I summer of 1855, he broke prairie with oxen and
kept "bachelor's liali." He shared in all the experi-
ences and hardships of pioneer life and has wit-
nessed almost the entire growth of the county.
i When coming across the countiy he saw, about
three miles from where William .Scott now resides,
a herd of over eighty deer. There were also many
wolves and mucli wild game, and as Mr. Wilson
was very fond of liunting he always kept his table
supplied with meat. The first building which he
erected was 16x26 feet and contained only two
rooms. It is still standing in a fair state of pres-
ervation, one of the few landmarks of pioneer days
that yet remain.
On the 28th of February, 1856, Mr. Wilson
married Miss Eliza Jane Hickman, a native of Mis-
souri, and unto them were born three sons and
four daughters, of whom six are yet living. Mary
E. is the wife of A. Pate, whose sketch is given
elsewhere in this work; William Clayton is now
deceased; Sadie A. is the wife of Alonzo Hall, a
farmer of Milford. Thomas Newton, who is married
and resides in Hern, Ark., possesses considerable
inventive genius and has invented an auger which
bores a square hole; Martha F. is the wife of C. A.
Dawson, a druggist of Milford, who is represented
elsewhere in this work; Eliza Jane is the wife of
Walter Braddon. a merchant of Watseka; Lewis
resides with his father and is his partner in the
grain business in Hickman, 111. Thechildrcn were
all provided with good educational advantages,
which fitted them for the practical duties of life,
and have become useful and respected members of
.society. The mother of tliis family died Septem-
ber 12, 1874, and was interred in Amity Cemetery,
which was laid out in 1859, bj- Mr. Wilson, and
Richard and Levin H. Hickman. A beautiful and
costly monument has been erected to her memory.
She was a faithful helpmeet to her husband, a
loving mother, and a devoted member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Wilson was again
married, June 1, 1876, his second union being with
Mrs. Rachel (Baird) Mills, a native of Indiana.
Unto them has been born a daughter, Hattie, who
is the light of her parents' liome. She possesses
consider.ible musical talent. By her former mar-
riage Mrs. Wilson had two children: Lora, who is
now in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and William, who
resides in Muscatine, Iowa. The children v ere
both well educated and the daughter attended
school in Terre Haute, Ind.
Mr. Wilson organized the first school district in
this comraunitj- in 1859, and through his efforts
the first schoolhouse was built. The cause of ed-
ucation has ever found in him a warm friend, and
he has filled the ottice of .School Director for the
long period of twenty-one years, of which fact he
ni.ay well feel proud. He cast his first Presidential
vote for Stephen A. Douglas, then supported
Abraham Lincoln, and has since been identified
with the Republican party as one of its stalwart
advocates. He has filled the offices of Justice of
the Pe.ice and Supervisor, also Assessor of what
was then Milford Townshij). He did much to-
wards securing the Chicago it Eastern Illinois
Railroad through the count}-. He has frequently
been a delegate to the conventions of his party,
has been a member of the Republican County Cen-
tral Committee for many years and is now a mem-
ber of the Ninth District State Central Committee
of Illinois. He was chosen one of the delegates to
630
PORTEAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the National Republican Convention at Chicago in
1880, and supported Gen. U. S. Grant for the Pres-
idenc_y. He has a bronze medal in his possession
which was given to him on that occasion as one of
the famous "Old Guard" who cast their ballot
thirty-six times for Grant. The medal is three
inches in diameter. On one side in bas relief is
the profile of Gen. Grant, and on the other is the
proper inscription of the balloting. In 1892, Mr.
Wilson was one of the State Central Committee
who had the honor of receiving at Springfield, 111.,
Whitelaw Reid, candidate for Vice-president.
Mr. Wilson was chosen by the State Live Stock
Commission of Illinois as one of the three to ap-
praise the pleuro-pneumonia cattle in 1887. So-
cially he is a Mason, belonging to Milford Lodge
No. 168, A. F. & A. M.; Watseka Chapter No. 114,
R. A. M.; and Mt. Olivet Commandery No. 38, K.
T., of Paxton. In 1868, with two others, he gave
$750 for the erection of the Amity Methodist
Episcopal Church. He is a liberal supporter of all
worthy' enterprises calculated to upbuild and ben-
efit the community and is one of the valued as
well as honored citizens of his adopted county.
