Leo. Julietta, born August 6, 1856, is the wife of
Andrew Camp, a resident of Monona County,
Iowa, and thej' have six children, namely: Helen
D., Ilosea, Fred, Annie, Agnes and Josie. Mary
Alice, born April 20, 1858, is the wife of Alfred
Vanordstrand, by whom she has three children:
!Mahel E., Hubert R. and Jlildied, and they reside
near Momence, III. William R., born April 8,
1859, wedded Miss Mary Beatie, daughter of
Abraham and Elizabeth Beatie, and resides in
Sycamore, 111., with their four children: Coila,
Frank, Myrtle and Marx. Estella B., born Janu-
ary 3, 1861, is the wife of James Nichols and tlieir
home is near Lake Village, Ind. Thej- have four
children; Floyd, Faj-, Beulah and Eunice.
As before stated, Mr. Lyon has resided upon his
present farm since 1859. and now owns and
operates four hundred and ten .acres of land, which
is under a high state of cultivation and well im-
proved. In connection 'with general farming, he
has also paid considerable attention tostock-iaismg,
and by his industry, perseverance and good man-
agement has acquired a hamlsome competence.
Mr. Ljon is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church and his wife jiolds membership with the
Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is a sup-
porter of Republican principles and is a valued
518
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
citizen of the communit}'. For more than a third
of a century, he has here made his home, has
watched the growth and development of the
count}', has aided in its upbuilding, and well de-
serves mention among its pioneers.
^
5)ILLIAM McCLAVE, a successful and en-
terprising farmer of Artesia Township,
^^^/ was born on the 24th of July, 1834, in
Clermont County, Ohio, near Cincinnati, and is de-
scended from an old New England family. His
father, Stevenson IMcClave, was born in the town
of Lyme, N. H., and after arriving at years of
maturity he married Miss (Sarah Ban ghart, a native
of New Jersej'. Tiiey became the parents of eight
children: John, William, Susan, Sarah, Michael
and Robert are j'et living, and Martha and
David are deceased. The father of this fam-
ily died on the 4th of November, 1888, at the ripe
old age of eighty-two years. His wife was called
to her final rest in March, 1878, more than ten
years previous to the death of her husband.
No event of special importance occurred during
the boyhood of our subject, which was quietl}*
passed in the State of his nativity. On the 6lh of
October, 1856, he was married to Miss Sarah E.
Muchmore, daughter of Gai-rett and Elizabeth
(Hickson) M^ichmore, of Hamilton County, Ohio,
where Mrs. McClave was born October 6, 1838.
Seven children were born unto them, as follows:
Lee, who was born August 19, 1857; May, born
Maj' 1, 1859, is now the wife of Jesse T. McClave,
a farmer residing about three miles northwest of
Buckley; Amer T., born April 8, 1861; Mattie,
born December 22, 1863, became the wife of George
Baker, who was killed by lightning April 26, 1888,
in IMinnesota, leaving two children: Lela and
William, who reside with their mother, in Onarga,
111.; Robert, born Januar}- 29, 1866, married Miss
Emma Holz, daughter of Matthew Holz, and unto
them has been born a son, Stanley Lee; Sybil,
born October 14, 1868, is at home; and Zoe, born
February 2, 1871, is the wife of Walter Birch-
enough. The first child died when about a year
old, but the others are all yet living.
About two years afterhismarriage, Mr. McClave
came to Illinois, in 1858, emigrating from Ohio.
He settled on a farm in Iroquois Count}', about a
mile and a-half northwest of the present site of
Buckley, and has since there made his home, de-
voting his time and attention to agricultural pur-
suits. His home farm comprises one hundred and
sixty acres of land under a high state of cultiva-
tion and well improved, and he also owns another
farm of one hundred and sixty acres three miles
east of Buckley. He has given considerable at-
tention to stock-raising, but now devotes the
greater part of his time to the improvement of his
land. He is recognized as a practical and pro-
gressive farmer, and the neat appearance of his
place indicates his thrift and enterprise.
Mr. McClave has been called upon to serve in
several official positions of honor and trust in the
township, having for five j'ears held the office of
Supervisor of Artesia Township. Socially, he is a
member of Buckley Lodge No. 634, A. F. k A.. IM.,
and in politics is a supporter of Republican prin-
ciples. His duties of citizenship are ever faith-
fully performed, and he takes a commendable in-
terest in all that pertains to the welfare of the
community and its upbuilding. Mrs. McClave is
a member of the Methodist Church.
