County, 111., and removed hither in 185.5. Divid-
ing this land with his children, he gave to each
one hundred and sixty acres. He was a prominent
and influential citizen of this community, and his
death occurred in 1871, at the age of sixty-six
years. His wife survived him a few years and
passed away on the 25th of January-, 1877, at the
age of seventy-two years. Of their six sons and
three daughters only two are now living: James,
of this sketch, who was the third son; and Mary
Jane, who was married in the autumn of 1855 to
Louis Burgett, a farmer who resides about four
miles southwest of Milford, and is represented
elsewhere in this work.
When a lad of ten years, our subject removed to
a farm, and in the usual manner of farmer lads, he
was there reared to manhood. His education was
acquired in the common schools. After attaining
to years of maturity, he was united in marriage
with Miss Permelia Long, daughter of William and
Phoebe Long, of Ohio. By their union, which was
celebrated March 4, 1852, ten children were born,
of whom five are 3-et living; Marion W., born De-
cember 26, 1852, married Matilda Coats, on the 8th
of March, 1873; Albert R., born February 7, 1860,
wedded Tena Hoskins; Clara, born January 1,
1854, became the wife of James C. Harrison Feb-
ruary 24, 1876, and they now reside in Kansas;
Phoebe was born August 20, 1858; Nora, born
February 5, 1866, is the wife of William Smith,
a resident of Peoria, III.
About three ^ears after his marriage, Mr. Laird
removed with his familj- to this count3-, where he
has now made his home for thirty-seven years. Lo-
cating on the farm which his father gave him, he
engaged in agricultural pursuits until October,
1878, when he came to Milford, where he has since
lived a retired life although he has filled some
public offices. During the first four years of his
residence here he served as Dtput\- Postmaster. He
was also Police Magistrate for eight years, and
served as Coroner for four j'ears. He discharged
the duties of his position with prom|)tness and
fidelity, which fact insured his long-continued ser-
vice, and won him the commendation of all con-
cerned.
Jlr. Laird, his wife and daughter Phoebe, are
members of the Methodist Church, and he is active
in several civic societies. He belongs to Milford
Lodge No. 168, A. F. & A. M.; Watseka Chapter No.
114, R. A. M.; and Athelstan Commandery No. 45,
K. T., of Danville. He also belongs to the Good
Templars and the Royal Templar.s, both being or-
ganizations for the promotion of temperance prin-
ciples. Mr. Laird is a friend to all social, educa-
tional and moral interests, and does all in his
power to aid in the promotion of those enterprises
calculated to prove of public benefit. He is a pub-
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
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PORTRAIT AKD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
457
lie-spirited and progressive man, and is recognized
as one of tiie A'alued citizens of the community.
He is now serving as Justice of the Peace and No-
tar3' Public, and is also doing business as a real-
estate, insurance and collection aaent.
V HARLES HICKMAN is one of the county's
prominent citizens and leading agricultur-
ists. He resides on section .33, Ash Grove
Township, where he owns a line and valuable farm
of three hundred and sixty acres. He was born
near Danville, 111., but across the line in Indiana,
May 20, 184.5, when his parents were removing
from Missouri to Indiana. His grandfather, John
Hickman, spent his entire life in Maryland, where
he followed the occupation of farming. He was
also a soldier in the War of 1812.
Peter J. Hickman, the father of our subject, was
born in Sussex, Del., JIarch 14, 1808, and when
fourteen years of age was left au orplian. His
father died some years before the mother, and he
began working as a farm liand for $5 per month,
giving the money for the support of his mother
and the other children. His educational priv-
ileges were verj' meagre, but by experience and
observation he became well informed. He was
married in Delaware, .lanuary 13, 1831, to Mary
GuUett, a native of Kent County, Del., born Feb-
ruary 8, 1814. In 1832 they emigrated Westward,
landing in Fountain County, Ind., on the 6th of
November. Mr. Hickman cleared a timbered farm
in Warren County, and there resided until 1838.
On his arrival he had only 8125, and with this
purchased eighty acres of laud from the Govern-
ment. In those earlv da\-s he bore all the experi-
ences and hardships of pioneer life. The river
overflowed his farm, and he waded through the
water to turn its course. His home was a log
cabin, and for some time it had onl3' a dirt floor,
but he afterwards put in a slab floor. At length
he sold his farm for 81,000, and in 1838 went to
Missouri, locating near Springfield. He there be-
came well acquainted with the relatives of the
notorious James bojs, sitting several times on the
jury with their uncle, who afterward becaine Asso-
ciate Judge. Entering two hundred and eighty
acres of land near Maishfieid, he made his home
upon that farm for about seven years.
