Surnames C
Thomas J. Cahill, Westfield, was born February 17, 1858, in Westfield Township. His father, Daniel Cahill, was a native of County Kerry, Ireland. He came to America when quite young, landing in Quebec. From there he went to New York and then to New Orleans. After living in the South several years he came to Illinois, where he was married to Mary McDonald, who died here. She was the mother of the following children: Cornelius (deceased), James, Michael, Johanna and Mrs. Mary Fitzgerald. Daniel Cahill was married a second time, to Mrs. Bridget Manning (nee Sheely), a native of County Kerry, Ireland. She survived her husband and is the mother of four children, viz.: Mary and John Manning, the former deceased, and Ellen and Thomas J. Cahill, our subject. Daniel Cahill died June 27, 1878. He was a good citizen and farmer, and at the time of his death owned a farm of 160 acres.
His son Thomas Cahill, a wide-awake young man, has a farm of 120 acres. He is a Democrat, and connected with the Catholic Church, as was also his father.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CALLINAN, Thomas C.
Thomas C. Callinan, Berlin, was born in Clare County, Ireland, December 22, 1844. He is a son of Frederick and Mary (Kane) Callinan, both of whom lived and died in Clare County, Ireland. The father died when his son Thomas was six weeks old. The mother died July 15, 1878. Of their family five are still living, three in Bureau County and two in San Francisco, Cal. One son, a Captain in the English Navy, died in the East Indies, and another, a clerk, died in Ireland.
The early life of our subject was spent on the farm and in school. His father was a landlord, and of a wealthy family in Ireland. In 1858 Mr. Callinan came to America, and since that time has made Bureau County his home. October 1864, he enlisted in Company I, Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until May 1865, when they were mustered out at David's Island, New York Harbor. He participated in several engagements, among which was the battle of Altoona Pass, Ga., and also Nashville, Tenn. After leaving the army he returned to Bureau County, and has since been engaged in farming, having occupied his present farm of 120 acres in Sections 31 and 32, Berlin Township, since May 1871.
He was married in this county February 24, 1870, to Miss Mary A. Rinker, born in Ohio Township, Bureau County, August 27, 1852. She is a daughter of Isaac and Eveline (Wilson) Rinker, who came to this county in 1850. Mr. Rinker was a native of Virginia, and his wife of Belmont County, Ohio, where they were married in 1849. He died January 1867, and his widow now lives in Malden. Mr. and Mrs. Callinan have two children, viz.: Murty A., born March 31, 1871; Eva, born November 11, 1878.
Mr. Callinan is a member of the Bureau Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 112; Princeton Chapter, No. 28; Orrin Council, No. 8; Temple Commandery, No. 20; also of Knights of Pythias of Princeton; Grand Army of the Republic, Ferris Post, No. 309, at Princeton. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church Malden, of which he is a Deacon. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Malden. In politics is an active Republican.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CAMERON, William G
William G. Cameron, who was one of the first settlers in Cameron Township, has become a leading agriculturist and stock-raiser in that part of the county. He settled upon his home farm in 1878, removing from the State of Vermont, in which he was born in September, 1836. His father, a most thorough business man, and the owner of a large property, was John Cameron, a descendant of Puritan stock. His mother was Jane Gray, a native of Vermont, and a most estimable woman, the mother of several children, of whom William G. is the oldest.
His early childhood and school days were passed in his native county. His education was received in the common schools, and his father being an extensive farmer and stock-raiser, he had unusual facilities for acquiring a knowledge of the management and handling of stock.
In 1863 William G. Cameron took a trip to California, and while there engaged in various pursuits, prospecting some for gold. Returning to Bureau County, Illinois, he carried on farming, and traded in live-stock for a time. He then returned to his native State, Vermont, but as the tide of emigration drifted westward he made up his mind to return, and as several of his friends had settled in Audubon County, Iowa, he settled there also. His first purchase was 640 acres of land on section 21, Cameron Township, which was at that time open prairie.
He began the task of breaking out the new farm, fencing
it, and stocking it with cattle and hogs. In this enterprise he has been
very successful, and as his means increased he has added to his first purchase
of land until he now owns 1,440 acres; the land is not hilly, but is undulating,
with an occasional gentle roll. All is enclosed with a good substantial
fence, 200 acres being devoted to raising corn, and
the balance being seeded down to grass.
In 1886 Mr. Cameron erected his large barn; when the
framework was up ready to be enclosed it was struck by
a cyclone and blown to the ground. The wreck was cleared
away, and it was immediately rebuilt. It is one of the largest barns in
the western part of the state, and everything is arranged with an eye to
convenience, as well as for the protection and comfort of the live-stock.
The farm is well stocked with high-grade cattle, hogs and horses; every
department of the farm has the direct and careful supervision of Mr. Cameron.
In 1876 Mr. Cameron was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Crief, of Bureau County, Illinois, a most excellent person, and the possessor of many womanly qualities; she was born in Pennsylvania, and removed to Illinois with her parents in her girlhood. Politically Mr. Cameron is a man of pronounced views, and in matters pertaining to the State and National affairs he affiliates with the Republican party.
Source: Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon
Counties, Iowa Chicago, W.S. Dunbar & Co., 1889
CAMPBELL, Armstrong
Armstrong Campbell, Selby, was born in Juniatta County, Penn., January 19, 1822. He is of Scotch descent, a son of John and Nancy (Bard) Campbell. His father was a native of Sherman's Valley, Penn., and his mother of Miflin County. Both died in Huntingdon County, Penn.--he in the fall of 1860, at the age of seventy-three; she in 1870, at the age of eighty-three. They were the parents of two sons and two daughters, viz.: William I., of Selby Township; Eliza, deceased; Armstrong, our subject, Celia Ann Stewart, deceased.
When our subject was ten years old he removed with his parents to Huntingdon County, Penn., where he resided until 1854, when he came to Bureau County, Ill., and settled in Selby Township, where he has since resided. He, in partnership with his brother, bought the south half of Section 1, and since 1856 he has resided on the south west quarter of Section 1. He now owns 240 acres in Selby Township, one tract of eighty acres being in Section 11. Mr. Campbell was reared on a farm and has always made farming his occupation.
He was married in Pennsylvania, December 19, 1850, to Mary A. Duff. She was born in Huntingdon County, Penn., February 19, 1832, a daughter of John and Barbara (Randolph) Duff, both natives of Pennsylvania. He was born in 1804 and is still living in Huntingdon County, Penn., a retired farmer. His wife was born in May 1807, died June 16, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are parents of seven children, viz.: Alexander, born June 20, 1857, died March 20, 1884; Nancy, born October 3, 1858, wife of Ezra Rouse, of Selby Township; William Irvin, born January 31, 1860; Clark, born April 27, 1865. Three children died in infancy.
In politics Mr. Campbell is a Republican. He has been a member of the Levi Lusk Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Arlington, since 1860. He is also a member of the M. B. Society of Princeton. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CAPPERUNE, Thomas R.
Thomas R. Capperrune, Milo, was born August 11, 1816, in Kent County, Del. His parents, William and Rebecca (Row) Capperrune, were natives of Delaware. The former was a farmer by occupation, and died there in 1839. The latter died there also in 1817. She was the mother of seven children; of these only three are yet living. The grandfather of our subject was of Irish descent, and a teacher by profession.
Our subject is principally self educated. He immigrated to Ohio in October 1835, and in 1841 removed to Knox County, Ill. In 1850 he came to Milo Township, Bureau County, where he bought eighty acres of land for $300. At present he has 160 acres of prairie and twenty acres of timberland.
He was married in Knox to the widow of Anderson Corbin, Mrs. Caroline Corbin (nee Caroline McGinnis), a daughter of Johnston and Jane (McMullen) McGinnis. Mrs. Caroline Capperrune was born July 2, 1810, in Chester County, Penn. She is the mother of the following children: Mrs. Emily Snow (nee Emily Corbin); B. Frank Corbin; Mrs. Sarah Cammeol (nee Capperrune), who is now a resident of Kansas; Irwin Capperrune; Mrs. Mary J. Hunt, and Thomas J. Capperrune.
Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Capperrune are connected with and are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he is now a Republican, and was formerly an Abolitionist. He has filled the offices of Commissioner, Collector and Assessor; the latter for a number of years.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CAREY, Delila L.
Mrs. Delila L. Carey, Princeton, was born April 2, 1818, in Onondaga County, N. Y. Her parents were John L. and Lucina (Rhodes) Carey. Mrs. Carey is a bright, cheerful lady with great force of character. She was borne up bravely amid trials and adversity which would have crushed any ordinary woman.
She was reared in the State of New York, where she resided till the spring of 1835, when she went to Morgan County, Ill., where she married Amos Miner, who shortly afterward died. He was the son of Amos Miner, Sr., who was quite a genius, and invented many useful things. Mrs. Carey has one son by Amos Miner. The son’s name is George A. Miner, who married Elizabeth Denis.
Mrs. Carey was married a second time in Morgan County, Ill., to Norman L. Ward. She came to this county with Mr. Ward, and here he died. Three children blessed this union, viz.: Mary E., wife of Henry Reasoner; Julia C., deceased, and Darwin E. Ward, who married Mary E. Morse.
After the death of her second husband our subject married Lemuel P. Carey, who was born June 26, 1801, in Enfield, Hampshire Co., Mass. He followed the tanner and currier's trade in the East, and in the fall of 1835 came to this county, where he has been a successful farmer. The marriage, which occurred August 22, 1850, was blessed with one child---Lemuel Carey--who died aged ten years. Mr. Lemuel P. Carey died March 4, 1879. He was a man of sterling qualities, and is well remembered by our old settlers.
Mrs. Carey was formerly a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but is now connected with the Presbyterian Church.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CAREY, Rufus
(deceased)
Of the public men in Bureau County who deserve mention in this work, and who have acquitted themselves honorably and creditably while in office, we are glad to note him whose name heads this sketch. Mr. Carey was born March 14, 1813, in Enfield, Mass. He died August 7, 1873, in Princeton. His parents were Thomas and Sarah (Packard) Carey.
Rufus Carey was reared and educated in Massachusetts. In 1835 he came to Bureau County and settled in Wyanet Township, where the County Poor Farm now is. He lived in the country till 1854, when he removed to Princeton, where his widow yet resides.
In 1853 he was elected Treasurer of Bureau County, and for four years held that position to the great satisfaction of the people. After serving four years as Treasurer, Mr. Carey served two years as Deputy Treasurer. He was one of the four prominent men who started the Carey, Olds & Co. Bank of Princeton, Ill., and was connected with it for two years.
Mr. Carey was married April 26, 1837, in Chicopee,
Mass., to Miss Mary K. Ferry, who was born February 9, 1814, in Granby,
Mass. Her father, Abner Ferry, was born November 4, 1777, in Granby,
Mass., where he died March 14, 1828.
He was a farmer by occupation, as was also his father,
Noah Ferry, who was one of the first settlers in Granby. Her mother,
Rosanna (Smith) Ferry, was born October 25, 1783, in Connecticut.
She died June 7, 1867, in Bureau County. She was the mother of the
following children; Aaron D., Zenus S., William M., Mary K., Hannah E.,
Amelia R. and Rebecca S. Mrs. Mary K. Carey is the mother of four
children, viz.: Francis, was born August 15, 1840 (he is now a resident
of Chicago); Eliza F. was born October 24, 1842 (she died September
1, 1844); Amelia L., was born March 23, 1848 (she died July 9, 1869), and
Warren, who was born December 13, 1849 (he is at present a physician
in LaGrange, Ill.). He married Fannie Crawford; they have four children,
viz.: Edward F., Amelia L., Mary E. and Alice.
Mrs. Carey is religiously connected with the Congregational Church.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CARPENTER, George H.
George H. Carpenter was born in Tompkins, county, New York, May 27, 1856, and is a son of Daniel and Betsy (Shepard) Carpenter. He was educated in the district school, and afterwards attended a graded school, in the village of Groton, Tompkins county. He completed his education at the State normal school, at Cortland, in Cortland county, where he spent two terms. He then, at the age of seventeen years, began teaching school.
At the age of twenty-one he went to Bureau county, Illinois, and engaged in teaching, which he continued fourteen terms. He was subsequently employed in clerking in the store of J. A. Russell, and also had charge of an elevator.
October 10, 1882, he was married to Nora, daughter
of J. A. and Sophronia (Barrett) Russell. In March, 1884,
Mr. Carpenter came to Cass county, and settled on
section 28, of Pleasant township. The farm which he owns and occupies contains
two hundred and forty acres of land, and was formerly the property of the
late Captain J. A. Russell, of Bureau county, Illinois. This is a highly
improved and desirable farm. All of the improvements were made by Captain
Russell.
Source: History of Cass County, Iowa Springfield,
Ill., Continental Historical Co., 1884
CARPENTER, Prof. George T.
President and principal of Oskaloosa College, Oskaloosa; born in Nelson county, Ky., March 4, 1834; when only eight years of age he removed to Bureau county, Illinois, and was reared and educated there, and then attended Abingdon College, and graduated in the class of "59."