He now resides upon his liome farm, comprising
two lumdred acres of valuable land, under a high
state of cultivation. His residence is built in the
most approved style of modern architecture and is
one of the most beautiful and pleasant homes of
the locality.
z;^ HARLES W. DAWSON, one of the exten-
I sive land-owners and a prominent stock
^^^ dealer of Iroquois County, resides in Well-
ington, and is well deserving of representation in
the history of his adopted county. He is a native
of Indiana, his birth having occurred in Warren
County, on the 14th of December, 1839. In a
family of eleven children, he was the fourth in or-
der of birth. Tiie parents were C- W. and JIary
J. (Hooker) Dawson. They now reside in Mil-
ford. The father was born in Ross County, Ohio,
May 15, 1814, and comes from an old family of
Virginia. His boyhood days were spent in the
Buckeye State and his education was acquired in
the common schools. In politics, he was formerly
an old-line Whig, and is now an ardent admirer
and stanch supporter of the principles of the Re-
publican partjr. Mrs. Dawson was also born in
Ross County, January 30, 1813, and she is a faith-
ful member of the United Brethren Church. They
emigrated to Iroquois County in 1854, and Mr.
Dawson purchased one hundred and sixty acres of
partially improved land, from which he developed
a fine farm. He has witnessed much of the growth
and progress of the county and has done all in tiis
power to aid in its upbuilding.
Of the Dawson family the following are still
living: Silas, a farmer, who is married and resides
in this county; John, who is married and engaged
in the liverj' business in Indiana; Charles W., of
this sketch; Lewis, who is married and follows
agricultural pursuits in Iroquois County; George,
who is married and is a farmer of Iroquois County;
and Sarah, wife of Peter Garner, a farmer of this
county.
We now take up the personal history of our
subject, who is widely and favorably known in
this community. He spent the days of his boyhood
and youth until the age of sixteen years in War-
ren County, Ind., and attended its common schools,
acquiring a good knowledge of the common Eng-
lish branches. The cause of education has ever
found in him a warm friend, and he does all in his
power for its advancement and to support any
measure calculated for its upbuilding. He entered
upon his business career at the age of twenty-one
as a farmer and stock-bu3'er, and to this line of
work has since devoted his energies. He has been an
iudefatis:able worker, and as his financial resources ,
were increased he added to his landed possessions
until he now owns six hundred acres of valuable
land under a high state of cultivation. It is well
tiled, has good hedge fences and all the improve-
ments of a model farm. He still carries on stock-
raising and shipping, and is an excellent judge of
all kinds of stock. This branch of his business has
in a large measure brought him his success.
November 21, 1861, Mr. Dawson married Miss
Julia Cadore, daughter of Joseph and Mary Arde-
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBAKA
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
631
lia (White) Cadore. She is a native of Canada,
and is of French descent. Two children grace
tlieir union: Mary A., now the wife of A. J. Hume,
of Cliic.igo, an employe on the Wabash Railroad,
:iiid Priscilla, wife of A. M. Dawson, who is en-
iraged in the boot and shoe business in Chicago.
Mr. Dawson cast his first Presidential vote for
Abraham Lincoln and has since supported everv
candidate of the Republican party. H« has held
the ottice of School Director for sixteen consecu-
tive \-ears, a fact which indicates his personal
popularity and the confidence and trust reposed
in him. Enterprise and energ}- have been num-
bered among his chief characteristics through-
out life and have won for him wealth and afflu-
ence. By his earnest efforts and perseverance, he
has acquired a fortune of which he maj' be justly
proud, and his example is well worthy of emula-
tion. His home is a beautiful and commodious
brick residence, situated in the eastern part of
Wellington and built in the most approved style
of modern architecture.
'ffj OHN C. RAMSEY, one of the well-known
farmers.and stock-dealers of Onarga Town-
ship, is numbered among the early settlers
â– i^/ of the county, his residence here covering
a period of almost forty yeai-s, dating from 1853.
In tlie days which have since come and gone he
h.is watched the progress and development of the
county, has seen its wild lands transformed into
beautiful homes and farms, its hamlets grow into
thriving towns, schoolhouses and churches built,
and the work of civilization and progress rapidlj-
carried forward. He too has always borne his
part in this improvement and well deserves repre-
sentation in the history of the county.
Mr. Ramsey was born in Preble County, Ohio,
at Morning Sun, September 23, 1824, and is one of
five children whose parents were George and Nancj-
(Shephard) Ramsey. The father was a native of
the Buckeye State, but the mother was born in
Ireland, and when fifteen years old accompanied
her mother to America, her father having been
killed by the Catholics in the war between them
and the Protestants. The children were Eliza
Jane, John C, Margaret, Mary Ann and Hannah.
