(Colewalt) Boudreau, both of whom were natives
of Canada and of French descent. The father was
a farmer and owned land in Canada. When our
subject was a lad of nine years, he removed with
his family to Aurora, where he spent two years
upon a rented farm, and then went to Kankakee
County, where he rented land for a j'ear. On the
expiration of that period he took up his residence
in Papineau Township, this county, where he pur-
chased eighty acres of land, but was badly beaten
out of half that amount.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the
French schools of Canada, but after coming to this
State attended the English schools. He w.as the
eldest in a family of eight children. His father
died when he was only fifteen years of age, and
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
539
be had to aid in the support of the family, wliieh
was left in limited circumstances. He worked
upon their own farm, and also in the employ of
others whenever he could spare the time from his
home duties. He was married August 5, 1859, at
the age of nineteen years, to Miss Marie Cote, of
Papineau Township, who was born in Quebec,
Canada, March 16, 1839, and came with her par-
ents, Benny and Tict (Martin) Cote, to this State
when about thirteen years of age. For two years
after their marriage thej- resided with Mr. Bou-
dreau's mother, he operating the home farm. He
also improved and cultivated forty acres of land,
which he had previously purcliased in Beaver
Township. This was his first purchase, and it is
still in his possession. He has met with success in
his business career and, as his financial resources
have increased, has added to his possessions until
he now owns four hundred acres of valuable land,
all in Beaver Township.
Mr. Boudreau has his farm under a higli state of
cultivation, and it yields to him a good income.
In connection with general farming, he also en-
gages in stock-raising, handling about one hun-
dred head of cattle aiinuall}'. In 1882, he estab-
lished the store and placed his son in charge. Two
years later he left the farm and removed to Beaver-
ville, since which time he has given his personal
attention to meicantile pursuits. The firm of
Boudreau ifc Son has a well-stocked store and is
enjoying an excellent trade, which has been se-
cured by fair and honest dealing and courteous
treatment of their patrons;. They also deal in
agricultural implements.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Boudreau were born thir-
teen children, three of whom died in infancy, but
ten are 3'et living. Cleophas, the eldest, was
born June 1, 1860. He attended St. ^â– ialeur's Col-
lege in Kankakee Countj^ for about three years,
becoming a .â– student at the age of fifteen. When
his education was completed, he entered upon his
business career as a clerk in a mercantile estab-
lishment at Kankakee, where he remained for two
years. He was then employed in a similar capac-
ity in this place for two years, after which he
took charge of the store as junior partner of the
firm. He is a wide-awake and enterprising busi-
ness man and possesses excellent ability. On at-
taining his majority, he was married October 18,
1881, to Jliss Mary Ellen Theresa Gernon, who
was born in Canada in 1865, and is of Irish and
French descent. Unto them have been born five
children yet living: Hayda, Gernon, Theresa, Eve-
line and Amanda. Mr. Boudreau, Jr., is now
Postmaster of the Beaverville Postottice. In poli-
itics, he is a Republican and cast his first Presi-
dential vote for James G. Blaine. He has served
as Township Treasurer for about eight years, was
Township Clerk in 1889. Assessor in 1890, and
again in 1892.
Clarence, the second son of the Boudreau fam-
ily, is now deceased. Sylvan us, born May 1,
1866, became a student in Viatcur's College at the
age of sixteen years, and there studied for a year.
When a young man of twenty-five, he was raiii-
ried December 29, 1891, to Miss Nelda Naurie,
who was born in Beaver Township, in December,
1869. They have one child, Rosella. Sylvanus
is now in partnership with his father. In ])olitics,
he is a Democrat, and his first vote was cast for
Cleveland in 1888. Salina, the next younger of
the family, is the wife of William Barron, a farmer
of Martinton Township, by whom she has one
child. Belzcmer is the wife of Joseph Fortiu, of
Beaver Township, and they have two children.
Amanda married Levi Franoveur, of Chicago, and
unto them has been born one child. Henry is
married and resides in Beaver Township. Den-
nis and Nelda are at home. Cameille and Emile,
twins, born November 11, 1889, complete the
fam-'ly.
Mr. Boudreau, our subject, is a stalwart advo-
cate of the Democracy, and cast his first Presi-
dential vote for Stephen A. Douglas. He was con-
firmed when only nine years of age and has since
been a member of the Catholic Church, to the
support of which he contributes lil)erall_v. He li.as
paid over $500 for tiie building of the church and
parsonage in this place, and lias given susbtantial
aid for the building of the new convent which is
now being erected. He served as Highway Com-
missioner for three years, was Sciiool Trustee for
man}' j-ears, and School Director for several years.
