grew to mature years: Richard is a farmer of
Adams County, where he is highly esteemed as an
enterprising and substantial agriculturist; Lavinia,
wife of Stephen Booth, a farmer of Adams County,
is now deceased; Caroline, widow of Bernard
Lynch, is a resident of Dul)uque, Iowa; Maria
was married to Joseph Elliott, and they are now
both deceased; Isaac N. is a resident of Oregon;
and George H., the 3'oungest of the famih', went
to California in 1849, in which State lie has since
resided. He is now a farmer and stock-raiser in
H3'desville, Humboldt Count}'.
The subject of this sketch came to Illinois when
a lad of thirteen years, and grew to manhood in
Adams County. He had but limited school ad-
vantages and is largeh' self-educated since arriv-
ing at mature years. He remained with his father
until reaching his majoritj-, and in 1844 went to
Wisconsin, where he was engaged as the foreman
of a smelting works. He was occupied in mining
there for three years.
On October 24, 1847, Mr. (iray led to the mar-
riage altar Electa M. Slayton, a native of the Em-
pire State, who was born in Genesee County, near
Cuba, March 24, 1824, where she was reared and
educated. She also lived in Chicago, where she
completed her education. She is a daughter of
John L. Slayton, of Utica, N. Y. Their family
numbers eiglit children: Isaac N. is the eldest;
Sarah M. is the wife of P. S. De Witt, of Martin-
ton, 111.; George H.; Anna C. is the wife of Alonzo
Hammond, of Kenipton, 111.; William; Owen L. is
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
745
married and resides on the homestead with his
father; Alice C. is the wife of Cliarles Riley, a rail-
road agent at Decatur, Iowa; Ira L., who is engaged
in business in Kankakee, is the j-oungest. Three
of the sons are married, have good residences and
live upon the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Gray and
also all of tiieir son* are members of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Gray has been con-
nected with that organization since 1848, and has
always given liberally of his means to the support
of churches and other charitable and benevolent
purposes.
After his marriage, our subject returned to Adams
County, 111., where he engaged in farming for about
two years upon a rented place. He then pur-
chased a piece of wild prairie land, where he com-
menced to improve a farm. His first farm con-
sisted of an eighty-acre tract, and as his financial
reso\irces increased and success blessed his efforts,
he added to his original purchase an adjoining
eighty acres and afterward forty acres more, mak-
ing in all two hundred acres, all good land, which
was located fourteen miles east of (iuinc}\ Mr.
Gray farmed upon that place for a number of
years, built good substantial buildings and greatly
improved his property. In 1870, he sold out and
removed to Iroquois County, buying land in Che-
banse Township. He purchased seven hundred I
and twenty acres of improved and valuable land,
and has since erected a good residence, barns and
other buildings. He has done considerable tiling
and ditching and has one of the best improved
farms in thecount}-.
Since the organization of the Republican [)artv,
Mr. Gra}- has been a supporter of its principles
and nominees. He voted for John C. Fremont in
1856, and was formely an old-line Whig. He has
served in several official positions to the credit of
himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents.
He is a believer in and supporter of our present
system of education and public schools, and for
fort}^ years has been an etticient and trusted mem-
ber of the School Board. Nearly his entire life
has been spent in this State and he has aided in
every way possible in the development and pro-
gress of this section. He is well known in this
county as one of the enterprising, thorough and i
successful farmers of this county, and is a man of
unblemished record and upright character and
worth. He has been Steward and Class-leader in
the Methodist Episcopal Church forty-five years,
and has been a Delegate to the Annual Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church several times.
His son Ira is married to Miss Estella Rosencrans,
of Kankakee; Isaac N. married Miss Ella Kinney;
George H. married Miss Nellie Lamb; Willliam
mairied Miss Ada More; Owen L. married Miss
Luc.y Gregory.
