work on a farm, he receiving the munificent sum
of 84.50 i^er month for his services. He would
attend school during the winter months and work
upon the farm in the summer season. His time
was thus passed until he was twenty j-ears of age,
when he apprenticed himself to learn the molder's
trade at Auburn, N. Y., where he remained for a
year. At tlie expiration of that period he spent a
year and a-half in Geneva and Syracuse, N. Y.,
and then went to Seneca Falls, where he remained
working at his trade until 1856.
In the meantime Mr. Wilson was married. On
December 1, 1847, he was joined in wedlock with
Miss Sarah Gaylord, who died on the 22d of
Jlay, 1883, the union being celebrated in New
Hartford, Oneida County, N. Y. She was a
daughter of Benajah and Polly (Friend) Gaylord,
both natives of Connecticut. Her remains were
interred in Onarga Cemetery. In December, 1884,
Mr. Wilson was again married, his second union
being with Mrs. Julia A. Munson, widow of Ran-
som Munson, of Watseka, III. She is a native of
Delaware Count}', N. Y., and in 1855 came to this
State. Of her mairiage to Mr. Munson two chil-
dren are living, John F. and Mary.
Tn 1853, attracted by the discovery of gold in
California, Mr. AVilson left home and journeyed
to the Pacific Slope, making the trip by water.
At length he landed in San Francisco. For eight
months he remained in the West, working at his
trade, prospecting and raining. He then returned
to Seneca Falls, N. Y., where he resided until
1856. That year witnessed his arrival in Iroquois
County, 111. Casting his lot among the early set-
tlers, he purchased eighty acres of land on section
22, Ridgeland Township, and began the develop-
ment of a farm, upon which he has since resided.
He now owns two hundred and forty acres of ar-
able land, which is under a high state of cultiva-
tion and finely improved with all modern conven-
iences and the accessories of a model farm.
Mr. Wilson is a supporter of the Democracy
and takes quite an active part in local politics,
doing all in his power for 'the growth and up-
building of his party. He has served his town-
ship as Supervisor for two terms and at present is
Commissioner of Highways.
372
PORTEAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
In 1889 he was appointed one of the Commis-
sioners of Union Drainage District No. 1, of
Onarga and Ridgt-land Township, and for two
years succeeding he served as Secretary. They
dredged with sleam dredge four and twenty nine-
liundrcdths miles. Besides they laid thirteen and
forty-flve-hundredth miles of tile, ranging from
nine to eighteen inches, at a total cost of $21,000.
Although greatly opposed, the work was pushed
forward and as Mr. Wilson took an active part
he received his full share of the epithets and
opprobrium. But now the citizens of the district
universally grant it to be the best investment of
their lives and hold that it has done more to en-
hance the value of the land than anything else.
Sociallj', he is a member of the Masonic order
and was connected with the old County Agricul-
tural Societ}^ when the fairs were held at Onarga,
in which he was honored with the office of Presi-
dent for four years. His property represents his
own hard labor, for he began life empty-handed,
working his way upward by industry and enter-
prise to a position among the enterprising citizens
of the C0lInt3^ He is numbered among the early
settlers of the communit}% having for thirty-six
years here made his home. He has witnessed
much of the growth and upbuilding of the county,
has aided in its progress and development, and
well deserves representation in its history.
SAAC AMERMAN, Justice of tiie Peace of
Onarga, was born in New York City, on the
|i 23d day of February, 1822, and is a son of
Peter aiid Charlotte P. (Knapp) Amerman, the
former a native of New York and the hitter of Con-
necticut. The fatlier was married previous to his
union to the mother of our subject, and had nine
children by the first marriage. Two sons and
two daughters were born to Peter and Charlotte
Amerman: Helen, now the widow of Alexander
F. Dodge; Frances A., widow of Samuel S.
Doughty; Richard and Isaac.
AVhen seven years old our subject went to live
with his eldest brother in Johnstown, N. Y., making
the trip by steamboat and canal. . He received his
education in the academy of that place. In 18.S6, he
returned to his home in New York City, where he
remained till his removal Westward. After attain-
ing to man's estate he married Miss Margaret B.
