Woodford County Biographies

The biographies in this section were transcribed from:

"From Past and Present of Woodford County, Illinois (Wm. Le Baron, Jr. & Co., 1878)"

"Portrait and Biographical Album of Woodford County, Illinois (1889)"

"The Biographical Record of Livingston and Woodford Counties, Illinois (1900)"

and "Montana, its Story and Biography" (Chicago: American Historical Society, 1921)

If you are looking for the Surname beginning with the letter:
A-C	D-F	G-J	K-M
N-P	Q-S	T-V	W-Z

The Past and Present of Woodford County Illinois (1878)

John Page, Sr., already mentioned in this history, came from New Hampshire. He was a man of sterling honesty and noble aspirations, who would have sacrificed his right arm rather than to stoop to a mean act. Often favored with public trusts -- having once been sent to the Legislature from this district, and three times from his old district, in New Hampshire -- he took no delight in these honors, but always preferred the proud title of an honest farmer. In 1834, he made a trip through this Western country, with a view of seeking a new home. He traveled on horseback over this vast and wonderful country -- wonderful in many respects to the quiet citizens of the "Old Granite Hill" -- and in the latter part of the Summer returned home, well pleased with his trip to the West. As he was the first from the mountains of Gilmanton (his native town) to visit the "Prairie Land", his neighbors gathered at his house, on his return, and listened, with deep interest, to his description of the country he had seen.

In May, 1835, with the little colony we alluded to in connection with the Metamora settlement, he started again for the Great West. They came, by wagons, to Troy, N.Y., thence, by canal, to Buffalo. Here they took a steamer to Cleveland, O., thence, by canal, to Portsmouth, on the Ohio River, and by steamboat down the Ohio, and up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to Pekin, Ill., and finally to the settlement near the present town of Metamora.

He died October 1, 1855, and the affection of his surviving sons, on whose shoulders the father's mantle worthily rests, have placed a noble monument in the village cemetery to his memory.

Link to Early Settlers

Transcribed and donated by Amy Robbins-Tjaden

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Past and Present of Woodford County, Illinois (1878)

Peard, Martha, Mrs., Sec. 11; P.O. Metamora; was born in Tavistock, Devonshire, England, Jan. 28, 1830; her maiden name was Martha Downs; she was married Nov. 12, 1849, to the late Richard Peard, who was born in Bratton Clovelly, Devonshire, England, July 10, 1825; they came to the United States in 1850, and settled the following year, on the farm now occupied by Mrs Peard; they had eight children, six of whom are living -- William H., Arminel E., now the wife of Rev. J.C. H. Read, of Mich.; John T., Harriet, Fred and Josephine. Mr. Peard died Nov. 13, 1866; Mrs. Peard owns 145 acres of land, valued at $8,200.

Transcribed and donated by Amy Robbins-Tjaden

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The Past and Present of Woodford County Illinois (1878)

James V. Phillips was born in Overton Co, Tenn., and came to Illinois in 1828, and settled, first in Dry Grove, then Tazewell, but now McLean County. In 1832, after the close of the Black Hawk war, he removed to this township [Montgomery], and settled in the east part of it. He first settled on government land, but afterward and as soon as it came into market, entered 40 acres at the regular government price, $1.25 per acre. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died of sickness while in the service. Mr. Phillips himself was in the Black Hawk war, and served under Gen. Stillman. He participated in the battle of Sycamore, or Old Man's Creek, which has passed into history as "Stillman's defeat". The battle ground was a little north of the present city of Dixon. He served only forty-four days, but says he received his satisfaction of a soldier's life in that short time, and won all the glory of battle he desired at Stillman's defeat; that such close quarters was not at all to his liking, as he could see no good place to dodge bullets, and that their keen whistling in close proximity to his ears was not just the music he most enjoys.

Early Settler Link

Transcribed and donated by Amy Robbins-Tjaden

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"Portrait and Biographical Album of Woodford County, Illinois (1889)."

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Alfred Pickard is classed among the worthy citizens of the village of Minonk, where he is living in retirement in one of the most desirable homes, enjoying a handsome income, the fruit of well-directed labor and judicious investments. He was for several years actively identified with the agricultural interests of Woodford County, owning and operating a farm in this township, which was in all its appointments comparable with the best in the vicinity.

