the fifth child in order of birth. His boyhood
days were passed quietly under the parental roof.
The early life of almost any farmer lad would
show us a fac-simile of his boyhood. The common
schools of the neighborhood afforded him his edu-
cational privileges and since leaving the school
room he has added not a little to his fund of
knowledge, for he possesses a retentive memory
and an observing eye. Since his father's death
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
I
â– '&1
/^Jdiy^'UM
LIBRARY
UNIVERSUY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
639
he has had charge of the home farm, and a glance
at the place indicates the supervision of a careful
manager. The land is under a high state of culti-
vation. Many imjjrovements have been made and
the place seems complete in all ils appointments.
AVell may Mr. Nilson be ranked among the practi-
cal and progressive farmers of the township. In
politics lie is a supporter of tiie Democracy.
^ R. MEEiS'TS is a prominent merchant and
., dealer in grain, coal, lumber, farm imple-
li ments and live stock at Ashkum, Iroquois
County. He does an extensive business,
and is considered one of the enterprising and en-
ergetic business men of this locality. His birth oc-
curred in Hanover, Germany, on the Ifjthof June,
18.51. He is a son of R. H. and Maria (Ulfers)
Meents, both of whom were also natives of Han-
over. Our subject grew to the age of seventeen in
his native land, and received good sciiool privileges.
In 1869, Mr. Meents determined to seek fame
and fortune in tbe New World, and starting from
Bremen in a steamer, lie crossed the Atlantic in
twelve dajs. On tiie voyage, several days of se-
vere weather were experienced. Arriving in New
York City in May of that year, he immediately
started Westward, going first to Chicago, and thence
to Danfortli, wiiere he hail several acquaintances.
For three summers he worked on a farm, and at-
tended sciiool in the winter months, in order to be-
come proficient in the English language. In the
summer of 1873, lie purchased a team and rented a
farm, which he carried on with good success for
about a year. He then engaged with ('. H. Com-
stock to work in his elevator at Ashkum, and in
his service he remained for thirteen years, proving
a most valuable and faithful assistant. During his
long term in that business he learned much of the
trade and was gradually advanced, and during the
last years was book-keeper,giving his attention ex-
clusively to that portion of the business. He was
afterward taken into partnership, but in October,
1885, withdrew from the firm and engaged in bus-
29
iness for himself. He bought two elevators, the
first one being purchased in 1882. These he moved
near to each other, and rebuilt them, and largely
increased his trade. He purchased the established
Inisiness of James Cajjin & Co., and in 1891 bought
the lumber trade of John McCurdy. The first year
he dealt solely in grain, but h.as since added sev-
eral other lines of business. Among these, he has
a large trade In coal and farm implements. He has
also shipped stock quite extensively.
At the Williams House in Watseka, Mr. Meents
led to the marriage altar Miss Phidelphia Cloke, of
Danforth Township, and a native of New .Tersey.
The wedding was celebrated November 11, 1874.
Mrs. Meents' father, Richard Cloke, was one of the
honored pioneers of this county, and here his daugh-
ter was educated and grew to womanhood. To our
subject and his wife nine children have been born:
Richard, who is a j'oung man of good business edu-
cation, and a graduate of the Onarga Commercial
Seminary, is now book-keeper for his father; Frank,
Anna, Grace, Walter and Arthur are all attending
school near home; while the younger members of
the family are Delphia, Mildred and Lester.
Mr. Meents has been a supporter of the Republi-
can party, casting his first ballot for Rutherford B.
Hayes, and has since voted for every Presidential
nominee of that party. Recognizing his worth and
abilit}', the fellow-citizens of our subject have sev-
eral times elected him to positions requiring abilitv
and fidelitj'. He was elected Township Trustee
and Clerk, and has also served as Treasurer of the
schools. He has ever given his heart}- support to
the cause of public-school education, and served
for years as a member of the School Board. He
was recently appointed Treasurer of tlie drainage
district of Ashkum and Danforth Townships, a
responsible position. His family are members of
the Ashkum Methodist Episcopal Church, which
numbers them among its most esteemed supporters.