*^^^^S
/^v HARLES H. COMSTOCK, one of the enter-
II ~ ^ prising and substantial business men and
influential citizens of Ashkum, is a dealer
in grain, lumber, live stock and farm implements
at that place. He is a native of Massaeliusetts,
and was born in Berkshire County, his birtii oc-
curring in the town of Adams, on the 22d of April,
1839, in the same house in which his mother was
born. He is a son of Amos Comstock, a native of
the Jimpire State, and who grew to maturity there.
The grandfather of our subject was born in New
England. Charles H. Comstock is of the seventh
generation of the Comstock family who have lived
in the United States. Two brothers of that name
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
519
settled in Xew England in the early days of Rhode
Island. Tiiey were of English descent, and our
siihjet't's grandmother and his relatives belonged
to the Society of Friends, and originally settled in
Rhode Island.
Amos C'onistock, after reaching man's estate,
married in the town of Adams, Berkshire County,
Hannah Upton, daughter of Isaac Upton, who was
also a member of the Society of Friend.s. After
liis marriage he located in Eastern New York, where
he engaged in agricultural pursuits for a number
of years. Later, he returned to Massachusetts, set-
tling near Adams, where he engaged in farming and
stock-raising. He carried on business for a number
of years successfully, but later met with reyerses
and then went to Michigan, where he located in
Lapeer County. This was about the year 18.50,
and in what was almost a wilderness he opened up
a farm, on which he lived until death claimed him
in 1855. His wife survived him for several years,
and after her husband's death she returned to the
East, where she resided for a few years, and then
made her home with a son at Grand Rapids,
.Mich. She departed this life in 18()5, leaving
many to mourn her loss. She was an active mem-
ber of the Society of Friends.
Of a family of nine children, eight of whom
grew to mature years, Upton, who died at the age
of fifteen j-ears, was the eldest; Anna died in 1841;
.lulictta died in 1889, at the age of seventy rears;
Rev. William resides at Allendale, Mich., and is a
minister of the Wesleyan Methodist Church; Da-
vid B. was a prominent merchjint of Grand Rapids,
Mich., for a number of years, and died there
in 1874; Ph(ebe .lane and Hannah Maria, twins, the
former of whom died in infancy, and the latter of
whom is married and makes her home in Adams
Township, Berkshire County, Mass.; Isaac U. lives
in Michigan and is a natural mechanic and jeweler
h^- trade; and our subject is the youngest of the
family.
Mr. Comstock whose name heads this record re-
moved to Michigan with his parents when a lad
of fourteen. He received good common-school
advantages and worked on a farm during the sum-
mer season. Since arriving at man's estate he has
received a good business education and is well-read
and informed 'and keeps''posted in general litera-
ture, science, and the affairs of the Government.
After his father's death he removed to Vermont
and assisted his brother-in-law, who was a mill-
wright and carjienter. In Massachusetts, he learned
the carriage-maker's trade, and in November, 1859,
came to Illinois. He located at Manteno and
started a carriage manufactory, in which business
he was quite succe.ssful. He next engaged as man-
ager of a grain elevator and took charge of that
business for a cousin, G. P. Comstock. In the
spring of 1865, our subject went to Peotone and
there engaged for himself in the grain business for
a i)eriod of about three years; he later removed to
Chebanse, where he built the first elevator in that
town. After two years of business in that place,
he sold out to F. J. Taylor, after which he con-
tinued in business for about one 3'ear. During
that time he introduced a patent end gate of his
own invention. In 1871, Mr. Comstock located
in Ashkum and there built an elevator and exten-
sively engaged in the grain business in partnership
with his cousin, G. P. Comstock, of Chicago, who
remained a member of the firm for several years,
but has since died. Our subject for twenty-one
j'ears has been actively engaged in the grain busi-
ness in this village and has had several other lines
of business in addition to this. Since 1872, he has
handled wagons and farm implements. Mr. Cora-
stock's patent has been a source of great revenue
to him, and from it for many years he has received
about 14,000 per annum, and all of the wagons
which he handles he has received in partial pay-
ment for the use of his patent gate.
In Peotone, III., Mr. Comstock was united in
marriage with Adelia Kellogg, November 1.3, 1866.
The lad3' was born at Lyons, III., and is a daugh-
ter of Solomon Kellogg. Mr. and Mrs. Comstock
are the parents of seven children: Louise A., Alice
S., Carrie A., Mae R., Clinton C, William H.,
and (ieorge K. They also h.-ul two daughters
who died in infancy.