After graduating he came to Winterset, Madison county, and engaged in teaching, taking charge of the academy in connection with preaching, he remained there two years, then came here and in connection with his brother they established this school in September, 1861; since then he has been connected with it, and this institution owes much to his efforts and ability - he has earned a high position as an educator; he was editor of "The Record and Evangelist" for four years, during which time, in 1873, he visited Europe, being appointed honorary member from this State to the Vienna Exposition.
He married Miss Henrietta T. Drake, June 21, 1863; she is a daughter of Judge Drake, of Drakeville, Davis county, Iowa; they have four children, John D., Mary A., Henrietta D., and Jennie.
Source: History of Mahaska County, Iowa, Des Moines:
Union Historical Company, 1878
CARPENTER, J.D.
Section 3, P.O. Malcom. Was born in Bennington county, Vermont, May, 1853, and moved with his parents to Bureau county, Illinois, in 1857, where he was educated and raised.
Was married, June 10, 1875, to Miss M.E. Judd of that county. They have three children living: Sarah (born July 1, 1876), Eli (born September 12, 1877) and Flora (born January 22, 1880).
Mr. Carpenter came to this county in January, 1878, and settled where he now resides; owns 280 acres of land, about all under cultivation, well stocked with cattle and horses. His buildings are good, and everything about his place indicates prosperity.
Source: History of Poweshiek County, Iowa, Des
Moines: Union Historical Co., 1880 Pleasant
Twp, p 771
CARPENTER, Luther F.
Luther F. Carpenter, Indiantown, was born December 3, 1819, in Bristol, R. I. At an early age he was taken to Rehoboth, Mass. by his parents. His father, Abiah Carpenter, was born in Rehoboth, Mass., where he died. He was Captain of a band of musicians in the war of 1812. The grandfather of our subject, Abiah Carpenter, Sr., was also a native of Massachusetts, where he died. The mother of our subject, Rosina Goff, was born in Rehoboth, Mass., where she yet resides. She is a daughter of Levi Goff, and is the mother of nine children, viz.: Cyrel, George and Luther F. Carpenter. The first two children are deceased. The next six children are the result of a second marriage, with Joshua Drawn, viz.: Alvin, William, Matilda, Mary J., Almon C. and Martha A. Drawn. Of the above, Alvin, William and Mary J. are deceased.
Mr. L. F. Carpenter received a common school education
in his native State. He learned the machinist's trade in Taunton,
Mass., and worked at it there until the spring of 1855, when he came West
and settled in Indiantown Township, Bureau Co., Ill., where he bought eighty
acres of land. At present he owns a farm of 433 acres--the result
of his industry
and perseverance. Since coming West Mr. Carpenter
has made farming his principal occupation, although he worked a short time
at his trade in Aurora and Chicago.
He was married in Taunton, Mass., to Betsy B. Barney, who was born in Taunton, January 1, 1826. She is the daughter of Oliver and Betsy (Babbit) Barney, and is the mother of four children, viz.: Mrs. Elizabeth Dexter; George A., deceased, aged eighteen years; Sterophine and Mrs. Josephine Anthony, twins, the former deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are active members of the Congregational
Church.
He is a Republican, and has filled township offices.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CARPER, Adam
Adam Carper, Macon, was born in Bedford County, Penn., January 19, 1837. He is the son of John and Catherine (Smith) Carper, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, but came to Bureau County in November, 1854, and died here. The mother died October 23, 1857, at the age of forty-four years. The father was born June 19, 1807, and died April 16, 1875. Of their children, six sons and two daughters yet survive them, and are residents of this county.
Our subject came to this county with his parents, and has since resided in Macon Township. His occupation has ever been that of farming and stock-growing. When starting in life for himself it was with little. In 1867 he bought his present farm of 100 acres, and has since added the best of improvements.
November 18, 1869, he was united in marriage to Mary Kegarice, who was born in Bedford County, Penn., March 18, 1844. She is the daughter of John and Margaret (Inscoe) Kegarice. The father was born December 10, 1811, and the mother June 20, 1813. The father died in Pennsylvania, but the mother in Bureau County, Ill. Six daughters and two sons yet survive them. The sons, Jacob and Philip, live in Iowa. Of the daughters, Mrs. Barbara Spencer resides in Buda; Mrs. Mary Carper, wife of our subject, in Macon Township; Mrs. Sarah Osborn, in Iowa; Mrs. Margaret Suiters, in Bedford County, Penn.; Mrs. Susan Amie, in Blair County, Penn., and Mrs. Nancy Roberts, in Nebraska. Two of the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Kegarice were in the war of the Rebellion, and received wounds, from which they died.
Mr. and Mrs. Carper have four children living, viz,: Mertie, born September 1, 1879; Irvin, born May 2, 1874; Josie, born September 27, 1876,, and Jacob Elmore, born August 30, 1878.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CARPER, Jacob S.
Jacob S. Carper, Macon, was born in Bedford County, Penn., April 12, 1834. He is the son of John and Catherine Carper. They came to Bureau County in 1854, and settled at Walnut Grove, and died there, he in April, 1875, she in October, 1857. They were born in Bedford County, Penn. and had resided there till coming to this county. They had a family of six sons and two daughters, who survive them.
In April, 1851, our subject came to Illinois, but lived in Fulton County until 1857, when he came to Bureau County, and bought his present farm, and began putting it under cultivation. His farm now contains 259 acres.
In October 1861, he entered the service of his country,
in Company K, Fifty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. In October
1862, he received a Lieutenant's commission, which rank he held till receiving
his discharge in April 1865. More of the history of this company
and regiment will be found in the chapter devoted to the county's current
history of the late war.
After returning from the army, Mr. Carper again began
farming, and has continued in the same occupation since.
He was married, in Bureau County, January 2, 1866, to Miss Catherine Horton (see sketch on Allen Horton). She died in June. 1869, leaving one son--William S. Carper.
In August 1870, Mr. Carper was united in marriage to Miss Margaret J. Dieffenderfer, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of William and Sarah Dieffenderfer, also natives of Pennsylvania. The father is now a resident of this county, but the mother is deceased. Mrs. Carper had one brother, viz: A. Dieffenderfer, of Osceola, ILL. Mrs. Carper has three children living, viz: George A., Sarah K. and Frank G.
Mr. Carper is a member of the G. A. R. Post of Buda. He is Republican in politics.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CASS, John R.
John R. Cass, deceased, was born March 31, 1833, in Richmond, N. H. He was a son of Ono and Sarah (Holbrook) Cass, natives of New Hampshire. The former was a farmer and died in Jackson, Mich.; the latter is yet living in Princeton; her name now is Mrs. King. She is the mother of two boys; Isaac H. and John R. Cass, who were reared in Michigan.
They came to Bureau County, Ill., about 1851, and first farmed in Lamoille Township. They afterward bought land in Berlin Township, where our subject was married. He afterward bought land in Lamoille Township, where his widow now resides. She had added materially to the farm, which now contains 318 acres of land.
Mr. Cass died in Malden, this county, April 7, 1864.
He was married to Mary E. Isaac, December 2, 1857. She is a daughter of
Elias Isaac, an old pioneer of Berlin Township (see sketch of Isaac and
pioneers of Bureau County).
Mrs. Cass was born February 6, 1839, in Berlin Township.
She is the mother of Lincoln H. Cass, who was born November 25, 1860, and
who is at present a law student of Chicago.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CASSIDY, Peter J.
Peter J. Cassidy, Westfield, was born August 4, 1845, in North Gore, Canada West, to which place his grandparents, Peter and Margaret Cassidy, came at an early day. They were natives of Ireland and soon became successful farmers in Canada. In the fall of 1847 they came to Bureau County, Ill., where they bought and entered thirteen eighties of land, a part of which were Mexican war claims. All the land was in Westfield Township. They became quite well-to-do farmers and eventually removed to Ottawa, LaSalle County, where both died. They reared a family of nine children: Philip, Patrick, Margaret, Peter, Ann, Mary, James, Catharine and Terrence. Of these Patrick Cassidy was born 1819, in County Cavan, Ireland. He came here with his parents and entered 240 acres of land. He died here July 16, 1855. He was married in Canada to Joanna Cochlin, born September 29, 1823, in County Cork, Ireland. She is yet living and is the mother of five children, now living: Peter J., our subject; Mrs. Mary A. White, of Montgomery County, Iowa; Mrs. Joanna Manning, Catharine and Patrick.
Of these Peter J. was educated in this county. Here he taught fourteen terms of school. He has farmed the last six years, and now has 280 acres of land. He was married November 19, 1877, in Sheffield, Ill., to Mary M. A. Lawler, daughter of Luke and Catharine (O’Maley) Lawler, natives of Ireland. The latter’s brother, Patrick O’Maley, is now a resident of Montgomery County, Iowa. Mrs. Cassidy was an able teacher in Bureau County. She was the mother of C. Jennie, John L. and Harry V., the latter deceased. Mrs. Cassidy died April 27, 1883, aged twenty-five years.
Politically Mr. Cassidy is a Democrat. He has filled the township offices, and is now Assessor, having filled the office four years.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CASTENDYCK, George
George Castendyck, Hall, was born September 3, 1824, in Werdorf, Coblenz Rhein, Prussia. His parents, Frederick and Louise (Hofmann) Castendyck, were natives of Germany, where they lived until death. The father was a high government officer. They had eight children, of whom two, Louis and George, came to United States in June 1849.
George Castendyck had been a soldier in the Prussian
Army, and was preparing to enter the government employ.
When they first came to this country they lived in
Erie, Penn., till July, 1851. They then came to Hall Township, Bureau County,
Ill., and bought 160 acres of wild land at $7.50 per acre, and the next
year another 160 acres at the same price. They now own 426 acres of well-improved
land. They are engaged in farming and stock-raising, and have an imported
Norman and English horse. The two brothers have made a success of life
through their industry, and command the respect of the community.
Louis Castendyck was never married, and makes his home with his brother
George, our subject.
He was married in this county in the spring of 1852, to Mary Betz, who was born May 12, 1827, in Engelstadt, Hessen Darmstadt, Germany. (See sketch of C. Betz.) She died here July 1863. She was the mother of the following children: Charles, Mrs. Louisa Hummell, William, Otto and Gustav.
Mr. Castendyck was again married October 15, 1865, to Charlotte Stuhl, born December 7, 1839, in Hamfenfeld, Bavaria, Germany. She has three children: Johanna, Ferdinand and Fannie.
Politically Mr. Castendyck is identified with the Democratic party. He has filled school offices, and has been Justice of the Peace for the last twelve years.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CATHERMAN, William
William Catherman, Walnut, was born July 22, 1847, in Union County, Penn. His parents, Robert and Elizabeth (Boney) Catherman, were natives of the same state as their son. They were the parents of thirteen children, viz.: Christine, wife of John Draper, of Cass County, Mich.; Laura, deceased; Louisa, wife of Henry Wood, of Erie County, Ohio; Montgomery, married to Alinda Glenn, resides of Erie County, Ohio; Eliza, wife of Andy Smith of Winamac, Ind.; Albert, of Cass county, Mich., married to Laura Hay; William, of Bureau County; Isabelle, wife of Amos Smith, of Cass County, Mich.; Mary, wife of David Howser, of Sacramento, Cal.; Matilda, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; David of Bureau County, married to Maggie Lindbery; Clara, of Cass County, Mich.; Robert Catherman is a carpenter by trade, and worked at that until he removed from Pennsylvania to Erie County, Ohio. In 1854, since which time he has engaged in farming. In 1865 he removed to Cass County, Mich., where he still resides; his wife died there October 16, 1875.
William Catherman was educated in the schools of Erie County, Ohio, and also attended one term in Michigan. In 1866 he was in Kankakee County, Ill., but returned to Michigan the same fall, and in 1868 came to Bureau County, Ill., where he has since resided.
July 3, 1869, he was united in marriage to Rebecca Black, a sister of G. W. Black (see sketch). Mrs. Catherman was born February 8, 1848 in Sandusky County, Ohio. She is the mother of one daughter, Jennie E., born November 28, 1870.
After marriage, Mr. Catherman began farming on rented land in Bureau Township. In 1882 he purchased his present farm of 200 acres, in Section 36, Walnut Township, a farm in excellent state of cultivation.
He gives his attention chiefly to raising and feeding stock. Mr. Catherman has always been a supporter of the Republican party.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CHADDOCK, Oliver
Oliver Chaddock, Lamoille, was born February 15, 1852, in Belmont County, Ohio. He is a son of Richard and Eliza (Nicholson) Chaddock, natives of Baltimore, MD. They came to Illinois in 1864 and settled in Lamoille Township, Bureau County, but at present reside in Malden. They are the parents of twelve children, who all had families and are all living except two.
Our subject received his education in Lamoille, where he now resides. He has made farming his main business and still owns 495 acres of land. In 1878 he clerked in a store in Lamoille and then bought an interest in a grocery store and conducted it in partnership with M. A. Holbrook. For three years Mr. Chaddock was actively engaged in the mercantile business and yet owns an interest in the firm of Holbrook, Dunbar & Chaddock, general merchants.
For the last three years he has turned his attention mainly to farming, buying and selling stock and fine cattle, horses and hogs. He is also engaged in manufacturing.
Our subject was married December 23, 1874, to Elizabeth Dunbar, who was born February 23, 1858, in Lamoille Township. Her parents are James and Rebecca Dunbar. Mrs. Elizabeth Chaddock is the mother of one child--De Clifford Chaddock--who was born May 23, 1876.
