowle, cutte downe tymber and digge uppe stone quarries between Mat- lock and Mam-Tor, the consideration was that the family was always to keep a bull, a boar and a stallion for public use and furnish two gentleman in armour. In proof of this ancient armour, swords, halberds deck the walls of the old manor house at Little Longstone. The massive walls of that building have enclosed the joys and sorrows of this honorable and highly esteemed fam- ily for over eight hundred years. In one of the upper rooms, known as the eagle cham- ber, is a stone five feet square which forms part of the chimney over the mantel piece, on which is the motto "Rectae et Suariter," and a double headed eagle, the emblem used on the Longsdon arms and crest. The title of gentleman has ever been associated with the name of Longsdon.
When about thirty years of age, 'Squire Longsdon came to America and located in Charleston, South Carolina, as agent for a number of English capitalists to invest his and their money in American railroads. He did not remain here permanently, but went back and forward between here and Eng- land. He purchased stock in the Illinois Central, the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne, the Pennsylvania Central and the Grand Trunk Railroads, and during the construction of the last named road was general paymaster, having full charge of the funds of all the stockholders. He was a most capable financier and excellent business man. He married Miss Maria Lord, a southern lady, by whom he had two children, Emma J., and Charles J., our subject. As the mother died when her son was only two years old, the father took the children to England,
where they were educated. He became a very wealthy man. He died March 4, 1876, and his daughter died February 13, 1874. She was an artist of superior ability, one of the best in England, and was known all over the continent. Her brother's widow, Mrs. Longsdon, of Sterling, has in her pos- session a number of works of art in oil, water colors and India ink done by Miss Emma, and among others there are several dozen wine doilies decorated with land- scapes, pictures from Punch with humorous dialogues attached.
Charles J. Longsdon, of this review, was educated at Walton Academy, Liverpool, England, from which he was graduated at the age of fourteen. It was his wish to enter the ministry, but his father desired him to follow in his footsteps and keep the title in the family which was unbroken for eight hundred years. In 1848 he came to the United States and located in Genesee township, Whiteside county, Illinois, where he took up land two years later. At the time of his death he owned two hundred and seventy acres in that township and large tracts in Polk and Dunn counties, Wisconsin, and also in Minnesota. He was also a stockholder of the Illinois Central, the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne, the Pennsyl- sylvania Central and other railroads. He continued to superintend the operation of his farm in Genesee township until his death, but in 1892 he removed to Sterling, though he had made his home in Coleta for nine years previous.
On the 10th of February, 1874, Mr. Longsdon was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude S. Stiles, of Sterling, a native of Lewis county, New York. Her parents, Nathan C. and Ann E. (Wright) Stiles, also natives of New York, and the latter a daugh-
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ter of Rufus Wright, of Massachusetts. Her paternal grandfather was Sullivan Stiles, the son of an English gentleman, who came to the new world with two brothers. One located in Massachusetis, one in Toronto, Canada, and the third in South Carolina. Mrs. Longsdon belongs to the Massachusetts branch. Her father was a farmer both in New York and the latter in Illinois. On coming to this state he first located in Milledgeville, Carroll county, later spent a year or two in Lanark, and then came to Genesee township, Whiteside county, where he lived for a number of years. Subseqently he spent five years in Coleta, and then came to Sterling. He and his wife lived with Mrs. Longsdon for nine years after her marriage, and they, too, removed to Coleta. In December, 1896, they came to Sterling, where they now make their home at the age of seventy-six and seventy-one years respectively. They are widely and favor- ably known and have many warm friends in this county. Of their two children, Mrs. Longsdon is the older. John S. Stiles, the younger, is a farmer and stock raiser of Kansas. He first married Sarrah McGee, by whom he had two daughters, Nellie and Gertrude, and by a second marriage he also has two children.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Longsdon, of whom the oldest, a daughter, died in infancy. Emma, born July 7, 1876, was a graduate of the Sterling schools, and died October 5, 1899, being laid to rest in the Riverside cemetery. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Daughters of the Globe, and her death was greatly mourned by her many friends as well as relatives. Anna L. and Gertrude Elizabeth are now attending the Sterling high school.
