farmer and spent his entire life in his native coun-
try. .James is the youngest of the farailj', which
consisted of three sons and four daughters, all of
whom grew to mature 3'ears, and with the excep-
tion of one son, are all still living. One sister is a
resident of La Salle County, 111.
Our subject grew to manhood, receiving good
school advantages, on the Emerald Isle. Deciding
to seek his fortune in the New World, in 1853 he
took passage at Liverpool in a sailing-vessel, and
for five weeks was on the bosom of the Atlantic
Ocean, during that time experiencing some very
severe weather. He arrived in the United States
in Maj^ and went direct to Illinois, joining his
brother-in-law, James Hall, in La Salle County.
He worked for him and others during the succeed-
ing four years in that neighborhood.
At the breaking out of the late war, Mr. Phil-
lips entered the service of his adopted country,
joining Col. Morrell's regiment, which was drilled
at home, in 1861. He was soon, however, discharged
on account of disability. On account of hishealth,
he next decided to return for a visit to the land
of his birth and the scenes of his youth. He there
spent three j'ears, and at the end of this time again
started from Liverpool, this time in a steam-ves-
sel, going to Portland, Me. He arrived in La
Salle County about the 1st of May, 1865, and dur-
ing the remainder of that year worked by the
month.
Mr. Phillips was united in marriage in that
county to Sarah Patterson, who, though of Scotch
parentage, was like him born and reared in Ire-
land. Their marriage was celebrated November
6, 1865. To this worthy couple were born four
children: George A. Phillips, a farmer of Iroquois
County; two daughters, Lizzie and Evalen, who
both reside at home; and an infant deceased.
The year after his marriage Mr. Phillips rented
a farm in La Salle County for a term of six j"ears.
This he ran until the spring of 1874, when, coming
to Iroquois County, he purchased a quarter-section
of raw prairie land. This he broke and fenced
and otherwise cultivated and improved. He now
has his place well tiled and in every waj' it shows
the care and labor he has expended upon it. He
and his estimable lady have passed through the
hardships incident to the early pioneers. The
latter has been an invalid much of the time.
Politically, Mr. Phillips was identified with the
Democratic party and cast his first vote for Ste-
phen A. Douglas. Later he affiliated with the
Prohibition party, supporting their nominees and
principles. He is a friend of education and is in
favor of good public schools. Anything which he
can do to forward the cause of education is done
b}' him, and for several years he has served as a
member of the School Board. He and bis wife
and daughters are members of the Congregational
Church at Crescent City. Mr. Phillips has been a
resident of Illinois for about thirty-six years, eigh-
teen years of which time he has been a resident of
Iroquois County, and during that period he has
helped to make the county what it is to-day, one
of the best in the State. He is well and favorably
known throughout this section, and is a man of
honor, integrity and enterprise.
(^ IVILLIAM R. BURKITT, a dealer and ship-
\/\j/l ^^^ '^^ ''^^' ^^^ straw in Pittwood, also
V^ one of the leading farmers of Martinton
Township, is a native of Virginia. He was born
in "Washington County on the 12th of March,
1845, and is a son of Simeon Burkitt. His father
was born and reared in North Carolina, and in the
State of his nativity married Axy Miller, also a
native of North Carolina. The father was a
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
713
blacksmith by trade and followed that occupation
for a number of 3'ears prior to his removal to Vir-
ginia. In 1846, when our subject was a babe of a
j'ear, he removed with his family to Miami County',
Ohio, where he engaged in blacksmithing until
1855. That ^ear witnessed his emigration to Illi-
nois. Locating in Middlcport, Iroquois County,
he established a smithy and carried on business in
the line of his chosen trade for a number of years.
He is now living a retired life and makes his home
with his children in Watseka. His wife was
called to her final rest in August, 1885.
Tlie subject of this sketch is the sixth in order
of birth in a family of eleven children, nine of
whom are yet living: Esther, wife of Abraham
Mann, a resident of Darke County, Ohio; W. Troy,
who enlisted in tiie late war as a member of the
Ninety-third Ohio Infantry, and died in the ser-
vice of his country; James, a resident farmer of
Miami County, Ohio; America, wife of I. B. Dick-
erson, a resident of Pennsylvania; W. R., whose
name heads this sketch; Andrew, who is living in
Iroquois County; John, who makes his home in
Watseka; Mary, wife of William Burdick; Loroma,
wife of Lott Mote; and Jennie, wife of Dennis
Myers, of Kansas.