Couklin, daughter of AVilliam and Susan (Far-
rington) Conklin, of New York City. In June,
1855, he emigrated with his family to the West,
locating in St. Joseph, Mich., where he lived for
three j'ears. In July, 1858, he came to Illinois,
locating in Onarga Township, Iroquois County,
where he has since made his home. He has been
prominently identified with its history and is
widely and favorably known throughout the
county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Amerman were born eleven
children: William C, born January 1, 1844, en-
listed for the late war in August, 1862, as a mem-
ber of Company D, One Hundred and Tliirteenth
Illinois Infantry, and remained in the service un-
til the cessation of hostilities. He was wounded
in the head at the battle of Arkansas Post. On
the 7th of October, 1866, in Lake Mills, Wis., he
married Miss Harriet E. Kilbourn, and their home
is now in Howell County, Mo. They have four
sons: Theodore, Isaac, Arba and Frank. Emeline
S. was born September 22, 1845. Margaret A.,
born December 4, 1847, became the wife of Yin-
cent Farrington, of Bloomington, Monroe County,
Ind., December 25, 1866. Thej' now reside in On-
arga and have three children: Samuel M., Albert
and Paul. Peter, born June 26, 1850, wedded
Miss Maria .1. Davies, daughter of Thomas Da vies,
of Onarga, October 21, 1878, and their liome in
Beatrice, Neb., is briglitened by the presence of one
son, Carl. Albert M., born February 19, 1852,
wedded Miss Mary Alice Lowe, of Onarga, and one
child, Charles L., graces their union, which was cel-
ebrated June 14, 1888. Richard M., born March
11, 1854, died January 10, 1867, Charlotte M. was
born December 23, 1856, in Berrien County, Mich.
Helen D. was born September 29, 1859, Fr.ances
O., born May 26, 1862, is the wife of John AV.
Millar, a Presbyterian minister. They were mar-
ried May 12, 1891, and reside in Deer Lodge City,
Mont. Philip M. was born March 1, 1866. Charles
H., born March 15, 1867, died on the 23d of Au-
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
373
gust following. Tbe first six eliildren of llie fam-
ily were born in New York Cit}' and the four
youngest in tiiis county.
In .lanuary, 1866, Mr. Anierinan whose name
heads this record w.as elected to the ottice of .his-
tice of the Peace to fill a vacancy and has since
held that position with the exception of one term,
when he was absent from the State. His long-con-
tinued service attests the prompt and faithful man-
ner in which he discharges his duties and his per-
sonal popularity. In polities he is a warm advo-
cate of Republican principles and has held various
offices of trust and responsibility for a long period
of years. He and his entire family are members
of the Presbyterian Church, in which he served as
Elder for a number of years, when he resigned.
Socially, he is a member of Onarga Lodge No. 305,
A. F. & A. M., and for several years was honored
with the office of Worshipful Master. He has
been identified with the best interests of Onarga
for many years and is numbered among its val-
ued and leading citizens who well deserve repre-
sentation in this volume.
eAPT. COLUMBL'S CROSS, who for four
years gallantly defended the flag of our
country during the late war, is a dealer in
marble and monuments at Gilman. He was born
in lltica, N. Y., May 17, 1825, and is a son of
Erastus and Ann (Evans) Cross. His father was
born in Great Barrington, Mass., though his ances-
tors came from England prior to the Revolu-
tionary War. His grandfather Cross and his
brother served in that war, while his father and
several of his brothers served in the War of 1812.
His mother was born at Great Barrington also, and
her people were of Welsh descent. In 1792, the
parents of our subject emigrated to Utica, where
his father engaged in the monument and marble
business as long as he lived. He had an extensive
trade, and was widely and favorably known, both
.as a skillful workman and as a man of honor and
integrity. Much of his work still remains. Pol-
itically, he was a Democrat, and both he and his
worthy wife were members of the Methodist
Church. In 1848 they were both called to the
better land. They had a family of eight children,
four sons and four daughters, none of whom sur-
vive save our subject and one brother, Erastus, of
Oakley Station, 111., who started the first marble
works at La F.ayette, Ind. Subsequently acquir-
ing a section of land at Oakley, lie has since made
that place his home.
Mr. Cross received such an education as the
common schools of that early time afforded. He
spent much of his time when young in his father's
marble shop, and by the time he was ten years
old had acquired a liking for the business, so that
at his request his father put him to work at
smoothing up letters on tombstones, at which he
soon became very expert. When only about
eighteen, he was employed to carry on the marble
business at Erie, Pa., by a firm that owned a
quarry in Vermont. Two years later they sent
him with a boat-load of marble to Zanesville,
Ohio, where for some time he carried on the same
line of trade for them. In company with A. C.
