John t^iuincy Adams. He became a strong Aboli-
tionist, and on the organization of the Republican
party, formed to prevent the further extension
of slavery, he joined its ranks, and from 18.56 un-
til his death supported that party. He was a
prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in which he served as Class-leader, and
his home was always open for the reception of the
pioneer preacher.
In early life Mr. Hutchison manifested a love
for study, displa^ying special aptitude in school,
and at the age of sixteen he began teaching in
the public schools of Switzerland County, Ind. He
afterward attended school in Battle Cround, Ind.,
for a few months; then began teaching in Howard
County, and for nearl}' two years afterward was a
student in Kokonio (Ind.) Normal School. While
teaching in Noithern Indiana, he organized the
first Union League in Clinton Count3', procuring a
charter from Oliver P. Morton, with whom he was
personally acquainted. In 1864 he enlisted in
Company F, Fifty-first Indiana Infantry, and
served for thirteen months during the late war.
He participated in the battles of Franklin and
Nashville, Tenn., and at the battle of Nashville
was taken sick, being confined in the hospital for
about five weeks. With the exception of that
time, he was always ready for duty, and proved a
faithful soldier. On the 11th of July, 1865, he
was honorably discharged.
After the close of the war, Jlr. Hutchison le-
moved with his father's famil3' to Missouri, where
he spent a short time in 1862. During that
trip he had purchased two hundred acres of land,
which he still owns. In connection with Prof.
Baldwin, he organized the Normal School in
Kirksville, Mo., in 1866, and for eleven w^eeks
school convened in the Christian Church, until
suitable quarters could be obtained. Mr. Hutchi-
son was connected with the school as teacher for
nearlj' two years. He then turned his attention to
farming and shipping stock in the summer season,
while he taught somewhat longer in the winter
months. He followed that profession altogether
for sixteen years.
While living in ilissouri, !Mr. IhUcliison re-
turned to Clinton Country, Ind., and the object of
his journey was seen when he brought back with
him a bride. On the 16th of September, 1866, he
wedded Miss Hannah Campbell, who was born in
Clinton County, December 18, 1846. Unto them
have been born two children: Florence, born in
Adair County, Mo., January 1, 1874, became the
wife of William Wallace on tiie 17tli of August,
1892; M3-rtle was boin in Adair Count\-, October
8, 1879.
Mr. Hutchison continued to make Ijis home in
Missouri until 1883. He made additional pur-
chases of land while there, so that lie now owns
four hundred and thirty .acres, all under a high
state of cultivation. To agricultural pursuits he
480
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
devoted his energies until failing health caused
him to seel? a change of location and work, and in
1883 he removed his family to Donovan, where
he opened up a general merchandise store. He
carries a full and complete stock, and from the be-
ginning his trade has constantly increased, until
he now enjoys a liberal patronage and is doing a
thriving business. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchison are
members of the Presbyterian Church, and their
daughter Florence belongs to the Methodist Epis-
copal Church. He cast his first Presidential vote
for Gen. IT. S. Grant, in 1868, and has since been
a stalwart Republican. For three years he has
served as Supervisor. He ranks high in business
circles, and has the confidence of all with whom
he has come in contact. The Hutchison family
is one of prominence in this community, their
home is the abode of hospitality, and their friends
are many.
^^P:0RGE MAKTIN is numbered among the
jlj (_-, leading farmers of Belmont Township. He
^^( resides on section 10, where he has made
his home since 1888. He was born in Washington
County, Pa., July 22, 1833, and isason of Ephraim
and Catharine (Featherling) Martin. His father,
a native of Virginia, was there reared to manhood
and when a young man he removed to Washing-
ton County, Pa., where he met and married Miss
Featherling, a native of that State. In 1840, they
left tlie East and in an old-fashioned wagon drawn
by four horses started for Iroquois County, 111.
On reaching their destination, Mr. Martin settled
in Belmont Township, where he purchased one
hundred and sixt^' acres of land, and increasing
the farm to two hundred and forty acres, there
made his home until his death, which occurred in
1852, at the age of fifty years. His wife passed
away the year previous, and both were buried in
Vennum Cemetery. In polities he was a Demo-
crat.
The Martin familj' numbered six children, who
came with the parents to this county; Anna,
the widow of Ferman Moore, resides with her
brother John, in Belmont Township; Nancy, widow
of Samuel Rush, is living in Milford; George is
the next younger; Eliza is now deceased; John
owns and operates the old homestead; and An-
drew J., who completes the family, died in child-
hood.