Selling his claim, Mr. Hickman started for In-
diana in 1845, and in the Hoosier State he spent
his remaining days, his death occurring November
12, 1891. His business career w.as a successful
one, and he left to his children an estate of 880,-
000. His widow is still living in her seventj'-
ninth year, and makes her home with her chil-
dren. In politics, Sir. Hickman was a life-long
Democrat. At the age of fourteen he united with
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was ever
afterwards one of its faithful and consistent mem-
bers. Honored and respected by all, li<' was one
of Nature's noblemen, and left the world better
for his having lived in it.
In the Hickman famil}^ were eleven children,
and all grew to mature years. J. S. is now resid-
ing in Lovejoy Township; E. G. is one of the
pioneer settlers of Ash Grove Township; Ann E.
is the wife of L. B. Russell, of Ash Grove Town-
ship; Mrs. Eliza Wilson died in this county in Sep-
tember, 1874; J. W. died in Warren County, Ind.,
January 17, 1875; Mrs. Martha Smaller resides in
Sheldon; Charles is the next j-ounger; Peter J. is
located in Red Willow County, Neb.; Mrs. Sarah
Smalley makes her home in Hoopeston, Vermilion
County; William R. resides on the old homestead
in Indiana; and Mary C. is the wife of Newton
Little, cashier of the bank in Attica, Ind.
Charles Hickman, whose name heads this record,
remained on his father's farm until seventeen
years of age, when he came to Iroquois County,
and for two years was engaged in herding cattle.
His father owned a large tract of land in this
county. During the late war he enlisted in the
Home Guards, and in 1867 entered tlie armj-,
serving for three years and fourteen, days in the
Twenty-Second United States Infantry. For three
months he was a scout on the Western frontier
among the Blackfeet and Sioux Indians, and par-
ticipated in some sharp engagements with the red
men.
In 1870, Mr. Hickman returned to Indiana, and
on the 6th of September of that year, in Warren
458
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Counts', was united in marriage with Miss Ann E.
Smalley, a native of that county, born August 29,
1850, and a daughter of William and Sarah (Sar-
jent) Smalley. She was left an orphan at the age
of seven months. In Februarj-, 1871, they came
to Iroquois County, locating upon their present
farm, which Mr. Hickman had purchased the pre-
ceding January of Robert Chess, one of the early
pioneers. He bought three hundred and twenty
acres, and has one of the finest farms in this part
of the State. His home is an elegant and com-
modious residence, the barns and outbuildings are
models of convenience, and there are many other
excellent improvements, both useful and orna-
mental, which stand as monuments to the thrift
and enterprise of the owner. The farm now com-
prises three hundred and sixty acres, and in addi-
tion to this Mr. Hickman operates another tract
of two hundred and twenty acres. He carries on
general farming and stock-raising, and has met
with excellent success in his undertakings. Since
1871, he has resided upon this farm, with the ex-
ception of the year 1888, when he returned to In-
diana to care for his father and mother.
Unto our subject and his estimable wife were
born seven children: Peter AVilliam died at the
age of one year; Anna M. is the wife of S. A.
Wise, of Ash Grove Township; Eliza J. is at
home; James Elbert died at the age of eight
months; Ella P. is the next younger; Cliarles N.
died at the age of two years; and Opal, two years
old, is the pet of the household.
Mr. Hickman is a progressive and public-spir-
ited citizen, who manifests a commendable interest
in all that pertains to the welfare of the commun-
ity. While serving as Commissioner of Highways
he helped to introduce the tiling and grading of
roads by machines, which met with great opposi-
tion at the time, but has since grown into univer-
sal favor. A few enterprising men at their own
expense had the work done, thus giving practical
evidence of the benefit to be derived therefrom.
Socially, he is a member of the Grand Army post
of Cissna Park, and of ;i Masonic lodge in Warren
County, Ind. He has frequently served as a dele-
gate to the Grand Army encampments. His wife
is a member of the Christian Church of Attica,
Ind. He cast his first Presidential vote for
Seymour, and has since been a supporter of the
Democracy, but has never been a politician in the
sense of oflice-seeking. ludustrj' and enterprise
are numbered among Mr. Hickman's chief charac-
teristics, and through good management and good
business ability he has steadily worked his waj-
upward to a position of wealth and affluence. He
has a wide cii'cle of friends and acquaintances in
this count}', and none are lield in higher regard.