For some time previous to his death, Mr. Longsdon was in poor health, and on the 12th of March, 1896, he departed this life. His funeral, which took place at the family residence in Sterling, was connected by Rev. H. T. Clendenning, Rev. Matlack, Rev. Grover Clark and Rev. Davis, and his remains were interred in Riverside cemetery. Politically he was a Republican, and re- ligiously was a member of the church of England. Though he never united with any church in this country, he attended the Methodist Episcopal church, gave liberally toward its support and took a very active part in its work. Those who knew him best were numbered among his warmest friends. As a citizen he was honorable, prompt and true to every engagement; as a man he held the honor and esteem of all classes of peo- ple; as a husband and father he was a model worthy of all imitation; unassuming in his manner, sincere in his friendships, steadfast and unswerving in his loyalty to the right. His memory will be a sacred inheritance to his children; it will be cherished by a multitude of friends.
G EORGE R. PROCTOR, M. D. Prom- inent among the medical profession of Whiteside county stands George R. Proc- tor, of Coleta. He possesses unusual apti- tude for his chosen calling, and has the confidence of the entire community. Though yet in his early prime, he has given abundant evidence of skill and well applied principles of the healing art, which event- ually will bring to him renown and financial prosperity.
The Doctor's father, David G. Proctor, a native of Indiana, came to Illinois at an early day, and is now making his home in
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Genesee township, Whiteside county. Hc married Sarah Ann Hurless and to them seven children were born, namely: Cephus C., George R., Ira R., Minnie J., Richard G., Elizabeth and one who died in infancy. In the sketch of D. G. Proctor, which ap- pears elsewhere in this work, a full history of our subject's ancestors may be found.
The birth of Dr. George R. Proctor oc- curred on his father's farm in Genesee township, May 25, 1869. In his boyhood he attended the district schools, and, as he was a dilligent student, made rapid progress, and soon began preparing himself for a teacher. Subsequently, he pursued a course in the Shenandoah (Iowa) normal school, and then, for a period of four years was employed as a teacher in the common schools of Carroll and Whiteside counties, Illinois. Having determined to become a physician, he went to lowa City, Iowa, where he attended the Iowa State Univer- sity for two years. Later, he went to Rush Medical College, in Chicago, and there re- ceived the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1896. Immediately after his graduation, he returned to Coleta, where he established himself in practice, in partnership with Doctor McBride. The latter a year later removed to Sterling, since which time Doc- tor Proctor has had charge of the entire practice, and has made rapid progress in his loved work. Neglecting no means of advancement within his power, he has taken two post-graduate courses in Chicago, and has been a regular attendant at the meet- ings of the Rock River Valley Medical Association. In 1899, when that well- known society assembled at Dixon, Illinois, Dr. Proctor was honored by being elected to the responsible office of vice-president of the association. He is also a member of
the American Medical Association and the Mississippi Valley Medical Association. He is the medical examiner for the local lodges of the Knights of the Globe, and the Mystic Workers, with both of which he is identified as a member, and, besides, he is the med- ical adviser of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Home Forum and the New York Life Insurance Company. In his political faith he is a Democrat.
The marriage of Doctor Proctor and Jennie D. Tavenner was solemnized Sep- tember 14, 1897. The young couple have a little son, David T., born July 17, 1898. Mrs. Proctor, whose birth occurred Octo- ber 10, 1871, is one of the four children of Joseph and Fannie Tavenner. Her only sister, Mayme, is the wife of David Brown, of Gladbrook, lowa. John, elder brother of Mrs. Proctor, married Lena Munde, and has one child. Their home is in Hazel- hurst, Illinois. The younger brother, Al- bert, resides with his parents. Doctor Proctor and his wife are members of the United Brethren church, and receive a cor- dial welcome in the foremost social circles of Coleta.
W ILLIAM W. BLEAN is one of the leading and influential agriculturists of Newton township, Whiteside county, Illinois, where he owns and operates one hundred and fifty acres of land on sections 1 1 and 13, and also has seven acres in Fen- ton township. He was born in Newton township, February 5, 1856, a son of James and Hettie (Weakley) Blean, both natives of Pennsylvania, where their marriage was celebrated. Our subject's grandparents were John and Elizabeth Blean and Joseph and Martha Weakley. After his marriage
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James Blean came to Illinois and took up his residence in Newton township, Whiteside county, where in partnership with his father he purchased a farm of two hundred and fifteen acres. He at once turned his atten- tion to the improvement and cultivation of the land, and for some years successfully engaged in general farming and stock rais- ing. In 1861 he laid aside all personal in- terests and offered his services to the gov- ernment as a soldier of Company B, Seven- ty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He entered the army as second lieutenant, and was killed in the battle of Perryville, which was his first engagement. His widow is still living and now makes her home with- her son, James Blean, on the old homestead in Newton township. To them were born six children, of whom the two oldest died in infancy unnamed. William W., our sub- ject, is the next in order of birth; Elizabeth K. is the wife of John Hawk, a farmer of Newton township; John C. and James A., also farmers of that township.
