Biographies
Hi - Ho
The parents of our subject, Hiram Higgins and Elizabeth Baughman, were married February 14, 1844, and took up their residence in Cass Township, this county. The mother had been born in that township December 10, 1828, and the father had opened his eyes to the light in Kentucky, March 4, 1820. They occupied a farm in the township mentioned until the death of the husband, October 27, 1883. The widow remained at the old home two years, then took up her residence with her daughter, Mrs. Ellen Landis, with whom she still makes her home.
Our subject was born October 25, 1852, being the fourth son in a family that included seven sons and two daughters. He received his education in the district schools of his native township, and resided under the parental roof until his marriage, which was solemnized December 20, 1883. He then established his own home on the homestead, remaining there until the 1st of March, 1889, when he took possession of his present place of abode.
The property purchased by Mr. Higgins consists of two hundred and forty acres on section 25, Deerfield Township, upon which the various improvements had been made that make it a desirable place of residence. The dwelling is a two-story brick structure, well built, and designed with a view to the comfort of the occupants, the main part being 18x36 feet, with an "L" of the same size. It contains eight large rooms with porches, etc., and has pleasant surroundings. The barn is 36x40 feet, with an immense shed attached 16x80 feet in size, affording adequate shelter for a large number of animals, and much fodder.
The charming woman who has the oversight over the home and household affairs, was formerly Miss Sarah E. Heller. She was born in Deerfield Township, September 17, 1858, to worthy parents who gave her a good education and home care. Her father, John J. Heller, was born in Ashland County, Ohio, and died March 29, 1879, at the age of forty-nine years. Her mother, Lydia (Zimmerman) Heller, who is still living, is a native of Deerfield Township. Mr. and Mrs. Higgins have three little sons: Howard C., born September 25, 1884; Charles M., June 6, 1886, and Boyd V., January 31, 1890.
Mr. Higgins takes no active part in political work other than to deposit a Democratic ballot upon election day. He evinces no desire for public office, but served satisfactorily as Collector in Cass Township. He is a member of South Fiatt Grange, No. 1644.
The reader will notice on another page, a view of the pleasant homestead of Mr. Higgins. (page 491)
(Portrait & Biographical Album of Fulton County, 1890, page 493, submitted by Danni Hopkins)
Hugh F. Hillpot. There is always a vast amount of interest felt in the private life of those brave men who gave up home, family and friends to fight for their country, and there undergo all the privations and hardships characteristic of a soldier's life. Such bravery is highly appreciated among all the civilized nations upon the earth and everybody feels an interest in hearing of the private life of a soldier, and especially of one who won such an enviable reputation as did the subject of our sketch, and who was numbered among "the boys" delegated to guard the corpse of Abraham Lincoln when he was assassinated.
Mr. Hillpot is the veteran dry-goods merchant of Fairview, having been engaged in business there ever since he came out of the army. His father, Jacob F. Hillpot, was a native of Bucks County, Pa., and followed the occupation of an agriculturist. He died at the age of fifty-five years. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Julia Frankenfield, was also a native of Bucks County and was descended from an old Pennsylvania family. Her ancestors came in a very early day from Holland. She died at the age of thirty-three years, after having become the mother of six children, viz: Reed, who is a blacksmith and residing in Fairview; Hugh F., our subject; Jonas who was in the War of 1812, was a farmer and met his death accidentally by falling off a haymow; George is a painter and lives in Fairview; Lovina who died at the age of eighteen, and an infant. After the death of our subject's mother, Mr. Hillpot married Mary Most who bore him six children, four of whom lived to the age of manhood and womanhood; Mary Ellen, now Mrs. Fratz and residing in Philadelphia; Elizabeth who is married also resides in that city, as does also Jacob and Grier.
Our subject was born in Bucks County, Pa., September 12, 1833, where he passed his youthful days on a farm until reaching his twenty-first birthday. He then commenced to learn the trade of a blacksmith and worked faithfully at it for three years in New Jersey. His brother, who was living in Fairview, wrote for our subject to join him and accepting the invitation, he reached Fairview November 22, 1857. He then engaged in the blacksmith business in partnership with his brother and a Mr. Ayers, and continued thus until 1861 when the partnership was dissolved and the year following our subject enlisted in the army. He joined Company D, One Hundred and Third Infantry. They drilled at Fairview and Peoria and from the latter city in the fall of 1862, went through Bloomington and Cairo to Bolivar, Tenn., where they at once commenced skirmishing. They were next sent to La Grange, Tenn., and from that point to Holly Springs, thence to Waterford and reached Jackson, in the same State, where they wintered.
