no better than to conn)lete his labors b}- quoting
the closing paragraph of the same.
"Hon. George C. Harrington is a self-made man,
308
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
having risen by his own unaided efforts to his
present enviable position in life. His parents
were poor, but b^^ his indefatigable energy he ac-
quired an education in spite of all obstacles that
darkened the path of his early years. A gentle-
man of culture, a fine scholar and still a student
from habit; a man towering high among his fel-
lows, all recognizing his superior ability and worth
of character and ever read}^ to pay deference to
his excellent qualities, he is yet as modest and re-
tiring as a child. Vanity is not one of his char-
acteristics. A Democrat in principle and prac-
tice, he believes with the faith born of conviction
in the equality and brotherhood of man. He is
public-spirited, liberal and charitable, ever ready
to assist with his purse or pen in any cause that
promises good to his fellow-men or the public. A
man of broad and comprehensive views, he looks
upon the world as he finds it, and is therefore con-
servative rather than radical. The people of Wat-
seka look upon him as an exemplary man and are
proud to call him their own."
=^>^^<P
MITH HICKMAN carries on farming on
section 17, Martinton Township. He was
born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., near
LaFayette, on the 10th of Maj', 1854. He
is a son of Michael Hickman, a native of Penn-
sylvania, and of German parentage. The father
grew to mature years near his birthplace and there
married INIary Long, also a native of the Keystone
State. Mr. Hickman was a farmer, settling in
Indiana in the early days of Tippecanoe Count3',
then a wilderness. He cleared and made a farm
and there resided until his death, which occurred
about 1860. His wife survived him but a few
months and both lie buried in the same ceme-
tery.
Our subject was left an orphan when a child of
six years. For a 3^ear or two after his parents'
death he found a home with kindly relatives, and
then he went away among strangers, as soon as
large enough going to work for himself. He
found a friend in Rev. Ebenezer Storm, and for
him he worked for upwards of eight years. Dur-
ing this time he had no school advantages and is
almost entirely a self-educated man. He owes to
his habit of observation and experience in life
the fact of being a well-informed man on all sub-
jects of the day and on general topics. He came to
Illinois in 1881 and located in Iroquois County.
He first worked for John Storm, one of the pio-
neers of the county who has since passed away, and
with him he continued about a, year and a-lialf.
Mr. Hickman was united in wedlock, October,
1883, with Mary Minerva Stone, who was also
born in Indiana, in Jasper County. She came to
this State with her father, Thomas Stone, when a
child of ten years. Her father settled near Wood-
land, Belmont Township. To Mr. and Mrs. Hick-
man were born two children: George W. and Os-
car.
After his marriage, Mr. Hickman rented a farm
of Mr. Storm and followed farming for three
years. He then rented another place, which he
farmed for two years. He next purchased a farm
of one hundred and twenty acres in Iroquois
Township and there followed the occupation of
farming for a period of about two years, at the
expiration of which time he sold it and purchased
the place where he now resides. He has here a
farm of eighty acres of valuable and well-cultiva-
ted land very near the village of Martinton.
This place is finely tilled and has a large and sub-
stantial residence, good barns, cribs and other
farm buildings upon it, and well betokens the
thrift and enterprise of its present owner. JNIr.
Hickman started in life a poor orphan boy and
had to make his own way from the first, and thus
his present prosperity and success are the reward
of his own industry and business enterprise.
Throughout this section he is held to be one of
the most progressive farmers of Martinton Town-
ship.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Hickman is allied
with the Republican party, his first vote having
been cast for Rutherford B. Hayes. He has al-
ways lent his influence to the support of the best
interests of his countj'and State, and though never
having asked for or accepted otticial positions, al-
ways performs with interest the duties o( citizen-
I
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
309
ship. He is a friend to education, believing in
good schools and teachers, and has served as a
mcniber of the School l?oard for three terms. So-
cially, Mr. Hickman is a member of tiie Modern
Woodmen. He has been a resident of this county
for eleven j-ears and is well and favorably known
in Watseka and adjoining townships.
i
SOrnJE H. LAHU), a prominent and valued
citizen of Milford Township, who carries
on general farming on sections 29 and 30,
was born near Battle Ground. Ind., on the
l.")th of Februar3', 1854. His parents were John
and I'hu'be (Rurgett) Laird, the former a native of
Ohio, and the latter of Indiana. They had a family
of four children, but our subject is the only one.
now living. The parents came to Illinois in 18.58,
when Squire was a lad of only four summers, and
settled in Iroquois County. Mr. Laird seeuj-ed a
farm in Milford Township, about four and a-half
miles southwest of the village of Milford. To its
cultivation and improvement, with characteristic
energy, he devoted his time and attention until
his death, which occurred in 1873. He was a
highly respected citizen and took an active interest
in all public affairs, giving his support to every
enterprise calculated to prove of public benefit. His
wife still survives hun, and for about sixteen 3'ears
continued to reside on the old homestead. In
1889, however, she removed to Milford, where siie
is now living.