He is a prominent and influential citizen, a lead-
540
PORTRAIT -AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ing business man and has a wide acquaintance
throughout this community. He started out in
life a mere boy with no capital, but overcoming
the obstacles and difficulties in his path, he has
steadil}' worlved his way upward to a position of
wealth and affluence.
".j.^.j..^'^^^^ .j.^j.^.^'F
â– ^^ DWARD W. BISHOP is the proprietor of
m the Watselva Roller Mills, the only flour-
tt' — J , ing mills in tiiat cit}', and has been en-
gaged in milling in Iroquois County since 1868.
Mr. Bishop was born in the town of Lenliam,
Kent County, England, on the 13th of April, 1841,
and is a son of Edward B. and Elizabeth W.
(David) Bishop, both of English birth. In 1853,
our subject with his parents emigrated from Eng-
land to America, and settled in the town of South
Greece, on the Erie Canal, some eight miles west
of Rochester, N. Y. Thej^ came to Iroquois
County, 111., in 1854, and located in that part of
the township of Concord which is now Sheldon.
His father was engaged in farming in Concord
until within a few jears of his death, which oc-
curred in the town of Papineau, Iroquois County,
in 1884, he then being seventy-two years of age.
The mother is still living, aud resides near Kent-
land, Ind. In the family were six sons and two
daughters, all of whom are living except one
daughter.
Edward W. was reared on his father's farm, and
received a common-scliool education. At the age
of nineteen, he began to learn the carpenter's
trade, in which he was interrupted by the break-
ing out of the late war and his enlistment on the
first call by President Lincoln for troops. He
was enrolled in April under the three months'
call, but was not mustered in until August 4, 1861.
For three j'ears he served as a member of Com-
pany F, Twenty-fifth Illinois Regiment, and
was mustered out in September, 1864. On the 23d
of September, 1861, his regiment went to Jefferson
City, Mo.,b_v way of the Pacific Railroad. It went
into camp at Rolla, Mo., where it remained until
February, 1862, when it started for Springfield,
that State, arriving there February 13. The fol-
lowing day the troops left that place and pro-
ceeded to Arkansas, where they participated in
the battle of Pea Ridge, March 6, 7 and 8." March-
ing to Cape Girardeau, they went down the river
to re-enforce the army at Shiloh, but arriving after
the battle they went on to Corinth, Miss., and
took part in the siege, forcing the rebel evacua-
tion of that place. His regiment took part in the
battle of Stone River, or Murfreesboro, Tenn., De-
cember 31, 1862, where Mr. Bishop received a gun-
shot wound through the right leg, which unfitted
him for active dutv until the following Novem-
ber, when he joined his regiment soon after the
bnttle of Mission Ridge, which was fought on the
23d, 24th and 25th of that month. On the 28th
of November, 1863, he joined the regiment on its
way to Knoxville, Tenn., whore it arrived about
tiie 3d of December. The command was engaged
in skirmishing and foraging all of this time, and
finally returned to Cleveland, Tenn., where it re-
mained from April 16th to the 31st of May, 1864.
At this time it was ordered to join the army under
Gen. Sherman en route for Atlanta, Ga. The regi-
ment joined the brigade June 7, 1864, and re-
mained with the army on its way to Atlanta, being
under fire nearl}- every day until the 1st of the
following August. Then the order came for the
troops to start for Springfield, 111., to be mustered
out. They accordingly were mustered out Sep-
tember 5, 1864, having served three years and one
month in the army, having marched on foot
thirt3 - three hundred and fifty-two miles, and
traveled by rail and boat seventeen hundred and
ten miles, the total number of miles traveled
being forty-nine hundred and sixty-two. It par-
ticipated in the following-named battles and heav3-
skirmishes: Pea Ridge, Ark.; Siege of Corinth;
Stone River; Mission Ridge; Chickainauga; Kene-
saw Mountain, Ga.; Peach Tree Creek; and At-
lanta. The regiment made an honorable record
throughout its term of service, aud especially dis-
tinguished itself at the battle of Stone River,
where it lost heavily in killed and wounded. In
the Atlanta campaign, the Twenty-fifth reached
within twelve miles of Atlanta, when it was or-
dered to Springfield.
LIBRARY
â– ; UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
ji URBANA
L
t?~lyt - y7)
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
543
Soon after being mustered out, in September,
1 864, Mr. Bishop returned to the front, and was
assigned a position in tiie Quartermaster's Depart-
ment at Chattanooga, and was so employed for
more than a year, or until after the close of the
war.