The subject of this sketch was only seven years
of age when he came with his parents to Illinois.
This county was then an almost unimproved
wilderness. The prairies were covered with rosin
weeds, which grew to the height of several feet
There were few cleared spaces, and the countj'
gave little promise of the progress which was so
soon to transform it from a wild, undeveloped
region to a tract of rich fertility. Mr. Martin
during the summer months aided in breaking the
wild land and developing a farm, and in the win-
ter season he attended school, which met in an
old log building, the floor and ceiling of which were
made of puncheon. The seats were of slabs set
up on pins, and to furnish light a log had been
taken out and a long row of glass put in. The
desks were ranged around the wall on pins inserted
between the logs. The smoke from the huge fire
place made its way upward through a mud and
stick chimney.
At the age of twenty, on his father's death, Mr.
Martin left school, for the management of the farm
fell upon him. His mother was also deceased, but
for some time afterward the family remained to-
gether. In 1884, our subject vvas married and
left the home farm. On the 1st of May, in Bel-
mont Township, he wedded Adelia Zumwalt, who
was born in Tazewell County, and is a daughter
of Christian and Selinda (Oder) Zumwalt; the
latter came to this State in 1835, and are residents
of Sheldon Township. By their union have been
born three children: Ernest, who died in infancy;
Virgie M., born June 23, 1887; and Nellie, born
April 18, 1889.
Mr. Martin has alliliated with the Republican
party since attaining his majority. He cast his
first Presidential vote in 1856 for Gen. John C.
Fremont. In local elections, however, he su[)ports
the man whom he thinks best qualified for the
olfice, regardless of party affiliations. He has
often attended the conventions of his party, and
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
481
lias filled .1 number of minor oflicos, but has never
been a politician in the sense of ctlice-serking.
Mr. Martin's first purchase of land consisted of
one Inindred and twenty acres in lielmont Town-
ship, which he bought previous to his marriage.
Himself and wife there began their domestic life,
making it their home for four years, when he sold
and bought one hundred and sixty acres in Cres-
cent Township, which he afterward sold, and
bought two hundred acres on sections 10 and 11,
where ho resided four years. He now owns his
home farm of two hundred acres, two hundred
and ten acres of the old Martin homestead on sec-
tion 33, and one hundred and twenty acres on sec-
tion 35, also ten acres on section 21, making in ail
five hundred and forty acres in Belmont Town-
ship. He has recentlj- purchased forty acres in
IMiddlejJort Township, giving him a grand total
of five hundred and eighty acres. Throughout his
entire life he has followed farming, and has met with
excellent success in his undertakings. During the
thirty- two j'ears of his residence here he has wit-
nessed almost the entire growth and development
of the count}-, has seen the introduction of the
railroads, and has seen its wild prairie transformed
into beautiful homes and farms, while towns and
villages, have sprung up. He has ever borne
his part in the work of advancement, and it is with
pleasure that we present to our readers the sketch
of this honored pioneer, George Martin.
ILLIAM L. KI>'SMAN, who is engaged in
r/ general merchandising in Loda, and also
â„¢'^ deals in grain and coal, has been con-
nected with the mercantile interests of this place
for many years, and for the past ten years has car-
ried on business in his present line. A native of
Canada, he was born on the 18th of November,
1857, and is of English descent. His father,
Thomas Kinsman, was bora in England, and after
attaining to mature years was united in marriage
with MLsss. Harriet Cotton, also a native of that
country, and a daughter of John Cotton, who emi-
grated to Canada in 184(1, and there died at the
W
ripe old age of eighty-three years. In 1868,
Thomas Kinsman emigrated with his family to the
United States, locating in Loda, where he has since
made his home. He is a blacksmith by trade, and
during much of his life followed that occupation,
but for the past four years he has been engaged in
buying and shipping hay. In the Kinsman family
were eleven children, eight of whom are now liv-
ing, namel}': Sarah, Thomas .1., William L., George
AV., .Silas Henry, Charles C, Gertrude F., and Min-
nie. Louisa, the eldest; Erankie. and Frederick,
the youngest, are now deceased.