Mr. Burkitt, whose name heads this record, spent
about nine years of his boyhood in Ohio, and
when a lad of ten summers came with his parents
to this count}-, where he was reared to manhood.
His school privileges were quite limited and since
he has attained to years of maturity tlie greater
part of his education has been .acquired. In early
life he learned the blacksmith's trade in his
father's shop and after arriving at his majority he
followed farming and various other employments.
In 1881, he located in Pittwood and established a
bl.acksmith shop, carrying on business in that line
for a period of five years. In the meantime he
traded his farm for a stock of goods and embarked
in merchandising, to which business he devoted
his energies for two 3'ears, when he sold out. He
then purchased a hay-press and since that time has
been engaged quite extensively- in baling and
shipping hay and straw, shipping on an average
about two hundred car-loads annually. During
the past three years he has also been engaged in
farming. He owns two hundred and forty acres
of land three miles west of Pittwood, a v.aluable
farm which yields to him a good income.
On the 29th of April, 1874, in Watseka, Mr.
Burkitt was united in marriage with Miss Mary J.
IMcIntyre. The lady is a native of Ohio, but was
reared and educated in Watseka. Prior to her
marri.age she successfully engaged in te.aching.
She is a daughter of Robert Mclnt3-re, who was
born in the Buckej-e State on the 12th of June,
1823, and died November 24, 1873. He was lib-
erally educated and in earl}' life took up the stud.y
of law, becoming .an eminent mcmlier of and a
successful practitioner at the Iroquois Count}" Bar.
A man of pronounced ability and upright charac-
ter, his influence was felt far and wide. He was
charitable and benevolent almost to a fault, and
was universally esteemed, being truly called one
of Nature's noblemen, .\bout 1859 he emigrated
to Illinois from Mt. ^'ernon, Ohio, where he had
previously resided. This county was then just
being opened for settlement. Sir. Mclnt^-re lo-
cated in what was then known as Middleport, now
known as "Old Town," and served as Postmaster
at that place during Lincoln's administration. Mr.
Mclntyre was a great admirer of Lincoln and was
a stanch advocate of Republican principles and
did all in his power for the promotion and success
of that party. The mother of Mrs. Burkitt bore
the maiden name of Sarah J. Winterringer. She
was a native of Knox County, Ohio, born .January
10, 1830. Her death occurred .September 2, 1872.
Of the Presbj-terian Church she was a faithful
member. In the Mclntyre famih' were nine chil-
dren, five sons and four daughters, of whom five
are living at this writing, in the winter of 1892-93,
namel}-: John, a professor of music residing in
Kansas; Mary J., wife of our subject; Nanie, wife
of Taylor Channel, who resides in this county;
George, who is living in Pittwood, 111., and carries
on business in connection with Mr. Burkitt; and
Fannie, wife of C. Reynolds, a resident farmer of
Iroquois County.
Mrs. Burkitt 's maidenhood days were spent in
AVatseka. She acquired an excellent education in
the graded schools of '"Old Town,'" and became
one of the county's brightest and most successful
714
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
teachers. She is a lady of pleasing address, pos-
sesses many excellencies of character, and to her
husband has proved a valuable helpmate. Her
home is the abode of hospitality. By the union
of Mr. and Mrs. Burkitt have been born two chil-
dren, Winnefred and Lolo, but the. latter died at
the age of two years and seven months. The
former is now a student in Battle Creek College,
Battle Creek, Mich., where she is pursuing a class-
ical course. She is an excellent musician, has
been educated both in vocal and instrumental
music, and is a 3'oung lady of pronounced literary
taste.
Both ^Ir. aud Mrs. lUukilt are members of the
Seventh Da}' Adventist Church of Pittwood and
are highly respected citizens who hold an enviable
position in social circles. In politics, Mr. Burkitt
IS a Republican, but has never been an aspirant
for political preferment, desiring rather to devote
his entire time to liis business interests, in which
he has met with excellent success. He commenced
life a poor man, empty-handed, but by his own
labor, enterprise and industry has accumulated a
valuable farm and good home. He is now recog-
nized as one of the substantial citizens of the
county. Almost his entire life has been passed in
this locality, and his honorable, upright career has
won him the confidence and esteem of all.