Mr. and Mrs. Chaddock are religiously connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church and are also members of the Good Templars.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CHANEY, David
David Chaney was born 1849 in Bureau County, Ill.; settled in this county in 1878; residence on Section 8, Township 4, Range 19; P. O. Leona; business, farming and breeder of Poland-China hogs. His wife was born in 1858 in Green County, Wis.; they were married in 1875, at Bedford, Iowa; have had three children, two boys living, and one daughter, who died in 1880.
Source: Historical Plat Book of Doniphan County Kansas with Illustrations, J.S. Byrd Publishing Chicago IL 1882
CHANEY, J. S
J.S. Chaney was born in 1843 in Bureau County, Ill.; settled in this county in 1869; residence on Section 10, Township 4, Range 19; P. O. Severance; business, farming and stock-raising, and breeder of Poland-China hogs; has a fine herd of milch cows. Enlisted in 1861 in Fifty-seventh Illinois; discharged December 25, 1864, at Savannah, Ga. Mrs. Chaney was born in Morris County, N. J., in 1838; they were married in 1866; have five children, three sons and two daughters.
Source: Historical Plat Book of Doniphan County Kansas with Illustrations, J.S. Byrd Publishing Chicago IL 1882
CHAPMAN, O. E.
O. E. Chapman, Walnut, was born in Medina County, Ohio, March 27, 1832. His ancestors were of the old New England stock having come to this country at least before 1760. His father, Sceva Chapman, was a native of Cavendish, Vt., born February 10, 1793; he was a soldier in the war of 1812; his wife, Azuba Marsh, was born in Wilmington, Vt., October 7, 1802. At an early date they immigrated to Ohio, going down Lake Erie before there were any steamboats on the lakes. Sceva Chapman died in Medina County, Ohio, in January, 1881; his widow still resides there. Of their family of six children, two sons and two daughters are still living.
O. E. Chapman was reared on a farm and educated in
the common schools of his native state. He was married in Medina County,
Ohio, September 6, 1853, to Miss Sarah L. Beeman, who was born in the same
county, May 6, 1833.
In 1854 they came to Bureau County and lived in Princeton
till the fall of 1857, Mr. Chapman being engaged in carpenter and joiner’s
work, at which he had also worked in Ohio.
In 1857 he settled on his present farm of 160 acres
in northwest quarter of Section 29, Walnut Township, which was then
entirely unimproved. He has since given his attention
exclusively to farming.
Mr and Mrs. Chapman are the parents of five children, viz.: Willard E. born March 27, 1855, died January 9, 1873; Clarence B., born January 1, 1857, an attorney at Ottawa, Ill.; Ozias S., born August 30, 1859, a student at Ottawa, Ill., a teacher by profession; Milan E., born July 18, 1861, engaged in teaching in Bureau County; Herman L., born March 28, 1866.
Mrs. Chapman is the daughter of Milan and Anthy (Monger) Beeman. The father was born in Litchfield, Conn., February 24, 1799, and his wife February 24, 1802. She died February 16, 1839, and he April 15, 1879. Mr. Beeman was twice married and had eight children by his first wife and four by the second. Of the family seven are living. Mr. Beeman’s father, Daniel Beeman, was a Revolutionary soldier and the family was among the early New England settlers.
In politics Mr. Chapman was an Abolitionist, and is now Republican. He has served three terms as Supervisor of Walnut Township. He and his wife are Congregational in religious belief.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CHILDS, Rodolphus
Rodolphus Childs, Dover, was born in Deerfield, Mass., October 23, 1815. He is the son of Erastus and Mercy (Hawks) Childs, who were born in the same village as their son and lived there until death.
Our subject was one of seven children. He remained
on his father’s farm until 1836, when he came to Bureau County, arriving
here the day he was twenty-one. He came in company with Elijah Smith, for
whom he worked the first year.
In 1842 he began the improvement of his present farm
of 200 acres, 160 of which he entered from the Government, forty acres
at a time, as he could obtain the money.
In September, 1843, he was married to Miss Nancy Smith, a daughter of Dad Joe (see sketch of Dad Joe Smith, in General History.) She was born at Peoria, Ill., November 5, 1826. Mr. and Mrs. Childs are the parents of eight children, viz.: Calista, deceased; John H., Mary, Milo, Orlinda, wife of Dr. Willis Pierce, of Iowa; Nellie, wife of Enos Cole, of Dover Township; Clara J., deceased. The two oldest sons, James and John H., were in the army, both being with Sherman on the march to the sea.
Mr. Childs is a Republican in politics; he was an Abolitionist, and voted for James G. Birney.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CHRISTZMAN, Jacob
J. Christzman, Princeton, was born November 7, 1833, in Harrisburg, Penn. He is the son of Henry and Margaret (Zigler) Christzman. The father was born in Gettysburg, Penn., and the mother was also a native of the same State. She was the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Zigler. The Zigler family was one of the early families of Pennsylvania. Of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Chritzman’s family six are now living, viz.; Mrs. Maria Bigler, Mrs. Charlotte Black, Jacob, Christian, Harry and George.
The subject of this sketch was educated in his native city, and in early life worked in a commission hours, after which he served an apprenticeship of three years as a molder in a foundry at Lancaster, Penn. He then engaged in the foundry business for two years for himself at Berrysburg, Penn. In 1853 Mr. Critzman came West, and for one year lived in Minnesota; then one year in Mt. Carroll, Ill., but in 1855 he came to Princeton and engaged in the foundry business, continuing in the same till November, 1878, since which time he has been dealing in all kinds of agricultural implements, including reapers, mowers, threshers, engines, plows, cultivators, buggies, etc.
In Princeton, January 10, 1859 he was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Jane Knox, who was born in Bureau County in 1839. She is the daughter of William and Mary (Mercer) Knox, both natives of Ohio, as were also their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Christzman have two children now living, viz.: Lottie and Clarence. Mrs. Christzman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Masonic order, and has taken all the degrees, being a member of the Bureau Lodge, No. 112, Princeton Chapter, Temple Commandery, No 20, Orin Council and Scottish Rite to the thirty-second degree, and also K. of H. and Mutual Aid. In politics he is Democratic.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CHURCHILL, Horatio
Horatio Churchill, Buda, was born in Somerset County,
Me., April 1, 1843. He is the son of Asa and Mary (Holden) Churchill, both
natives of the same State as their son. The father died in Maine, but the
mother in Michigan.
They were the parents of thirteen children, all of
whom, except three, are now living.
Our subject was reared on a farm, but had also worked
in saw-mills previous to coming to this State.
He came to Bureau County, Ill., in 1867. He was married
September 8, 1881, to Miss Mary A. Hodgetts.
She was born in Dudley, England, August 13, 1861,
and is the daughter of Edward and Mary (Shelton) Hodgetts, who came to
America in 1865, and who are now residents of Kewanee, Henry Co., Ill.
They are the parents of six sons and two daughters now living. Mrs. Churchill is the mother of one daughter-Nellie May Churchill-born September 12, 1883. And by a previous marriage Mr. Churchill has two sons, viz.; Daniel Lewis, born February 3, 1876 and Oscar Warren, born May 20, 1877.
He is a member of the Buda Lodge, A. F. & A. M. In politics he is Republican.
When Mr. Churchill came to Buda in 1867 he began the
manufacture of brick in partnership with C. P. Mason.
After one season he bought Mr. Mason’s interest, and
has continued in the business since with different partners at different
times, but is now alone. In 1878 he began manufacturing tile also, and
now has the capacity for manufacturing
1.000.000 brick and 500,000 tile per season. And in
1883 he manufactured to one half the capacity of the machinery. As the
quality of tile and brick manufactured is excellent, the demand steadily
increases.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CLAPP, John
deceased pioneer
This old pioneer was born October 1, 1814, in Northampton, Mass. He came to Bureau County in 1834, accompanied by his brother-in-law, Caleb Cook, and settled in Princeton. In 1837 he was married to Lucy M. Smith, a daughter of James Smith, another old settler of Bureau County.
In 1838 John Clapp removed to Lamoille Township, where he bought 160 acres of land at $1.25 per acre. This he improved and resided on it till his death, which occurred November 22, 1880.
Mr. and Mrs. Clapp were active members of the Congregational
Church at Lamoille, of which he was a Deacon.
Politically he was a Republican and took an active
part in everything pertaining to the interest of his township, in which
he has filled many offices.
Mrs. Lucy M. Clapp may be classed among our pioneer teachers, and many men in this county received their instruction from this wide-awake lady, who is yet living on the homestead. She was born April 19, 1818 and is the mother of seven children, viz.; Charles S., who was killed at the battle of Champion Hills; Mrs. Harriet W. Richardson, deceased Cephas F., a Congregational minister of Yankton, Dak.; William A., a farmer in Walnut, Iowa, and Mrs. Alice M. Fauble, who was born October 6, 1860. She was married August 30, 1881, to John Fauble, who farms the homestead. He was born November 16, 1857, in Lee County, Ill., where his parents, John and Christine (Troutwein) Fauble, were among the earliest German settlers.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CLAPP, Seth C.
Seth C Clapp. deceased, was a native of Northampton, Mass., where he was born in 1812; he died May 1, 1871, in Bureau County, Ill., to which he came in 1835. Here he was a tiller of the soil and highly respected for his many good qualities of head and heart.
Mr. Clapp was married twice. His first wife was Asenath
Hitchock, a native of Massachusetts; she died November 1851,
in Princeton, Ill.
His second wife was Mrs. Amelia R. Steel, who survives him. She was the widow of the Rev. Calvin Steel, who was born in 1812, in Vermont; he died February 23, 1851, in Oberlin, Ohio, where he was educated and where his parents formerly resided. He preached the Gospel in the State of Michigan and in LaSalle County, Ill. He was a friend to the poor and needy and ever ready to build up the church and further the interest of his fellow men. He was the father of John M. Steele, who is now a resident of Dakota. He was born November 4, 1849, and was married to Lydia A. Gray; They have three children, viz.; Edith C., Katie D, and Crete G.
Seth C. Clapp left no posterity, but Mr. and Mrs. Clapp adopted one daughter-Stella E. Clapp-who brightened their home for many years. She died February 2, 1883, aged twenty-three years. Mrs. Clapp came to Bureau County in 1852. For a number of years she has resided in Princeton, where she is religiously connected with the Congregational Church.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CLARK, Major Atherton
Atherton Clark, Princeton, was born near Dover, Ill., September 22, 1839. September 11, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and served with honor till the close of the war. He was in many severe engagements, among which were those of Nashville and Franklin, Tenn., and Tupelo, Miss. He was successively promoted from Sergeant of his company, until at the close of the war he was a Major of his regiment.
In 1868 he was elected Sheriff of Bureau County, and
after the expiration of that term of office he engaged in farming.
In 1882 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of this county
and filled that position until elected City Marshal of Princeton in the
spring of 1884.
Maj. Clark is a member of the A. F. & A. M. fraternity and also G. A. R. Post. In politics he is a stanch Republican.
December 13, 1865, Maj. Clark was united in marriage
to Miss Jerusha B. Whitmarsh, who was born at Cold Springs,
N. Y., July 3, 1840, and is the daughter of Alvah
and Naomi (Clark) Whitmarsh, the latter of whom is still living at the
age of eighty-three years. Maj. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of
four children, viz.; Hubert A., Lora H., Herma and Alice E.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CLARK, Benjamin
Benjamin Clark, of Russian River Township, is a native of Indiana, born in Perry County, May 4, 1825, his parents being Robert and Nancy (Masterson) Clark, both of whom were Kentuckians by birth. In 1831, the family removed to Illinois, locating in Bureau County, and there Benjamin Clark was reared. In 1853, he joined an Illinois party bound for California.
They crossed the Missouri River at Kaneville, and choosing the Salt Lake route, arrived in Shasta County on the 16th of September, having been to that time from the 17th of March in making the journey. After a residence of four months in Shasta County, Mr. Clark removed to Contra Costa County where he farmed until 1857, when he removed to Sonoma County. At the time he came here his farm was covered with timber and all the improvements now upon the place have been made by him.
Mr. Clark was married in Illinois to Miss Elizabeth Fletcher, a native of Fauquier County, Virginia. They have five children; James H. H., born March 12, 1826, Jacob S., Samuel T. (all of whom reside on the home farm); Elizabeth A., wife of J.J. Lindsay of Windsor; and Margaret Melissa, wife of Philip Wells, resides in Contra Costa County.
Mr. Clark has been identified with the Republican party ever since its organization, and cast his first presidential vote for Fremont. In 1888, he was nominated by the County Convention of that party for supervisor from the third district of Sonoma County, and was elected in November by a handsome majority. He is a member of the Windsor Lodge, F. & A. M.
The subject of this sketch is the owner of a fine ranch of over 200 acres, a mile and a quarter from Windsor, the most of which is devoted to general farming purposes. Three acres are in orchard, the trees being about twenty years old, consisting of almonds, apples and chestnuts. There are two acres of younger tree—peaches, prunes, apricots and plums. All are in good condition and yield well. Mr. Clark is an upright, conscientious man, and enjoys in a high degree the confidence of his fellow-citizens.