Mr. Pickard is of English birth and antecedents. He was born in Southwick, Wiltshire, England, September 9, 1817, being the son of George and Fanny (Keats) Pickard, who were natives of the same village as himself. In early life our subject exhibited quite a talent for drawing, and later he put it to use by becoming a designer of fine woolens manufactured in the English mills, and he was engaged in designing cloth for two companies for a period of fourteen years, being employed by the two firms of Messrs. Shepard & Co. and William and John Stancomb & Co. He subsequently turned his attention to mercantile pursuits and engaged in Southwick keeping store during the remainder of his stay in England. He is next to the youngest of twelve children, and the only one now living, although the others grew up and married. In 1865, accompanied by his wife and nine children. Mr. Pickard came to the United States, having resolved to invest some of his money here and to try life as a farmer on the rich soil of the Prairie State. He located near Minonk, within half a mile of the village, on a farm that he purchased after his arrival in Woodford County. In the following years he made a vast number of improvements, placing the land under excellent cultivation, and erecting suitable, well-built and conveniently arranged buildings, and otherwise greatly increasing the value of the place over its original cost. He made his home thereon eight years, and then abandoned agriculture, and moving into Minonk, has since lived a retired life, surrounded by all the comforts and luxuries that heart could wish. Among other property that he owns, are eight substantially built houses in Minonk, from the rental of which he gains a handsome income.

Mr. Pickard was twice married. His first marriage, which occurred December 25, 1839, was to Miss Sophia Bartlett, a native of Trowbridge, England, where she was born in 1819. This faithful wife walked by his side nearly thirty-four years, crossing the waters with him to assist him in founding a new home in a strange land, and here she passed away in October 1873. She was the mother of twelve children, eleven of whom grew to maturity, but two of them have since died - Ellen Sophia and James Alfred, a younger brother now bearing the name of the latter. The names of the others are Tom, a resident of Minonk; Job, who still lives in England, he having returned to his native land after a visit of ten months in the United States, as he did not like this country; George is in Gage County, Nebraska; Joseph is in Minonk; Jane is the wife of Samuel Lockwood, Hopeville, Iowa; Anna wife of John Vilven, and lives near Pontiac Edward a resident of Thomas County, Kansas; Alma (Mrs. Ridge) died August 8, 1889, resided in Minonk township; Louise wife of Martin Rucker. In November 1876, Mr. Pickard was again married, Miss Rebecca S. Lambert becoming his wife. She was born in Boston, Mass., February 7, 1845, and is the daughter of Henry and Mary V. Lambert, likewise natives of Boston.

Mr. and Mrs. Pickard are people of high social standing in this community, and their pleasant home is the seat of genuine hospitality, as all feel who cross its threshold. They are connected with the Baptist Church, of which Mr. Pickard has been consistent member since 1858, and has also been Deacon. He is a man of true religious feeling, of earnest purpose and high moral principles. He has borne an unsullied reputation throughout a long and busy life, and in regard to his credit and reliability it is said of him that "his word is his bond."

Transcribed and donated by Cindy Pickard

Picture also donated by Cindy Pickard

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From Past and Present of Woodford County, Illinois (Wm. Baron, Jr. & Co., 1878)

Punke, Reinhold F., farmer; P.O. El Paso; is a Democrat and Lutheran Reformed; has a very fine farm of 240 acres on Sec. 24, valued at $10,000; was born in Prussia, Aug. 14, 1840, and came to this State in 1859, and to this county in 1863, and worked in El Paso at the cabinet business, a trade he learned in his own country thoroughly; in 1866, he bought his farm and moved on to it, and is succeeding remarkably well as a farmer; he married Miss Wilhelmine Otto, in 1865; she was born in Germany, Sept. 28, 1843; they have five children, lost one--Gustav Adolph, Henry Herman, Ana Emilie, Wilhelmine Antonette and August Reinhold; Mr. Punke has a good business education, and is among the most enterprising of his countrymen.

Transcribed and donated by Amy Robbins-Tjaden

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