WILLIAM FLESIIER, a representative
farmer residing on section 20, Iroquois
Township, is one of the honored pioneers
of the count}', who for many years has witnessed
the growth and development of this part of the
State and aided in the upbuilding and progress of
the community in which he makes his home. A
native of Ohio, he was born in Meigs County, on
the Ohio River, .Tuly 14, 1829. His father, a Vir-
ginian by birth, was born in 1782, and his grand-
father, Henry Flesher, was a native of Germany,
Crossing the Atlantic, he became one of the early
settlers of Virginia. The Indians were still num-
erous in the neighborhood of his home, and on
one occasion he was shot bj' an Indian, Kisarm be-
ing shattered in the attack.
John Flesher, the father of our subject, was then
a lad of fourteen j'ears. He grew to manhood in
the State of liis nativity, and there married Sarah
Jackson, who was born in Virginia, but her father
was a native of New Jersey. After their marriage
the}' emigrated to the Buckeye State, settling in
Meigs County then an almost unbroken wilder-
ness. They located at the mouth of Oldtown
Creek, about ten miles above Pomeroy, where Mr.
Flesher improved and developed a farm and reared
his family. He there made his home until 1835,
when he came to Illinois and took up his residence
on Spring Creek, Iroquois Township. He was one
of the first settlers of that locality, the date of his
arrival being November 3. 1835. The work of j
civilization and progress seemed scarcely begun in
this community, the land was in its primitive con-
dition, and few improvements or settlements had
been made. The family suffered all the hardships
and privations of life on the frontier. They had
a long distance to go to market, and had to go
about fifty miles to mill. There were no roads
and they had to follow Indian trails, or trust to
their own memory to guide them on the return
journey. Mr. Flesher entered from the Govern-
ment about a-half section of land and opened up
a farm, upon which he made his home until his
death, which occurred in 1866. His wife departed
this life in 1855, and both were buried in Flesher
Cemetery, where a marble monument marks their
last resting-place. He was an old Jackson-Demo-
crat in political sentiment, but was never an as-
pirant for office. Mrs. Flesher was a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church and a consistent
Christian lady.
Unto this worthy couple were born ten children,
the following of whom grew to maturity: Phrcbe,
now deceased. Stephen was married and died in
this county. He was a blacksmith by trade and
one of the pioneer workmen in that line in this
community. John, who was also married and reared
a family, is now deceased; Jacob has also passed
away; Jefferson resides in AVatseka; Henry died
in January, 1847, leaving a widow to mourn his
loss. The deceased members of the family are all
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
715
buried in Flesher Cemetery with the exception of
llonry, wliose lemains were interred about tliree
milos from tliis place.
AVilliam Flesher, whose name heads this record,
was a lad of seven summers when he came with
his parents to this county, where he has since re-
sided. Amid tlie wild scenes of frontier life he
was reared to manhood, and he was early inured
to the liard labors of developing and improving a
new farm. lie remained with his father until his
deatli, and tlien look cliarge of the old homestead,
a part of which became liis through a deed given
liim by liis fatlier in 1852. He has followed farm-
ing tliroughout his entire life, and has been very
hueeessful. He owns two hundred and eighty-
seven acres of valuable land, under a high state of
cultivation and well improved, with a good resi-
dence and substantial outbuildings. He also owns
two line llowing wells, both near his home.
On the 26th of November, 1857,Mr. Flesher was
joined in wedlock with Mrs. Susanna Kepner, a
native of Tippecanoe County, Ind., and a daugh-
ter of Benjamin Parker. She was reared and first
married in Indiana. By her first marriage he had
one cliild, Alice, who is now the wife of George
Stup, of Iroquois County. Unto Mr. and Mrs.
Flesher has been born a son, Allen, who married
Miss Sarah Curtis, and is now carrying on tlie
home farm. He and his wife have two cliildren.
Mr. and Mrs. Flesher also lost tliree children:
Emma became the wife of J. C. Pickens and died
in 1890, leaving three children, who areyetliving;
Maggie is also deceased; and Bennie died at tlie
age of twenty years.
Since bccomi|jg a voter, Mr. Hesher has been
identified with the Democratic part3', and is a
stalwart advocate of its principles. He cast his
first Presidential vote for Lewis Cass, and has al-
w.iys taken an interest in political affairs, but h.as
never been an aspirant for the honors or emolu-
ments of i)ublic office. However, he filled the of-
fice of Justice of the Peace for ten consecutive
years and then resigned. For the long period of
fifty-five years he has known no otiier liomc than
Iroquois County. As a public-spirited and pro-
gressive citizen lie has ever borne his part in the
development of the county, and has seen the
transformation which the rapid strides of progress
have made, until few landmarks of pioneer days
yet remain. He is a man of unblemished charac-
ter, and his upright life has won him the confi-
dence and respect of all, in which his estimable
wife also shares.