The mother came to America when about fifteen
years of age, and in 1829 the family removed
from Ohio to Indiana, locating in Clinton County,
where Mr. Ramsey died when our subject was a
lad of seven years. The mother died about four
years later.
John Ramsev, whose name heads this record, was
thus left an orphan at the age of eleven. He re-
mained on the farm until fifteen 3-ears of age,
when he began learning the blacksmith's trade,
which he followed until the spring of 1853. That
year witnessed his arrival in Illinois and he lo-
cated on a farm on section 15, in what is now
Onarga Township, about four and a-half miles
east of the present site of the village of Onarga,
where he has made his home continuously since,
with the exception of about three years when he
was in the army. The tract of raw lancT which he
purch.ised was entirely destitute of improvements,
but it was soon placed under the plow, and in
course of time the well-tilled fields were yielding
to him a golden harvest. The country was almost
an unbroken wilderness and the few settlements
were widely scattered. Many hardships and pri-
vations were to be borne, such as are incident to
life on the frontier.
On the 9th of December, 1847, Mr. Ramsey w.as
united in marriage with Miss Caturah Major,
daughter of James H. and Mary (Hardpence)
Major. Three children were born of their union:
Barbara Ann, born February 8, 1849; William
Major, born April 11. 1852; and Martha, born De-
cember 21, 1854. None of the children are now
living, and the mother died August 5, 1855. On
tlie 13th of August, 1856, Mr. Ramsey was again
married, his second union being with Miss Eliza
A., daughter of George and Martha M. (Ramsey)
Ramsey, of Preble County, Ohio, the former a na-
tive of Rockbridge County, Va., and the latter of
Hamilton County, Ohio. They became the parents
of three children: George, who was born November
16, 1859, died on the 14th of December, 1875;
Lucy A., born January 21, 1862, is the wife of
Henrv Knoche, of Ridgeville, and they have two
632
POETRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
children, a son and daughter: Percy R. and Grace
A.; Grace M., born March 7, 1866, is the wife of
R. W. Harper, a grain merchant of Des Moines,
Iowa, and unto them have been born two cliildren,
sons: John T. and Robert R.
During the late war, Mr. Ranisej-, prompted by
patriotic impulses, responded to the call for troops,
and in August. 1862, became one of the boys in
blue of Company D, One Hundred and Thirteenth
Illinois Infantr}', in which he served for almost
three years. For ten months he was held a pris-
oner and was confined in Andersonville and other
loathsome Southern prisons, being captured the
day following the battle of Guntown. There
were thirteen of his company sent to Anderson-
ville, but only seven lived to get out. After three
months an exchange had been arranged, unknown
to the prisoners. They were called out at night
by name. As they feared it was for retaliatory
purposes, many did not respond. Becoming con-
vinced that it was all rigiit, Mr. Ramsey responded
to another's name. When they reached the place
of exchange, so weak and emaciated were the men
that Sherman refused to make the exchange, so the
men were ordered to be remanded to prison at Sal-
isbury, S. C. While waiting on the side track at
MiUedgeville, he and two companions cut a hole in
the bottom of the car, and just as the engine hacked
up to pull them away, they dropped out and
scrambled from under the car. It being dark, tiiey
easily made their escape and started for the Union
lines at Atlanta. Almost too weak to walk, they
proceeded for nine days, living on stock peas, cane,
and whatever faithful negroes brought them. Re-
captured, thev were kept in jail at Augusta for
eighteen days and in Lawton prison three months.
To keep them from falling into Sherman's hands,
they were sent by rail to Thomasvilleand marched
across the country to Alban3', whence most of the
men were returned to Andersonville. Mr. Ramsey
was not sent back. Tlie rebels had stock to butcher
at Albany but had no knives for that purpose, and
as Mr. Ramsc}' was a good blacksmith he was se-
lected to make them knives. Through the influ-
ence of Capt. Blackshear, Capt. Salter and Col.
•Jones, he was permitted to remain at Albany till
paroled. He was a faithful soldier, ever found at
his post, and continued in the service until after
the close of the war, when, the country no longer
needing his aid, he was honorably discharged and
returned home.