Source: History of Sonoma County," page 412 (no author
or publisher listed - there are several books by this same title)
Contributed by Sharol
Lee Fletcher
CLARK, James T.
James T. Clark, was born in Harrison County, Ohio,
in 1832. In the spring of 1834 his parents, Thomas and Eleanor (Barr) Clark,
came to Bureau County, and about four years later the father died. He left
two sons and two daughters; Sarah M., died in June 1880 (she was the wife
of D. Scott, of Knox County, Ill.); John B., died in youth in 1846; Jane,
wife of
J. Y. Spangler, and James, the youngest of the family.
After the father’s death, the widow and her children remained on the home
farm and tried to make a living, but with little success. The mother survived
until 1876, and died at Cheyenne, W. T.
As a poor farmer boy, James T. Clark was not much of a success, and, as he told his mother, he was not cut out to be a farmer. To her query as to what he was cut out for, he replied he did not know; but when the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was being built through Bureau County, the question was answered.
He began by driving a cart while they were on the grade east of the West Bureau. During the construction of the bridge over the main Bureau, an accident caused a vacancy which he was called on to fill and he began the selecting of bridge timbers. He did various kinds of work till the road was completed and then was given the position of section boss, at Buda.
In 1855 he was married near that place to Miss Mary Fry. From Buda he went to Galesburg as assistant roadmaster, and was afterward promoted to roadmaster. He resigned that position and became Assistant Superintendent of the Union Pacific Railroad, and removed to Cheyenne, and was afterward made General Superintendent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, which position he still holds.
Mr. Clark had been connected with the railroad business in some capacity ever since he began working by the day during the construction of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in Bureau County.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CLARK, Samuel P.
George Clark, father of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, March 1811. In 1835 he came to Berlin Township in this county, buying his farm from the Government. He was the first to settle on the prairie near Dover, and as he was told that the wind would blow him away, he anchored his house by setting the corner posts in the ground and mortising the sides to them. The siding and shingles he split and then dressed them by hand. He resided on his farm for forty years, when he removed to Dover and retired from active life. For a number of years before leaving the farm he dealt principally in lands, and was one of the most successful men of the county. Of late years he has put most of his money at interest, although he still owns 700 acres in Bureau County. He was married in Belmont County, Ohio, to Miss Nancy Matson, a daughter of Enos Matson and sister of N. Matson. (See sketch) Mr. and Mrs. Clark are both living at Dover. They are the parents of four children: Enos, of St. Louis, Mo., a prominent attorney and Judge for many years; Samuel P., Josephus S., of Princeton, money loaner; Mary Ann, wife of Jacob Warfield of Princeton.
Samuel P. Clark was born April 29, 1837. He was reared on the farm and educated at Mt. Morris, Ill. He has given his attention chiefly to stock-raising in all its features, buying, shipping, growing, etc. For eighteen years he was one of the prominent breeders of short-horn cattle. In 1881 he made his first importation of thoroughbred Clydesdale and English draft horses, and in 1883 he visited Europe and made other purchases. Since beginning in 1881 he has made seven importation and landed sixty-eight head. When Mr. Clark started in life his father gave him $10, and he has since depended on his own resources. He now owns 302 acres of land in Section 24 and 13.
January 1, 1860, he was married in this county to Miss Ann Poole, a sister of W. Poole, of Dover. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have three children: Grace, Enos and Hattie.
Mr. Clark is republican in politics, but does not take any active part.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CLARK, W L
The name of Clark is well known throughout Sonoma county, and especially in Forestville, where father and son in their several capacities have become familiar to every household, the former as postmaster of this town for many years, and the latter as a dispenser of meats throughout the town and surrounding country. Not only is W.L. Clark a native of the state, but he is also a native of Sonoma county, his birth occurring in Winsor May 8, 1865, the son of W. S. Clark and his wife, both natives of Illinois. During the period of gold excitement W.S. Clark and two brother came to the state, but the records do not state that they came for the purpose of mining; indeed, the contrary might be inferred from the fact that W.S. Clark was engaged in business in Sonoma county in and early day, and in 1865, under Abraham Lincoln, was filling the office of postmaster in Forestville. He continued in this office throughout the remainder of his life, and during the last twelve of eighteen years was also engaged in a mercantile business in addition to this. He passed away in 1896, at the age of sixty-nine. The wife and mother is still living in Forestville at a good old age.
W.L. Clark enjoyed the freedom of country life during his boyhood, and with the other children of the family attended the public schools of Windsor. The first work of any character that he recalls was assisting his father in the postoffice, and when not doing his he clerked in the store of which his father was the proprietor. His first independent venture was as a stock-dealer, a business in which he has been engaged in Forestville since 1893. From the modest beginning of that year has developed the large stock and market business of which he is the proprietor today, his three wagons delivering meats to households all over this part of the county. On an average he slaughters and delivers seven head of cattle a week, besides which he maintains a large meat-market in Forestville.
In 1890, W.L. Clark formed domestic ties by his marriage with Miss Emma L. Jewett, a native of Sonoma county, and six children, five daughters, and one son, have been born to them. Hazel Frances became the wife of A.L. Hicks, of Sebastopol, January 16, 1910, and they have a daughter, Bernice Clark Hicks, born May 31, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks make their home in Forestville, Sonoma county. Eva May Clark, born in 1894, is a graduate of the school in Forestville and is receiving a musical education. The other children, Gladys Ann, Wilma Stratton, Edna May and Lloyd Smith, are pupils in the public schools of Forestville.
As was his father before him, Mr. Clark is a stanch Republican, and although interested in the affairs of his chosen party, is not an office-seeker, in fact, he steadfastly refused to be a candidate for any office not connected with the school board, upon which he has served from time to time. Fraternally he is well known all over Sonoma county, being a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and the Rebekahs at Forestville, the Camp at Santa Rosa, besides which he belongs to the Woodmen of America and the Artisans and at one time was affiliated with the Foresters. Besides two sisters in Santa Rosa, Mr. Clark has three other sisters in other parts of the state, one in Occidental, one in Berkeley and another in San Francisco.
Source: History of Sonoma County California, Gregory,
Tom, Los Angeles, Ca., Historic Record Co., 1911, page 600-601.
Contributed by Sharol
Lee Fletcher
Note: W.S. Clark is William Clark, Benjamin Clarks’
brother. What is the name of the other brother who came to California?"
CLEER, Adam
Adam Cleer, Westfield, was born July 31, 1830, in Merkenfritz, Hessen Darmstadt, Germany. His parents, Henry and Anna Mary (Lerch) Cleer, were also natives of Germany, where the father died in 1850. Mrs. Cleer came to America with her family in June 1854, and died in Peru. Ill., the following September; She was the mother of four children, viz; Mrs. Margaret Straw, deceased; Adam, our subject; Mrs. Mary Weber, and Henry, who was killed on the plains, while on his way to California.
Adam Cleer came to Bureau County in 1854, and bought 151 ½ acres in Hall Township, of George Mais. He also owns 333 acres in LaSalle County and ten acres of timber. He has always given attention to farming, in which he has been very successful.
He was married in Germany, December 25, 1853, to Mary C. Sittner, daughter of John and Catharine (Keutzer) Sittner, who came to this country in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Cleer have six children, viz; John, Mrs. Mary Schwab, Dena, Henry, Charley and Anna.
Mr. and Mrs. Cleer are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Republican.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CLEMENT, Gilbert
Gilbert Clement, Lamoille, who is the subject of this biography, was born June 17, 1815, in Danville, Caledonia Co., Vt. He is one of our few early settlers who came here when this county was a mere wilderness. He was here as early as 1836.
His parents, Merrill and Hannah (Morrill) Clement, were natives of New Hampshire, where the former died. The latter died in Hardin County, Ohio. She was an aunt of Taddeus Stevens, the statesman and anti-slaveryman. Our subject is the youngest of a family of eleven children, of whom he and his sister, Mrs. Lydia Hatch, are the only survivors.
Mr. Clement was reared in Vermont. In 1835 he, accompanied by his mother and oldest brother and family, removed to Hardin County, Ohio, where he resided one year, and then came to Bureau County, Ill. He traveled by water, coming down the Ohio, then up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, landing in Princeton in December 1836. Here he has made farming his principal occupation, but also followed the carpenter’s trade ten years. He has resided in Lamoille Township with the exception of six years, which he spent in Livingston County.
He was married here to Lucy A. Barton, who was born December 4, 1821, in South Hadley, Mass. She is a daughter of Ezekiel and Nancy (Cadwell) Barton, and came to this county with her aunt, Mrs. Julia Church, in October 1836. She is the mother of the following children: Mrs. Elizabeth B. Bullard, Mrs. Josephine Eastman, Mrs. Hannah Sturdevant, Mrs. Lucella McCombs, Mrs. Sophronia Newberry, Alice M. Clement, Mrs. Chastine McCulloch, Eliza J. (deceased), Gilbert M., Edith M. and Norman B. Clement, the latter deceased.
Mrs. Clement is an active member of the Baptist Church. Eight of her daughters have been teachers; of these seven have taught in this county, and thus added materially to the advancement of morality and intelligence in this community.
Politically Mr. Clement is identified with the Republican party, and is greatly in favor of prohibition. He filled different offices in Clarion Township where he resided seventeen years. When the evening twilight of life gathered about him he removed to the quiet village of Lamoille, where he now resides.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CLOSE, George W.
Farmer, Sec. 21, P. O. Kellogg. He was born in Albany co., NY in 1805. He moved to Scott Co., IN in 1818, going next to Hamilton Co., Ohio, in 1826. He went to Pontiac, MI in 1829 where he contracted and jobbed on the building and repairing roads for fours years. He located in Oakland Co., MI in 1833, in Bureau Co., IL in 1844. He located in this county in 1864.
He married Miss P. Gates. She was born in Oneida Co., NY in 1809. Their children are John C., and Mary Esta (Veber). They are members of the Christian Church. He owns 130 acres of land, with a good bearing apple orchard of 400 trees, valued at $40 per acre.
Source: History of Jasper County, Iowa; Chicago:
Western Hist. Co., 1878; Richland Twp
CODDINGTON, Henry C.
Henry C. Coddington, Dover, the son of James Coddington (see sketch of J. H.), was born in the old log-cabin on his present farm August 14, 1850, and has always lived on the old homestead, which he now owns. He has always given his attention to farming, and now has 200 acres of land.
He was married December 22, 1875, to Mary A. Pierce, born in East Pawpaw Grove, Lee Co., Ill., in 1850. She is the daughter of Charles and Catherine (Sine) Pierce, natives of Luzerne County, Pa., but now residing at Pawpaw Grove, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Coddington have five children, viz: Charles James, born March 27, 1877; Emma Orelia, born November 13, 1879; Mabel Pearl, born August 29, 1881; twin girls, born July 29, 1884.
In politics Mr. Coddington is identified with the Republican party.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CODDINGTON, J. Harvey
Dover
James Coddington, father of the above named gentleman, was born January 25, 1798, in Allegheny County, Md. He was reared on a farm, but after starting in life for himself engaged in teaching and surveying. Much of his early life was spent in hunting, and in that way he gained an acquaintance with the mountains and passes, which was of great value to him when engaged in surveying for the National Turnpike and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
In the spring of 1831 he came to Bureau County, but soon afterward returned to Maryland, where he remained till 1833, when he again came to this county, and settled on Section 17, Dover Township, where he lived until 1876. He was one of the most successful hunters of the county. Being of rugged and robust frame, and an average weight of 200 pounds, there were but few who could follow him in his hunting expeditions.
He was married in this county to Catherine Fear, born in 1814. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom are still living (four died in childhood): Mary A., wife of D. W. Chase, of Dover Township; Caroline, wife of Calvin Shugart, died in 1873; J. Harvey, of Dover Township; Henry C. of Dover Township; Martha B., wife of Peter Ostram, of Lancaster County, Neb. In 1876 Mr. Coddington returned to his native State for a visit, but met with an accident, from the effects of which he died, June 1876. His wife, who was with him, was also injured, but recovered and is still living.
J. Harvey Coddington was born January 25, 1847, in this county, where he has always resided, being engaged in farming.
He was married January 25, 1872, to Miss Lizzie Keel. She was a native of Ohio, a daughter of John W. and Barbara (Bridenbaugh) Keel, now residents of Dover, Ill.
Mr. and Mrs. Coddington have six children, viz: James K., born September 14, 1872; John, born June 24, 1875; Harry, born April 27, 1877; Frank, born April 21, 1879; Nellie, born April 19, 1881; Willie, born May 31, 1883.
Two years after his marriage Mr. Coddington purchased his present farm, where he has since resided. He owns 280 acres, 200 of which are in the home farm. In politics he is a stanch Republican. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church of Dover.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
COLBERG, N.P.
N. P. Colberg, Princeton, was born March 31, 1842, in the town of Cimbritshauen, County of Christanstod, and State of Skone, Sweden. He is the son of Olof and Cecelia Colberg. The father was a gardener by profession and died in the old country; the mother is yet living there. She is the mother of seven children, of whom N. P. is the youngest.