/^jHRISTIAN ZUMWALT, a self-made man
(â– ( who is engaged in general farming on sec-
^^^' tion 21, Sheldon Township, was born on
the 8lli of September, 1824, in Lexington Ky., and
is the youngest in a family of eight children
whose parents were Philip and Leah (Powell) Zum-
walt, also natives of Kentucky. In 1833, when
our subject was a lad of nine years, the father re-
moved with his family to Indiana, locating in
Fountain County, where he spent his last da^'s,
but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home,
his death occurring in 1837.
No event of special importance occurred during
the boyhood of our subject, which was quietl}-
passed in the usual manner of farmer lads. He
remained at home until tvvent3'-one years of age
and tiien started out in life for himself, following
the occupation to which he was reared. Securing
land in Vermillion County, Ind., he engaged in
its cultivation for ten years, after which he came
to Illinois, in 1855, and cast in his lot with the
early settlers of Iroquois County. For more than
a third of a century he has now made his home
in this community. He began farming and pros-
perity has crowned his efforts until he is now the
owner of more than two hundred and forty acres
of finely improved farming land. All is under a
higli state of cultivation and tlie improvements
ui)on the jilaee stand ns monuiiients to his thrift
and enterprise.
Turning from the business to the home life of
Mr. Zumwalt, we learn that he was married, on the
18tli of February, 1846, to Miss Salinda Oder, who
has been his faithful comitanion and helpmate for
fortj'-six j-ears. The lady is a native of Illinois
and a daughter of Joseph Oder. Eight children
grace this union, of whom seven are now living.
716
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
narael}-: Mary Jane, wife of J. R. Fox, a resident
of Chicago; Martlia Elizabeth, wife of L. Mitchell,
a resident farmer of Stockland Township; Sarah
Jane, wife of Dan Meeker, who is living in Mc
Lean County; Adelia, who married George Mar-
tin, a resident of Belmont Township; Charles, who
is living in McLean County; George, a resident of
Sheldon; and Frank at home.
Mr. Zumwalt is a supporter of the Republican
party but has never been an ofiice-seeker. The
only official positions he has held are in connection
with the schools and roads. Himself and wife are
faithful members of the Christian Church and
are highly respected citizens of the community,
who well deserve representation among the prom-
inent residents of Sheldon Township.
!l^^
f
^1 ESSE R. EASTBURN, one of the represen-
I I tative farmers and stock-raisers of the
,-^ I county, now owns and operates two hundred
l^^^ and seventy acres of land on section 31,
Concord Township. As he is widely and favorably
known throughout this community, we feel assured
that this record of his life will prove of interest to
many of our readers. He was born in Adams
County, Ohio, on the 4th of November, 1824, and
is a son of Hezekiah and Ann (Black) Eastburn.
His grandfather, Jesse Eastburn, removed with his
family from Maryland to Adams County, Ohio,
when Hezekiah was a mere lad, and became one of
its jiioneer settlers. He there entered land and
made his home among the Indians for a number of
years. He was born about 1770, and his death oc-
curred at the ripe old age of seventy-seven in this
county. He came to Illinois about 18.36 and was
a pioneer of both Adams County, Oliio, and of
Iroquois Count3'.
Hezekiah Eastburn was born in Maryland in
1800, and died in 18.32, at the early age of thirty-
two j'ears, leaving five children, of whom our sub-
ject is second in order of birth. On the death of
his father, Jesse went to live with .an uncle near
La Fayette, Ind., and there resided from eight un-
til tweut^'-one j-ears of age. The common schools
afforded him his educational privileges. On at-
taining his majority he received forty acres of land
from his father's estate, and in after years lie pur-
ciiased the interest of the other heirs in the home
farm, so that he now owns all of the land which his
father originally purchased.
About three years after taking possession of this
farm, Mr. Eastburn was married, on the 6th of Sep-
tember, 1846, to Miss Tabitha Critchfield,of Con-
cord Township,who was born in Coshocton County,
Ohio. Two daughters graced the union: Anna,
now the wife of Thomas Shrimplin, a resident
farmer of Concord Township, whose sketch appears
elsewhere in this work, and Ellen, wife of Frank
Coughenour, of the same townsliip. The mother of
this family died on the 9th of November, 1854,
and on the 1st of May, 1856, Mr. Eastburn was
again married, his second union being with Miss
Margaret Howiy. The lady is a native of Indiana,
her birth having occurred near Rangeville. Her
father, Abraham Howry, was born in the year 1800.