EDWIN BEARD, editor and general manager
of the Iroquois County Times, was born in
Winnesheik Count}% Iowa, on the 22d of
February, 1861. His parents were David and C3'n-
thia A. (Davis) Beard, the former a native of
Washington County, Va., and the latter of White
County, Ind. The father died November 29, 1875,
but the mother is still living and makes her home
near La Fayette, Ind.
The subject of this sketch, when a child, re-
moved from Iowa to AVhite County, Ind., where
he began his education in the public schools, and
later became a student in Perdue University. In
1878, he went to Kansas, where he spent a few
years, and on his return was employed on the staff
of the La Fayette iZbrjie J'o«?v(«i, and later was with
the La Fa3'ette Daily Journal for a period of three
years.
In November, 1889, Mr. Beard came to Iroquois
County with very limited capital and founded the
Milford Independent. By energy and good busi-
ness tact, he placed the paper on a good business
footing, and on the 1st of January, 1891, organized
the Times Printing and Publishing Company, a
stock company, which has a capital stock of $6,500
and owns both the Iroquois County Times and the
Milford Independent, Mr. Beard being editor and
general manager of both papers. He took quite
an active part in the campaign of 1890. His es-
tablishment of the Milford Independent was the
stepping-stone to his control of the Times and
subsequent success, which has been almost phenom-
enal. The Iroquois County Times, which was al-
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
459
waj's a popular and strong paper in the county
under Maj. Peters' management, at ouce, after tlie
organization of its present company, took rapid
strides in its business career. Tlie circulation,
which at the time of purchase by the present com-
pany was of fair proportions, has since been nearly
•piadrupled in the short space of less than two
years, and its patronage in other departments has
increased greatly.
On the •27th of December, 1887, .Mr. lieard was
united in marriage with Miss Ada Barnhouse,
their union being celebrated in Ironton, Mo. She
is the daughter of Henry Barnhouse and a native
of Paxton,lll. With the Methodist Church she
holds membership. One child, a daughter, Jessie,
has been born of their union.
Socially, Mr. Beard is a member of the Watseka
Camp No. 3:59, M. W. A. lie has been connected
with newspaper work continually since 1885, and
is well up in tlie business as his success in his pres-
ent venture attests. Enter|)rise and push charac-
terize his efforts and he has demonstrated his abil-
ity to carry through his undertakings and give
his patrons all he promises them. A sketch of tiie
Times is given elsewhere in this volume.
(^'^HE 1R0(}IT0IS COUNTY TIMES was start-
m(^\\ ^'^ '" *^^""''o^ '^J Eouis M. Babcock and Jacob
^V^ Keiser, the first issue bearing the date De-
cember 1, 1870, and it was then called the Onarga
Times. Not long afterwards Mr. Keiser withdrew
from the firm and Charles Drumm purchased an
interest in the paper, Mr. liabcock being editor and
Mr. Drumm foreman. On March Ifi, 1871, the paper
was enlarged to an eight-column folio, and in May
of the same year it was removed to Watseka. The
name of the paper was then changed to the Iroquois
Times, and the first issue was dated May 27, 1871-
In December, 1872, Maj. M. H. Peters purchased
the otlice and conducted the paper until June 5,
1874, when he sold out to Otto II. Wangelin, of
Belleville, 111., who on the 26th of February in-
creased it to a seven-column quarto, and in August,
1875, sold it to August Langellier. After a j-ear
its proprietor reduced it to a six-column paper.
During his administration the old Washington
press, formerly in use, was superseded by an Acme
Power press, the largest countrj' size, and at the
same time the name was changed to the Iroquois
County Times.
On the 1st of July, 1878, Maj. Peters again
purchased the office, enlarging the paper to a seven-
column quarto, it being the largest-sized country
paper in the State. Under the able management
of Maj. Peters, the paper grew in popularity with
the best people of the county. In his efforts to
furnish a live, readable and reliable paper, the Ma-
jor was materially aided b^- bright and interesting
articles from the pen of his talented wife. Among
her most valuable and spicy contributions were her
reports of editorial excursions. The general tone
of the paper was alwa3's calculated to elevate and
improve the minds of its readers, making it a pop-
ular home journal. On the 1st of January, 1891,
Maj. Peters sold the office to the Times Printing
and Publishing Company, a stock company em-
bracing the Times and Iroquois Indeixndenl of Mil-
ford, with a capital stock of $6,500. W. W. Gil-
bert, of Danforth, is President; H. A. Butzow,
Secretary; and Edwin Beard, editor and gen-
eral manager and the largest stockholder in the
company.