Squire Laird, whose name heads this record, is
still living on the home farm, having known no
other lK)me since he was four years old. During
his boyhood he aided his father in the cultivation
of the land in the summer months, and in the win-
ter season attended the common schools, where he
acquired his education. As a companion and help-
mate on life's journey he chose Miss Jlarv Jane
Purget. daughter of Henry and Lj'dia (Mustard)
Purget, of tills county. Their union was celebrated
November 2, 1876, and was blessed with a family
of five children, but only three are now living.
John Henry, the eldest, born December 5, 1877,
died on the 25th of August, 1889; Arthur Ernest,
born December 24, 1879, died on the 30th of Oc-
tober, 1889; Aurora Floyd, born October 26, 1883;
^â– ernal May, May 19, 1887; and Emma O.,
August 7, 1891, are still with their parents.
In his political afliliations, Mr. Laird is a Repub-
lican, but he has never been an office-seeker.
However he, has held the office of School Director
for the long period of eigliteen years, doing efficient
service for the ca\ise of education, which finds in
him a warm friend. He ever takes an active in-
terest in all that pertains to the welfare of the
community, and is found in the front rank in
support of its worthy enterprises. He is public-
spirited and progressive, and is an honorable, up-
right man, who has the confidence and good-will
of all with whom he has come in contact.
Those who have known him from boyhood are
numbered among his stanchest friends, which
fact indicates the honorable, upright life he h.is
lived. Himself and wife hold an enviable position
in social circles, and are well worthy of represen-
tation in tills volume.
-i****
jl^,, IRAM H. HOTALINO owns and operates a
\l)\ farm on section 24, Danforth Township.
/^^^ He is a native of Onondaga County, N. Y.,
(^; where his birth occurred near Syracuse,
September 22, 1856. He is a son of Garrett H.
Ilotaling, who was horn in the same State and
county. The grandfather, C'onrad G. Hotaliug,
was also a native of the Empire State, where the
family were among the first settlers and had come
from Holland. The father grew to manhood and
married Harriet Adell Wallace, a daughter of
Benjamin F. Wallace, who was of Scotch parentage
and was liorn in New York State. Mr. Hotaling
was a miller by trade and followed that occupa-
tion at Baldwinsville, N. Y., where he engaged in
the manufacture of flour. He Inis now retired
from active life, while his son carried on the busi-
ness. He was three times married, his first wife
having died when our subject was a lad of eleven
xeavs.
310
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Hiram H. passed his early days on liis father's
farm, receiving good school advantages in the
common schools and further continuing his edu-
cation in the Syracuse High School and Baldwius-
ville Academy. "When a young man of twenty he
came West to Illinois, arriving in Chicago in
1876. There he spent about six months and then,
on account of continued poor health,went to Den-
ver, where he spent some time in the mountains.
He returned to Illinois in 1872, going to Chicago,
where he became acquainted with Mr. Chapman,
to whom he hired, and was sent by him to Iroquois
Count}-, where he went to work on a farm for the
above-named gentleman. He continued working
for him by the month for about a year and a-half.
At the end of that time he purchased a team and
rented a farm in Danforth Township for about
two years. His father then purchased eighty acres
in Douglas Township, upon which our subject
located and farmed the two years succeeding. He
next traded that farm for the one where he now
resides, locating on this place in the spring of
1883. He is now the possessor of three hundred
and fifty-five acres of well-cultivated land, about
two hundred and twenty-five acres of which are
most fertile and well developed. The remainder
is timber or pasture land. Mr. Hotalihg has
greatly improved his place, has built fences and
farm buildings and has done considerable tiling,
making of it a most valuable and desirable prop-
erty.