By trade he was a tailor and followed that business
for some time. Wlien the discovery of gold oc-
curred in California, he determined to seek his for-
tune in that far Western country and made a trip
to the P.acific Slope. Soon after his return to his
home his death occurred. In liis political faith he
w.as a Democrat. The mother of Mrs. Eastburn
died when her daughter w.as quite a small child.
The Howry family numbered six children, but Mrs.
Eastburn is the only one now living. She was
educated in the public schools, and the da3'S of
her maidenhood were spent in Illinois, wliere she
was married. She is a member of the United
Brethren Church, which is located iftar her home.
By the union of our subject and his wife have been
born four children, but one is now deceased, Heze-
kiah, who died when a babe of a year; Sarah Jane,
the eldest living child, is now the wife of John
Johnson, a resident of Oklahoma, and they have a
family of two children; Mattie became the wife of
Albert Rosenberger and their union has also been
blessed with two children; Jessie R., the youngest
of the family, is still under the parental roof.
Mr. Eastburn votes the Democratic ticket. His
father and grandfather supported the same party
and his son is also an advocate of the Democracy,
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
717
making four generations of Democrats. Our sub-
ject lias never been an offlce-seoker, but by his
friends was once compelled to accept the position
of .Supervisor. For twenty-five years he has been
connected with the Masonic fraternity, holding
meinhersliip with Lodge No. . 506 in Iroquois.
Although he inherited a small farm from liis father,
he is virtually a self-made man; by his industry,
perseverance and good management, he has added
t CI his original farm and has become one of the
prosperous and substantial agriculturists of the
community'. His farm is well tiled and fenced and
improved with good buildings and the neat appear-
ance of the place indicates his tiirift and attests the
supervision of a careful manager. Mr. Eastburn
is a worthy representative of one of the honored
pioneer families of the county, and he himself has
been prominently identified with the history of
this community for many years, doing all in his
power to aid in its upbuilding and to promote
those enterprises calculated to prove of public
benefit.
1[/AC0B MADISON HARMAN. a highly re-
spected farmer of Stockland Township,
residing in Sheldon, was born in Randolph
County, Mo., on the .31st of December,
1841. His parents, Anthonj- and Sarah Ann (Tur-
ner) Harman. were natives of Mrginia and Ken-
tucky respectively. By their union were born two
children, our subject and Benjamin T., who died
in childhood. The mother was called to her final
rest September 10, 1844, passing away at their
liome in Missouri. After the death of his first
wife, Antliouy Harman married Mrs. Theodosia
Xewton, daughter of James Carver, and unto
them were born six children: Virginia E., who in
the fall of 1865 became the wife of Benjamin T.
Lee, a resident of Benton Count}-, by whom she
has three children. Oscar P. married Lina .Jones,
daughter of .John H. Jones, of Iroquois County,
and with their only child, l>eioy, make their home
in Milford. Jeremiah R. married Laura Schoon-
over, of AVaiTcn County, Ind.,bj' whom he has one
son, William, and the^^ reside in iMilford, 111.
Emma is the wife of John Hamilton, a resident of
Attica, Ind., and unto them have been born two
children, a daughter and son, Bessie and Harman.
Waldo L. was joined in wedlock with Ellen,
daughter of Wilson Coghill, and their home is now
in Warren County, Ind. John J. wedded Fran-
ces Wagner, daughter of Michael Wagner. They
too are residents of Warren County, Ind., and
their family numbers four children, one son and
three daughters. Pearl, Anna, Docia and Oscar P.
It was about 1839 that Anthony Harman went
to Missouri to tr}- his fortune. He resided in that
State for about a quarter of a century, and on the
1st of March, 1865, removed to Warren County,
Ind., where he still makes his home, engaged in
farming and stock-raising. He has followed agricul-
tural pursuits throughout nearly his entire life,
and is a highly respected citizen of his adopted
count}'.
Under the parental roof the subject of this
sketch was reared to manhood, but when a j'oung
man he left home, and in January, 1862, went to
Warren County, Ind., where he lived with his
uncle, Jacob Harman, until 1864. He then re-
turned to Randolph County, Mo., and was a resi-
dent of that locality until April, 1870, when he
removed to Benton County, Ind. A year was
spent in that place, and in 1871 he came to Iro-
quois County, where he has since made iiis home.