William W. Blean, the subject of this sketch, made his home with his mother un- til a year after his marriage, when he lo- cated upon his present farm, which he has since converted into one of the most highly cultivated and well improved tracts in the neighborhood. He carries on general farın- ing and stock raising with marked success; feeds a large number of cattle and hogs each year; and also buys and sells stock for the local markets.
On the 13th of April, 1882, Mr. Blean was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Efner, a daughter of Edward and Amanda (Stagg) Efner, and the children born to this union are as follows: Hettie E., Mary E., Leonard, Albert, Cora, Eva and Harold. The two oldest daughters are now attending
school in Portland. The parents are faith- ful members of the Presbyterian church of Newton, and are held in high regard by all who know them. Fraternally Mr. Blean is a member of Erie camp, No. 14, M. W. A. By his ballot he supports the men and meas- ures of the Republican party, and he has been honored with local offices, having most creditably served as school director, collect- or and assessor for several years.
M ICHAEL CARNEY, who is industrious- ly engaged in the prosecution of a calling upon which the support and wealth of a nation largely depends, and in which he is meeting with deserved success, has been a resident of Portland township, Whiteside county, for thirty-three years, during which time he has witnessed important changes for the better. He was born in Massena, St. Lawrence county, New York, April 5, 1848, a son of James Carney.
James Carney, a native of Ireland, came to this country when a young man, and lo- cated in St. Lawrence county, where he was engaged in the independent occupation. of a farmer until his death, in 1857. He married Miss Sally England, a life-long res- ident of New York state, and a daughter of Robert England, who emigrated from old England to America in early life, becoming a pioneer of St. Lawrence county. She survived him many years, passing away in 1888, leaving eight children, as follows: John, who settled in Whiteside county as a farmer in 1864; Mrs. Margaret Andrews, of St. Lawrence county, New York; William, of the same county; Michael, the particular subject of this brief biography; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Cockings, of Erie, Illinois; Jane, wife of Joseph Crump, of St. Lawrence
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county, New York; Mary, who lives with her sister, Mrs. Andrews; and Robert, who owns and operates the old home farm in St. Law- rence county.
Michael Carney received excellent edu- cational advantages in the graded schools of Massena, where he lived until the spring of 1866, when he came west to join his elder brother, John, in Portland township. The first season of his sojourn here he worked as a farm hand by the month, and was after- wards employed by the year. Commencing then to work for himself, he rented land and for several years carried it on with excellent pecuniary results. Ín 1877 he invested his money in a tract of land containing one hun- dred and twenty acres, and there continued general farming and stock raising and feed- ing, meeting with such good success that he was enabled to buy more land, and build a convenient residence and substantial barn and outbuildings. Disposing of that prop- erty at an advantage, he bought a farın of one hundred and twenty-two acres in the same neighborhood, where he continued his operations with an equal amount of success. In 1897 he sold that farm, and has since had charge of the estate on which he now resides. It contains eight hundred acres of land, ly- ing on the Rock River Bottoms, very favor- ably situated, and well adapted to his chosen occupation of general agricultural and stock raising.
Mr. Carney was married, in June, 1870, to Esther M. Chase, who was born and bred in Allegany county, New York, but came to Whiteside county with her father, David D. Chase, about 1850. On November 27, 1885, Mrs. Carney passed to the life be- yond, and her body was laid to rest in Sharon cemetery. Two children were born of their union, as follows: Zene I)., who is
married, is engaged in business in Erie, this county, and Dency M., who married August Sourbeck, of Spring Hill, has one child, Edith Esther. Politically Mr. Carney has invariably voted the Republican ticket since casting his first presidential vote, in 1872, for General U. S. Grant. He has served sixteen consecutive years as constable, and for several terms was one of the school board. Fraternally he was a charter mem- ber of Erie lodge, I. O. O. F., but for the past twelve years he has belonged to the Prophetstown lodge of Odd Fellows, and he is likewise a member of the Home Forum, Spring Hill lodge.