William Kinsman, whose n.ame heads this record,
spent the first ten years of his life in Canada, and
then came with his parents to Illinois. He ac-
quired a good English education in the public
schools, and entered upon his business career as
clerk for .Tohn Weinandt, a general merchant of
Loda, in whose employ he remained for about four
years. Having by his industiy and perseverance
acquired some capital in that time, he then pur-
chased the grocery stock of C. Livingston, but two
years later sold out his store to J. A. Hill, and pur-
chased the general store of his old employer, John
AVeinandt, in 1882. He has since carried on busi-
ness in the line of general merchandising, and is
now enjoying a liberal patronage.
A marriage ceremony performed on the 24th of
April, 1879, united the destinies of Mr. William
Kinsman and Miss Laura J. Stroup, daughter of
Emanuel and Mary Ann (Ohl) Stroup, of Loda,
111. Two children grace their union: Louisa M.,
who was born September 11, 1883; and Nora L.,
who was born September 24, 1892. The par-
ents are both members of the Congregational
Church. They are prominent and highly lespected
people throughout the community, who hold an
enviable position in social circles, while their own
home is the abode of hospitality.
Mr. William Kinsman exercises his right of fran-
chise in support of the Republican party, and is a
warm advocate of its principles. He is at present
Village Magistrate, which office he has held for the
long period of twelve years, and for eight years he
has served as Town Clerk, discharging his duties
with promptness and fidelity, which has led to his
frequent re-election, and won him the commenda-
482
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tion of all concerned. Sociall}', he is a member of
Abraham Jonas Lodge No. 316, A.F. & A.M. He
started out in life emptj'-handed, but has steadily
worked his way upward to a position among the
substantial citizens of the community, and in ad-
dition to his business as a general merchant, he
does a good business as a dealer in coal and grain.
ICHAEL DRINAN, one of the earliest set-
tlers of Douglas Township, owns a farm
on section 28. He was born in the parish
of Glenville, County Cork, Ireland, his
l)irtli having occurred on the 29th of September,
1826. He is a son of Eugene and Catherine (Hag-
erty) Drinan, and is the youngest in his father's
familj' which numbered eleven children. He passed
his early years in a manner usual to farmer lads —
work, recreation and education each receiving a
portion of his time and attention. He was the
only member of the household who, leaving the
parental roof, said good-bye to the friends and
scenes of his j'outh. Turning his face Westward,
he set sail upon the broad Atlantic for Ameiica,
starting from Queenstown on the 8th qf April,
1853. On account of adverse winds, the voyage
was not completed until the 19th of Ma^-, at which
time he finall3' arrived in New York.
On the 16th of September, 1855, he took for his
helpmate in life Miss Catherine Donahue, a native
of the parish of Water Grass Hill, County Cork,
Ireland. She was born in December, 1832, and is a
daughter of Patrick and Catherine(Berry)Donahue,
both of whom spent their lives in Ireland. Mrs.
Drinan is the ninth child in order of birth of a
family of eleven children. She crossed the ocean
on the same vessel as did her future husband. Mr.
and Mrs. Drinan have ten children: Thomas, at
home; Katie, the wife of Thomas Greely, a farmer
of Douglas Township; Patrick, a farmer; Mary, at
home; Eugene, a farmer; Nellie, also at home;
Michael W., a harness-maker of Danforth ; Timothy
J., John and Cornelius.
In 1867, Mr. Drinan purchased one hundred
and twenty acres of land, on which he removed his
family the following year. After his arrival in
this countr}', he found that he was in the posses-
sion of but very little money. For ten years he
worked at whatever promised him an honest dol-
lar. A few months of that time he worked on the
railroad, and in 1865 commenced farming on forty
acres of rented land in La Salle County, which he
continued at for three years. In 1867, Mr. Drinan,
as before stated, bought his farm of one hundred
and twenty acres in this county, and came here in
March, 1868. At that time no improvements had
been made upon the land, but he has since erected
good buildings, and has his farm under a high
state of cultivation. Aided by his family, he has
made what he has to-daj- — a fine property' of three
hundred and twenty acres, all of which is under
cultivation.
Mr. Drinan and his family are all Catholics. He
is a Democrat, in political sentiment, but has never
sought office. He is one of the numerous examples
which America affords of self-made men, who,
starting in life among strangers, and almost with-
out a dollar, have steadily pressed onward, never
daunted bj' discouragement or failure, until success
has crowned their effort. He has reared his family
comfortably and well, and given them good edu-
cational advantages, with which the\' are prepared
to meet life's battles. His wife and family have
all put a shoulder to the wheel, and have done all
that ready hands and willing hearts could do to
assist them, and, as the result of their united efforts,
prosperity has blessed them. For twenty-four
years Mr. Drinan has been a resident of this county,
and has witnessed much of the growth and devel-
opment thereof.