The following winter, 1865, Mr. Bishop was
married to Miss Caroline E. Groflf, who died some
twelve 3'ears later. For two j^ears after the war
our subject worked at bis trade as carpenter, and
then tiiiilt a flouring-mill at a place called Texas,
in Middleport Townshij), about five miles east of
Watseka. He continued milling theic until 1882,
when he moved the mill to a point on the Cliicago
& Eastern Illinois Railroad, where he ojjerated it
until it was destroyed ijy an incendiary fire in No-
vember, 188.5. Tiie following year he built his
present mill at Watseka, which he has carried on
successfully since. This millis fitted up for roller-
process work, and is equipped with the best mod-
ern m.achinery for. all sorts of work in its line, and
is doing ago d bu.siness.
On the 10th of February, 1881, Mr. Bishop w.is
united in marriage with Miss Ida M. Steel}', a
daughter of Mr. L. Steely. Mrs. Bishop was born
in Iroquois County, where her family were among
the early settlers. Her father is still living, and
makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Bishop.
Our subject and his wife have two children:
Arthur S., who was born in August, 1883; and
Sidney E., who was born in September, 188,5.
Mrs. Bishop is a member of the Society of Friends.
Mr. Bishop is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of
Watseka Lodge No. 446, A. F. & A. M.; and of
AVatseka Chapter No. 114, R. A. M. He also be-
longs to the Mon Ami Lodge No. 231, K. P.; and
to William Post No. 25, G. A.R.
In addition to his milling interests, Mr. Bishop
is a part owner in the Bishopp Hominy Company,
of Sheldon, and has an impioved farm of one hun-
dred and thirteen acres, situated on section 36,
Middleport Township. On the question of poli-
tics, he is a Republican, and has held various pub-
lic offices. He is at this writing one of the Road
Commissioners of Middleport Township, and has
served in that capacity for eleven years. He has
also acted as Alderman in the Common Council of
Watseka for six years, and has held various minor
offices. Mr. Bishop has now been a resident of
Iroquois County for thirty-eight years, and for
twenty-nine years has been identified with its
manufacturing and business interests. During all
tills period his intercourse with his fellow-citizens
has been distinguished by strict integrity and an
upright and straightforward manner, which has
won for him the esteem and respect of all.
l^ps^ AMUEL M. MAJOR, an honored veteran
^^^^ of the late war, and formerly a leading
l|[l/Jj) farmer of Artesia Township, but now a resi-
dent of Onarga, is a worthy representative
of one of the honored pioneer families of the
county. He was born near La Fayette, in Tippe-
canoe County, Ind., April 24, 1830, and is a son
of J. H. and Mary (Hardpence) Major, natives
of the Hoosier State. The Major family is of
Welsh origin. The father of our subject located
in Tippecanoe County, Ind., in 1829, and from
the Government entered a tract of heavily tim-
bered land, from which he cleared and developed
a farm, making his home thereon until 1853, when
he sold out and with his family came to Illinois.
The trip Westward was made by team. IMr. IMajor
first located in Artesia Township, Iroquois County,
purchasing one hundred and nine acres of land,
constituting a part of the farm which our subject
now owns. He also entered one hundred and
sixty acres from the Government and bought an
additional tract of eighty' acres, on which he re-
sided until his death. Throughout his business
career he followed farming and met with good
success in his undertakings. He was a prominent
citizen of this community and took a leading part
in the upbuilding and development of the county.
He aided in the organization of the township,
helped to lay out the roads, and was the efficient
Road Supervisor of Artesia Township for a num-
ber of years from an early daj'. He died on the
r2th of January, 1882, and his remains were in-
terred in the Del Rey Cemetery. He was a Re-
publican and in his religious belief was a Baptist.
544
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
His wife passed away several years previous to the
death of her husband, being called to her final rest
in 1874. She, too, was buried in the same ceme-
tery and was a member of the same church as Mr.
Major.
Unto this worth}' couple were born a family of
children, as follows: Robert D., who is now a
retired farmer of Springfield, Mo.; Catherine, de-
ceased; Katurah, who died in 1854; Samuel of this
sketch; Mary, wife of J. F. Felker, a resident of
Chicago; Syren, who died in 1850; Martha, who
died in 1852; Olive, wife of B. F. Price, ex-County
Treasurer and a resident of Watseka; and Ann,
who died in 1851.
We now talce up the personal history of our
subject, who was born and reared upon his father's
farm, spending his boyhood days in the usual
manner of farmer lads. His education was mostly
acquired in the subscription school, which he at-
tended at intervals until nineteen years of age.