Mr. Hillpot received a severe sunstroke while engaged in the siege of Vicksburg and was entirely unconscious for several weeks. His company was ordered to Corinth and Iuka, at which latter place Mr. Hillpot was again the victim of a sunstroke while building a fortification and was in the hospital at Memphis, Tenn., for some time but upon reaching St. Louis, Mo., was discharged from the regular service and assigned to the reserve corps— Company F. With his company he went to Washington, D. C., and upon the evening when President Lincoln was assassinated, they were called to assist the police in controlling the crowd. A few of the soldiers—our subject among the number— were selected to guard the body of our martyred President for three days and nights. At the close of the war he received his honorable discharge at Washington, July 18, 1865.
February 28, 1866, Mr. Hillpot was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Van Liew, daughter of Cornelius and Mary (Suydam) Van Liew. Mrs. Hillpot came to Fairview with her two brothers who are prosperous farmers in this county. Of her union with our subject there have been born two children—John V. L. who is a graduate of the Galesburg Business College, has the entire charge of his father's store, and Elizabeth C., who is a charming young lady of eighteen years, makes her home with her parents.
The Republican party numbers Mr. Hillpot as one of its stanch adherents, although previous to the war he was a Democrat. He is a charter member of Blair Post, G. A. R., at Fairview. Owing to ill-health brought about by the sunstroke received during the war, Mr. Hillpot is unable to take charge of his business, but finds a competent substitute in his son. He is an exceedingly popular man in the community and has accumulated a goodly amount of the "almighty dollar." (Portrait & Biographical Album of Fulton County, 1890, pages 214-215, submitted by Janine Crandell)
Henry Hinds was among the pioneers of this county, coming in 1832. He was a native of Virginia. He was united in marriage with Martha Steel in Westmoreland County, Pa. They first settled on section 3, Buckheart township, where they lived till 1836, when they moved to Young Hickory township, where Mrs. Hinds died March 4, 1859. Mr. H. died July 6, 1869, in Joshua township, at the house of his son-in-law, Job Wolke. Their children are: Alexander, who lives upon the homestead in Young Hickory, Mary (Walker), Jacob, Elizabeth (Wilson) living in Nebraska, Martha (Bredwell), of Canton, Hettie (Dow), of Canton, Rosana (Hamilton), died in April, 1841. (History of Fulton County, C. C. Chapman, 1879, pages 488-489, Buckheart Township section, submitted by Janine Crandell)
Jacob Hinds lives on section 3, Buckheart township, on the old homestead where his father, Henry Hinds, first settled on coming to this county in 1832.He was born May 25, 1817, and has a family of 4 children: John, Frank, Alice and Em. He was married in Canton Township in 1840 to Sarah Johnson, a native of Clark County, Indiana, who is still living. (History of Fulton County, C. C. Chapman, 1879, page 489, Buckheart Township section, submitted by Janine Crandell)
G. W. Hobbs, now living in Mound Township, McDonough County, was one of the early pioneers of this county, who was for many years closely identified with its industrial interests, as one of its most successful farmers and skillful mechanics, and is eminently worthy of a place among its representative men in this Biographical Album.
Mr. Hobbs was born in Maryland, not far
from the city of Baltimore, in 1817. When he was a child his parents took him to
the pioneer wilds of Jefferson County, Ohio, of which they were early settlers.
In his youth he was apprenticed to a blacksmith by the name of James Simeral,
and during the term of his apprenticeship received his board and clothes. At the
expiration of that time he went to work with a noted mechanic, Joseph Fields,
and toiled hard for the meager sum of $2 a month, from which he had to clothe
himself, and his board. He followed his trade for two years, and then made a
trip to New Orleans on the river. He afterward worked in Washington, Pa., the
year of the cholera, until all employment was suspended on account of the
dreaded disease.
In 1834 he came North from New Orleans, whither he had been sojourning, and
worked in Georgetown, Ohio, until 1835, when he came to Illinois. He landed at
the mouth of the Spoon River, in company with two blacksmiths and two clothiers
who had come from Philadelphia.