On assuming control, l\Ir. Beard reduced the sub-
scription price of the paper from $2 to $1.50 for
advance, payment, changed its publication day
from Saturday to Friday, and gave the business an
impetus that has placed the Times away in the front
rank of country papers. On the 3d of July, 1891,
the form was changed from a seven-column quarto
to a twelve-page six-column paper, eight pages of
which are home print. On July 1, 1892, ready
prints were abolished and the entire twelve pages
are now printed at home. On October 1, 1892, a fine
folding machine was added to the equipment of
the Times. It now appears in magazine form, cut,
pasted and folded by rapid machinerj'. This is
the most important improvement made in the of-
fice since the introduction of power presses. It is
the first plant in this section of Illinois to intro-
duce machinery for folding. Its circulation has
460
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAIHICAL RECORD.
been increased since Mr. Beard assumed control to
nearly quadruple its original size wlien he took it.
The ofticc is equipped in the best possible manner
for all kinds of job and newspaper work, and the
property has increased largely in value. In poli-
tics, the Times was originally independent Repub-
lican, supporting Greeley for President in 1872.
It is now distinctly Democratic and is doing excel-
lent service for the party in everj' campaign.
V,ELS PETERSON, an enterprising business
man of Loda, is a dealer in hardware, fur-
Jl^Zs; niture and harness, and also does undertak-
ing. He is of Swedish birth, born on the 19th of
November, 1858. His parents, Peter and Carrie
(Thompson) Peterson, were also natives of Swe-
den, and in that country there were born unto
them five children: Peter, John, Bertie, Nels and
Anna. In 1879, Peter Anderson came with his
family to America, and, on locating in this country,
at once made iiis way to Illinois, settled in Paxton,
Ford County, where he resided for about two years,
and then removed to a farm in the same countj'.
He carried on agricultural pursuits successfully in
that county until 1888, when became to this coun-
ty, and located on a farm near Loda, where he and
his wife still make their home.
Under the parental roof the subject of this
sketch was reared to manhood. He came to Amer-
ica with Iiis parents during the year in which he
attained his majority. He remained at home un-
til 1882, when, on the 28th of December, he was
joined in wedlock with Miss Betsj" Peterson,
daughter v( Peter and Elsie (Rasmus) Peterson.
Three children were born unto them, but two died
in infancj-. The only one now living is Marna
Elizabeth. Mrs. Peterson was born in Monmouth,
111., in 1861. Her parents came to America in
1853, locating near Monmouth, where they resided
for about ten years. They then removed to Ford
Count3-, settling on a farm near Henderson Sta-
tion, where the succeeding twent^'-two years of
their lives were passed. On the expiration of that
period, they removed to Chicago, where the father
died in 1885. The mother still makes her home
in that city.
When Mr. Petei'sou of this sketcii started out in
life for himself, he followed the occupation to
which he w.as reared, that of farming, and contin-
ued to engage in agricultural pursuits until 1891,
when he came to the village of Loda and opened
a hardware, furniture and harness store. He car-
ries all kinds of heavy and shelf hardware, tin-
ware, agricultural implements and machineiy. He
has also a full and complete stock of furniture and
harness, and also does business as an undertaker.
He is enterprising, and by good management and
well-directed efforts has won prosperity. Those
who know him esteem him highly for his sterling-
worth and the many excellencies of character
which are always sure to win warm regard. Him-
self and wife are members of the Swedish Luth-
eran Church, and he holds membership with the
Modern Woodmen of America. In political sen-
timent, Mr. Peterson is a Republican, but has
never been a politician in the sense of oflice-seek-
ing, preferring to devote his entire time and at-
tention to his business interests.
-^
^^^ MANUEL EYERSOLE has followed farm-
fe ing throughout his entire life, and is now
/'I — i^ engaged in agricultural pursuits on section
35, Ridgeland Township, where he owns and
operates eightj'-one acres of land. A native of the
Buckeye Slate, he was born in Fairfield County,
near Lancaster, on the 28th of December, 1842.
and is a son of David Eversole. His father was a
native of Virginia and was of German descent.