The schoolhouse was built of logs and furnished
with slab seats and other primitive furniture. He
started out in life for himself when twenty-two
years of age, or on his arrival in Illinois. This
was in 1853. His father gave him eight}' acres of
partially improved land, which he still owns, and
there he began the development of a farm.
In April of the same year, Mr. Major was united
in marriage with Miss Amy F. Lee, daughter of
Nathan and Jerusha Lee. Unto them was born a
daughter. Flora A., who is now the wife of George
P. Stephens, a farmer. The mother died in 1856,
and her remains were interred in Del Rey Ceme-
tery. Mr. Major was again married, October 14,
1875, his second union being with Miss Kate, a na-
tive of Coshocton County, Ohio, daughter of John
and Susan (McMurphy) Stevens. Mr. Stevens
was born in England, and when nineteen years old
came to the United States. In Coshocton County,
Ohio, he married Miss McMurphj-, a native of Del-
aware, and of Scotch-Irish descent. During the
late war he served about a year in Comi)any H,
Seventj'-sixth Ohio Infantry, when he was dis-
charged on account of ill health. Both he and his
wife live in Buckley, 111.
Mr. Major resided upon his first farm for two
years and then returned to the old home, taking
charge of the farm and business, which he has since
successfully managed. He still owns the old home-
stead, which came into the possession of iiis father
almost fort}^ years ago. He now owns one hun-
dred and seventy-two acres of arable land on sec-
tion 6, Artesia Township, where he carries on general
farming and stock-raising. His land is under a
high state of cultivation, and the good buildings
and other excellent improvements make this one
of the finest farms in the community.
When, the late war was in progress, Mr. Major
abandoned his business, for he felt that his duty
called him to the front. He enlisted in the ser-
vice of his country as a private of Company M,
Ninth Illinois Cavalry. He was mustered in at
Chicago, and the first active engagement in which
he participated was at Crockum Cross Roads, Ark.
They went from St. Louis over the Iron Mountains
on horseback to Jacksonport, from there to Hel-
ena, and afterward up the Mississippi River by
boat to Memphis, Tcnn. For a time Mr. Major
was stationed at Corinth, where he did duty as a
scout. He afterward participated in the battles of
Tupelo, Salem, Hurricane Creek, Franklin, Nash-
ville, and many other engagements of lesser im-
portance. He had enlisted for three years' service,
and in the spring of 1864 he was granted a thirt}'-
day furlough. He then re-enlisted as a veteran
and served until the close of the war. He was
promoted to be Sergeant at Chicago, where he first
entered the camp, and when mustered out held the
rank of Second Lieutenant. He was very fortu-
nate, in that he was neither wounded nor taken
prisoner. On the contrarj', he was ever found at
his post of dut}', proving himself a valiant soldier
and a loyal defendei; of the Old Flag.
After receiving his discharge, Mr. Major re-
turned to his home and resumed the occupation of
farming, which he has followed continuously since
with good success, and has thereby acquired a
competence which numbers him among the sub-
stantial citizens of the community. In political
sentiment, Mr. M.ijor is a stalwart Republican.
The cause of education has found in him a warm
friend and he has done eflicient service in its in-
terest, while serving as School Director for a num-
ber of vears and as School Trustee for six years.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
545
In liis social relations he is an Odd Fellow, and is
a niembei- of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Major is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His
life has been an upriglit and honorable one, and
during the long years of his residence in Iroquois
County, he has won a large circle of friends and
acquaintances who hold him in high esteem.
>^,.\KR1-:TT B. BROWNE, who is engaged in
Ij (=, the jewelry business in Milford, claims
^^11 Indiana as the State of his nativity. He
was born on the 7th of March, 1861, in Madison
County and is one of a family of eleven children,
who with two exceptions all are j-et living. The
[larents, Lorenzo D. and Nancy (llarlin) Browne,
were both natives of Virginia, but for manj' years
were resi<lents of Indiana. Of tiiejr family, Will-
iam S. married Kizzie Frame, daughter of Abner
Frame, by whom he has five children, and engages
in the practice of medicine in WaLseka; Sarah ,1.,
wife of Iven Bailey, of Watseka, died in 1872;