Mr. Hobbs and Joseph McCoy, who came with him, worked at the blacksmith's business that year in Monmouth. We may mention in this connection that our subject still has the old anvil with which he worked in that place over fifty-five years ago. It had been bought by his father-in-law from a person in the East, and when it was sold with the other effects of the old gentleman, Mr. Hobbs bought it at the rate of twenty cents a pound. It is of English manufacture and is of the best make. Our subject and his partner pursued their calling very profitably at Monmouth, and at the end of the first six months had $106 each. The former very judiciously invested his when he came to Harris Township from Monmouth in the spring of 1836, in a tract of eighty acres of land. He still worked at his calling, however, in the village of Marietta, where he lived, with the exception of the time of his residence in Lewistown during the war, until about nine years ago, when he sold out and removed to his present place of residence in McDonough County. He had three hundred acres of land in Fulton County, and a full section in McDonough County, which he had purchased when it was cheap. He engaged extensively in raising stock and carried on the business in partnership with Mr. Wilson. At the breaking out of the war they had five hundred head of cattle, and as pasture was plentiful and cheap, they made money fast. This county is greatly indebted to our subject for what he did toward improving stock in the early days by the introduction of horses, cattle and hogs of a high grade. He believed in raising none but good stock, and whenever he made a purchase always bought the best in the market.
When Mr. Hobbs came here he had an idea that if he should be able to get forty acres of land he would be well off, and when he obtained eighty acres he considered himself quite rich. With characteristic enterprise he decided that he would have an orchard, and he sent to an old Quaker friend to have him send him a lot of fruit trees such as he thought he would want. His friend sent him one hundred apple trees and a variety of pears, which he planted, and they afterward became famous for their fine fruit. From one of his trees our subject often sold as much as $50 worth of fruit each year, and his orchard was regarded as one of the finest in all the country around.
Our subject was married April 20, 1837, to Miss Eliza Humphrey, and their wedded life of more than fifty years duration has been one of great felicity. Mrs. Hobbs is a most excellent woman, of many Christian virtues, and is a true member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She is a daughter of William Humphrey, of Ohio. His brother, John Humphrey, of Warren County, Ill., was a Colonel in the Black Hawk War. Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs are fine people, and are in every way worthy of the high regard in which they are held by the people among whom they have settled. They have had six children, four sons and two daughters, of whom the following is recorded: George F. was a young married man of thirty-six years when he died, his wife having died before him; John, who is married, owns and occupies a large tract of land which his father purchased in Cass County, Mo.; Jane married James Wallace, a druggist at Lewistown, and they have one daughter; Addison, who bought of his father the old home place of two hundred acres of land lying near Marietta, is married and has two sons and four daughters; Martha married A. J. Franklin, a merchant of Los Angeles. Cal., and they have three children; William, at home, living on the farm near his father, is married and has three children. (Portrait & Biographical Album of Fulton County, 1890, pages 265-266, submitted by Janine Crandell)
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John G. Hornstein is a
member of the enterprising firm of Hornstein, Bolton & Co., of Canton, who are
among the leading brick manufactures of the county. He is a native of Crawford
County, Pa., and was born November 24, 1836, to Adam and Rosanna (Darr)
Hornstein. His father was a farmer and of German descent, and both he and his
wife spent their last days in Pennsylvania. They were the parents of three
children, of whom John G. was the eldest.
The boyhood days of our subject were passed in his native
county and he gained his early knowledge of books in the primitive log
schoolhouse. In his youth he began to learn the trade of a machinist and that of
a stationary engineer. On the completion of his apprenticeship he drifted
westward to Quincy, in this State, in the year 1855 and in that city worked at
his trade several years. He finally went from there to Peoria where he was
engaged as engineer in a distillery.
Our subject is one of the brave veterans of the late war,
serving long and honorably in defense of his country. He enlisted in the month
of July, 1861, as a member of Company K, Seventh Illinois Cavalry, which was
assigned to the Army of the Mississippi then commanded by Gens. Pope and Grant.
Mr. Hornstein took part in several battles and engagements and proved to possess
excellent soldierly qualities. He served in the battles of New Madrid, Mo.;
Iuka, Miss., and other battles, and remained with his regiment until October,
1864, when he was honorably discharged at Springfield, Ill.