JAMES COATS. Back to stanch old Scotch ancestry does Mr. Coats trace his lineage, and that in his character abide those sterling qualities which have ever marked the true type of the Scotch nation, is manifest when we come to consider the more salient points in his life history, which has been one marked by consecutive indus- try, invincible spirit, sturdy loyalty and un- wavering honor, -all of which have result- ed most naturally in securing him a position in the respect and esteem of his fellow men. He is now successfully operating, in con- nection with his brother, a fine farm of two hundred and ninety-five acres, all of which has been acquired through their well directed efforts.
Mr. Coats was born about seven miles from the city of Glasgow, in Lenarkshire, Scotland, October 15, 1834, and is a son of James and Ellen (Nesbit) Coats, who were also natives of the same land. His paternal grandparents were Thomas and Mary Belle Coats, and to them were born seven chil- dren: James, Archibald, John, Robert,
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Annie, Lizzie and Margaret. On the ma- ternal side the great-grandparents of our subject were Alexander and Ellen Morton, who lived and died in Scotland. The ma- ternal grandparents were Thomas and Mary (Morton) Nesbit, who had a family of six children, as follows: William, Alexander, Thomas, Ellen, Christina and Jeannette. One of the maternal uncles of Mr. Coats served in the marine service under Nelson and was on the boat when the famous Eng- lish admiral was shot.
James Coats, Sr., the father of our sub- ject, accompanied by his wife, two sons and a daughter, removed to New Zealand in 1860, and there the parents died, while the children continued their residence on that island. Mr. and Mrs. Coats had a family of nine children: Mary, Thomas, James, Mary and William, twins, John, and twins who died in infancy.
The subject of this review, James Coats, of Jordan township, received but limited educational privileges, his opportunities be- ing limited to study in the parish school prior to his tenth year. While in his native land he worked on the railroad as a section hand for a year and a half, and was also employed on public works for a similar period. In 1857 he came to America, join- ing his brother Thomas, who had previous- ly located near Toronto, Canada. The same year they made their way to Illinois, and after working by the month for a year and a half James and his brother rented land for seven years. They then purchased the farm upon which they now reside and began farming on their own account. After a short period Thomas returned to Scotland, where he married Miss Isabelle Atchison, and with his bride he again came to the New World. Four daughters and two sons
were born of their union. The mother died February 28, 1894, after which Thomas went to live with his children.
Up to that time the brothers had been associated in their farming operations, and upon his sister-in-law's death James Coats rented his brother's interest in the farm, and has since operated the property alone. He has always carried on general farming, and at one time engaged in raising Durham short-horn cattle, but is not now connected with that enterprise. He has been very successful in his farming operations, and still continues the supervision of his farm, al- though he has left the more arduous field work to his sons.
Mr. Coats was married October 30, 1868, to Ellen Miller, daughter of Joseph and Ellen Marshall Miller, who were also natives of Scotland, and came to the United States in 1852, the family locating in White- side county, Illinois. There were four chil- dren: Ellen, Agnes, Hugh and Mary. With the exception of Mrs. Coats all were born in this state, and she was educated in Jor- dan township. Her father died in 1874, her mother in 1895, and they were buried in the family graveyard on the farm. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Coats have been born ten children: James A., Mary E., Agnes A., Joseph R., Lillie B., William H., Margaret, John, and May and John. The first child who was given the name of John died May 6, 1885. Agnes A. is now the wife of Thomas Bracken, and lives in Jordan township. James A. married Grace Pratt, a native of Iowa, and the other children are with their parents on the home farm.
For six years Mr. Coats has filled the office of school director, and is deeply in- terested in the cause of education and what- ever tends to benefit the community. In
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politics he is a Democrat, voting with the party at national and state elections, but at local elections, where no issue is involved, casting his support for the man whom he thinks best qualified for office, regardless of party affiliations. He was at one time a member of the Grange, and his wife is a member of the Baptist church. His life has been an active and useful one, and his business has been so well conducted that he has secured a handsome competence, num- bering him among the substantial farmers, as well as respected citizens of Whiteside county.
D J. PARKER, deceased, was for sev- eral years one of the leading and prom- inent citizens of Garden Plains township, where he was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born in Ver- mont, April 14, 1835, a son of Abel and Amanda Parker, farming people of that state. There our subject grew to manhood and learned the carpenter's trade. On coming west in 1852, he located in Chica- go, where he worked at his trade for a rail- road company for two years, and in March, 1854, became a resident of Whiteside coun- ty. Ile was employed as a carpenter in Garden Plains for a time, and later engaged in general merchandising and also served as postmaster of that place from :857 to 1859, inclusive. In the spring of 1860 he went to Pike's Peak, in company with a large num- ber of men in search of gold, and remained there until the following September.
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