^^)HOMAS GATES MORRIS, the leading mer-
li^^ chant of LaHogue, was born in Bloom
^^^ Township, Cook County, 111., October 28,
1850. His parents, Charles and Sarah (Thomas)
Morris, are represented in the sketch of Free P.
Morris on another page of this work. Our sub-
ject spent the days of his boyhood on a farm and
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPinCAL RECORD.
483
in the district schools. Subsequently, he was grad-
uated from the Chicago High School. He also
spent a year tiicre as a teacher. Having become
a stockholder in the Danville (111.) Wrought Iron
Works, he was chosen a member of the Board of
Directors and also elected Cashier, iu whicli ca-
pacity he served for some two years. The follow-
ing year he spent traveling in the West.
Returning to Danville, our subject led to the
marriage altar Miss Emma, daughter of Judge E.
S. Terry, who at the time of his death was legal
adviser to the Adjutant-Crleneral at Washington,
1). C. This was during Garfield's administration.
Tlie wedding cercmonj' was performed on tlie 23d
of October, 1878. Three children have blessed
this union: Bernice, Ross Terry and Elizabeth
Cora.
The year succeeding his marriage, Mr. Morris
came to La Hogue, where he has since engaged in
general merchandising. He built the first store in
town, and since coming to this place h!»s carried
on business with marked success and enterprise,
and now has the best store in the town. In addi-
tion to his merchandising interests, he owns the
lumber business and carries on farming, having a
fertile and well-improved farm one-fourth of a
mile west of La Hogue, on whicli he makes his
home.
Politicalh', our subject is a Republican, having
cast his first Presidential vote for Rutherford B.
Hayes. Socially, he is a Mason, belonging to Piper
City Lodge No. 608, A. F. & A. M.; Fairbury
Chapter No. 99, R. A. M.; and Mt. Olivet Com-
mandery No. 38, K. T. Both Mr. and Mrs. Morris
take an active part in the work of the Methodist
Episcopal Church of La Hogue, of which he is
.Steward .and Trustee. For five years he has also
been Superintendent of the .Sunday-school. He
has served his fellow-citizens as I'ostmaster to
their satisfaction. Through the efforts of Mr.
Morris and others the La Hogue Drainage
District was organized in May, 1891, and he
was chosen a member of the Board of Com-
missioners. The ditch is seven and one-half
miles long and gives ample draining to twelve
thousand acres of as fine land as the State af-
fords. An estimate of liie value of this ditch to
the district can scarcely be made. Mr. Morris has
proved himself a competent business man of enter-
prise .and integrit}'. When he commenced in busi-
ness in La Hogue he had but $275 capital, and by
close attention to his interests and by the exer-
cise of good judgment has acquired a hand-
some property. He is a public-spirited man,
always ready to take an active part in whatever
tends to the advancement of the people's best in-
terests.
^^
W^ILLIAM T. HOOVER, for thirty years a
resident of this county and one of its first
„ „ pioneers, owns a farm on section 24,
Danforth Township. His birth occurred on the
3d of March, 1830, in Muskingum County, Ohio.
He is the son of Cornelius A. Hoover, a native of
Allegany County', Md., who grew to maturity, and
there married Rebecca Thomas, who was born in
the same State. The grandfather of our subject
was born in Germany and was one of tiie pioneer
settlers of the State of Maryland. Cornelius
Hoover was drafted into the service of the War of
1812, but peace was declared before his services
were demanded. Mr. Hoover removed to Ohio at
an early day and settled in the wilderness, where
he opened up a farm and there resided for several
years. In 1840 he removed to Indiana and lo-
cated in the wilderness of Tippecanoe County.
He also cleared and developed a farm there. After
rearing his familv to mature years he went to
White County, Ind. Near the close of his life he
lost his e3-e-sight, and spent about two years with
his son, the subject of this sketch, in his Illinois
home. Later, he went to Missouri and located
a farm near Pleasant Hill, Cass County, where he
lived until his death, which occurred in 1872.
His wife died about two years later.