Returning to Canton after his experiences of war and
bloodshed, our subject was employed by J. H. McCall to run the engine in his
distillery and in connection operated a flouring-mill for several years. He
finally purchased an interest in the distillery associating himself with Charles
Raymond under the firm name of Raymond & Co., and together they managed the
distillery for two years. Mr. Hornstein then purchased the entire interest in
the business and had it under his control for some years, when he sold the
distillery to the whisky trust.
Previously, however, Mr. Hornstein had become interested in
the brick business under the firm name of Hornstein, Bolton & Co., and commenced
the manufacture of brick of a superior quality. The members of this firm still
continue together and there has been no change in the name of the company. They
have the best of machinery and material and produce a superior quality of brick
for which they find ready sale. In 1887 the company added to their works the
dry-press brick machine, thus greatly increasing their facilities for carrying
on business, which is conducted after the best modes. They have been burned out
twice but have rebuilt with improvements in each case, and now their works have
a capacity of twenty-five thousand bricks per day. Their yards are located in
the northwestern part of the city near the old distillery plant.
Mr. Hornstien has been twice married. First in January 1865,
he was wedded to Miss Elizabeth M. Slocum, of Canton, and a daughter of Stephen
P. Slocum. She departed this life in 1868, leaving one son—Fred S. The marriage
of our subject to his present wife, formerly Miss Grace S. Raymond, took place
in 1872. Mrs. Hornstein is a daughter of John and Margaret P. Raymond, and she
was born in London, England. She was seven years of age when she came to this
country. Mr. Hornstein is a man of social prominence and is a member of Morning
Star Lodge No. 734, A. F. & A. M., also of Peoria Chapter No. 7, and of the
Peoria Consistory of K. T. He and his amiable wife are in every way worthy of
the high regard in which they are held, and at their attractive residence No. 3,
West Illinois Street, they dispense a pleasant hospitality.
A lithographic portrait of Mr. Hornstein appears elsewhere in
this volume.
(Portrait & Biographical Album of
Fulton County, 1890, pages 707-708, submitted by Danni Hopkins)
Ezra Horton was a farmer and he emigrated from his old Virginia home to Ohio, in a very early day and settled on the present site of Mohawk village, he being one of the first settlers there. There his remaining years were passed and he died at a ripe old age. The grandfather of our subject accompanied his parents to Ohio when a boy. He was there reared and became a very extensive farmer in Coshocton County, and owned considerable land there. His farm was well improved, had a fine large brick house and two large barns, and was well supplied with fruit trees of all kinds. Mr. Horton sold his place there and came to this county in the month of October, 1853, and purchased a farm of two hundred and twenty acres just south of Summum, Woodland Township, where he resided until death rounded out his career in 1861, at upwards of eighty years old. He was a stanch Democrat in politics.
The father of our subject was reared on his father's farm in Coshocton County, and learned the trade of a carpenter. When a young man he came to Fulton county, arriving here October 22, 1853, making the trip with four teams and a wagon, having left his old home October 1. He had purchased the northwest quarter of section 20, Woodland Township, before coming here, and he then settled on it. He also entered forty acres of Government land across the road and bought forty acres joining it. He farmed extensively and was greatly prospered. He sold a part of his original purchase to our subject and his brother, and bought out the heirs to his father's estate near Summum, which he subsequently sold a few years later for $70 an acre. He then invested in lands in Hancock County, Ill., and as land greatly depreciated during the panic of 1873, he lost heavily. He afterwards bought property in Astoria and lived there five years. He then made his home with his son Jefferson until his death, which occurred very suddenly. He was a Democrat in his political views and was active in the public life of the township, holding various local offices. He married Sarah Dennis, a native of Knox County, Ohio, who is still living. She is the mother of thirteen children, nine of whom are living: Jane, Sabina, Polly, Louisa, Alwilda, Andrew J., Washington, Thomas J., and Abram. Four are deceased.