In this county on tiie 28lh of February, 1879,
Mr. Hotaling was united in marriage with Frances
Emma Hallam, who was born and reared to wo-
manhood in Marshall County, 111. She is a daugh-
ter of Salathiel Hallam, whose family came from
Washington County, Pa., of which county tliey
were among the most honored pioneers. To them
have been born six children: Florence Harriet,
Cornelia Grace, Garrett Hallam, George I<:dwin,
Robert Homer and AVarren Albert.
Mr. Hotaling is identified with the Republican
party, having cast his first ballot for Hon. James
A. Garfield. He has held several local positions
lo the satisfaction of all concerned. He is a firm
believer in the eflicacy of good public education
and has always done all in liis power to support
the best educational measures. Socially, he is a
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows and is Past Grand Master of his lodge. He
is also a member of the Modern Woodmen. Dur-
ing his long residence in this county he has made
many friends, who honor him as a man of sterling
character, strict integrity and merit.
^ILLIAM M. WEST owns and operates an
excellent farm of one hundred and fifty -six
acres on section 24, Middleport Township,
where he carries on general farming and stock-rais-
ing, and his highlj- cultivated land and the many-
improvements found thereon indicate his thrift
«and enterprise and attest his careful supervision and
management.
Mr. AVest was born in Warren County, Ind., on
the 14th of July, 184G, and is a son of John A. and
Azubah (Wilson) West, the former a native of
Ohio and the latter of the Keystone State. Their
family of ten children included the following:
George, who died in 1890; Samuel, a resident farmer
of Middleport Township, whose sketch appears else-
where in this work; Elizabeth, now deceased; Char-
lotte; Moses, who is engaged in farming in this
county; Martha, Sylvia, William M. and one wlio
died in infancy.
In the usual manner of farmer lads, tiie subject
of this sketch spent the days of his boyhood and
youth and in the common schools he acquired his
education, attending through the winter months,
while in the summer he worked at home upon the
farm. He remained under the parental roof until
he had attained his majority. The year 1869 wit-
nessed his emigration to Illinois and saw him loca-
ted in Iroquois Count}-, where he began working
on a farm by the month in Belmont Township.
For about seven years he was thus employed, after
which he began farming for himself, renting laud
for three years. He then purchased the farm on
whicli he now resides, and although it w.is tiien
poorly improved he has made it one of the desir-.
able places of the community.
PORTRAIT AKD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
311
On the 10th of January, 1877, Mr. West led to
tlie marriage altar Miss Emma Moore, daughter of
I'oreman and ^lelissa (Fleming) Moore, both of
wliom were natives of Ohio, and were of Irish de-
-.ent. Unto our subject and liis wife have been
I'Drn two children: Clyde and Porter.
In his political atliliations, Mr. "West is a Repub-
lican, but his wife advocates the principles of the
Prohibition party. For twelve successive years he
h.as served his township as School Director, doing
nuieh for the advancement of the cause of educa-
tion and the improvement of the schools in this
n immunity. .Socially, he is a member of Lodge
No. 74, 1. (). O. F., of Watseka. He is a valued
citizen, public-spirited and progressive, and is al-
ways ready to aid in public enterprises calculated
Ui jiromote the general welfare. His possessions
lepresent his own hard labor and by his well-di-
rected efforts lie has risen to a position among the
substantial farmers of the community. Widelv
and favorably is he known, and himself and wife
rank high iu social circles.
]^H^^
1;:^ ON. JOHN A. KOPLIN, the founder and
f j' father of the village of Buckley, and one
4,j^' of the leading and representative citizens
(£)j of the county, h.as been identified with the
history of this community for many \-ears,and the
growth and upbuilding of the community in which
he now makes his home are due in a large measure
to his untiring efforts in its behalf and his enter-
prising and progressive spirit.
Mr. Koplin was born in Chester County, Pa.,
November 7. 1825, and is a son of Isaac and Ann
(Amole) Koplin, both of whom were natives of
the Keystone State. They had but two children,
and the sister, Mary, is now deceased. The father
died in Penn.sylvania when our subject was only
eight years of age, and the mother spent her Last
days near the old homestead in the Keystone State,
being called to her final rest in 188.5, at the ver^-
advanced age of eighty-six yeai-s.