Our subject was educated in his native country. For five years he attended the garden schools and learned the profession of gardener, and for seven years followed his profession in his native State, and then went to Germany, where for one year he was gardening at Schleswig-Holstein. He then went to Denmark, and was gardener for the King, Frank VIII, for one year
After the death of the King, Mr. Colberg returned to his native country, and continued in his profession for three years, and then came to America in 1868, and has since resided in Princeton.
When he first came he had no capital whatever, and worked for others until he was able to engage in business for himself. At first he bought but two acres of land and began gardening. Afterward he sold out, and in 1875 bought his present garden lot of ten acres, which was but a swamp at that time, but he has since put it in a high state of cultivation, having had $1,400 worth of tile laid. He is engaged in growing the small fruits, vegetables and flowers. He has three greenhouses and 200 hot-beds.
Mr. Colberg has been very successful, but it has been through close attention to business and a thorough understanding of his profession. In 1883 he purchased an additional plat of ground containing thirteen acres.
He was married in Sweden in June 1862, to Christina Olson. She is the mother of five children, viz: Nels, Anna, Albert, Ellen and Ida.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
COLBY, F
Indiantown
The genealogy of the Colby family is as follows: Its progenitor in America, as far as known, was Isaac Colby, who lived in old Amesbury, Mass. He was a farmer by occupation and the father of the following children: John, Eliphalet, Isaac, Nehemiah, Richard and Elizabeth.
Of these, Eliphalet Colby was the great-grandfather of our subject. He married Polly Rodgers, who is a direct descendant of Rev. John Rodgers, a Protestant minister, who was burned at the stake February 14, 1554, at Smithfield, England, at the instigation of Queen Mary, the Catholic Regent. Rev. John Rodgers assisted Tyndale in the translation of the Bible into the English language. His great-grandson came to Massachusetts in 1636. His son, John Rodgers, was President of Harvard College from 1682 to 1684. Eliphalet and Polly (Rodgers) Colby were the parents of four children, viz: Eliphalet, Nicholas, Levi and Polly Colby.
Of the above, Nicholas Colby was born in 1755 and died in 1836. He married Lois Martin, who was the mother of the following children, viz: Molly, Nicholas, Ruth, Jerusha, Oliver, Joshua, Levi and Joel.
Of these Levi Colby was born January 30, 1800, in Henniker, N. H. His wife, Lydia B. Colby, was born July 13, 1894, in New Hampshire. Her great-grandparents, Joseph Bartlett, was captured by the Indians during colonial times and taken to Canada, but afterward rescued. She is also a relative of Ashmead Bartlet, who married the Countess Burdett Coutts, the wealthy philanthropist.
Levi Colby and wife have both passed the four-score years, and, although the evening shadows of life are gathering about them, are still in the possession of their mental faculties.
They make their home with their only son, F. Colby. The latter was educated in his native town. He followed various occupations, principally farming. He is a good mechanic, and has erected all the buildings on his farm, among others a fine residence. He came to Bureau County in 1868, and here owns 200 acres in Indiantown Township.
He was born October 22, 1826, in Henniker, N. H. and was married in his native State, September 4, 1848, to Julia A. Morgan, born in the above place March 10, 1827. She is of English descent, and is the mother of Morris A. and Elmer A. Colby, the latter deceased, aged ten years and ten months.
Morris A. Colby was born February 7, 1850. He is farming with his father, is an I. O. O. F. He is married to Sarah Anthony, who was born September 3, 1849, in Morristown, N. J. They have three children, viz: Anna F., Mary E. and Norah E. Colby.
Mr. F. Colby and his whole family are religiously connected
with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C.
Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
COLE, Rev. John
Rev. John Cole, Greenville, was born in Cumberland County, Ky., January 9, 1812. He is the son of Samuel and Mary (Brown) Cole. Samuel Cole was born January 23, 1778. He was married to Mary Brown December 6, 1798; she was born January 5, 1779, and died November 11, 1851. They were the parents of ten children, of whom the following are now living: Benjamin, who was born June 17, 1809, and now resides in Kansas; John, of Bureau County; Nancy, born October 24, 1816, now in Texas, and David, born April 22, 1823, now of Clay County, Ill. Sampson Cole, the oldest son, was born July 8, 1801. He came to Bureau County in 1831, when he removed to Arkansas, then to Texas, and finally to Los Angeles, Cal., where he died in 1881.
In about 1822 John Cole removed to Memphis, Tenn, with his parents, and a short time after this to Arkansas, where the father died. In 1825 the family settled in Union County, Ill, where our subject remained till the spring of 1830, when he settled in what is now Champaign County, and in November 16, 1831, he came to this county, and has since resided here. During the Black Hawk war he enlisted at Hennepin, but most of his service was at Fort Wilbur, in LaSalle County.
When first settling in this county it was in Hall Township, but about a year later he settled in Selby, where he resided till 1866, when he removed to Tiskilwa, and December 20, 1882, came to the farm one-half mile south of New Bradford, where the family owns 432 acres, one of the best stock-farms in the county. Mr. Cole’s occupation has mostly been that of a farmer, but for some years he was engaged in the mercantile business in Tiskilwa. Mr. Cole’s early life was spent on the frontier, and among the Indians, and so he was thoroughly fitted to fill the part of a pioneer in the settlement of this county.
His was one of the early marriages of Bureau County, as he married September 30, 1832, to Jane Tompkins, who was born in Carter County, Tenn., September 19, 1817. She is the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Owens) Tompkins. William Tompkins was born November 20, 1772. He settled in Champaign County, Ill. In 1829, and entered land where Urbana now stands. In 1831 he removed to Bureau County. In 1834, while returning to this county from Tennessee, he died in Champaign County. Of his family of thirteen children but four are now living, viz: Martin, born July 3, 1809, now of Mineral, Ill.; Elizabeth Holbrook, born February 19, 1814, now resides near Tiskilwa; Mrs. Cole and Elijah Tompkins, of Clarke County, Iowa, born October 22, 1822.
Mr. and Mrs. Cole are the parents of the following named children: Elizabeth, born January 20, 1834, wife of G. B. Wheeler, of Kansas; Maria J., born December 31, 1836, wife of William Chenoweth, of Arispetown; Mary L., born April 5, 1844, wife of Robert Patterson, of Arispetown; Samuel, born June 6, 1848 and Charles W., born May 13, 1850. The two latter are farmers in Greenville town.
In politics Mr. Cole was Democrat till 1856, since which time he has been Republican. For about forty-seven years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and most of the time a minister, and has probably preached more funerals that any one else in this county, and has married a number of couples, children of those he had married in early life.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
COLLINS, Orin T.
O. T. Collins, Westfield, was born January 3, 1823, in Hartford, Conn. His great-grandfather came from Scotland. The latter’s son, Simeon, was born in Connecticut, where he was a farmer and died. He was the father of six children: Silas, Jonathan, Isaac, Alvin, Simeon and Mrs. Prudence Deer. Of these Isaac Collins was a blacksmith. He married Sophia Treat. They were natives of Connecticut, where they died. They were the parents of five children: Sophia, Orin T., Emily, Lovinia and Lydia A.
Of these only Orin T. survives. He was reared and educated in his native State, where he was married, November 24, 1846, to Charlotte O. Pitkin, born August 4, 1821, in Hartford, Conn., daughter of George Pitkin, who came here in 1855, and died here. She was the mother of five children: George P., Mrs., Charlotte E. Ross (of Kansas), Sophia T., Charles P. and Laura C. Collins. Mrs. Charlotte O. Collins died May 7, 1878.
Mr. Collins came to Bureau County in November 1855. He lived two years in Lamoille Township, and then bought 160 acres in Westfield Township, on Section 25 and 26, where he now resides. Politically, he has been so far identified with the Republican party.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
COLTON, Cyrus
Cyrus Colton, Wyanet, was born January 13, 1814, in St. Lawrence County, N. Y. His father, Jonathan S. Colton, was born July 3, 1781, in Bolton, Conn.; he died here December 11, 1854. For a number of years he lived in the State of New York. In the fall of 1835 he came to Bureau County. He served for a short time in the war of 1812. The mother of our subject was Betsey (Donaldson) Colton; she was born February 20, 1784, in Monson, Mass. She died October 4, 1846, in this county. She was married November 15, 1803, in Butternuts, Otsego Co., N.Y., and is the mother of the following children: Asa S., Heman S. and Elizabeth are deceased: Chauncey D., is now a resident of Bureau County; Cyrus, our subject; Egbert E., deceased; Lewis J., now a resident of Kansas, and Eli R., a resident of Wisconsin.
Our subject, Cyrus Colton, received the benefit of a common school education in New York. Early in life he became a farmer, and has followed that vocation ever since. In 1835 he came to this county with his wife and his parents, having been married just before starting West, August 13, 1835, in Lewis County, N. Y. to Miss Fidelia L. Pitcher, who died here September 22, 1879. She was the mother of five children: Mrs. Lucretia M. Eastman, deceased; Eveline L., wife of John T. Conner; Charles P., who enlisted in August, 1861, in the Federal Army and served faithfully to protect the stars and stripes till the close of the war (he died in 1871, age thirty years, from disease contracted during the war), Levinia E., wife of E, D. Scott, and Seth W. Colton, who married Miss Lizzie Roberts, who is the mother of one boy Robert P. Colton.
Mr. Cyrus Colton was married a second time January 17, 1881, to Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Zearing. She died February 1882.
Mr. Cyrus Colton has been a successful farmer. His home is pleasantly located in Section 13, in Wyanet Township, and is made brighter by the presence of his son and his family. The storms of life, though often severe, have left Mr. Colton a hale old man, although he has passed the allotted three score and ten.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
COLVER, Jacob
Jacob Colver, Westfield, was born August 23, 1806, in Leigh County, Penn. His parents, Jacob and Susan (Miller) Colver, were natives of the same State, where they died. His grand-parents came from New England and are of English descent. His mother is of German descent.
Jacob Colver is one of a family of eleven children, who were all married. He is the only one who has made Bureau County his home. He came to Illinois via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, landing in Rock Island in December 1845. He remained the winter in Como, Ill., and the next spring came to Princeton, where he followed his trade.
In 1849 he went overland to California, where he worked
in the gold mines with moderate success, returning to Hennepin, Ill., via
Panama and New Orleans. He farmed that year near Princeton and in the spring
of 1853 removed to Westfield Township, where he had made a claim of 160
acres as early as 1847. He improved the land and added to it from time
to time till at present he has 551 acres in Hall and Westfield Townships.
Mr. Colver has been a very successful farmer and his success is die to
his industry and good management. He is now reaping his reward and enjoying
his competence. He is fast approaching the good old age of four score years
and to-day, in the evening of life, surrounded by happy children and grandchildren,
he can be content with a retrospect of the past and calmly
await the future.
Religiously he is connected with the Lutheran Church, but also supports other churches. Politically he is identified with the Republican party.
Mr. Colver was joined in marriage in Pennsylvania, in April 17, 1830, to Mary A. Hoffman, daughter of Michael and Mary A (Shirey) Hoffman, natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Colver was born October 23, 1806, in Leigh County, Penn. She shared her husband’s trials in early life and was a faithful helpmeet. She died here June 4, 1880. Seven children were the result of this union, viz: Edward; Sarah C., deceased; Emeline S., deceased; Mary A., deceased; Eliza J., Jacob H., and Ellen L. Of the above, Edward Colver, of Leadville. Colo., married Hannah Webb, deceased; four children. Viz.: Melissa, Clara, Edward, and Lotta. Emeline S. Colver married William Tilden; Children, seven: Jacob, William, Eunice, John, Alice, Ettie and Nettie, twins. Mary A. Colver married Owen Beil; one child, Sarah E. Biel. Elza J. Colver, now a resident of Livingston County, Ill., married Ethan Jackson, Allen L. Colver, now of Storm Lake, Iowa, married Charley Edwards; Children three, viz: Frank, Elbert and Eldon, the latter deceased. Jacob H. Colver married Anna Miller; children ten. Viz.: Howard L., Mary A. G., Ralph W., Jacob M., Laura A., Eliza J., Mabel E., Phoebe, Edward Clyde, deceased, and George Roland. Jacob H. Colver enlisted November 24, 1861, in Company D, of the Fifty-first Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served nearly four years. He participated in the battles of New Madrid, Island No. 10, Corinth, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Resaca. At the latter battle he was shot through the arm and transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. Since the war he has been a farmer in Bureau County.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
COLVER, Joshua J.
Joshua J. Colver, Hall, was born November 24, 1832, in Rittersville, Leigh County, Penn. His parents, Charles and Susanna (Kemmer) Colver, are natives of the same county and are now living near Bethlehem, Northampton, Co., Penn. They are the parents of four children, viz: Joshua J., Maria, Mrs. Fayette Schortz (deceased), and Charles.
Joshua J. Colver was reared and educated in his native
county. He was married at Allentown, the county seat, on Christmas day
1866, to Miss. Matilda R. Lazaeus, who was born August 15, 1839, in Northampton
County, Penn. Her parents, Thomas and Polly (Bolliett) Lazarus, were natives
of Pennsylvania, where the former was thrown from a
buggy and killed, September, 1871, at the age of sixty-two
years. His wife is still living, and is the mother of nine children, viz.:
Catharine, Elizabeth, Caroline, Matilda R., Jonas E., Lovina, James, Richard
and Tilghman, who died at the age of nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Colver have
three sons, viz.: John T., born July 15, 1867, William H., born March 17,
1871, and Franklin B., born July 15, 1880.