Andrew J. Horton was reared in Coshocton County, Ohio, until he was eighteen years of age. He attended school some but as soon as large enough to work, he lived out. The first summer that he worked for others his only payment was his board and clothes. The second summer he received $8 per month. After coming here he worked on his father's farm until the war broke out. He was then in the prime and vigor of early manhood, and on August 22, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Eighty-fifth Illinois Infantry, and was mustered in as Third Sergeant. He fought bravely in the battles of Perryville and Stone River and at the latter place was taken prisoner by Gen. Wheeler's men, and was held from December, 1862, until latter part of March, 1863, when he was exchanged at St. Louis. He joined his regiment in time to take an active part in the battle of Chickamauga, and he was engaged in several lively skirmishes following that battle and then came the battles of Kenesaw, Peach Tree Creek, and the taking of Atlanta. Our subject did good service in several skirmishes that were fought with the enemy on the way from Atlanta to Savannah. His courageous, self-reliant spirit, his devotion to his duty, and the ability with which he executed all orders won the approval of his superiors and gained him deserved promotion to the position of First Lieutenant. He was mustered out June 15, 1865, having won honors as a soldier and an officer of which he and his may well be proud. During his service he was never in a hospital or in a wagon or on horseback, except for about three hours ride in a wagon.
After his return from the seat of war, our subject purchased the eighty acres of land, on which he now resides, of his father. He was given his attention exclusively to farming ever since, and besides raising grain is rearing stock with good profit. He is practical and wide-awake in the management of his agricultural affairs and the neat and finely improved appearance of his farm betokens thrift and good care on the part of the owner.
June 25, 1857, Mr. Horton's marriage with Miss Polly Horn was duly celebrated. Mrs. Horton was born in Knox County, Ohio, May 14, 1837, and came to this county with her parents in the early days of its settlement. Five of the six children born to her and our subject are living: Thomas J., Julia, Mrs. Hare; Charles, deceased; Sallie, William and Dolly. Mrs. Horton is a very capable woman and during her husband's absence at the time of the war, she and her two oldest children were left at home and she very ably managed affairs and supported them comfortably. She is a member of the Christian Church and an earnest worker in the fold.
Mr. Horton is one of our best citizens, and is deservedly popular with all who know him. His fellow-citizens, appreciating the fact that a man of his calibre and understanding, would make a good civic official, have elected him to represent Woodland Township on the County Board of Supervisors and he is now serving his third term in that important office. He has also held the position of Road Commissioner for twelve years and has done good service for his township in the minor offices. Politically he is a sound Democrat and uses his influence for the interest of the party. (Portrait & Biographical Album of Fulton County, 1890, pages 299, 300, 303, submitted by Janine Crandell)
George W. Horton was born in Licking County, Ohio, September 27, 1840, a son to Robert Horton, who was a native of Culpepper County, Va., and who married Polly Smith, a native of the same county, and of German descent. George W. came to this county in the fall of 1855, and in the following spring he went to Iowa; but in 1859 he returned to Fulton County to remain. In August, 1862, he enlisted at Canton in the 103d Ill. Vol. Inf., Co. C., as Corporal; served until July, 1865, being under General John A. Logan during the whole time; was sick only two or three months, and that was with the measles, and never wounded; engaged in 28 or more battles and skirmishes; went through with General Sherman to the sea, and closed at Bentonville, N.C.; was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, and received his discharge papers at Chicago. Returning to this county, he married Mary E. Bauman July 25, 1867, daughter of Peter Bauman. Have had 6 children, 4 living, as follows: Minerva Evaline, July 6, 1868; Thomas T., Oct. 7, 1869; Hattie Amanda, Feb. 3, 1872; Mary Matilda, Oct. 26, 1873; Lovina Amelia, Feb. 9, 1875, died March 13, 1875; Georgia Ann, born August 19, 1876, died November 6, 1877. The family are living on the old Thomas T. Bybee homestead, Section 35. Mr. Horton is a Democrat, and has been School Director several terms. (History of Fulton County, C. C. Chapman, 1879, page 489, Buckheart Township section, submitted by Janine Crandell)
[Note: George Washington Horton died March 27, 1922. George and his wife, Mary Ellen Bauman Horton are buried in High Bridge Cemetery, Fulton County, Il., submitted by Randy Horton]
George W. Horton,
a member of the County Board of Supervisors, is one of the leading citizens of
Astoria. He is a native of Ohio, the place of his birth near New Castle,
Coshocton County, and the date thereof October 11, 1837. His father, William
Horton, was born in the same county, and his father, whose given name was
Thomas, was born either in New York or Virginia. He was a son of Ezra Horton, a
native of Maryland, who emigrated to Ohio and was a pioneer of Coshocton County,
where he spent his last years, dying at the venerable age of ninety years.