Our subject spent the days of his childhood un-
der the parental roof and acipiired his education
in the common schools, but he has improved his
time and talents, and through observation and
business experience has become a well-informed
man, for he possesses an observing eye and reten-
tive memory. When about twenty-five years of
age he went to the cit\- of Philadelphia, where he
spent ten j'eai-s, and thence came to Illinois in
1861, locating first on a farm upon which the vil-
lage of Buckley now stands. He here purchased
two hundred acres of land. He had previously'
bought a half-section of land two miles north
from Buckle^-, and from time to time, as his finan-
cial resources were increased, he made judicious in-
vestments and added to his purchases until his
possessions aggregated over four thousand acres.
Where Buckley now stands there w.as only a sec-
tion house belonging to the Illinois Central Rail-
road Company, and three other houses, when Mr.
Koplin platted and laid out the town. The same
year he opened a general merchandise store iu
connection with William G. Riggs, and carried on
business in that line for two \"ears. He also dealt
in lumber and .grain for about seven years and oc-
cupied the position of Station Agent. About 1868,
he opened a bank and also dealt in real-estate for
some time. He continued the banking business
with good success until January 1, 1892, when he
sold out to William L. R. Johnson, the present
banker.
November 1.'), 1871, Jlr. Koplin was united
in marriage witli Miss Fannie Riggs, daughter of
William G. and Mary (Davis) Riggs, natives of
Chester County, Pa., who came in 1856 to Buck-
ley, which is their present home. Two children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Koplin, both sons:
Mark R., born June 7, 1873; and Vernon, born on
the loth of July, 1881.
Mr. Koplin is not now connected with any busi-
ness in Buckley, but is still interested in Chicago
real estate and the Lyford Coal Mines, owned b3'
the Wali.ash Valley Coal Company. He also has
large landed interests, and, as he expresses it, "man-
ages to have just enough to do to keep him out
of mischief." The truth of the matter, however,
is, that indolence and idleness are utterly foreign
to his nature, and he will alwa^'s be busy with
something. This untiring industry has been one
312
POKTEAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
i
of the Important elements in his prosperous career.
He owns a farm of six hundred and forty acres in
one body four miles west of Buckley, which is
highl}' improved and yields to him a good income.
His own beautiful and commodious home is situ-
ated on the southern edge of Buckle3' and his
grounds comprise twenty- acres.
Mrs. Kopliu, who is a most estimable lady, holds
membersliip with the Methodist Church, and Mr.
Kopliu, although not a member of the churcii, has
taken a very active interest in the Sunda^'-school
work for forty-five years and is at present one of
its teachers. He has been^a Trustee of Grand
Prairie Seminary, of Ouarga, for many years, and
the cause of education ever finds in him a warm
friend, he doing everything in his power for the ad-
vancement of the schools. In politics, he is a
stalwart Republican, never swerving from the sup-
port which he gives its principles. He held the
office of Supervisor for seven consecutive years
and was Representative to the Thirty-first General
Assembly of Illinois, discharging his duties with
credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his con-
stituents.
Mr. Koplin has led an honorable and upright
life as well as a busy one, and the confidence and
regard of the community are his in a high degree.
Where he is known he has made friends, for his
many excellencies of character and his sterling
worth merit the esteem of all, j'et he has never
sought notoriety.
13)^. E
1^^
Sl^-^^ON. ALBA M. .TONES, a representative of
iTj one of the oldest and most highly respected
Ut^^ families of Iroquois County, was born in
(^) the township of Stockton, this county.
May 23, 1856, and is a son of Johnll. and Hannah
(Pugh) Jones. His father is one of the oldest and
most prominent citizens of this county, and a
sketch of his life is given elsewhere in this work.
Alba M. was reared on a farm, attending the
public schools, and in 1876 entered the North In-
diana Normal .School at Valparaiso, one of the
most successful educational institutions of the
country, where he took a three-year scientific
course. On his return from the Normal, he en-
tered into partnership with his twin brother,
Edgar S., in the hardware business at Milford, un-
der the firm name of Jones Bros. Their first location
was in the building now known as the Van Tryun
House, where they carried on business until 1883,
when they erected the fine brick block on the
northeast corner of Jones Street and Railroad
Avenue, at which place they have since done busi-
ness. This building is twenty-four feet front by
sixty-six feet deep and two stories high; an L, 24 x
100, extends to the westward, opening into the
main store, and is used as a carriage repository
and storeroom. This firm has the largest and best
appointed store in the hardware line in the county,
and carries the largest stock of goods. Their
stock comprises a full line of shelf and heavy
hardware, farm implements, stoves and tinware.