.Tohn L. died in infancy; George N. married Linda
Ford and now makes his home in Watseka; Robert
W., who is engaged in farming near Watseka, was
joined iu wedlock witii Jennie Gillfillan, daughter
of Alexander Gillfillan, and they have four chil-
dren; Lorenzo D., who wedded Iiene G. ^IcCurtain,
by whom he has two children, resides in Watseka,
where he is engaged in the practice of veterinary
surgery; Susan A. is the next younger; Mar^' N. is
the wife of Frank L. AVilliams, a resident of Wood-
land, and they have one child; Garrett of this
sketch is the next younger; Owen E. wedded Miss
Lizzie Bernard, who resided near Mitchell, S. D.ik.,
and their home is now in Sheldon, 111.; and Delia
H. completes the family.
We now take up the personal history of our
subject, who spent the first five years of his life in
the State of his nativity and was then brought by
his parents to Watseka, where he was reared to
manhood. Having worked in tlie jewelry business
for ten years, he entered the Chicago Horological
Institute and six months later the Chicago Watch-
makers' Institute, from which he graduated in
October, 1891. In the meantime he took up optical
work, and graduated at tiie .same time from Dr.
Fowler's Optical Institute. September 3, 1891, he
graduated from the West Ophthalmic College of
Chicago. In February, 1890, he came to Milford
and the following year engaged in tlie jewelry
business, which he yet carries on.
On the 10th of March, 1887, Mr. Browne was
united in marriage with Jliss ]\Iinnie M. Gerard, a
daughter of John and Emeline (Moorey) Gerard,
of Milford. Two children grace the union of the
young couple, both daughters: OlgaG., born April
2, 1888, and Eva J., born March 29, 1890. Mr.
and Mrs. Browne are numbered among the leading
young people of Milford. Thev are held in high
regard throughout the community, and in social
circles hold an enviable place.
In religious belief, Mr. Browne is a member of
the Christian Church. He takes considerable in-
terests in civic societies and is a member of the
Odd Fellows' lodge of Hoopeston, and Milford
Camp No. 91, M. W. A. He is also a Royal Arch
Mason, holding membership \vith the Blue Lodge
and Chapter of Hoopeston. He has a good jewelry
store in ISIilford and although he has not j'et been
engaged in business for two years he has already
won an excellent patronage and his trade is con-
stantly increasing. He is a young and energetic
business man destined to have a successful career.
* ' * ^ f
vh;®.qJ
IM^
\I/_^ ENRY TROUP, an honored and i-nfiuential
if jl pioneer of Middleport, Iroquois County,
(flW^ 111., was born in Baltimore, Md., April 2.5,
i^j 1800. In early life he removed with his
parents to Canton, Stark County, Ohio, and after-
ward to Manchester, of the same county. After
attaining to mature years, he was there united in
marriage, in 1834, with Miss Mary Ann Little, wlio
was born in Columbus County, Ohio, on the 11th
of October, 1814, and is a daughter of John Little.
Mr. Troup engaged in merchandising iu Rlan-
chester, which he continued until his removal to
Illinois in August, 1838. He had come to this
546
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
State in 1837, and selected a site for a home and
business at what has since been known as Middle-
port, also hired a man to build a house for him.
To his new home lie brought the family the follow-
ing August, accompanied by his father-in-law,
John Little. When they arrived, the house for
â– whicli he had contracted was not completed, and
tlie whole partj' had to camp under a large tree on
the bank of the river for about six weeks. The
Troup dwelling was a two-story frame, the first
building erected in the place. It was built on lot
7, block 4, and his store, wiiicb was subsequently
completed just across the street from the dwelling,
was 16x24 feet. The first building was used by him
for a hotel for about two years, after which he
erected another dwelling close to his store and
removed to it. He was a man of means, posses-
sed of great energy and good business ability, and
soon became the leading spirit of the place. He
prospered in business and accumulated a large
property. At one time he owned sixteen farms
and between twelve hundred and fifteen hundred
acres of timber-land besides.
Mr. and Mrs. Troup were blessed with a large
family numbering seven sons and three daugh-
ters, of whom three sons and two daughters are
now living. Henry, the eldest, died in infancy;
Theodore married Anna Mason, of AViscohsin, and
resides in Deuel County, S. Dak.; Louis married
Sabra V. Thomas, and died January 12, 1863;
David married Harriet Hawn, of Ohio, and died
November 16, 1862; Melvina died at the age of
eleven years; Edward was a soldier of the late
war, a member of Company- A, Seventj'-sixtli Illi-
nois Infantrj', and died July 11, 1863, from dis-
ease contracted in the trenches in the siege of
Vicksburg; Elenoia is the widow of Joseph Hor-
ton, of Middlcport, Iroquois County; Caroline
married Capt. Abraham Andrew, Postmaster of