Thomas Horton resided in New York and also in Virginia
prior to his removal to Ohio. He was one of the early settlers of Coshocton
County, where he bought a tract of forest-covered land two miles east of New
Castle. He cleared and developed a good farm, on which he lived until the fall
of 1853, when he came to Fulton County. Here he bought an improved farm one-half
mile south of Summum, and that was his home until death called him hence. His
wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Butler, was reared on the bank of White
Woman’s River in Coshocton County, Ohio, and died on the home farm in Summum.
Her father, great-grandfather of our subject, was Thomas Butler. He was a
Welshman by birth, and after coming to this country settled first in Virginia,
and from there removed to Coshocton County in the early days of its settlement.
There his pilgrimage was brought to a close at the venerable age of eighty-five
years by his accidental death, caused by his being thrown from a horse.
The father of our subject learned the trade of a
carpenter, and was engaged in it in Ohio until 1853, when he came to Fulton
County, and settled in Woodland Township. He bought a tract of one hundred and
sixty acres of wild land two miles east of Astoria. He rented a house for a time
and then bought forty acres more land adjoining his first purchase, on which
there was a double log house, which the family occupied until 1868. Mr. Horton
then sold that place and bought one in Hancock County, three and one half-miles
southwest of Augusta. Four years later he returned to this locality and resided
on the land he first bought until his death in March, 1882. He had married in
Ohio, taking as his wife Sarah Dennis. She was born in Washington County, Pa.,
and was a daughter of Philip Dennis, who, so far as known, was also a native of
the Keystone State. He removed from that State to Knox County, Ohio, where he
bought a tract of land and engaged in farming thereon until death rounded out
his life. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Horn, and she was born in
Pennsylvania and died in Knox County. The mother of our subject now makes her
home with her son, T. J., on the home farm. Nine of the ten children born of her
marriage are living.
George W. Horton was sixteen years old the day the
family arrived in Fulton County. He had attended the public schools in Ohio, and
was a pupil in the winter schools of this county three terms after coming here.
When but a boy he commenced work at the trade of a carpenter with his father,
and followed that calling part of the time when not engaged in farming until
1861.
Our subject was one of the brave officers of the late
war, and his valuable services won him a military record of which he and his may
well be proud. After the war broke out he watched its progress with intense
interest, and as soon as he could arrange it, enlisted to defend the honor of
his country. August 13, 1861, he became a member of Company H, Third Illinois
Cavalry. He was mustered in as Orderly Sergeant, and for bravery and excellent
soldierly qualities was promoted to be Second Lieutenant, December 31, 1861, and
May 12, 1862, was advanced to the position of First Lieutenant of his company.
For a few months in 1862 he was Regimental Quartermaster and Commissary.
Lieut. Horton veteranized in February, 1864, and
served until the close of the war. His regiment took part in eighteen regular
battles, and in many minor engagements. The most important battles in which our
subject fought were those at Pea Ridge, Chickasaw Bluffs, Tupelo, Miss.,
Franklin and Nashville, Tenn. In May, 1865, the war having closed, he resigned
his commission and returned home.
After his experience of military life our subject
quietly resumed farming in Woodland Township, remaining there until 1868. We
next hear of him in Hancock County, where he purchased a farm, on which he dwelt
until 1872, when he sold it and went to California. There he was employed at his
old trade of a carpenter, working in San Francisco six weeks, and then in Goshen
the same length of time, and from there he went to the Sierra Nevada Mountains,
where he was employed on the Central Pacific Railroad in building snow sheds and
bridges until January, 1873. After that he visited his old home for a few
months, and in April went back to California, where he resided until the month
of July. He then returned eastward as far as Georgetown, Colo., where he engaged
in mining two years. At the expiration of that time he came back to this county
and bought a home in Astoria, and has resided here ever since.
The first marriage of our subject, which took
place May 1, 1864, was to Mary Ann Saffer, a native of Woodland Township. She
departed this life October 18, 1871, leaving four children—William S., Oscar J.,
Clara E. and Albert S. Mr. Horton was married a second time April 23, 1879,
taking as his wife Miss Sallie J. McKim, a native of Steubenville, Ohio. Mr.