Mr. Meents is one of the Church Trustees. He
commenced his business career in the New World
with little means, and has In- his own industr}- and
wise business investment accumulated a fortune
and has an extensive business. He owns an elegant
home, and to-dav is recognized as one of the most
substantial and progressive liusincss men of this
640
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
county. He is widely and favorably known, and
lias won the friendship and respect of all, lK)th in
his business and social relations.
e^+^§
Cj\ IIARLES M. DAZEY is numbered among
_ the prominent businessmen of Milford,and
') to his enterprising and progressive spirit
this place owes not a little of its growth and pros-
perity. He was born in iStockland Township, Iro-
quois County, on the 15th of December, 1859, and
is a son of Jacob and Larinda (Wilkinson) Dazey,
both of whom were natives of Indiana. His father
was twice married, his first wife being Miss Whit-
iash. By this union was born a daughter, Eliza-
beth, who died at the age of twenty-seven. The
mother was called to her final rest about 1852.
Mr. Dazey was again married, in 1854, his second
union being with Miss Larinda, daughter of Abra-
ham and Harriet Wilkinson. Ten children were
born of the second union, seven of whom are 3'et
living: James Henry, who married Emma Richards,
of Kankakee, by whom he has three children,
and is now a resident of Stockland Township;
Charles M., whose name heads this sketch; John
W., who wedded Maggie Williamson, daughter of
Joseph Williamson, of Stockland Township. They
have four children. Joseph AVilliam married Ella
Smith, of Indiana, who died in December, 1891,
leaving three children. Frank L. was joined in
wedlock with Miss Eva Dove, daughter of G. W.
Dove, of Hoopeston, where they reside. They had
two daughters, but one died in infancy-. Mary M.
and George complete the family.
The subject of this sketch was reared to man-
hood upon his father's farm. As soon as old
enough to handle the plow, he began aiding in the
labors of the farm, and to that work devoted his
energies during the summer months, while in the
winter season he conned his lessons in the public
schools. When twenty years of age, he left home
and started out in life for himself, since which
time he has been dependent upon his own re-
sources. Industry and enterprise liave ever been
uniiibered among his chief cliaracteristics,and a
well-deserved success is his. In addition to gen-
eral farming, he has carried on stock-dealing on
an extensive scale, buying, selling and shipping.
He is now associated with his cousin Charles L.
Dazey in farming, stock-dealing and the grain
business, this connection having been continued
uninterruptedly for about seven years. He owns
a valuable tract of eightj' acres of land about three
and a-half miles south of Milford and six miles
east in Prairie Green Township. He also owns
some excellent town property, including his mag-
nificent home.
On the 5th of October, 1882, Mr. Dnzey was
married to Miss Mary E. Fitzgibbon, daughter of
Patrick and Mary Fitzgibbon, who are natives of
the Green Isle of Ph-in, but now make their home
in Beloit, Wis. Three children grace the union of
our subject and his worthy wife, all sons: Edward
M., born on the 5th of August, 1886; Alba Will-
iam, January 11, 1890; and Charles, who was born
November 7, 1891, died on the 11th of the same
month. The elegant home of the Dazey family is
the abode of hospitality, and Mr. and Mrs. Dazey
rank high in social circles. He is a member of the
Modern Woodmen of America.
As before stated, Milford finds in our subject
one of its best citizens. He is now efficiently serv-
ing as Mayor, "and his administration of aftairs
has won high commendation. He is a thrifty and
successful business man, and his prosperity is all
the reward of his own efforts. Success comes to
those who labor for it, and the well-directed efforts,
good management and business ability' of our sub-
ject have won him prosperitj^
%, OHN SMETHURST, a well-known farmer of
Ash Grove Township, residing on section 2,
is of English birth. He w.as born in Lan-
' cashire, December 1. 1824, and is a sou of
Ellis Smethurst. His father was born in the West
Riding of Yorkshire. He was a mason by trade, but
througli much of his life followed the occupation
of farming. He married Nannie Peel, who comes
of tlie same family as Sir Robert Peel, the great
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
641
English statesman. Mr. Srnethiirst was a man of
line plivbique. He was six feet two inclies tall, and
in his native land was solicited to enter the Life
(uiards, but refused. In 1843, he emigrated with
his family to America, locating in Lisbon, Kendall
County, 111. lie died at the home of our subject,
in February, 1865, at the age of eighty-four years,
and was laid to rest in Onarga Cemetery. His
wife died in Chicago. They had but two chil-
dren, our subject and Mrs. Ellen .Shaw, a widow,
residing in Kendall Count}-, 111.
At the age of fifteen, John .Smethurst was ap-
prenticed to a shoe-maker, but after serving some
lime he ran away, and in 1844 sailed for New
York. He has crossed the ocean three times, and
has never slept in a house in this country except
in Illinois. He (irst located in Chicago, where he
worked at his trade for some time, and while there
took two premiums, in 1846 and 1847, on cork
boots.