1^^^^*
/^\ ORNELHiS WILMORE STICKNEY is ed-
(|l p itor and proprietor of the Sheldon Journal,
^^7 a weekly newspaper, Republican in politics,
and devoted to the interests of Sheldon and vicin-
ity. In size it is a seven-column quarto, and in
appearance it is typographically neat. Mr. Stick-
ne^' is a man of excellent newspaper ability, and
practically experienced in the business. As a
writer he is eas3' and graceful, and in the expres-
sion of opinions is fair and imi)artial. He has
done much to popularize his paper with the people
of Iroquois County, especially in that part of the
county in which Sheldon is located. The Journal
has reached a large circulation and the families
into whose homes it goes number many hun-
dreds. Its growth has been phenomenal under
Mr. Stickni!y's energetic management. It has ob-
tained its position in the newspaper world bj- shut-
ting out all objectionable advertising, or reading
matter of a questionable character, by attention to
local matters, and b3' taking high moral grounds on
all public questions. While the Journal is Repub-
lican in politics, it treats all with fairness, and
thus holds the esteem and respect of all political
parties. Thus it is at all times fit to enter the
family, and its patrons have no fear of anything
being admitted to its columns that cannot be read
aloud in the family circle. The Journal is doing
much to elevate the standard of country journal-
ism, and will receive its reward by a liberal pat-
ronage of the intelligent people of Iroquois
County.
746
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD,
Cornelius W. Stlckney was the first male child
born in the village of East Bradford, Mass., which
is now known as Groveland. His birth occurred
on March 9, 1850. He is a direct descendant of
Samuel Stickney, who emigrated from England to
America in Colonial da3's and settled in Massachu-
setts. On the maternal side he also comes of an
old American family'.
The father of our subject, Leonard W. Stickney,
was born in the old Baj' State in 1821. In early
manhood he was married to Miss Susan J. Strceter,
a native of Portland, Me. When their son Cor-
nelius was a lad of five summers they emigrated
to Illinois, locating in Freeport, where Mr. Stick-
ney engaged in the shoe business, carrying on
both a wholesale and retail trade. In 1860 he
removed his stock to Denver, Colo., where he con-
tinued in the same business for about four years.
Then selling, he went to Virginia City, and after-
ward to Helena, Mont., where lie purchased a stock
of books and stationcrj', carried on a very lucra-
tive trade, and accumulated a line property. He
was quite prominent as a citizen, and was identi-
fied with many important enterprises of tliat
young and rapidly growing metropolis. How-
ever, misfortune finally overtook him, and one
night his store and its contents were totally de-
stroyed by fire. All the money which he could
gain was used to pay his creditors, with whom he
settled satisfactorily, paying one hundred cents
on the dollar. This, however, left him nothing.
He had been carrying an insurance of 826,000, hut
the great Chicago fire occurred eight days later,
and before he could prove his loss to the compan-
ies of that city in which he held policies, they
were broken up and he received only $1,600. When
his business was finally settled in Montana, Mr.
Stickney returned with his family to Illinois, lo-
cating near Normal. Soon afterward he was
stricken with paralysis, but this disabled him for
only a short time, and produced no effect upon
his bright and vigorous mind. He then engaged
in keeping hotel. His death occurred of apo-
plexy in Bloominglon, December 1, 1874, at the
age <?f fifty-two years. Mr. Sticknej' was a well-
educated and cultured man, and, possessing genial
qualities of heart and mind, drew around him a
large circle of friends, by whom he is held in
kindly remembrance. He was strictly honorable
and upright in all his dealings, and looked with
contempt upon a mean action.
Mrs. Stickney is still living and makes her home
in Blooraington, III. Her family numbered three
children, but Elias V. died in early manhood,
when twenty-one j-ears of age; Susie C. now re-
sides with her mother.
The subject of this sketch acquired a good edu-
cation in his youth, and at the age of sixteen
years went to Montana, where he joined his father,
assisting him in carrying on the business which he
followed in Helena. He has alwaj-s been fond of
books, has ever been an extensive reader, and in
earl}' life gave evidence of literary ability. Ilis
first newspaper woik was on the Helena Daily
Herald. He here evinced his fitness for newspaper
work, acquitting himself creditably. In 1871,
after his father's failure, he returned to Illinois
and engaged in various pursuits to assist himself
and his family.