Horton is one of the substantial citizens of Astoria; he is a man of large
experience, possesses firmness of character, forethought and sound common sense,
and his fellow-citizens, recognizing the value of these traits in a civic
official, have often called him to fill positions of trust and honor. He is at
present serving his third term as a member of the County Board of Supervisors,
representing Astoria Township. He has served on the Village Board of Trustees
and has been Collector two terms. Socially, he is connected with Astoria Lodge,
No. 112, I. O. O. F. In his political affiliations he has always been a
Democrat, and he cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas. While a resident of
Woodland he was elected Justice of the Peace in 1866, and in 1867 he was
appointed Postmaster at Summum. (Portrait & Biographical Album of Fulton County,
1890, pages 738-739, submitted by Danni Hopkins)
Fridolie Horwidel,
farmer, sec. 7; P. O., Vermont. Mr. H. was born in Germany on the 6th of March,
1837. Receiving a rudimentary education in his native land, in 1851 he crossed
the Atlantic for the New World, landing at Baltimore. He proceeded to
Pennsylvania where he followed his calling, that of blacksmithing, for a number
of years. In 1860 he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of
Henry Riffle. She has borne him 6 children. In 1866 he settled in Fulton, where
he followed farming the first year, and subsequently worked at his trade in
Vermont, and in 1876 purchased his present farm.
(History of Fulton County, C. C. Chapman, 1879, page
440, Astoria Township section, submitted by Janine Crandell)
Adam Hott, farmer, sec. 7: P. O., Vermont. This gentleman is a native of Jefferson Co., O., where he was born July 5, 1820. Growing to manhood in his native State, he was married to Miss Barbara Mushrush, by whom he had 9 children, 8 of whom are living. For many years of his life Mr. H. was a wagon-maker and has followed agricultural pursuits later in life. At the close of the Rebellion he came to Illinois and settled in Schuyler Co.; two years later he came to Fulton, where he has since resided upon his farm. Since his arrival in the West he has held local offices, and in Ohio was Supervisor. (History of Fulton County, C. C. Chapman, 1879, page 440, Astoria Township section, submitted by Janine Crandell)
A. R. Howard, M. D. In London, England, March 19, 1851, the gentleman of whom
this sketch is written was born. His father, P. P. Howard, and his mother, who
previous to her marriage was Miss Dorothy Carter, possess great talent and
social culture. In the paternal line our subject’s kinsmen have all held high
positions in the communities where they have resided, being Members of
Parliament, theologians and physicians.
Peter Theodore Howard, the grandfather of our subject, was a physician and
surgeon and also served as a Member of Parliament for twelve years; an uncle,
Matthew M. Howard, was also a Member of Parliament for a number of terms. An
exhaustive family tree in possession of this family show their connection with
many of the noted names of England. The great-grandfather of our subject was a
high official in the British army during the Revolutionary War, and on two
occasions was threatened with hanging by American citizens.
The father of our subject was born in 1803 and is still living and owns large
estates both in England and Canada. To him and his wife were born five children,
namely: Josephine, who lives in England; Leonora Annetta; our subject; Eugene
Elgin and Sarah Isabella. The latter is by marriage a cousin of the Rev. T.
DeWitt Talmage and resides in Paris. Eugene E. is a namesake of Lord Elgin.
The second daughter in this family, Leonora, studied medicine in Ontario, was
graduated in Ann Arbor, Mich., and went to China as a physician and surgeon
under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church of America. In connection
with her medical surgery work she also devoted much time to missionary labor.
Her name is known the world over. After about five years spent in China she
became the wife of the Rev. Alexander King, of Dundee, Scotland, who stands in
the same relation to the church in Scotland as the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
occupied in America, or Mr. Spurgeon in England.