Smith, he then established business at Cincinnati,
under the firm name of the Great Western Marble
Works. They continued a very extensive and
successful trade until the cholera broke out in
18-49, when he sold out and went down the river,
opening a fine quarry of white stone at New-
market, Ind., After five years he discovered that
the stone would not stand the action of the
weather. He therefore sold his interest and went
on to St. Louis, where he continued at his trade
until 1857, when he removed to Jacksonville, em-
barking in the same business.
On the breaking out of the war, Mr. Cross
raised a company, of which he w.as elected Cap-
tain. They remained in camp near Springfield
until November, 1861, when they were mustered
into service as Company E, Tenth Illinois Cav-
alry. His company was called to Missouri and
Arkansas, where after eighteen months' service he
resigned, went to New York and raised Company
E, Second New York Cavalry, which was assigned to
Custer's Division. In the Shenandoah Valley he saw
much hard service, and participated in the battles
374
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of Cedar Creek and Winchester, where Sheridan
made his famous ride. From that time until the
close of the war he was in engagements almost
daily. Near Newmarket, Va., he was kicked by a
horse on the right knee, which disabled him for
several months. He was mustered out at Ft.
Niagara, on the 16th of August, 1865.
Soon afterward, Mr. Cross went to Onarga,
where he established himself in his former occupa-
tion of tombstone and monument work. In 1869
he removed to Gilman, where he has had an exten-
sive trade since. Among the best work he has done
are the three O'llarre monuments at Amboj^ 111.;
one for Goldsboro, Ore., which went on the first
through freight train on the Northern Pacific; the
Soldiers' Monument at Mobile, Ala., for the Sev-
enty-sixth Illinois Infantry; and Van Kirk's
monument at Momence, 111. The Matzenbaugh
vault in Oak Hill Cemetery, at Watseka, and the
Danforth vault in the Danforth Cemeterj^ are also
fine examples of his skill and art. His long expe-
rience in this line has taught him that Italian
marble, owing to extremes in heat and cold in
this climate, is not as durable as the American
marbles.
At Rensselaer, Ind., he led to the marriage altar
Miss Mattie Babb, on the 20th of May, 1866. She
passed awa}' March 9, 1886, leaving a wide circle
of friends to mourn her loss. She was an earnest
and consistent member of the Presbyterian
Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Cross were born four
children : Minnie, Lucy, Ella and .Julia. The
three first-named are graduates of the Oilman
High School, Ella having had the honor of being
the valedictorian of her class. The sisters are all
members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Cross,
though not a church member, contributes liberally
to church work.
In politics his sympathies are with the Repub-
lican partj'. He was formerly a Whig, his first
vote being cast for Taylor. In 1859, as is shown
in the reports of the State Fair held at Jackson-
ville, he took the first premium for fine work in
sculpture. He is a man widely known on account
of his workmansliip and his long residence in this
section. He is a member of the Grand Arm^'
Post of Gilman. In the time of our countr3''s
need he was among the first to come to her assist-
ance, and bravely did he defend her rights. In a
like manner he has always responded to the call
of dut}' wherever it led him, and thus deserves the
commendation of all true patriots and friends of
the riffht.
!^+^i
IRAM A. PERRY, who carries on general
J farming and stock-raisng on section 8,
Milford Township, has been a resident of
Iroquois county- for about thirty 3'ears. A
native of Indiana, he was born in Switzerland
County, that State, on the 1st of December, 1853,
and is one of a familj' of nine children, whose
parents, Hiram and Elizabeth (Dalton) Perry ,werc
both natives of New York. Of their family, Eu-
gene P. married Elizabeth Hammond, and unto
them were born four children, two of whom and
their father are deceased. Albert Wellington, who
married Loretta Dalton, b}' whom lie has five chil-
dren, is a resident of Momence, 111. Mertia Helen
became the wife of Eber J. Gilbert; the3' and two of
their four children are now deceased. Daniel Gilbert
was joined in wedlock with Lucinda J. Penny, and,
with their five children, they live in Sheldon Town-
ship, Iroquois County. Lewis McMillan married
Miss Mary Empy. William Wallace married Kittie
McCorniick, who died in May, 1891, leaving three
children. Emma Rebecca is the wife of Addison
Morgan, and, with their family of two children,
the}' reside in Onarga, 111. Lucy Ann is the wife of
Frank Morgan, and with their two children they
also make their home in Onarga.
Our subject spent the first ten years of his life
in the State of his nativity, and in February, 1863,
came with his parents to Illinois, the family locat-
ing in Del Rey, where the children grew to man-
hood and womanhood. Hiram was educated in
the public schools and remained under the paren-
tal roof until he had attained his majority. He
is now engaged in farming and stock-raising, oper-
ating a good farm on section 8, Milford Township.