Mr. Colver came to this county in 1859, and the next year he and his father bought eighty acres of land. He returned to Pennsylvania the same year and in 1867 come to Bureau County to live. His farm contains 160 acres. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Colver are members of the Lutheran Church.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
COOK, Oliver
Oliver Cook, Princeton, was born July 16, 1842, near
Racine, Wis. He is a son of John Cook, who was born
April 30, 1812; he died here in 1872. Oliver
Cook’s grandfather was Larkin Cook, he was a native of Maryland and died
in Vermillion County, Ill., to which he came about 1825. The Cook family
is of Irish extraction. The mother of Oliver Cook was Eveline (Graves)
Cook. She was born in 1816, in Fayette County, Ky., and died in 1856 in
Vermillion County, Ill. She was the daughter of James and Margaret (Blackburn)
Graves, who were also natives of Kentucky. She was the mother of ten children.
Of these only three are now living, viz.: Dr. F. Cook, now a resident of
Sterling, Neb., Mrs. Amanda A. Holbrooks, and Oliver, our subject, who
is the oldest of the three living.
He was educated principally in and near Danville, Ill. He came to this county in 1861; here he farmed one year and then, in 1862, he enlisted in the Ninety-third Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company C. He served about eleven months, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability. From the fall of 1864 till the close of the war he served in the Forty-second Regiment Illinois Regiment Volunteer Infantry, Company K, participating in the battles of Springfield, Franklin and Nashville.
After the war Mr. Cook taught school for one term in this county, and then engaged in the insurance business, making his headquarters in Wyanet, Ill. In September 1881, he came to Princeton and at present is engaged in the real estate business, dealing wholly in Western lands in Nebraska, and is agent for the Burlington & Missouri Railroad lands.
Mr. Cook was married February 10, 1876, to Miss. Mary E. Conkling. Who was born February 5, 1851, in this county. She is the daughter of Carl and Ellen (Coulter) Conkling. Four children were the result of their marriage, viz.: Charles W., Laura E., Florence N. and an infant boy. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are religiously connected with the Presbyterian Church.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
COOLEY, Henry
Henry Cooley, Fairfield, was born February 19, 1830, in Pittsford, Rutland Co., Vt. His parents, John and Amanda (Cook) Cooley, died in the same State, of which they were natives. Our subject’s ancestors came to America in the Mayflower. Henry Cooley resided in Vermont till he was twenty-three years old, and then immigrated to Whiteside County, Ill., where he sold goods for four years. In April, 1858, he came to Bureau County and farmed eleven years, after which he came to Yorktown, where he has been selling goods for the last fourteen years for O. W. McKenzie, and also keeping the postoffice.
Our subject was married in Vermont to Frances E. Rowe, who died here November 18, 1870, age thirty-five years. She was the mother of four children, viz.: Franklin H., who was born August 11, 1859 (he married Jennie Van Drew); Mary A., born August 21, 1861, wife of A. O. Hunter; John H., born March 14, 1867, and Frederick A. Cooley, born December 24, 1869. Franklin H. Cooley has two children, viz.: Charles H. and an infant daughter. Mrs. Mary A. Hunter has two sons, viz.: Merl D. and Frederick Hunter.
Mr. Cooley is one of the standbys in Fairfield Township, having filled the offices of Treasurer and Clerk for about twenty years. Politically he is a Greenbacker. He has 480 acres of land in Bureau County.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
COOPER, Calvin
Calvin Cooper, Mineral, is a native of Killingly, Windham Co., Conn., born March 20, 1810. His parents were of English descent, the father being a Baptist clergyman.
Calvin learned the carpenter and joiner trade when a young man, which furnished him employment for a number of years.
August 26, 1833, he married Miss Harriet Kies, a native also of Windham County. She was born December 23, 1812. They resided in Connecticut until the fall of 1854, when they came to Illinois, stopping in Stephenson County until the following spring, when they settled on a farm in Bureau County. At the expiration of two years they moved to Mineral, which has since been their home.
They are the parents of the following children, viz: Daniel C., Josephine E. (deceased in infancy), Mary T., Louisa F., Marie A., Sarah J. and Harriet Emma. All the children are married and settled in life. Daniel served as a soldier in the defense of his Government against rebellion; enlisting as a private, but afterward promoted to a Lieutenancy, and is now a prosperous grain merchant in Shelby, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are members of the Congregational Church, and have always exerted their influence for the moral and religious elevation of mankind. Mr. Cooper is a zealous Republican, and warm in his advocacy of the cause of the people.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CORBIT, E. P.
Of the firm of Corbit & McClees, grain dealers, Commerce, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, April 6, 1849, and in the spring of 1870 came from there to Des Moines, this county, and has been a resident of the county since. For a time he was engaged in teaching school in East Des Moines, and in July, 1876, he came to this place and commenced the grain business. The firm has been very successful, as they shipped for the year ending June 4, four hundred and sixty cars containing two, hundred thousand bushels of grain.
Mr. Corbit has been twice married; first, August 15,
1871, to Miss Mary Chamberlain, a native of McComb, county, Michigan; she
died February 24, 1876, leaving three children: Frank P., May M. and Emily.
Was married again in Bureau county, Illinois, to Abby
N. Dennis, January 16, 1878.
Source: History of Polk County, Iowa, Union Historical
Company, Birdsall, Williams & Co. 1880
COREY, Hamilton F.
Hamilton F. Corey, Ohio, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., July 17, 1811, and is the son of John and Lucina Corey, formerly of Connecticut. Mr. Corey’s grandfather, David Rodes, was a soldier of the Revolution, and died in New York at the age of eighty-four. Our subject’s father, John Corey, was a soldier of the war of 1812.
The subject of this sketch was raised on the farm, where he resided till the spring of 1835, when he came to this State and settled with his sister (now Mrs. Lemuel Carey) in Morgan County, where he remained till he came to this county in 1845, and first settled in Dover Township in 1846. In 1835
Mr. Corey married Esther Mead, of New York, who was
born in 1807, and came to this county with her husband, where he died in
1874. Of this marriage there is a family of six children, four now living:
Mrs. Elizabeth L. Smith, Ohio, Ill.;
Mrs. Almeda Hammer, King City, Mo.; Mrs. Elsa Rainer,
of Nebraska; and John H. Corey, who was born October 30, 1843. He
enlisted in Company B, Ninety-third Illinois Infantry, August 11,
1862, and served till July 6, 1865; engaged in the following battles: Wyatt,
Miss., December 4, 1862; Yazoo Pass, expedition from March 23 to April
7, 1863; Jackson, Miss, May 14, 1863; Champaign Hill, Miss., May 16, 1863;
charge on Vicksburg, Miss., May 10, 1864; Dalton, Ga., June 28, 1864; McAllister,
Ga. July 20, 1864; Allatoona, September 10 and 11, 1864; Salkebatchie,
S.C., February 2, 1865; Columbia S. C., February 15, 1865; Lynch’s Creek,
February 25, 1865; Bentonville, N. C., March 19 and 20, 1865, and Sherman’s
march to the sea from November 15, 1864 to April 27, 1865. He was wounded
May 14, 1863, at Jackson, Miss. September 12, 1865, he married Phebe Rainer,
by whom he has one son.
In 1874 Mr. H. F. Corey married his second and present
wife, Rachel Martin, of this county, by whom he has one son, Harry F. Corey,
was born September 130, 1876. Mr. Corey owns 320 acres in Ohio and 328
acres in Dover Townships.
He was formerly a Whig, and is now a republican.
Mr. Corey is one of the family of seven children four sons and three daughters
all now living; the youngest, Mrs. J. Lewis, lives at Jack’s Riffs, N.
Y., aged sixty-four.
This family (according to Mr. Corey’s own statement) is somewhat peculiar, in the fact that they had the poorest of advantages during youth were not brought up but came up, all beginning with nothing, and all are now ell off, and everyone the owner of lands.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CORLEY, Martin
Martin Corley, deceased, was a native of the Parish Ashgraw, County Conard, Ireland, where his parents, Daniel and Mary Moulton, died.
Martin Corley came to America when quite young and became a captain of a boat on the Genesee River. He was married in Rochester, N. Y. to Sarah Biglow, born November 26, 1815, near the Canada line in Berkshire Township, Vt. She is the daughter of Stephen and Phebe (Wing) Biglow, the former a native of Rhode Island and of Welsh extraction, and the latter of Connecticut and of English and Irish descent. Her father commanded on of the vessels under Gen. Wolfe at the taking of Quebec, and participated in the battle on the Plains of Abraham, receiving as reward a large tract of land in the Canadas from the British Government. Her grandfather was an officer and fell at the battle of Bunker Hill.
Mr. Martin Corley lived three years in Rochester, N. Y., and then, in 1841, came to LaSalle County, Ill., and in December, the same year, bought 120 acres of Daniel Roth in Westfield Township, Bureau Co., in Section 10, where he died July 18, 1873, aged sixty-seven years.
He was a good farmer and owned 480 acres when he died. He was respected by all who came in contact with him for his many good qualities. Mrs. Corley yet survives and is the mother of ten children, viz.: Mrs. Mary McDonald, Daniel, John, Stephen, Mrs. Phebe A. Bartlett (deceased), Martin, Mrs. Meriam Loehr, Frank, Mrs. Emma Grimes and Agnes Corley.
Frank Corley and his mother now own the homestead consisting of 120 acres.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CORNING, Dr. G.A.
G. A. Corning, M. D., is the oldest practicing physician in Hampton and is still an active follower of the profession, although he has now passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey. He was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, August 18, 1835, and is a son of George and Phoebe (Webster) Corning. The mother was a relative of America's eminent statesman, Daniel Webster, and as a representative of one of the old American families represented in the war for independence, she is eligible to membership in the Daughters of the Revolution. Her youngest brother, J. P. Webster, was a noted musician and song writer.
On leaving New England, George Corning, father of Dr. Corning, removed westward to Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming to the time of his death. His wife, however, passed away in New Hampshire.
Dr. Corning is the fourth in order of birth in a family
of six children. He went to Wisconsin in 1855, where he took up the profession
of surveying, and also engaged in teaching school there. Desirous of improving
his own education he entered the Portage City Classical Institute of Portage,
Wisconsin, and completed his classical course in that institution in 1860.
He next located at Kilbourn, Wisconsin, and was principal of the schools
there for two years. Later he went to Union county, Illinois, and when
his health failed he abandoned professional activity to engage in the fruit
business. At the time of the Civil war his patriotic spirit prompted his
enlistment and in 1863 he offered his services to the government,
but was rejected on account of the condition of his
heart. He found that he was a failure in the fruit business; and in 1865
he went to Bureau county, Illinois, where he resumed the profession of
teaching which he followed until 1868, when his wife died. He then gave
up teaching and built a home for his brother and sister-in-law. The latter
was his wife's sister and had previously been given a position as teacher
in the schools of Bureau county, through the influence of
Dr. Corning, but later she resigned and moved to Wisconsin.
After building the home previously mentioned Dr. Corning traveled extensively over the southwest, visiting various sections and working in different places. Eventually he worked his way back again to Iowa and thence to Minnesota, after which he returned to his old home in Wisconsin, where he was welcomed with open arms. Later he went to Bureau county, Illinois, and there engaged in teaching in the graded schools for several years. He then entered Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, and graduated two years later. He first took up the practice of medicine at Marseilles, Illinois, in 1875, and in 1878 he came to Hampton, where he has since been practicing, being now the oldest physician of the town.
Dr. Corning has been twice married. He first wedded Isabelle Town, who died leaving a son, Ernest Banks Corning, who is now a surveyor of Loup City, Nebraska. Dr. Corning afterward married Josephine Town, a sister of his first wife and they have become the parents of two children; Edward Ray, of Hampton and Stanley Town, who is a farmer of this county.
Dr. Corning attends the Universalist church and is affiliated with the Masons and Odd Fellows lodges, the beneficiant principles of which he exemplifies in his life. His political allegiance has long been given to the republican party which has indeed found in him a stalwart supporter. Dr. Corning is still active, though well advanced in age. He bears his seventy-eight years lightly and in spirit and interest seems yet in his prime.
Source: History of Franklin County, Iowa, Stuart, I.
L. , Vol. 2 , S.J. Clarke Publishing, Chicago, 1914
CORSS, Cornelius C.
Bureau
The Corss family was probably among the Puritan settlers of Massachusetts, at least they were residents of Deerfield, Mass. At the time of the French and Indian massacre in 1703 and 1704, and only two of the family escaped, one of whom was the great-grandfather of C. C. Corss. The family still continued to reside in Massachusetts, and at Greenfield, Mass., our subject was born, October 13, 1897. His grandfather, Asher Corss, was among the early settlers of Greenfield, known as one of the old proprietors, he having taken up a large tract of land in that vicinity. Asher Corss Jr., our subject’s father, lived and died on the farm which his father had settled. Both he and his wife Lucy Grennell, died in May, 1814. She was born April 7, 1775, and he June 5, 1775. They were the parents of three sons and six daughters, three of whom are living: Charles C. Corss, a minister of Bradford County, Penn; Cornelius C., our subject; Sarah, widow of Henry Newton, resides at Greenfield, Mass. Christopher G. Corss, another son of Asher Corss, Jr., came to this county previous to the Black Hawk war, and settled southeast of Princeton in Princeton Township, and lived there until his death, June 9, 1867.