Even after her marriage Dr. Howard King, as she is now called, continued year
after year to add to her fame. She cured the Viceroy’s wife of disease after all
native physicians had failed. This Viceroy is the noted Li Hung Chang, who is in
favor with the white people and holds the Emperor in check when occasion
demands. In token of their gratitude Li Hung Chang and his wife built a medical
college and hospital for Mrs. Dr. King. She is the physician of the aristocracy
of China and being a well-known philanthropist, figures as such in the social
and religious affairs in every part of the civilized world. When our subject was
about two years old the family removed to Toronto, Canada, but after sojourning
there two or three years, returned to England, where Dr. Howard received his
education under a preceptor, as is customary among the better classes of people
in England. When he was eleven years of age he once more accompanied the family
to America, settling in Toronto, Canada, where he attended Prof. William
Robbins’ Normal School one and one-half years. He studied medicine under his
noted uncle, Dr. William Wilkie Howard, and also took one course of lectures at
Queens Medical College, Kingston, Canada. He left home when a mere youth in a
boyish fit of anger and has never attempted a reconciliation with his relatives,
his knowledge of the family being therefore very limited.
At the time of the completion of his medical studies Dr. Howard was twenty-eight
years of age and for a time lived in Chicago and later took three courses of
lectures in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was thoroughly posted in his profession when he
came to Canton and such is his popularity that while he began in poverty he has
without receiving aid from friends or relatives made a comfortable fortune for
himself. In all his efforts he has received the hearty co-operation of his wife,
who was prior to her marriage Miss Viola Beever, She is a native of Ohio and was
united in marriage with the Doctor in Galesburg, Ill. Dr. Howard is a
conscientious worker and is greatly respected throughout the county, His success
has been phenomenal and he has effected several marvelous cures, but modestly
says that “so far as curing people goes, no doctor can say ’we give them
medicine and they get well’”
The Doctor has a comfortable home in Canton, and a view of this with the lawn
and other pleasant surroundings appears in this volume.
(Portrait & Biographical Album of
Fulton County, 1890, pages 520 & 523, submitted by Danni Hopkins)
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Dr. A. R. Howard
was born in England; came to Illinois in 1866 and located in Canton in 1868. He was educated in Toronto and graduated from the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College in 1877, and in practice has been eminently successful. He was united in marriage with Miss Viola Angenetta. (History of Fulton County, C. C. Chapman, 1879, page 554, Canton Township section, submitted by Danni Hopkins)Mr. Howard was born June 26, 1822, in Morgan County Ohio. In 1831 he came to this State with his parents, Samuel and Anna (Alderman) Howard. They located in Farmers Township and sold that claim before the land came into market, his father then buying a piece of wild land on the Lewistown and Bernadotte road, not far from the village of Bernadotte, Bernadotte Township. Our subject can well remember hearing the wolves howl in Table Grove, when they lived in their pioneer home there. His parents were very poor and their only wealth consisted in a team of oxen. The first summer of their residence here, the crops failed and in the following winter provisions were high and the family had a hard time to get along. The wolves killed two of the oxen, so Mr. Howard had to abandon his land the next summer, ten acres of which he had broken, and he sold his claim to Robert Hughes. He then rented a piece of land near Isaac Cadwalleder. He and his family wintered there one season and the next winter he bought a tract of land. He was an honest, hardworking man, and in time became better off.
Our subject was reared amid pioneer scenes, and the life of self-sacrifice and hard toil early made him self-reliant and resourceful. After he attained manhood he married and established himself in life, taking as his wife Miss Susan Clemm, a daughter of Samuel Clemm. They had two children--Samuel B. and Nancy E. Samuel lives at home with his parents. He married Miss Ruth Hollister and they have seven children. Nancy E. is the wife of Sylvester E. Mead, a farmer of Marietta, his farm adjoining the town; they have one child.
The marriage of our subject had taken place February 13, 1844, and he had taken up his residence in Cass Township. In 1855 he removed to Marietta, selling his place on the Spoon River, and in that town he entered into mercantile business. From that he went into politics, and was elected County Treasurer. Thereupon he went to live at Lewistown, the county seat.
Mr. Howard held that important office four years and in the management of its affairs showed good financial ability, clear discernment and sound integrity. At the expiration of his term he removed back to the village of Marietta and bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres near by, and has since given his attention wholly to agriculture, never caring to mingle further in public life. In political views he is a Democrat, and has always stood firmly by his party. In religion, he is a strong Methodist, and has been a faithful member of the church ever since he identified himself with it. (Portrait & Biographical Album of Fulton County, 1890, page 337, submitted by Danni Hopkins)
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