William T. Hoover grew to manhood in Indiana,
and received such a limited education as could be
obtained in the district schools of that earl^^
day. He is the eldest son and the fourth in
order of birth in his parents' family The eldest,
Catherine, grew to mature years and died in
484
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Missouri, as did her sister Elizabeth, who was
the wife of James McKinnej'; Martha, now de-
ceased; Wiimina is the wife of William Foster, of
Pleasant Hill, Mo.; Sevillia is the wife of Joseph
Denton, of the above-named place; William T.,
our subject; Andrew J. is a native of Kates
Count}-, Mo.; and Calvin S., also a farmer in
Western Missouri. The brothers were in the
army and served through the war.
Our subject remained with his father on the
farm until he had reached his majority and then
farmed for himself. For some time he carried on
a farm in Benton County, Ind., and then sold his
property there and removed to Illinois. He pur-
chased a farm without improvements in Douglas
Township, Iroquois County, in 1862. He first
bought one hundred and tliree acres, on which he
built fences and farm buildings and in many other
ways improved, lie now has one hundred and
eighty-one acres of arable and well-developed land,
on which he has a fine large residence. The place
is well tiled and is considered a most desirable
and valuable piece of property.
In Benton County, Ind., on March 22, 1860, Mr.
Hoover led to the marriage altar Almira Hunt,
who was born in Indiana, in Randolph County.
She is a daughter of Lewis Hunt, one of the hon-
ored pioneers of that county, to which place he
came from Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoover
were born three children: Lewis, who is married
and carries on the home farm. He has three chil-
dren: May, Elmira and William. Lydia Jane is
the wife of John Cox, a farmer of this county.
In their family' are two children, Elmira and Nora.
Andrew Jackson died at the age of three years
and ten months.
Mr. Hoover is in sympathy with the Republican
party and has always cast his ballot for the nomi-
nees of that party. He has never asked for or ac-
cepted official positions, preferring to give his time
and attention to his farm and business interests;
nevertheless, he is a man who faithfuUv discharges
the duties of citizenship and ever does all in his
power to uphold right measures and to advance
the welfare of the community. He and his
worthy wife are ever ready to lend a helping
hand to the need}' and have reared and educated
a number of orphan children. At present they
have with them two orphans: William Anderson,
who was born in New York; and Mamie Parks,
whose parents are likewise deceased and who
is a native of this county. Mrs. Hoover is a
member of the United Brethren Church and is
accounted one of its most beloved and respected
members.
^^+^1
^^^EORGE W. LANEY,one of the earlies
[If (=^ tiers of Iroquois Count}-, is a nati\
"^^:^1 Peiins\'lvania, his birth having occurrt
fiEORGE W. LANEY, one of the earliest set-
of
nsj'lvania, his birth having occurred on
the 10th of December, 1830, in Greene County.
He is :i son of John and Margaret (Huffman)
Laney. His father was of Irish descent, and l\is
grandfather came to America direct from Ireland.
On the m.aternal side the family is of German ex-
traction, but the mother's birth occurred in Penn-
sylvania. About the year 1837, the parents of our
subject removed to Clarke Couulj-, Ohio, and pur-
chased a farm near Springfield. In 1852, thej-
went to Ogle County, 111., where, after residing
some three years, they removed to McLean Count}".
In Ohio, Mr. Laney had carried on farming, and
in addition to that kept a grocery, but after
coming to McLean County he followed agricul-
tural pursuits until the village of Towanda was
started, when he again embarked in the grocery
trade. Both he and his wife lived at that place
until their deaths. He died when he had reached
the age of sixty-two years. In politics, he was a
Democrat, and his wife was a member of the Bap-
tist Church. The family consisted of five sons
and one daughter.
The subject of this sketch was the second child
of his father's family, and his early days were
spent upon the farm. He had very poor chances
of obtaining an education, as his father was a
poor man, not able to pay for his schooling.
However, as soon as he was old enough to run er-
rands, he was hired out, receiving for his service
$1 per month. Until twenty-<ine years of age, he
faithfully turned over to his father his small earn-
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
485
ings. After coining to Ogle County, he, in com-
pany witli his father and brothers, purchased a
piece of land, which lie tilled for three years.
On the 5th of April, 1856, !Mr. Laney was mar-
ried to 5Irs. Alvina Alford,a daughter of John and
Elizabeth (Hunt) Ferrel. Mr. Ferrel was a native
I if Kentucky and of Irish extraction- His wife
was born near Jamestown, Va., and, when eight
years of age, accom|)anied her parents to Ken-
tucivv, wliere slie was afterward married. She was
of Welsh descent. Mr. and Mrs. Ferrel were
among the pioneers of Lawrence County, Ky.,and