During his life, Mr. Comstock has met with a
number of narrow escapes from death. Three
times falling timbers fairly grazed his head in their
descent. Politically, he is identified with the Re-
Ijublican (larty. He has never aspired to official
520
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
positions but has given liis attention to his exten-
sive business interests. He ships from four to five
hundred cars of grain per j'ear and also has an ex-
tensive lumber trade. During his long residence
in this and adjoining counties, Mr. Comstock has
made many friends both in a business and in a so-
cial way. He is a man of superior inventive talent
and has shown enterprise and industry excelled
by few.
4^
^^
;RANK M. CRANGLE, County Superin-
tendent of Schools for Iroquois County,
has held the position since December 1,
1891. He is a native of Illinois, his birth having
occurred in Grundy County, Januarj- 3, 1861.
His father, James Crangle, was born in County
Down, Ireland, March 17, 1837, and with his par-
ents emigrated to America when nine years of age,
the family settling near Morris, Grundy County,
111., where he engaged in farming.
Mr. Crangle, Sr., was married in Brookfield, I^a
Salle County, 111., November 29, 1855, to Miss
Bridget Farrel, who was born in Ottawa, 111., of
Irish parentage. Unto them were born six. sons
and seven daughters, ten of whom are j-et living:
Peter W., a farmer at home; John, also at home;
Frank M., of this sketch; James, who died in in-
fancy in Rock Island; Mary A., who is teaching
school in Buckley; Ellen, who died September 17,
1889; Sarah; Alice Cary, who is teaching at
Danforth, 111.; Jessie, at home; Lucy, who is at-
tending school in Crescent City; Charles, who
died November 24, 1889; James P. and Edna, who
complete the family.
Mr. Crangle, Sr., enlisted for the late war on the
10th of August, 1862, as a member of the Seventy-
second Illinois Infantrj', under Col. Fred Staring,
that being the first regiment fitted out by the
Board of Trade in Chicago. He participated in
the battle of Champion Hill and in the charges
on Yicksburg, Maj- 19 and 22. He also engaged
in the battle of Franklin and in several skirmishes,
making a good record as a brave and gallant sol-
dier. He is a Democrat and has been chosen to
various public positions of honor and trust. He
was first elected Justice of the Peace in Grundy
County and held the office for eight yeais. On
the 4th of March, 1869, he removed from Grundy
to Iroquois County, and settled in Ash Grove
Township, where he has since resided. He
purchased a fine quarter-section of land, which he
now has under a high state of cultivation. In
the spring of 1878, he was elected Supervisor for
Ash Grove Township, and has been re-elected to
the same office several times since. His first major-
ity was one hundred and two, the largest ever
cast in his town ; the issue being the enjoining of the
pajnnent of the railroad bonds and to him is due the
honor of settling the railroad bonds so satisfactor-
ilj' to a majority of the citizens of his town. The
parents of Mr. Crangle both returned to Ireland to
spend their remaining days, where the father died
in 1850, and the mother in 1856.
Frank M. Crangle was reared on his father's
farm. During the summers of 1874-75 he was his
father's covv-bo}', herding cattle on the prairies.
His horse and book were his sole companions, and
while the cattle grazed quietly he was storing his
mind with useful knowledge. He attended the
district schools and subsequently took a course of
study at Grand Prairie Seminary. In the spring
of 1876, having passed a satisfactory examination,
he was awarded a teacher's certificate and taught
his first school the following autumn in the Search
Underwood District, although not then seventeen
years of age. During the succeeding six years he
attended the Grand Prairie Seminary and taught
in his home and adjoining schools: Pleasant Hill,
Fairview and Schwer. A notable thing is that he
taught for eight years in the four districts in the
vicinity of his home, which attests his popularity
and success as a teacher where he was best known.
In 1886, he was employed b^- the School Board of
Crescent City, and successfully taught its graded
school for four 3'ears. He then engaged as teacher
of the Buckley school, but resigned that position
after three months to accept the Oiflce of County
Superintendent of Schools, to which he was elected
in the fall of 1891. While the usual Republican
majority in this county had previously been seven
hundred and fifty-eight, he, as a Democrat, re-
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBAKA
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
523
ccived five hundred and ninety-one majority,
making a eliange of thirteen hundred and forty-
nine votes.