On the 6th of November of the latter year, he
returned to England, there residing until 1851.
During that time he was married, May 14, 1848, to
Elizabeth Smethurst, a distant relative. Their
marriage was celebrated in Disbren, in the same
church where his])arents were married. Unto our
subject and his wife have been born the following
children: Ellis, who married Ilattie Davis, and is
engaged in farming in Onarga Township on his
father's land; Ann Harriet, wife of Oliver Shep-
herd, of Oilman; Elizabeth Jane, John Peel and
Enieline, who were all born, and still reside, on the
old homestead.
On his return to -Vmeiica, Air. Smethurst en-
gaged in farming in Kendall County until 1858,
wlien he came to Iroquois Count}', purchasing one
hundred and six acres of wild prairie land. With
characteristic energy he began its development,
and the once wild tract has now been transformed
into licli and fertile fields, which yield to him a
golden tribute. The boundaries of his farm have
also been extended until it now comprises three
hundred and twenty acres of valuable land.
Mr. Smethurst is Vice-president of the Farmers'
Mutual Benefit Association, and a warm advocate
of the principles of that organization. He cast his
first vote in 1848 for Cass, and has since supported
the Democratic party except in 1860 and 1864,
when he voted for Lincoln, but he does not con-
sider hiijiself bound by anj' party ties. Mr. Sme-
thurst intends to exhibit some of his work in the
line of his trade at the World's Fair at Chicago in
1893. His wife has taken many premiums on her
knitting work at fairs all over the country, and
carried off a premium at the New Orleans Exposi-
tion on a knitted quilt. She makes much beauti-
ful fancy work, which adorns her home. The
Smethurst household is the abode of hospitality,
and its members rank high in social circles. Our
subject need never regret his emigration to Amer-
ica, for although he began life empty-handed in
this country, he has here met with success, acquir-
ing a handsome property, and has also found a
pleasant home and made many friends.
z' <^^•^^•
^p^ I LAS BROCK, who resides on section 19,
^-^ has longer been a resident of Ash Grove
Township than any other of its citizens,
and this work would be incomplete if his
life record were omitted. He has watched the growth
of the county from the days of its earliest infancy,
has seen its progress and advancement, and has
aided in its upbuilding and development. He was
born December 12, 1841, on the old homestead of
the Brock family.
Lewis Brock, the grandfather of our subject, was
a native of Knox County, Tenn.,and there wedded
Mary Richards. In 1810, he emigrated to Wash-
ington County, Ind., becoming one of its pioneer
settlers, and in the midst of a forest he hewed out
a farm. In 1837, he came with his family to
Illinois, and cast in his lot with the earliest settlers
of Ash Grove Township. His home wasa log cabin,
and he there spent the remainder of his days, his
death occurring in 1847. His wife survived him
about six years. Both were members of the Aletii-
odist Episcopal Church, and are numbered among
the pioneers of the county. .\t the time of their
arrival here, deer, wolves and wild hogs roamed at
will, and the prairies weie covered l^ith high grass,
642
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Few were the settlements, and there were many
privations and hardships to be endured. The fam-
ily of Lewis and Mar}- Brock numbered nine chil-
dren : George A. came to I llinois, married Elizabeth
Harve}', and died in this county; Gabriel also
came to this State, but spent his last days in Indi-
ana; Nancy died in this county; P0II3', deceased,
was the wife of John Willoughby; Rachel died in
Indiana; and Minerva became the wife of Aaron
Moore, but is now deceased. The other children
never came to Illinois.
Lewis R. Brock, father of Silas, was b'jin in
Indiana, in 1823, and when a lad of thirteen years
came with his parents to this county. Amid the
wild scenes of frontier life he was reared to man-
hood. In 1840 he wedded Mary Ann Bishop, a
native of Ohio, and then improved a farm on sec-
tion 23, Ash Grove Township. At length he sold,
and developed land on section 25, there making his
home until his death, which occurred on the 8th
of November, 1855, at the age of thirty-two years.
His remains were interred in Ash Grove Cemetery.
His privileges in youth were very limited, but he
made the most of his opportunities, and became a
substantial and highly respected citizen of this
community. He was a member of the Methodist
Church, and in politics was a Whig. After his
death Mrs. Brock became the wife of Wesley Har-
vey, and they now reside in Cissna Park. The
Br0(!k family numbered four children: Silas, of this
sketch; Charles, who resides in Chicago; Hannah
Mary, wife of John S. Gilbert, of Onarga; and Mrs.