Mr. Stickney was connected with the hotel
which his father had established in Bloomington,
and while there made the acquaintance of Miss
Juliet Frances Winsor, with whom he was united
in marriage October 28, 1875. The lady was born
near Atlanta, this State, June 9, 1853, and died at
Sheldon, tins State, March 3, 1892. She was the
daughter of Daniel and Annie R. (Brown) Winsor,
both of whom were natives of Rhode Island. Her
love of the Word of God, and her exemplary
Christian life, gave witness to the grace of God
upon her heart. An active member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, the Woman's Foreign Mis-
sionary Society', and the Woman's Christian Tem-
perance I'nion, she evidenced her undoubted
piety. She was truly a home-maker; there her
character shone with every womanly charm and
virtue. She was also an excellent pianist and
fond of literature, and found much enjoyment in
her music and books. The funeral was held at
the Sheldon Methodist Episcopal Church March 5,
1892, after which the remains were conveyed to
the Sheldon cemetery and laid to rest until for
her the rosy dawn shall break over the tranquil
waves that caress the distant but beautiful shore.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
747
Mr. and Mis. C. W. Stickne\- beg.in their do-
mestic life in Bloomington. where they re-
mained for a year, and tlien removed to
Olney. III. Mr. Stiekney secured employment
on the Olney Daily Ledger, but after a year re-
turned to Bloomington and accepted the manage-
ment of the .St. Nicholas hotel.
It was ]\[r. Stiekney 's desire, however, to return
to newspaper work, and in 1878 he purchased the
Chenoa (III.) Gazette, conducting it* publication
until the fall of 1883. He then removed to Liv-
ingston County and established the Forrest Ram-
bler, which speedily became one of the leading Re-
publican papers of that county. Since August 1,
18;tl,he lias engaged in the publication of the
Sheldon Journal. He became identified with the
JIasonic fraternity in 1871, in which he has made
considerable advance, being in the Royal and Select
Master degree. He is an enthusiastic member of
the Republican party, to which he gives willing
and ready allegiance on all occasions, defending
its i)rinciples and voting for its nominees. He and
his family are active members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, of which they are worthy com-
municant.s.
Jlr. Stickney's family now includes but two
daughters: May Frances, born at Olney, 111., Mav
.31. 187G; and Lili.in Estelle, born at Chenoa, HI.,
September 16, 1880. His only son, Merl. died at
the age of eleven months.
I ItlLLIAM H. CASSIDY, who carries on an
insurance business and also runs a livery
in Oilman, is a native of Ireland, where
he was born March 17, 1837, in County Donegal.
He is a son of .John and .J.ane (Chestnut) Cassidj-,
both of whom were natives of the same eountv.
They had a familv of nine sons, of whom eight
lived to be grown, and all of whom came to the
United States. The father followed the occupa-
tion of farming. Of the children, .Samuel, a grad-
uate of Dublin College, was the first to leave his
home and cross the broad Atlantic. He came
about 1846, and is now engaged in merchandising
on Staten Island. Some two years later his brother
John followed his example, coming to the United
States, and w.as yardmaster at Olney, 111., where
he was killed by the cars in the year 1859.
Richard and Thomas emigrated about 18.52, the
former residing at Crescent City, Iroquois County,
while the latter was in the mercantile business with
his eldest brother and died in New York City.
Our subject next left his native land, and his
brother Moses in 1862 did likewise, and is an
extensive farmer in Winnebago Count\-, 111. At
the close of the war, James and Ilenr^-, the re-
maining sons, came with their parents to the Xew
AVorld. James eng.iged in the mercantile business
in New York until the time of his death, while
Henrj' lived quite a number of years in Oilman,
following the insurance business, and has but lately
removed to Chicago. The parents later removed
to Winnebago Count\', where they both died at
the age of eightj'-five. They were members of
the Episcopal Church and among the worthy citi-
zens that Ireland has furnished to .\merica.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm
and his education was received in the common
schools of Ireland. He made the voyage across
the Atlantic in 1856, and in pursuit of fortune he
first sold Irish linens and notions from house to
house for a year. He then followed farming until
1860, when he entered his brother's store at De-
troit, Mich.
In the fall of the same year, when Mr. Cassidj''
went to Belvidere, 111., he there man led Sarah M.
Dawson, their marriage being celebrated on the
1st of December, 1860. .She was born in .Summit
County, Ohio, and reared to womanhood in Illi-
nois. Her parents came from England. After
their marriage, our subject and his wife settled in
Winnebago County, on a farm, where they lived
until 1866, at which time he bought one hundred
and sixty acres of land in what is now Danforth
Township. This he greatly improved and drained.
In 187a he removed to Oilman and has since been
in the insurance business. He purchased the liv-
er^' barn, which he still runs, in 1887. To Mr. and
Mrs. Cassidy were born four children: Jennie T.,
who carries on a stationery and book store, is the
748
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Assistant Postmaster at Gilman; Elmer married
Rosa Keller, and is engaged in the liver_y business
with his father; Alice C, a teacher of recognized
ability; and Minnie May, who died at the age of
six and a-half years.