Socially, Mr. Crangle is a meraher of Standard
Lodge No. 607, I. O. (). F., of Crescent City; Cres-
cent Camp, M. W. A.; ilon Ami Lodge, K. P.; and
Watseka Camp. Sons of Veterans. Since his elec-
tion to the office of County Superintendent of
Schools, Mr. Crangle has made his home in Wat-
>eka. He has an interest in a farm in Hayes
County, Neb., but does not anticipate a removal
from Iroquois County, which has so long been his
liome. An experienced and practical teacher him-
self. Mr. Crangle possesses a thorough education in
all branches taught in the public schools, and has
proven a most successful officer, having performed
the arduous duties of his position with ability and
fidelity. Some idea of the responsibility attached
to the office of Superintendent of Schools in Iro-
quois C'ount3- m.ay be formed when it is known
that the conntj- maintains two hundred and thirtv-
four schools, emplo\s three hundred and six
teachers, and the school records show an enroll-
ment of sixteen thousand seven hundred and
eighty scholai-s. Mr. Crangle is a young man
possessed of superior ability, unquestioned integ-
rity, and is blessed with a genial, cordial manner
and whole-souled good-fellowship that have won
him hosts of friends.
BTKPHEN EYRICIL who is the owner of
a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres
! on section 31), Beaver Townsliip, Iroquois
County, is a native of Germany. He was
born in Saxe-Coburg, in the town of White Hansen,
February l-I, 1841, and is a son of Joseph and
Marguerite (Geuther) F^yrich. The fii-st sixteen
years of his life were spent in his native land,
and he then determined to make his home in
America. Crossing the broad Atlantic, he came
at once to Will Count}-, 111., where his elder
brother, Nichol.is Evricli. was then living. He
there began to work by the month, and was thus
employed until his marriage.
On the 1st of November, 1866, Mr. Eyrich was
joined in wedlock with Miss Emily Deininger, of
AVill County, who was bora in Wurtemberg, in
the town of Saxon Hansen, Germany, on the 10th
of March, 1849. When four years of age, she was
brought by her parents to this countrj-, and her
education was acquired in the public schools. Pre-
vious to his marriage, Mr. Eyrich purchased forty
acres of land, and the young couple began their
domestic life upon that farm. At length, he sold
out in Will County and came to Iroquois County,
where he ])urchased one hundred and sixty acres
of land at Si 2.50 per acre. This was a raw tract,
but he at once began placing it under the plow and
soon abundant harvests rewarded his labors. He
has since purch.ased an additional eighty-.acre tract
and now has a tine farm. In fact, it is considered
one of the model farms of the county, being com-
plete in all its appointments. His home, a pleas-
.int, commodious residence, is supplied with water
furnished by a force pump and windmill. His well
is one hundred and seventy-nine feet deep and
furnishes a never-failing supply of pure water. His
large barn, with a basement, is built in modern
style, and his outbuildings are all models of con-
venience.
The F;yrich family numbers six children, and
the}- lost three who died in infancy. In order of
birth they are as follows: Nicholas, born August
20, 1867; John, July 18, 1869; Minnie, June 23.
1871; Philip. September 30, 1873; Joseph, August
30, 187.T; and Maggie, June 28, 1879. The chil-
dren have all received good educational advan-
tages, and Miss Minnie has successfully engaged in
teaching for about two yeai-s, beginning at the
age of seventeen.
Mr. Eyrich exercises his right of franchise in
support of the Democratic party, and his first
vote W.1S cast for Horace Greeley in 1872. Him-
self and wife were reared in the faith of the Luth-
eran Church, but are now members of the Chris-
tian Church, to which their children also belong.
They are highly respected people, and the Eyrich
household is the abode of hospitality and the mem-
bers of the family rank high in social circles. Mr.
524
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
F^yrich lias erected a beautiful two-story residence
on his eight\' acres on section 31, which is a model
residence. On the premises is a superb vvell, one
hundred and forty-two feet deep, which has a
never-failing supply of water. Our subject is a
worthy and valued citizen, and his success in life
is due to his own efforts. We take pleasure in
presenting to our readers this record of his life
work.
' OHN NEL.SON, the efficient Postmaster of
Donovan, is of Swedish birth, born in the
southern part of Sweden, on the 5th of
\^^' August, 1844. His parents were Swan and
Christina (Johnson) Nelson. His father was a
farmer, and in the usual manner of farmer lads the
days of his boyhood and 3'outh were passed. His
education was acquired in the public schools, and
at the age of seventeen he left the fields to accept
a position as clerk in a mercantile establishment.