Sarah A. Rutley, of Cissna Park.
The history of the early life of our subject is
that of pioneer days in this county. The township
was but sparsely settled, and wild game was plen-
tiful. The nearest markets were Middleport and
Milford, and all grain was hauled to Chicago or La
Fayette. Oxen were used in farming and in mar-
keting, and the farm implements were very crude.
The schools which our subject attended were con-
ducted on the subscription plan. At the age of
sixteen, however, he went to Greencastle, Ind.,
and for eighteen months was a student in Asbury
(now DePauw) University. The first year after
his father's death he operated the home farm, but
as his health was not good, he again returned to
school in Indiana, his mother removing to Green-
castle. Later he returned to the farm, and August
7lh, 1860, he married Maria L. Aye, a native of
Vermilion County, Ind., who came here to teach
school. She was one of the first public school
teachers in this community, .nnd for three months'
service received only -toO.
On the 8th of August, 1862, Mr. Brock enlisted
for the late war as a member of Company E, Seven-
ty-sixth Illinois Infantry, under Capt. Irvin. Tlie
troops were then sent to Cairo and Columbus, and
afterward were attached to Grant's army, partici-
pating in the siege of Yicksburg. They then
marched into Mississippi, below the Tallahatchie,
River. Their supplies were cut off at Holly Springs,
and they had to retreat, during which time they
lived for twenty days on cornmeal without salt.
Subsequently thej- returned to Memphis and went
down the river. Later, thej' went to Jackson, Miss.,
after Johnston, and after the battle returned to
Vicksburg. In February they went with Sherman
to Meridian, and after that raid were again in Jack-
son, where a severe fight occurred, the Sevent.y -sixth
Illinois losing heavily. Mr. Brock was grazed by
a bullet, but the injuiy was slight. He did duty
in Mississippi for some time longer, and in Febru-
ary, 1865, went to New Orleans, •from where the
troops went to Florida and engaged in the siege
and capture of Ft. Blakely. They then went to
Mobile and on to Galveston, Tex., where they were
mustered out July 22, 1865. The regiment was
disbanded at Chicago on the 1st of August, and
after three years' service, Mr. Brock returned home.
With his regiment he marched twelve hundred
miles. He was always found at his post of duty,
and proved himself a valiant soldier.
On his return from the war, Mr. Brock engaged
in farming for about twelve years, and in 1877 re-
moved to Ash Grove. Five 3'ears ago he estab-
lished a drug store, which he has since operated. He
is aregisterod pharmacist, and has a well-kept store.
Two years ago he opened a general merchandise
e5tablishment, and is now carrying on a successful
business in that line. He is a man of excellent
business ability, sagacious and far-sighted, and by
perseverance and good management he has won
prosperity. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brock were born
K)RTRAJT AND BIOGKAPHICAL RECORD.
643
four ehildren: ]\Iary L., wife of Austin Pierce, of
Milford; Bertlia A., who assists her father in the
store; Rose E., wife of Henry Bishop, a farmer of
Ash Grove Township; and Marcus A., at home.
The children were all educated in the public schools
and in Onarga Seminar}.
For twelve 3'ears, Mr. Brock acceptablj' filled the
otiice of Justice of the Peace, for four years was
Township Collector and for four years was Assessor;
he has held some school offices, and for five ^ears has
been tlie efficient Postmaster of Ash Grove. So-
cially, he is a member of G. H. Nceld Post No. o7fi,
G. A. R., at Cissna Park, and in religious belief he
is a Methodist. The church finds in him a faithful
member, and he does all in his power to advance
any worthy enterjjrise and to promote those in-
terests calculated to prove of public benefit. His
residence in thecountj- covers a period of fifty-one
years. He has been a valued citizen, a leading and
enterprising business man, a faithful soldier and
an honored pioneer.
vr^EORGE W. ROBERTS, who owns and oper-
(11 g— . ates two hundred and ninety-five acres of
5<ii<4 valuable land, resides on section 35, Mil-
ford Township. He was born on the 26th of March,
1831, in Fountain County, Ind., and is descended
from good old Revolutionary stock. His paternal
grandfather served in the War for Independence,
and his (uandfathcr Taylor was in the AVar of
1812. His Grandmother Roberts reached the ad-
vanced age of ninetj'-seven years. The parents of
our subject, Archibald and Anna (Taylor) Roberts,
were both natives of Virginia, and in 1829 they
emigrated to Fountain Count}', Ind., where Mr.