Politically, Mr. Cassidy was a member of the
Republican party until 1884, since which time he
has been a Prohibitionist. He and his wife are
members of the Free-will Baptist Church, to which
they give their heart}' co-operation. Social 1}', he
is a Mason and Modern Woodman. By industry
and saving he has made a comfortable competence,
having commenced life without a dollar. During
his seventeen years of residence here he and his
estimable wife have made many friends and to
them their home is. most hospitably open. It is
with pleasure that we present this brief sketch of
one of Oilman's most worthy citizens, who though
a native of another land has always been most
loyal to his adopted country.
? UGU.ST WOCKENER, who carries on gen-
eral farming and stock-raising on section
/// I& 1, Middleport Township, is one of the
^fl worthy citizens tliat Germanj'^ has fur-
nished to this count}'. He was born in the Father-
land in December, 1840, .and is the eldest child of
August and Plondena Wockener. The death of
his mother occurred in 1868, but his father lived
to a ripe old age, passing away in 1886. Both
were members of the German Lutheran Church.
In their family our subject was followed by Carl,
who is still living in the Old Country; Lena, wife
of August Kirkman, a resident of Germany; and
Frederick, who crossed the Atlantic to America
and now makes his home in this country.
The boyhood days of our subject were quietly
passed under the parental roof. In accordance
with the laws of his native land, he attended school
between the ages of six and fourteen j'ears, after
which he learned the wagon makers' trade, follow-
ing that occupation until he came to America.
AVhen a young man, he determined to seek a home
in the New World, hoping thereby to improve his
financial condition. In 1868, he crossed the briny
deep, and landing in this countrj' made his way to
De Kalb County, 111., where he first located. There
he rented land and engaged in farming for two
years, after which he came to Iroquois Count}',
and for four years operated a rented farm in Ash-
kum Township. On the expiration of that period,
he came to Middleport Township and purchased
eighty acres of partially improved land, on section
20, and to the further development and cultiva-
tion of that tract he ''devoted his energies until
1885, when he purchased his present farm of two
hundred acres on section 1. He now engages in
general farming and stock-raising and his business
efforts are crowned with success.
In 1885, Mr. Wockener was joined in wedlock
with Miss Minnie Willett, and unto them has been
born a family of eight children, four sons and
four daughters, as follows: Ernest, Minnie, Lena,
August, Robert, Anna, Hattie and Herman. The
family circle has never been broken by the hand of
Death. Ernest and Minnie are married, the latter
having become the wife of Erick Swartz.
Mr. Wockener is a member of the German Luth-
eran Church, and in political sentiment is a Dem-
ocrat, having sujjported that party since he became
an American citizen. It was a fortunate day for
our subject when he determined to seek a home in
the United States, for here he has not only gained
prosperity, but h.as made many warm friends, ;ind
his life has been a pleasant, although busy one.
Industry and energy are numbered among his
chief characteristics, and as these are essential
qualities in success, he has acquired a comfortable
competence.
ellRISTOPHER S. GUTHRIE, a farmer re-
siding on section 30, Papiueau Township,
^ has for twenty -seven years resided in this
county. He was born in Ohio, December 22, 1838,
his birth having occurred at Mt. Pleasant, Jeffer-
son County. He is a son of Capt. Henry P.Guth-
rie, a native of Virginia, who was born in King
1<0RTRA1T AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
749
and Queen County, Februaiy 23, 1793. He mar-
ried in Ricliniond, Va., Catherine Stednian, who
was also born in the same State. Mr Gutlirie was
a merchant and manufacturer of carriages. About
the year 1828, leaving Virginia, he removed to
Ohio, settling in .Jefferson County. There he en-
gaged in the manufacture of carriages at Mt.
Ple.asant for a number of years. He then removed
to Martin's Ferry, in Belmont County, and for some
years carried on his trade at that place. He was
a soldier in the War of 1812, and served through-
iiut the war, holding a Captain's commission. His
father, .Tames Guthrie, was also a patriot and sol-
dier in tlie Revolutionary War, as were two of his
brothers. The latter died during their service.
The Guthrie family^ are of Scotch decent, and
were among the first settlers of Yorktown, Va.
The great-grandfather of our subject was given a
irrant of land in Virginia and settled there previ-
iius to the Revolutionary War. Capt. Henrys P.
(iutlirie held numerous positions of trust and
honor and was a prominent man of that State.