When a young man of nineteen }'ears, Mr. Nel-
son determined to seek a home in the New World, i
of whose advantages and privileges he had heard j
so much. On crossing the Atlantic he at once j
went to Chicago and from there took a trip to
the South, but eventually returned to Illinois and
made a location in Beaver Township, Iroquois
County, where he began to work as a farm hand.
He worked bj- the month and for himself until
1872, when he again began clerking, this time be-
ing employed in Iroquois. He afterward secured
a position as salesman in Sheldon. Later, he re-
moved to Donovan, where he embarked in busi-
ness. He has since been closely connected with
the welfare of the place and is recognized as one of
its prominent and influential citizens.
On the 10th of August, 1874, Mr. Nelson led to
the marriage altar Miss Anna Sophia Jansen, of
Watseka. Tiie lady was born in Central Sweden
and came to America with her grandfather, who
died in Buffalo, N. Y. Her father is still living in
the land of his nativity. Unto our subject and his
wife have been born four children: Charles August
Ernest, .John Walter, Oscar Lyle and Neva Josie.
On becoming an American citizen, Mr. Nelson
joined the ranks of the Republican party, and
has since been one of its stalwart supporters and a
warm advocate of its principles. His fellow-citi-
zens, appi'eciating his worth and ability, have
called upon him to serve in various positions of
honor and trust. He has filled the office of
Township Clerk and Collector, was Assessor for
eight terms and Supervisor for two terms, dis-
charging his duties with promptness and fidel-
itjf, showing that the confidence reposed in him
was not by any means misplaced. He was ap-
pointed Postmaster of Donovan by President Ar-
thur, and during President Harrison's administra-
tion he was re-appointed. He is a popular officer
who fills the position with credit to himself and to
the satisfaction of his constituents. He has served
his party as a delegate to the county and State
conventions. Mr. Nelson is an active member of
and faithful worker in the Swedish Methodist
Episcopal Church of Beaver Township, and lie-
longs to the Masonic lodge of Donovan, in which
he has held the position of Secretary. He has a
wide acquaintance throughout the community and
is held in the highest regard by all who know him
for his sterling worth and straightforward busi-
ness dealings.
K^^ UOO ROUGK is proprietor of a nuachine
Vi shop in Sheldon and deals in all kinds of
^ machinery. He is doing an excellent bus-
iness at this place, where he has carried on
operations for about three years. His life record is
as follows: He was born in Saxon}^ Germany,
December 17, 1856, and with one exception is the
youngest in a family of four children. His jjarents,
William and Wilhelmina (Froman) Rougk.are also
natives of Germany. His father has been an en-
gine-builder and a large manufacturer, and by
good business ability, industry and perseverance,
has accumulated a large property. He is now a
well-preserved old gentleman of seventy. For
the past fifteen years he has lived retired, and is
now resting in the enjoyment of a good fortune
acquired through his own efforts.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
525
Whon a lad of eleven j'ears, our subject left
home and sailed for America, locating in Hartford,
Conn., where he served an apprenticeship to the
trade of a machinist in the Woodruff & Beech
Iron Works. On the expiration of his four years'
term of service, he was employed as oiler and wa-
ter-tender on an ocean steamer and to that work
devoted his energies for the succeeding thret years.
After leaving the ocean steamer, he entered Brat's
Institute, of Brookh'n, X. Y., a school of mechanics,
from which he was graduated. Subsequent to this
he served for a period in the United States Nav3'.
Later he passed an examination given by tlie
I'nited States Inspector of Steamboats and re-
ceived a license from the Government to run tug
boats on the river at New York City. Subsequently
we find him in Galveston, Tex., and in other points
in the South. In 1879, Mr. Rougk went to South
America, and there remained for nine months, be-
ing located in Rio Janeiro, Brazil, after which he
returned to Hartford, Conn. He worked in the
machine sliops in that cit\- for a time, and then going
to Asplnwall, Panama, he there held the position of
master mechanic for a few months, after which he
went to the Cape of Good Hope on what proved
a fruitless attempt to secure a fortune in the dia-
mond fields of Africa.
Mr. Kougk returned bv a (Toodrich steamer, and
after a short time spent at home started on a trip
to the Friendly Islands, where he spent five
months. He next went to San Francisco, Cal.,
and was there engaged as engineer on some of
the largest boats that put into that port. On
tlie "Cit3- of Sidney" he sailed from the Golden
Gate to Sidney and Melbourne. Australia, a dis-
tance of seven thousand miles. He made this trip
fourteen times, serving as second engineer. After-
ward, he sailed to Yokohama. Japan, where he was
employed for nine months under the Japanese Gov-