They are also extensive dealers in lumber, coal,
carriages and wagons. The .Jones Bros, have suc-
ceeded in building up a large and prosperous busi-
ness, and are widely and favorably known through-
out this and adjoining counties.
Mr. Jones, of this sketch, wedded Miss Fannie
Monnett in Milford, December 13, 1881. Mrs.
Jones is a daughter of John and Mary E. Monnett,
and was born in Bucj'rus, Ohio.
Mr. .Tones is a stanch Republican, and has held
various public offices of honor and trust. For
seven j'ears he has been a member of the County
Board from Milford Township, serving two years
as Chairman of that body. In addition to this,
for five years he has acted as a member of the
Milford School Board. On the 1st of May, 1892,
he received the Republican nomination for Rep-
resentative to the Illinois Legislature, and was
elected by a safe majority at the ensuing election.
He is the first native of Iroquois County ever thus
honored. He is a Knight Templar Mason, a mem-
ber of Milford Lodge No. 168, A. F. & A. M.; of
Watseka Chapter No. 114, R. A. M.; and of Mt.
Olivet Commandery No. 38, K. T., of Paxton. He
is also an Odd Fellow, belonging to the Farmers'
Lodge No. 253, 1. O. O. F., of Milford.
Mr. Jones is a good representative of the young,
successful and ambitious Western business man.
UBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBA^iA
I
. ^
-^f/^, 'y^oCXL^hXt-^yi^X^
0tsi:m^
^/ ^
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBAKA
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
317
I'ossessed of good natural ability, enterprise and
energy, lie lias prospered in business and has shown
an aptitude for public affairs and evidence of ex-
ecutive ability which promise success in tliat direc-
tion. As a business man and citizen, his standing
ranks high, liis integritv being above question,
while from childhood up his life lias been an open
book to his fellow-townsmen.
RASMl'S D. HARTSHORN, one of the ex-
tensive land-ownei-s of Iroquois County,
who is now living a retired life in Buckley,
where for man}- years he was a prominent mer-
chant, was born in Lebanon Township, Madison
County, N. Y., on the 4th of June, 1821. His
father, Ira Hartshorn, was born in Connecticut,
June 13, 1793, and in 1818 married Joanna Burn-
liam, who was born in the Xutmcg State on the
3d of June, 1796. Soon afterward tliey removed
to New York, and unto tbem were born nine chil-
dren, namely: Joshua P., Erasmus D., Alford I.,
riiny, Calvert, Mary, Lucy, Lydia and Charles B.
Tlie last-named was born in June, 1838. He en-
listed in the Fourth Illinois Cavalry during the
late war, and died from sickness at Pittsburg
Landing wliile in tlie service. The other children
are all yet living and are heads of families. The
family emigrated from the Empire State to Illi-
nois in 1837, locating in La Salle County, where
they resided until 1868. The father died in 18.58,
and the mother, wlio survived him a number of
years, passed awa^' in 1875.
Mr. Hartshorn, whose name heads this record,
spent the first sixteen years of his life in the Em-
pire State, and then tame witli the family to the
West. He w-as reared to manhood amid the wild
scenes of the frontier, and was earl}- inured to
hard labor on the farm. The common schools
afforded him his educational privileges. Having
attained to man's estate, he was married on the
31st of March, 1852, the lady of his choice being
Miss Alariette Meserve, daughter of Joseph and
Abiah (SVhiciicr) Jleserve, Mrs, Hartshorn was
born in Gorham, N. H., October 5, 1835. Her
parents were reared in Maine. When she was
about a year and a-half old, her mother died. Her
father principally mercliandised in the East, and
after coming to La Salle County, 111., in 1850,
farmed. He was a man of great ingenuity, and
the finishings on his old home still stand as a monu-
ment to his skill and workmanshii). Notwitii-
standing his busy life, he found time to keep him-
self posted on current eventiS, and was especially
well versed in the Scripture. He lived to be about
seventy years of age. Five children graced their
union: William Henry, born February 12, 1853,
married Miss Cora Louise Luther, daughter of Eli-
sha Luther, and they reside in Kearney, Neb., with
tlieir two children, Kenneth and Earle; Mary, born
September 16, 1855, is the wife of Dr. S. C. Balch,
of Washington, D. C, who holds a position in the
Pension Office. They had one daughter, Blanche
JIariette, who died in May, 1890, in her sixteenth