Roberts entered land and began the development
of a farm. The mother died in 1839. Oursubject
was her only child. In 1840, Archibald Roberts
was again married, his second union being with
PiKebe AUenduff, a native of Ohio. They became
the parents of six children, five sons and a daughter,
the eldest of whom, AVilliam, a resident of Foun-
tain County. Ind., married Lizzie Canfield, by
whom he has three children. Frederick was twice
married. He wedded Miss Margaretta Duncan,
who died a year later. His second wife, who is also
deceased, was in her maidenhood Miss Josie Stan-
ley, and unto them were born a son and daughter.
JIary died in the fall of 1864. Joseph II. married
Miss Mary Driscoll, by whom he had two daugh-
ters, but one died when only a 3'ear old. Jasper
J. married Miss Mattie Pearson, and their family
numbers a son and daughter. Charles A., the
youngest of the family, resides on the old home-
stead in Indiana, where his father first located.
George W. Roberts, of this sketch, was reared to
manhood amid the wild scenes of frontier life, and
was earl}' inured to the hard labors of improving
and developing a farm on the frontier; here
he developed habits of self-reliance and indus-
try which have proven of incalculable benefit to
him in later years. He continued to make his
home in the State of his nativity until twenty-four
years of age, when, in 1855, he came to Illinois,
settling in Iroquois County, about three and a-half
miles south of Milford. He purchased a farm of
one hundred and seventy-five acres and has since
made it his home, devoting his attention exclu-
sively to agricultural pursuits, with the exception
of a period which he spent in the army. August
9, 1862, he responded to the country's call, enlist-
ing in Company E, Seventy-sixth Illinois Infantry,
and for three years was one of its faithful de-
fenders. When his term of service had expired
and the war wasover, he was honorably discharged,
and reached home August 7, 1865. He partici-
l)ated in the siege of Vicksburg, the battles of
Jackson, of Jackson Cross Roads, and of Ft.
Blakely. They traveled over twelve thousand
miles and did duty in eight of the Confederate
States. Our subject was in every engagement of
his regiment.
On the 30th of March, 1868, Mr. Roberts and
Miss Mary H. Gray were united in marriage.
Their family numbered six childien, but their first-
l)Oin died in infancy: Florence, Archibald, Re-
becca, Nellie and Kittie were the other members of
tiie family, but Florence and Nellie are the only
ones yet living. The family have a pleasant home
upon one of the fine farms of the county. Mr.
Roberts has added to his first p\nchase and now
644
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
owns a valuable tract of two hundred and ninety-
five aeres,all under a high state of cultivation
and well improved. For many years he has en-
gaged in stock-raising on an extensive scale.
Mr. Roberts cast his first Presidential vote for
John C. Fremont in 1856, and has since continued
to support the Republican party, of whose princi-
ples he is a warm advocate. He has never been
an officer-seeker, yet was elected and twice served
as Assessor of his township. Socially, he is a mem-
ber of Vennum Post No. 471, G. A. R.,of Milford.
Mr. Roberts is numbered among the early settlers
of the county, and during his long residence his
upright life, straightforward business dealings and
sterling worth have won for him many friends.
To every duty of citizenship he is as faithful as
when he wore the "blue." On the 26th of August,
1891, his wife was called to her final I'est. She w.is
a member of the Universalist Church.
^1 OSEPH PRUITT has for thirty-seven years
been an honored and respected citizen of
Iroquois County. He now resides on sec-
' tion 23, Lovejoy Township, and is, recog-
nized as one of the progressive and public-spirited
citizens of the community. He was born in Tip-
pecanoe County, Ind., on the 16th of March, 1843,
and is the eighth in order of birth in a family of
eleven children, born of the union of John R. and
Barbara (Baker) Pruitt. His parents are men-
tioned more fully in the sketch of J. A. Pruitt, of
Ash Grove Township, on another page of this
work. Of 'their seven sons and four daughters,
nine are yet living.
Our subject was a lad of twelve summers when
he came to Iroquois County. He is largely a self-
educated and self-made man. His advantages in
youth were limited, except in the line of farm
labor. His father purchased four hundred and
eighty acres of raw land, and Joseph aided in its
development and cultivation, transforming the
tract into rich and fertile fields. His parents af-
terward met with reverses, and when he started
out in life for himself he had no capital save a
pair of willing hands and a strong determination
to succeed. As a companion and helpmate on
life's journey he chose Miss Augusta Hurd, their