He is an enterprising agriculturist, practical and
progressive, and is meeting with good success in
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
375
liis unileitakiiigs. Politically, he is :i stanch Dera-
iicrat.
On Cliristinas Daj- of 1877, Mr. H. A. Perry was
united in marriage with Jliss Mary Jane Kiser,
daughter of John C. and Sarah J. (Hutcbinson)
Kiser, of "Waiseka. They began their domestic
life upon the farm and now have a pleasant home
in Milford Township. They have a wide circle of
friends and acquaintances throughout the eom-
muiiitv and are numbered among the highly re-
spected citizens.
^ IIAKLKS LINCOLN DAZEY is one of the
wide-awake and enterprising young business
men of Milford, who is engaged as a grain
dealer, a member of the firm of Wilcox & Dazey.
His life record is as follows: He was born in
Fountain County, Ind., December 22, 1861. and is
a son of Aaron and Dorcas Ann (Smith) Dazey,
both of whom were born and reared in Fountain
County. By occupation his father was a farmer
and followed that business throughout the greater
part of his life. In 1869 he left the State of his
nativit}' and emigrated with his family to Illinois,
locating in Iroquois County, a mile and a-lialf
southeast of jNIilford, where he still resides. The
mother departed this life July 12, 1888. In the
family were six children, five of whom are j'et
living: Charles L. of this sketch is the eldest.
Jessie, born February 28, 1863, is the wife of
Lucas Jones. They reside upon a farm about five
miles east of Milford, and have two children. Alta,
born May .5, 186.'), is the wife of Samuel Sloane,
who is engaged in farming about six miles south-
east of ^Milford, where they are living with their
two sous. Clinton Francis, born February 18, 1867,
married Ida Curtis, by whom he has a little daugh-
ter, and he too is an agriculturist, residing five
miles northeast of ^lilford. Cora, born April 21,
1870, is living with her father. Oka, born in Sep-
tember, 1872, died in infancy.
Our subject was a lad of al)Out eight summers,
when witii his parents he came to Iroquois County,
111. Tuder the parenlal roof he was reared to
manhood and the educational privileges of the
common schools were his. On the 18th of Julj',
1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Annie
Fitzgibbon, daughter of Patrick H. and Mary
(Murray) Fitzgibbon. Her parents are natives of
the Emerald Isle, but now reside in Beloit, Wis.
For some time after his marriage, Mr. Dazey en-
gaged in farming, but for the past seven years he
has been a resident of Milford, and is one of its
leading and successful business men. He deals
extcnsivelj- in stock, which he buys, sells and
raises. He is also interested in the elevator and
grain business in Milford, which is carried on un-
der the firm name of Wilcox & Dazey. This is
one of the leading industries of the place and
they do a large business each year. Mr. Dazey is
a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
He owns considerable property in Milford besides
his beautiful residence. This home is the abode
of hospitality and our subject and his estimable
wife rank high in social circles. He is regarded
as one of the active and enterprising business
men of Milford, who by his own efforts has ac-
quired a handsome property. His sterling worth
and strict integrity class him among the best citi-
zens of the community, and it is with pleasure
that we present this record of his life to our
readers.
AMUEL R. HARRY is a member of the
firm of Harry Bros., who have an abstract
â„¢ office in Watseka and also engage in the
practice of law. He was born on the 18th
of March, 18.52, in Woodford County, 111., and is
a son of Thomas S. and Irena (Compton) Harry, a
sketch of whom appears on another p.age of this
work. In the usual manner of farmer lads, he was
reared to manhood and attended the ijublic schools.
Later lie entered Bethany College of West ^â– irginia,
where after a two-year course he was graduated
in civil engineering.
On his return from college, Mr. Harry engaged
in farming, and afterward studied law in Chats-
376
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
worth undei- the preceptorship of the Hon. Sam-
uel T. Fosdiek, a leading lawyer of that place. He
was admitted to the Bar in 1879, and the same
year located in Milford, Iroquois Count}', where
he embarked in the practice of his profession. He
there continued to engage in business until the
spring of 1884, when he removed to the farm in
Livingston County, and from there came to Wat-
seka in November, 1889, and engaged in the pres-
ent business.
On the 16th of December, 1879, Mr. Harry led
to the marriage altar, in Chatsworth, Miss Laura
T. Vail, who was born in Henry, Marshall County,
111., and is a daughter of Benjamin M. and Mary
E. Vail. Two children have been born of their
union: Lando C, who was born in Watseka, Janu-
ary 22, 1883; and Walter S., who was born near
Chatsworth, Livingston County, on the 22d of
April, 1886. The parents are both members of the
Christian Church and are leading young people of
this community who rank high in social circles.