In 1868, in connection willi farming. Mr. Ram-
sey began raising and feeding stock. He paid con-
siderable attention to the breeding of Short-horn
cattle and Percheron horses, and also raised a large
number of hogs. He did an extensive business in
this line, feeding all the grain that he raised to his
stock. He was thus engaged until 1884, when lie
discontinued breeding, but he still buys, feeds and
sells cattle. His land is under a high state of cul-
tivation and he is a prosperous and progressive
farmer, and success has attended his well-directed
efforts. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey are members
of the Congregational Church, in which he has
held the office of Deason for many years, and
takes quite a prominent part in its work, being
earnest laborers in the Master's vineyard. In pol-
itics, he is a supporter of Republican principles.
Thus we have recorded the life sketch of one of
the county's valued citizens, a leading farmer, a
veteran of the late war, and an honored pioneer.
i>^^<l
AMES CLOKE, an agent for the McCormick
Machine Company at Ashkum, is one of
the most honored pioneers of the county,
and is numbered among the respected and
influential citizens of Ashkum. He is of English
birlh and was born in Kent, on the 22d of Septem-
ber, 1824. His father, William Cloke, was a
native of England, and after arriving at manhood
married Philadelphia Snelling. Their lives were
spent in the land of their birth, and there they
were called to their final rest.
Our subject is the eighth in order of birth in a
family consisting of six sons and six daughters, all
of whom grew to mature years, married and had
families. They are as follows: John, AVilliam,
Eleanor, Anna, Thomas, Joseph, Richard, James,
Mary Jane, Sarah E., Philadelphia and Harriet.
Mr. Cloke, whose name heads this sketch, passed
his youth on the farm, and received good com-
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
mon-scliool advantages. He was first married in
Kent, on the 1st of January, 1843, when Ue was
but eighteen j'cars of age, his bride being Miss
Sarah Smith, wlio was born in India, and was a
daughter of Capt. Thomas Francis Smith, who fol-
lowed tiie liigh seas, and was tlie captain of a
vessel. He was of English birth, and in England
Mrs. Cloke was reared and educated. After his
marriage our subject engaged in the baker's and
confectioner's business iu Kent for some three
3'ears.
About the year IS 10, Mr. Cloke .sailed from
London iu a sailing-vessel, called the " New Lon-
don," which was bound for the United States.
For about two months tiiey were tossed about on
the Atlantic, meeting with several severe storms on
the voyage. Some of the masts were broken and
the sails carried away. On board the ship there were
about twelve hundred passengers, & number of
whom sickened and died on the trip. They ar-
rived in the harbor of New York, where they cast
.luchor in the fall of that year. Mr. Cloke soon
after his arrival started iu the baker's and confec-
tioner's business in New York City, and there con-
tinued to live for about three years. He removed
to Monmouth County, N. J., where he engaged in
agricultural pursuits for about four years. He
next started Westward, and located in Iroquois
County, 111., where he was one of the first settlers.
At that time the county was a vast wilderness and
a swamp. The traveler could cross the prairie in
any direction without coming to a fence or build-
ing of anj- description. Deer and other wild game
were in great ab\indance, and the settlements were
almost wholly in the timber near the streams.
Mr. Cloke was one of the first to locate on the
broad prairie, and made his first settlement two
miles from the present town of Ashkuni. This
was before Clinton, Ashkum, or Danforth had been
founded, and the Illinois Central Railroad was
just completed through here. Mr. Cloke first pur-
chased three hundred and twentj' acres of the Illi-
nois Central Railroad Company, and opened up a
farm, which yielded a bountiful harvest the first
year. Tliis place he operated for a number of
years, or until 1865, when he sold his property and
removed to Virginia, and settled in Alexandria,
where he was in the Government employ for about
two years. He returned to Illinois in 1868, and
engaged in stock-raising for a period of two
years in Ford County. In 1870 he again came to
Iroquois County, purchasing a farm of five hun-
dred acres in Danforth Township, lie has been
most successful as an agriculturist and a stock-
raiser for a number of j'ears. He bought a
tract of fifty acres adjoining the village of Ash-
kum, and located his family there, where they still
make their home. While living on his farm, Mr.
Cloke w.as appointed an agent for the McCormick
Machine Companj', and has been one of their
most successful and trusted employes for years.
IJe established headquarters in Ashkum in 1884,
and has built up a large trade here and in the sur-
rounding country. He has been most successful
both as a salesman and collecting agent.