Our subject is one of a family of eight children,
three sons and five daughters: Sarah Francis,
widow of Dr. Pratt, of Belmont County, Ohio;
Mary A. lives on the old homestead; Elizabeth,
wife of .John Robb, lives in Hancock County, W.
Va.; Catherine, whose death occurred in 1878; Is-
abella, wife of Marion Ciillen, of Hancock County';
Henry P., of Martin's Ferry, Belmont County,
Ohio; Christopher S.; and Robert L., deceased.
Mr. Guthrie wliose name heads this sketch grew
to manhood in Ohio, having such education as
was afforded by the public schools of the county
and a course of study at Wheeling, W. Va. In
1857, he came to Illinois and settled in Kankakee
County. In company with another young man,
lie operated a steam thresher and engaged in its
operation during the season. During the winter
he ran a stationary engine, and for such of his
time as was unoccupied he worked on a farm.
Following the patriotic example of his ances-
tors, he responded to the call of his country, en-
listing in 1862 in the Fiftv-third Illinois Infantry,
in .lanuar}- of that year. He became a member of
Company E, of the regiment organized at Ottawa,
111., which had for its Captain Charles M. Vaughn.
He enlisted as a private but was promoted 'to the
rank of Sergeaut, and had charge of the company
a number of times during his service. He partic-
ipated in the battles of Shiloh, Hatchie, the siege
and surrender of Vicksburg (which lasted forty-
two days), and was afterward taken prisoner at .Tack-
sou, Miss., in Lorman's charge of July 12, 1863. He
was held as a prisoner of war for about seventy-
two days, and he was a prisoner at all the princi-
pal cities of the South, and finall}- rounded up at
Libby Prison, Richmond, Va. He was then pa-
roled and rejoined his regiment, taking part in
the Atlanta campaign, and later joined Sherman
in his march to the se.a. He received an honorable
discharge at Goldsboro, N. C, March 26, 186,5.
He was a faithful soldier, ever pi-esent at his jjost
of duty.
Mr. Guliirie w.as united in maniage in this
county on Christmas day, 186.'), his bride being
Mary J. Warden, who was born and reared in Put-
nam Countv, Ind. She is a daughter of John War-
den, a native of Kentucky and one of the early
settlers of Putnam County. Mr. and Mrs. Guth-
rie are the parents of six children: Francis Isabel
is the wife of John Garber, a mechanic in Denison,
Tex.; Henry W., a farmer of this county; James B.,
who resides at home; George C, Catherine, and
Laura, deceased.
On returning from the war, Mr. Guthrie went to
Ohio and the same year came to Illinois, settling
in this county. He engaged in farming and stock-
raising with good success. At the time of his pur-
chase, his farm was raw, unbroken prairie, and he
has since brought it under a fine state of cultiva-
tion, making of it one of the best farms in the
county. It is located three miles west of Papineau.
In 1876, he rented his farm and moved to Newton
County, Ind., where for two j^ears he engaged in
stock-raising. In 1878, he returned to his home
and has resided liere continuously since.
Mr. Guthrie cast his first ballot for Stephen A.
Douglas, but since that time has identified him-
self with the Republican part^'. He takes an ac-
tive interest in all local and educationnl af-
fairs, doing all in his power to further the interests
of each. He has served as a member of the School
Board for a number of years. For twenty-seven
750
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
years he has lesided in this county and is known
to be a raan of inte.rity, enterprise and public
spirit.
Mr. Guthrie had a severe stroke of paralysis in
1891, which was caused by his hardships and ex-
posure during his service as a soldier. He re-
ceives a small pension and he now has affidavits
from his family physicians as well as his comrades
corroborating the fact of his great disability, occa-
sioned by his hardships in defense of his country.
EDWARD W. GUILD, an enterprising and
prominent farmer who resides on section
'•i 22, Belmont Township, has one of the flue
farms of this community. He owns one hundred
and sixt^' acres of arable land, which has been di-
vided into Qelds of convenient size and placed
under a high state of cultivation, yielding to him
a golden tribute in return for his care and labor.
He has a pleasant home, and his barns and out-
buildings are models of convenience. His farming
implements are of the latest improved kinds and
in all its appointments the place seems complete.
It may well be termed a model farm, and the
owner deserves to rank among the representative
farmers of the township.
Mr. Guild was born in Lowell, Mass., October
10, 1830. The family, of English origin, wjis
founded in America by the great-grandfather of
our subject, Moses Guild, who came to this coun-