In politics, Mr. Harry is a Prohibitionist and
advocates free-trade principles. The firm of which
he is a member is doing a prosperous business and
is rapidly winning a foremost place in their line.
They are highly regarded b}' the public.
m>-^^<m^
ENRY W. WHITE, one of the honored
pioneers of the county, who is now living
retired in Cissna Park, was born in Mor-
gan County, Ind., November 13, 1829.
His father, Benjamin White, was a son of James
White, a Scotcliman, who early in the eighteenth
century crossed the Atlantic and located in the
southern part of North Carolina. At his death he left
a wife and three children, two sons and a daughter,
who were reared by a bachelor uncle.
Benjamin White with the others was reared in
Guilford County, N. C. An old familj' Bible re-
cords that he was born in Scotland, August 8, 1790,
and when a young child came with his parents to
America. He was married September 6, 1812, in
Guilford County, to Miss Mary Coffin, daughter
of Levi and Prudence CofHn, who was born
March 10, 1791. The ancestry of her family can
be traced back over eight hundred years. Her
brother, Levi Coffin, was president of the Under-
ground Railroad, prior to the late war. He lived
at Cincinnati and was a prominent leader in the
Abolition movement. All of the family were con-
nected with the Friends' Society.
In an early day Benjamin White emigrated with
his family to Indiana and spent three years in Rieli-
mond, after which he entered land in Morgan
County. While journeying to that place he had
to cut his way through the timber for his covered
wagon. He then lived in the wagon until poles
could be cut for a slianty, and then made his home
in the shanty until a log cabin could be erected.
He would often take a sack of corn and follow an
Indian trail to mill. He made a good farm in the
midst of the forest and spent the remainder of his
life in Morgan County, dying on the 21st of Feb-
ruary, 1863. He had manj' friends but no enemies.
His educational advantages were very meagre but
he became a fair scholar and business man by his
own efforts. His wife died at the advanced age of
ninet\'-six years on the old home farm. Both were
faithful members of the Friends' Society. The
familj' consisted of the following childien: P^liza-
beth, who became the wife of Joseph Morris and
died in Hendricks County, Ind.; Milton, who died
in Iowa: John, who died in Indiana in childhood;
Jesse and Mrs. Anna Anderson, who reside in
Plainfield, Ind.; Rebecca Hadle}', who resides in
Westfield, Ind.; Elihu C, who died on tlie old home-
stead in 1855.; Henry W. of this sketch, and Fl-
wood, who resides on the old home farm.
The earliest recollections of Henry White are of
the timbered farm in Morgan County, Ind., where
his boyhood days were passed. His early educa-
tion was acquired in the subscription schools, and
in 1852 he went to Earlliam College, of Richmond,
Ind., where he pursued his studies for a 3'ear. He
then engaged in teaching for two terms near his
old home, after which he removed to Amo, Hen-
dricks County, Ind., with his brother Jesse. On
the 19th of July, 1854, in tliat county, he married
Lucinda Bales, who was born in Hendricks County,
April 8, 1830. In 1856 he returned with his
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
377
young wife to tlieold farm, of which he had charge
for two years, and in 1858 he bought land near
IJelleville, Ind. He sold that farm in 1865 and
came to Iroquois Count3- and settled in Ash Grove '
Township, where some sixty families of Friends
from different sections located the same year or 1
the year previous. Purchasing one hundred and
sixt}' acres of land, liis family began life in a log
cabin in true pioneer style. The praiiie was wild
and uncultivated and all kind of wilds game were j
plentiful. Mr. White developed a rich and fertile i
farm, upon which he made liis lionie until iiis re-
moval to Cissna Park in 1888, since which time
he has lived retired.
.June 28, 1892, Mr. White _was called upon to
mourn the loss of his wife. She was a most estima-
ble lady, an earnest Christian and faithful mem-
ber of the Friends' Church. She died in Chicago
at the home of her nepiiew, C. C. Wilson, and her
remains were interred in the Friends' Gravej'ard,
tliree miles North of Cissna Park. Her loss was felt
throughout the community and was a heavy blow
to licr family and friends. Four children were
born to Mr. and Mi's. AVhite: Cory E., a na-
tive of 1 iidiana, married Jennie Howard and re-
sides in Cissna Park. He has been engaged in mer-