The first wife of our subject died in the ICast,
and, after coming to Illinois, he was united in mar-
riage to Miss Jane Loyall, who departed this life
in 1865. He was .again mairied, in 1870, this
union being with Maria Annetta Aj^ers, a widow,
who died in 1888. One son of the first marriage,
Talbert, is a farmer, who makes his home at
Monee, AVill County, III. His brother and sister
grew to maturity, but have passed away. The
brother, James, was a conductor on the railroad
for a few years and died in Chicago; and the
sister, Elizabeth, died in New Jersej'. By the sec-
ond marriage there were also three children: Jen-
nie is the wife of Joseph Addison, a farmer of
Iroquois County; one child died at the age of
twelve years; and the other, who was run over by
the cars in Monmouth Connt}^ N. J., died at the
age of nine. There are five living children by
the last marriage: Philadelphia received an educa-
tion in music, and has been an efficient teacher of
instrumental music for three years; Grace M. is
the wife of E. Harding, a real-estate dealer of Chi-
cago; May, William and Jessie are attending the
home schools at present.
In bis political sympathies, Mr. Cloke is a sup-
porter of the Democratic jiarty. He has never
been an aspirant for official positions, but has
held several local ones of trust and honor. To
whatever position he has been elected, he has
634
PORTRAIT AND BlOGRAPmCAL RECORD.
made a faithful and efficient officer. He has
assisted very materially in the development and
advancement of this portion of the State, and has
witnessed its change from a swamp and wilderness
to its present condition of fine farms and thrivinj^
villages. lie is well known far and wide as a man
of honorable character and upright life, and dur-
ing the long years of his residence in this
community he has made a large circle of friends,
bv whom he is held in the hiarhest regard.
-I****
•5"t4**5'^
•4"j*4'*i*^^^^^^ •i**J*4*4*P
SAAC MARLOW, who carries on general farm-
ing on sections 27 and 34, Stockland Town-
ship, is a native of Indiana, his birth having
occurred in Warren County, on the 13th of Feb-
ruary, 1850. He comes of a long-lived family.
His grandfather, George Marlow, attained the re-
markable age of one hundred and four years. He
was a native of Virginia, and died in Warren
County, Ind. The parents of our subject were
Isaac and Isabel (Smiley) Marlow. They had
only two children: Isaac of this sketch, and E^uniee,
who was born September 17, 1848. The father
died March 6, 1850, and the mother survived him
only about a year, being called to her final rest
July 7, 1851, in her twentieth year.
As our sul)ject was left an orphan at an early
age, he was reared by his maternal grandparents,
James and Lovica Smiley, with whom he made
his home until he had attained to mature years.
They came to Illinois in March, 1853, and located
a farm in Stockland Township, this county, about
seven and a-half miles southeast of Milford. Isaac
aided in the cultivation of the land and the de-
velopment of the farm.
It was on the 25th of January, 1872, that Mr.
Marlow led to the marriage altar Miss Mary E.
Decker, daughter of Chrisley and Mary A. (Rosen-
berger) Decker, both of whom were natives of
Virginia. They had located in this count}' about
1849. Two children grace the union of Mr. and
Mrs. Marlow, namely: Musette, who was born
April 23, 1876; and Lessie Zazel, born on the 8th
of June, 1888.
The farm which Mr. Marlow now owns and oper-
ates is an arable tract of land of one hundred
and twenty acres, situated on sections 27 and 34,
Stockland Township. The well-tilled fields are
now highly cultivated and abundant harvests re-
ward his efforts. There are many useful improve-
ments upon the place, and the whole in its neat
appearance indicates the careful management and
tliorough supervision of the owner.
In political sentiments, Mr. Marlow is independ-
ent. He holds himself free to support whoever he
pleases, regardless of part}' tics, and always votes
for the man whom he thinks best qualified to fill
the position. He has never been an office-seeker,
preferring to devote his attention exclusively to
his business interests. The cause of education
finds in him a warm fiiend, and while serving as
School Director for six years he did effective ser-
vice in its interests. Hiniself and wife are faithful
members of the Christian Church, and throughout
the community they have a wide circle of warm
friends. Mr. Marlow has led an honorable, up-
right life, in harmony with his professions, and is
classed among the leading agriculturists of Stock-
land Township.
if^^ lUNEY NILSON, an enterprising young
^^^ farmer of this county who resides on sec-
lll/\flj tion 3, Milford Township, was born on the
farm which is still his home, on the 6th of
August, 1858. He is a son of Robert and Susan
L. (Wagner) Nilson, both of whom were natives
of Ohio, and are represented on another page of
this book.
Sidney Nilson, the subject of this sketch, was