Cornelius C. Corss was reared in Greenfield, Mass., and resided in that State till 1833, when he came to Bureau County, Ill., arriving here in October. He first laid claim to what is known as the Deacon Caleb Cook farm in Princeton Township, and resided there one year, when he sold his claim to Deacon Cook and then settled on his present farm in Bureau Township, Section 34, where he has lived since the fall of 1834. He and his son now own 480 acres. Mr. Corss has helped raise and handle fifty-one crops of corn in Bureau County. He was the first purchaser of any article of merchandise in Princeton, when in the spring of 1834 he bought a horse collar at a store opened by Mr. Haskill.
Mr. Corss was married in Peoria County, Ill. June 1, 1837, to Mehitable Hill. She was born in New Hampshire, January 25, 1817, and is the daughter of Isaac and Mehitable (Bancroft) Hill, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire. They moved to New York when Mrs. Corss was small, and in 1833 to Peoria County, Ill., afterward to Bureau County in 1838, where they lived until death. Mr. Hill died in 1846 and his wife August 3, 1870.
Mr. and Mrs. Corss have one son and two daughters, viz.: Henry, born June 15, 1838, lives in Bureau Township; Mrs. Lucy Thomas, of Princeton, born January 27, 1843; Climena, born April 8, 1850.
In politics Mr. Corss is Republican, and has held various township offices. He was the first Supervisor of Bureau Township. He is a member of the Congregational Church of Princeton.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
COTTRELL, Nicholas
N. Cottrell, Dover, was born December 8, 1829, in Hampshire County, Mass. His father was Rufus Cottrell, a native of Hampshire County, Mass. He was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1868, aged seventy-four years, in Malden, Ill. His grandfather, Nicholas Cottrell, was a native of Massachusetts, where he died; he was a blacksmith by occupation, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war, where he served with distinction. The mother of our subject was Sarah (Odell) Cottrell, a native of Dutchess County, N. Y.; she died in Malden, Ill., in 1872, aged seventy-six years. She was the mother of eight children who reached maturity, viz.: Mrs. Eliza Lyman, James H., John V., Mrs. Mary Granger, Frank K., Nicholas, George W. and Giles H.
Our subject, Nicholas Cottrell, was educated in his native State, where he followed farming. He came to this county in 1855, and settled in Dover Township, Section 35. He has a fine farm of 190 acres.
Mr. Cottrell was married June 3, 1853, in Worthington, Mass., to Miss Mary Cole, who was born May 7, 1831, in Worthington, Mass. Her parents were Elijah and Freedom (Cowen) Cole. Mrs. Cottrell is the mother of three children, viz.: Junia A., wife of G. J. M. Porter, Cora M. and Herbert J.
Mr. and Mrs. Cottrell are active members of the Presbyterian Church. In political matters Mr. Cottrell is connected with the Republican party, and takes an active interest in all matters relating to the affairs of the county in which he resides, and of which is one of the most wide-awake citizens.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
COTTLE, James R.
James R. Cottle, Princeton, was born February 26, 1835, in Singapore, East India. His father, Richard Cottle, is a native of England, and yet resides in Bristol. In early life he was a carriage trimmer, but is now Government Inspector of the Great Western Railroad. James R. Cottle, Sr. the father of Richard Cottle, was a gentleman of leisure; he was formerly a Government Collector. The mother of our subject was Eliza (Betterridge) Cottle, a native of Thatchan, Berkshire, England. She died in Bristol. She was the mother of nine children, of whom six are now living, but none in the United States except our subject.
At the age of six, his father brought him from Singapore to London, where he received his primary education. When he was twelve years of age he went to Bristol, where he studied engineering till he was sixteen, and then visited Ireland, and while there he and his young friend, Joseph H. Watts, resolved to come to the United States, which they did without the knowledge of their parents, landing in New York in 1852. There he remained three months and then induced to come to Chicago, where he worked for the Michigan Central Railroad Company a short time and then obtained a position as mailing clerk in the Chicago Journal office. In 1854 he commenced to work for the Central Military Tract Railroad, now know as the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. He worked for the company until the road was completed to Monmouth, after which he worked as engineer for Robins & Lawson, millers of Princeton.
In 1864 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Regiment Illinois volunteer Infantry, Company F, serving till the close of the war, acting as Company Clerk, being always on detached service. After the war he operated a mill in Arlington, Bureau County, one and one half years and then started a bakery in Princeton in partnership with two other men. One of them retired after two years; the other one continued till 1881, when his interest was bought out by Mr. Cottle, who has continued the business alone ever since. He started on a small scale, but by dint of perseverance and strict attention to business he attained his present prosperity. He owns the only wholesale confectionery and cracker business in the county, and does a fine wholesale and retail business.
He was married in Princeton, Ill., to Miss Harriet H. Harris, a native of England. She is the mother of two children, viz.: Lida and Jennie. In politics Mr. Cottle is identified with the Republican party.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
COTTRELL, Frank
Frank Cottrell, a farmer and stock raiser on section 30 , was born in Bureau county, Illinois, on the 26th of August 1857, and is the son of John and Cordelia (Burnham) Cottrell. He was married on December 18, 1879, to Miss Ida Wolfersberger, a daughter of Charles and Susannah Wolfersberger. They have one child --Blanche.
Frank and his wife came to Beaver township in March, 1881, and settled on his present location. He raises stock of various kinds, and has some shorthorns, of which the Duke of Fordland, a very valuable animal, is at the head. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of land and a fine grove of some four acres. He has a stock-well over fifty feet deep, and every convenience for raising stock.
Source: History of Guthrie and Adair Counties,
Iowa: Springfield, Ill: Continental Hist. Co., 1884, Beaver twp
COTTRELL, Giles H
Farmer and stock-raiser on section 35 . The subject
of this sketch was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, May 8, 1833.
He moved with his parents to Illinois in 1865, where he remained until
1880, when he came to Guthrie county and settled on section 35, Beaver
township. He was married January 19, 1864, to Miss Robina McClure, a daughter
of William McClure. He was again married in 1876 to Anna Chapman, of Guthrie
county.
They have two children--Edith and Eunice. Mrs. Cottrell's
father, who first settled on the farm now owned by Giles Cotrell in 1868,
was a soldier of the rebellion, having enlisted in Company E, 40th Iowa
infantry. He was a native of Ohio, and
was married in Indiana in 1847. He died in 1876, leaving
a wife and six children, the former now living in
Carroll county, Iowa.
Source: History of Guthrie and Adair Counties,
Iowa: Springfield, Ill: Continental Hist. Co., 1884, Beaver twp
COTTRELL, John V.
John V. Cottrell, of J. V. Cottrell & Co., hardware.--The subject of this sketch was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, September 24, 1823. He was there reared to manhood, and received his education from the schools of the neighborhood. He followed agricultural pursuits in his native county until 1854, when he emigrated to Bureau county, Illinois, where he was a successful farmer, owning the premium farm, of that county.
In 1882 he came to Menlo, Iowa, and engaged in the hardware business. Mr. C., although a new settler, is well and favourably known in this county, and is slowly identified with the business and farming interest of Beaver township. He owns a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres of land in Beaver township, which is carried on by his son Frank.
He was married October 8, 1845, to Cornelia Burnham,
a native of Massachusetts. They have three children--Frank L., Nettie D.
and Mary A. Mr. C. and wife and daughter Mary are members of the Presbyterian
church in Menlo;
Nettie D. is a member of the Congregational church
in Malden, Illinois.
Source: History of Guthrie and Adair Counties,
Iowa: Springfield, Ill: Continental Hist. Co., 1884
COUCH, Benjamin C. Esq.
B. C. Couch, Esq., Tiskilwa, was born September 19, 1822, in Boscawen, Merrimack Co., N. H. He is a grandson of Benjamin Couch Sr., a native of New Hampshire, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war, participating in the battle of Bunker Hill, where he had a bullet shot through his ear. He married a Miss Heath, who was the mother of five children. Of these Benjamin Couch, Jr. was the father of our subject. He was a farmer by occupation, and was a native of New Hampshire, where he died. The mother of our subject, Mrs. Sallie (Morse) Couch, was born in Portsmouth, N. H. She died January 24, 1866, aged seventy-five years. She was the mother of eight children, viz.: Prescott, James S., Amos A., Plummer, Rachel, Benjamin C. (our subject). Harriman and Caleb K. Of these Prescott, James S., Plummer and Caleb K. are deceased.
Squire Couch was educated in his native State. In 1843 he removed to Tazewell County, Ill., and in the winter of 1845 to Henry County. In 1851 he came to this county, and first settled in Wyanet Township, where he followed the carpenter business till 1853, when he removed to Tiskilwa, where he was a grain and lumber merchant for fifteen years. Since then he has followed various occupations, and filled the office of Township Clerk and Justice of the Peace for many years with tact and ability.
Mr. Couch was married in Rhode Island to Martha J. Caleb, who died in Tiskilwa. She was the mother of nine children, viz.: Dion, Cornelia A., Laura and Lucy (twins), Sarah J., Charles S., Ilus, Buel and Bias (twins), the latter deceased.
Subject’s second wife, Lydia M. Peck, died here leaving two children, viz.: Minnie I. And Hattie B. At present Mr. Couch is married to Emilie Thompson, a daughter of Daniel Thompson, of Bath, Steuben Co., N.Y.
Politically, Squire Couch comes from the old Underground Abolition stock. At present he is not identified with any party.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
COUCH, ILUS
Ilus Couch occupies an enviable position among the extensive ranchers and prominent settlers of the valley of the South Platte river, where he operates a very large and growing stock business. Ilus Couch was born in Tiskilwa, Bureau county, Illinois, October 7, 1857. His father, Benjamin C. Couch, was a native of New Hampshire, born in the village of Boscawen, September 19, 1822. His parents were native of England. Our subject's mother, Martha J. Calf, was also a native of Salisbury, New Hampshire, born March 3, 1825, and died December 31, 1860, when he was but three years old.
The subject of our sketch was reared in the state of his nativity and attended the common schools. At the age of fourteen he started to work out at farm labor and various other employments. In the spring of 1882 he married, came west and followed farming for two season in Carroll county, Iowa, after which he came further west to Clay county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1884, and remained during the summer. In August of that year he located a homestead in Keith county, his present place, and built a house, his family joining him in the fall. The country was very new and when they arrived in Ogallala they found it to be a typical wild west town. Pioneer days were full of trying experiences and many hardship and losses of crops, but our subject kept at his improvements and made a grand success.
The first crop in 1885 was a good one and this helped to give the family a start, but in 1890 and 1894 the crops were poor and Mr. Couch gradually turned his attention from farming to cattle and horse raising. He has now a splendid ranch comprising eighteen hundred and fifty-eight acres along the South Platte river and running back into the hills. He cultivates only about fifty acres of this, devoting the remainder of his extensive cattle and horse business. He has fine buildings, has the farm well fenced and has a fine grove of forest trees and some apple, plum and cherry trees. Our subject has been an interested witness of the growth of this region. When he first settled here his house was one of the only two between Ogallala and Big Springs, twenty miles distant, and for three months Mrs. Couch never saw a woman in all the country.
The marriage of Ilus Couch with Miss Charity Horton occurred in Buda, Illinois, February 9, 1882. The bride was a native of Illinois, a daughter of Eli and Mary (Hamilton) Horton, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Couch has done his share toward making the present high material standard of prosperity which obtains in Keith county, and he has taken a prominent place among the old settlers. His interest in political matters has been earnest and practical and he has held various offices of trust and responsibility.
He has served as school treasurer for five years and has acceptably filled other minor offices. He is independent in politics and a member of the Ogallala lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. A view of Mr. Couch's comfortable residence with its fine grove, large barn and pleasing landscape surrounding, is presented for inspection on another page.
Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence & Biography
of Western Nebraska, resident of Keith county, p 1040
CRISMAN, Elisha D.
Milo
This gentleman was born July 28, 1824, in Berkeley County, Va. His father, George P. Crisman, was born in 1796, in Virginia, which State he left on account of his opposition to slavery, and removed to Ohio, and from there to Knox County, Ill., where he died in 1872. He was a farmer by occupation, and a soldier in the war of 1812. He was of German descent. The mother of our subject, Dorothy Sanders, was born 1798 in Virginia. She died 1833, in Highland County, Ohio. She was a daughter of Joseph Sanders, and was the mother of seven children, viz.; Mrs. Jane Richardson, Mrs. Mary Frisby, Mrs. Julia A. Schram, Mrs. Rachel Walfor, Mrs. Ellen Green, James A., and Elisha D. Chrisman, who is mainly self educated, receiving but fourteen days of schooling in his life.
In the fall of 1837 he came to Illinois with his parents, and the next spring settled in Knox County, where he farmed till April, 1852, when he bought 80 acres of land in Milo Township, Bureau County, where he now resides and at present owns a well improved form of 240 acres, the result of his industry and economy.
Mr. Chrisman was married twice. In September 1849,
he married Miss Mahala Caywood, a sister of his present wife.