He also was a farmer bj- occupation and followed
that business throughout his entire life. He mar-
ried Elizabeth Miller, and unto them was born a
family of ten children, as follows: IMaria, Henry,
Jacob; Elizabeth, who died in 1856; David, lydia,
Emanuel, John, Nancy and Martha. Both died in
Fairfield County-; having reached the age of about
seventy-six years.
We now take up the personal history of Emanuel
Eversole, who in the usual manner of farmer lads
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
461
passed the days of his boyhood and youth upon
his father's farm. He attended school at intervals
until twenty-four years of age and thus acquired
his education. Until after the breaking out of the
late war, he remained at home with his parents,
but in January-, 1864, donned the blue, becoming
a private of Company B, .Seventeenth Ohio Infan-
try, lie was mustered into service at Chillicothe,
Ohio, and the first engagement in which he partici-
pated was at Ee.'iaca, Ga. He look part in manj-
of the important battles of the war, being under
fire in the engagements at Resaca, Atlanta, Jones-
boro, Waynesboro and Black River. He also took
part in the battles of Savannah, Fayetteville, Ben-
tonville, Goldsboro and Smithfield, and his last
engagement was at Raleigh. He was ver}' fortun-
ate, in that he escaped all injury, nor was he ever
captured. He was ever found at his post of duty
nn<l proved himself a loyal and valiant soldier.
AVhen the war ^\as over Mr. Eversole received
his discharge and returned to his home in Ohio,
where he remained with his parent*; for about six
years. He then rented laud and engaged in farm-
ing for himself in the State of his nativity for two
years, when he came to Illinois, locating in Ridge-
land Township. In the same year. 187(), he made
a purchase of forty acres of laud on section .35,
Ridgeland Township, and tins farm has since been
his home, although it now comprises eighty-one
acres of valuable land, under a high state of cul-
tivation and well improved. In connection with
general farming, he also carries on stock-raising,
and as he possesses good businesss ability and en-
terprise he has won success.
An important event in the life of Mr. Eversole
occurred on the 16th of September, 1869, when
was celebrated his marriage with Miss Sarah Eliza-
beth Artz, daughter of John and Elizabeth Artz,
who still live in Fairfield County, Ohio, the birth-
place of Mr.s. Eversole. Six children grace this
union and the family circle yet remains unliroken.
In order of birth they are as follows: Hardy A.,
George A., Mary G., Clara E., Ilazcl A. and .k)lin
A. Logan.
Socially, Mr. Eversole is a member of Babcock
Post No. 416, G. A. R., of Onarga.and holds mem-
bershii) with the Methodist Church, as does also
his wife. He has always given his support to those
enterprises calculated to prove of public benefit
and has ever borne his part in the upbuilding and
development of the county. The community re-
cognizes in him a valued citizen and a self-made
man, for whatever success Mr. Eversole has
achieved in life is due entirely to his own eflforts.
He started out empty-handed, but b^- industry and
perseverance has steadily worked his way upward,
and his efforts have been crowned with a prosjDerity
which is certainly well deserved.
''illOHX W. BROOKE, who carried on farming
on section 4, Douglas Township, has been
for twenty-nine years a resident of this
county and has helped to develop it from a
system of ponds to fine agricultural land. He is
a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Wickizer)
Brooke, and his birth occurred in Fairfield County',
Ohio, on the 24th of January, 1848. The founder
of the Brooke family in the United States came
from England with Payne's Fleet and settled in
Pennsylvania. The grandfather of our subject,
James Brooke, emigrated to Fairfield County,
where his son Benjamin was born December 12,
1812. James Brooke served in the War of 1812.
The mother of our subject was born in Penns^ylva-
nia and was of German extraction. In early life
she went to Fairfield County, Oliio, where she
married Mr. Brooke. In 1852, they removed to
IMarshall County, Ind., and opened several farms
in the forest. In September, 186.3, they came to
Iroquois County and located two miles west of the
village of Iroquois, then commonly called Bunk-
um. In the following spring Mr. Brooke pur-
chased laud three miles east of Oilman. His death
occurred in that place on the .Sd of September,
1885. His wife survives him and makes her home
in Oilman, having reached the age of sevent^'-
seven j-ears. Both were active members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
John Brooke is the seventh child of his father's
farail\-, which consisted of eight sons and three
462
POETRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
daughters, seven of whom are now living. When
his parents removed to this county he was a lad of
fifteen years. The country during the wet season
would be almost wholly flooded, so that one could
go for miles in a boat. He has fished where now
lie the best farms. His boyhood da3's were spent
on the home farm and in the common schools.