She was born in 1823, and died December 6, 1850. She
was the mother of James T., who only lived to be nine months old.
Mr. Chrisman was joined in matrimony a second time, April 4, 1852, to Elizabeth Caywood, who was born December 6, 1829, in Maryland. She is a daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Hufford) Caywood, and is the mother of four children, viz.; Frank, Laura C., Jennie O. and Ella A. Chrisman. Frank Chrisman married Eva Read. Three children were the result of this union, viz.; Nellie, Clarence and Bernice Chrisman.
Mr. E. D. Chrisman and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he was formerly an Abolitionist and is now identified with the Republican party. Financially he has made a success of life, being a self made man in every respect.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CRISMAN, William
William Crisman, Macon, was born in Bedford County, Penn., June 25, 1825. He is the son of William and Margaret (Wisegarver) Crisman. They were both natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. They died in Bedford County. They had eleven children who reached maturity, and of that number six sons and two daughters yet survive.
Our subject was reared on a farm, but at the age of sixteen began learning his trade of millwright, which trade he followed in his native State till coming to Bureau County, Ill., where he landed April 7, 1855. For four years he did carpenter work at Buda, but in the fall of 1958 he purchased his present farm and began its improvement by building a home on it, to which he removed March 15, 1860. When Mr. Crisman came to his farm he had but little capital with which to make improvements or stock his farm, but with his industry as the best possible capital he began, and success has crowned his efforts. His farm now contains 370 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Crisman had made a specialty of hog-raising, and through his diligence has place himself in the front rank as a producer.
April 19, 1848, he was married in Bedford County, Penn., to Miss Elizabeth Bowser. She was born in Bedford County, March 3, 1828. She is the daughter of John and Margaret Bowser, both natives of the same county as their daughter. In 1855 they removed to Illinois, where Mr. Bowser died, but his widow yet lives in Buda. Mrs. Crisman is the eldest of a family of seven children who reached maturity.
To Mr. and Mrs. Crisman eight children have been born, viz.: Calvin, William A., Margaret V., Mattie L. and Arthur V. (twins), Carrie A., Eunice E., and Beckie (deceased).
In politics Mr. Crisman is identified with the Republican party. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church of Buda.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CROSSMAN, George
Lamoille
Among our citizens of foreign birth, who have identified themselves with Bureau County, we must mention the subject of this sketch, who was born November 7, 1826, in Somersetshire, England, town of Bishford. His parents, George and Sarah (Rhude) Crossman died in England, where he was a mechanic. Their children were: Henry, who died on board a man-of-war off the coast of Africa; George, our subject; John C., a resident of this county; Jane, deceased, and Mrs. Mary A. Jeffries.
Mr. Crossman came to America in 1852. He was eight
weeks on the ocean. He lived two years in Onondaga County,
N. Y., and then in October 1854, came to Lamoille
Township, Bureau County. Here he rented land till 1858, when he bought
forty-four acres of land, to which he added from time to time. In 1871
he sold his farm and removed to Lamoille, where he now resides, and intends
to spend the remainder of his life in ease and quiet. He was married October
21, 1852, in Syracuse, N. Y. to Joanna Chapman, a daughter of William and
Joanna Chapman.
Mrs. Crossman, a cheerful, industrious lady, is also a native of Somersetshire, England, where she was born December 14, 1833. Mr. Crossman has been a successful farmer, and is a self-made man in every respect. Politically, he is identified with the Republican party.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CROSSMAN, John C.
J. C. Crossman, Lamoille, was born January 29, 1830, in Draycott, Somersetshire, England. (See preceding sketch.) Mr. Crossman came to the United States about 1850. He worked two years in Onondaga County, N. Y., where he was also married.
In March 1852, he came to Lamoille, Ill., and after working one year, rented land and farmed. In 1855 he bought 160 acres of land, which he soon sold, and after renting another year bought 160 acres of William Hart, which he sold, and in 1857 went to New York State, and from there to England, where he visited his relatives, returning to Lamoille the following year. Here he first rented the place which he afterward bought, and now owns 617 acres of land, on which he makes stock-raising a specialty.
Our subject was married July 24, 1851 to Elizabeth Weeks, who was born December 23, 1828, in England. Her parents, William and Ann (Dix) Weeks, were also natives of England. Mrs. Crossman is the mother of the following children who reached maturity: Mrs. Mary A. Hopps (deceased), Mrs. Sarah Williams, Eliza Crossman, Mrs. Fannie Dunbar, John F., Ollie, Alice, and Nellie Crossman.
When Mr. Crossman came to this country he was poor in purse, but rich in will power and industry, hence his prosperity. He is a strong Republican, and takes an active part in politically matters, and also a deep interest in agriculture matters, and is President of the Agriculture Society of Bureau County.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CUMMINGS, Fitchyou
Fitchyou Cummings, Concord, was born in Gallatin County, Ill., May 8, 1818, and is the son of Thornton Cummings, deceased. Fitchyou Cummings came to Bureau County with his parents in 1834, and since that time has resided in Concord Township.
His opportunities for an education were the most limited. Instead of schools, when coming to French Grove, there was excellent opportunity for the hunter to find game. As Mr. Cummings was of an independent nature, he wished to make for himself a farm, and as money was at that time almost impossible to obtain, he had to work whenever he could to make money to pay for his land, since he had laid a claim on 160 acres, and yet resides on one eighty of that first claim. Their market was Hennepin, or soon afterward Lacon, where a man named Fisher bought hogs, and paid for the same in Boston money, which he guaranteed would pay taxes. Slowly but surely Mr. Cummings worked his way to independence, and has added to his first entered land till he now owns about 400 acres.
In 1850 he was married to Miss Esther Garrett, who was born in Ohio, and is the daughter of Horace Garrett, who came to this county in about 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings are the parents of four children, viz: Sidney, Melissa J., Delia and Roxie.
In politics Mr. Cummings has ever been a firm Democrat.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
For a more complete outline of the life and settlement
of Thornton Cummings in Bureau County see sketch of William Cummings.)
CUMMINGS, William
Buda
Thornton Cummings was a native of Virginia.
When a young man he immigrated to Kentucky, and was there married to Miss
Sylvia Williams, a native of Kentucky. In 1816, soon after marriage, Mr.
Cummings removed to Gallatin County, Ill., where he resided till 1834,
at which time he came to Bureau County, Ill. When he reached
Hennepin, he left his family there, and in company with a Frenchman as
guide he traveled over the western part of Bureau County seeking a suitable
location, and as he had been reared in a timbered country French Grove
suited him best on account of its containing heavy timber. But when
he announced his intention of settling here, his guide informed him that
his own claim embraced the grove, but that he would divide, and accordingly
staked off one-half, and Mr. Cummings selected the west half and
there settled, and his was the first settlement in what is now Concord
Township. When the land came into market he entered 240 acres of the Grove
and adjoining prairie land. He died in 1872, and his widow
January 1, 1883. They were the parents of ten children,
seven of whom lived to reach maturity. The following are now living: Fitchyou,
Sylvia (widow of Alexander Shafer) and William are in this county, Harvey
Cummings is now a resident of Minnesota.
William Cummings was born in Gallatin County, Ill., in 1829. He came to this county with his parents in 1834, and attended the first school taught in the western part of Bureau County. This school was taught in a log-cabin on the east of French Grove. Mr. Cummings has made this township his home since first coming to it.
In 1853 he was married to Miss A. J. Hodge, who was born in the State of New York, and is the daughter of Jacob Hodge. Mr. and Mrs. Cunninghams are the parents of five sons, viz: Orlando W., Marvin S. and Melvin S. (twins), Hampton B. and Harvey D. (twins).
Immediately after marriage Mr. Cummings
settled on his present farm and in August 1870, engaged in the breeding
of
short-horn cattle, and has been one of the most successful
breeders of thoroughbred cattle in the county, and now keeps his farm of
nearly 500 acres fully stocked with the choicest cattle. June 8, 1881 and
June 26, 1884 he had a public sale of short-horn cattle, each herd containing
about fifty head. More of his connection with this industry will be found
in the chapter on blooded stock.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CURRIER, Jonathan T.
Neponset
Among our self-made men in Bureau County, who owe their success in life to their energy and perseverance, we place him whose name heads this sketch. He was born July 9, 1823, in Peacham, Caledonia County, Vt.
His father Asa Currier, was born April 21, 1891, in the same place. He died March 16, 1868, in Osceola, Stark County., Ill. He came to Stark County on Sunday, August 26, 1838, having come through with teams from Vermont, where he had been a farmer, which occupation he followed here. The grandfather of J. T. Courier was David Courier, who was also a farmer, and whose father, Caleb Currier, was of foreign descent. The mother of our subject was Sally (Willey) Currier, a native of New Hampshire, where she was born June 20, 1790. She died May 1, 1873, in Neponset. She was the daughter of Paul Willey and was the mother of nine children, viz.: David, John, Elizabeth P., Augusta, Asa, Jonathan T. (our subject), Sally and Nancy (who both died in infancy) and Mary M.
Mr. Currier had but a few school advantages in early life, very unlike the young men of today, but he inherited that strong will-power and determination to which he owes his success in life. In 1838, at the age of fifteen, he came west with his parents, and for many years farmed successfully in Stark County.
In 1869 he came to Neponset where he now resides in a spacious residence and where he intends to enjoy the fruit of many years of toil. Financially Mr. Currier’s life has been very successful. He started in life without a dollar, and now is considered one of the wealthiest men in the township, owning over 1,200 acres of choice land in Bureau and Stark counties besides other property.
He was married May 2, 1855, in Princeton, Ill. To Martha J. Hoblit, who was born December 27, 1835, in Clinton County, Ohio. She is the daughter of Amos Hoblit, and is the mother of six children, viz.: Ida D., born August 22, 1856 (she is the wife of C. M. Branson, and is the mother of three children, viz.: Louis S., Bernice and an infant girl); Albert D., was born July 29, 1861 (he is at present a student at the Northwestern University); Willie W., is deceased; Grace E., was born February 6, 1869; Laura M. is deceased; Bertha, was born March 18, 1876.
Mrs. Currier is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Currier has never held nor sought a public office, and in political affairs has generally been identified with the Republican party.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CURRIER, Thomas P.
The subject of this biography was born July 6, 1830 in Cornville, Somerset County, Me. His father, Patten Currier, was born in May 1801, in the same place, and is yet living there. He was a farmer by occupation. The grandfather of our subject was Ephraim Currier, a native of Amesbury, Mass. He died in Cornville, Me. The mother of our subject, Mary Steward, was born in Skowhegan, Me.; she died when our subject was nine years old. She was the mother of four children, viz.: Maria, Thomas P. (our subject), John M. and William H.
Of the above only our subject was educated in the common schools of Somerset County, Me. He was reared on the farm and followed farming in Maine till April 1853, when he immigrated to Stillwater, Minn., where he worked in the pineries two years. In the summer of 1854 he visited Bureau County, and returned to it in the spring of 1855. He lived two years in Macon Township, and then bought eighty acres of land in Neponset Township, Section 13, where he now resides and owns 160 acres of fine land.
Our subject was married June 21, 1860, in Skowhegan, Me., to Hannah French, born December 12, 1835, in Skowhegan, Me., daughter of Hobey and Hannah (Fox) French, natives of Maine. Mrs. Currier is the mother of three children, viz.: Perley W., born March 16, 1861, he married Etta Dahl; Scott T., born October 16, 1866, and Charley M., born November 25, 1867.
Mr. Currier is identified with the Republican party and is a self-made man in every respect.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885
CURTIS, James M.
J. M. Curtis, Concord, is a native of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., where he was born August 2, 1822. His parents, Daniel and Mehitable (Masters) Curtis, were also natives of New York. The father died there; he was a farmer by occupation and also a soldier in the war of 1812. The latter died in Davenport, Iowa, aged nearly eighty-seven years. She was the mother of nine children, viz.: Erastus, Abraham. James M., Mark B. (deceased), Harman H., Phineas, Robert C., Maria (deceased) and Mrs. Cynthia C. Burch.
Our subject was educated principally in the common
schools of his native town. In early life he worked on the farm, and also
taught school in the winter. In 1848 he immigrated to Adams County, Ill.,
where he taught school. The following year, in 1849, he entered some land
in Section 18, in Concord Township, Bureau Co., Ill. To which he moved
in 1851.
He was a very successful farmer, and at present owns
893 acres of land in Concord Township and 1,000 acres of swampland in Gold,
Manlius and Fairfield Townships.
Mr. Curtis was married December 15, 1850, to Helen M. Stevenson, born February 7, 1831, in Carroll County, Md. She died November 7, 1871. She is a daughter of Basil D. and Henrietta (Wells) Stevenson, and is the mother of six children, viz.: Clifton, Harmon E., Mrs. Jessie M. Pervier, Charles e., Helen M. (deceased) and Carrie B.
Mr. Curtis was married a second time January 9, 1878, to Maria C. Rice, a native of New York. She is the mother of Robert R. Curtis.
Mr. Curtis is religiously connected with the Unitarian Church. He has taken an active part in the affairs of his township, supporting the Republican party, and filling the offices of Assessor and Supervisor, the latter of seven years.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby,
Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885