and deserves the success which he has achieved.



In Oneida County, N. Y., in 1857, occurred the
marriage of Mr. Collins and Miss Mary Gagen, a
native of Dublin County, Ireland, who came with
her parents to America when twelve j'ears old and
settled in Oneida County. Five sons have blessed
the union of Mr. and Mrs. Collins: Thomas assists
his father in the work of the farm; James is mar-
ried and carries on farming in Chebanse Township;
Josepli. Francis and Lawrence are still under the
parental roof. The tliree older children were born
near Wilmington, AYill County, 111., while the two
3'oungest were born at Reed's Grove in the same
county. The children have all received the ad-
vantages of a good education and are good farmers
and citizens.

Our subject, his wife and family, are faithful
members of St. John's Catholic Chureli in Milks
Grove. Mr. Collins is not an office-seeker in any
sense of the term, but is always faithful in dis-
charging his duties of citizenship. His first Presi-
dential vote was cast for J. C. Fremont, and in
1860 he voted for Douglas, and since that time
has been a stanch Democrat. He heard Lincoln
and Douglas in a debate, and has often served as a
delegate to the conventions of his party. For a
quarter of a century he has been a resident of this
community and the many friends he has made
since locating here will be pleased to read this brief
tribute to his worth.






fj/^_^ENRY JACOB SCIIRIEFER, a leading
If j) farmer of Douglas Townslup, residing on
/.4W^ section 28, claims Germany as the land of
(^) his birth. He was born in Ottendorf, Han-
over, September 18, 1844, and is a son of jMarch
Henry and Anna M. (Voschers) Schriefer, both of
whom were natives of the same province and there
spent their entire lives. They had a family of four
children: Henry, v,-ho is engaged in farming in
Douglas Township; Herman C, a resident of Will-
iamsburg, N. Y.; Henry J. of this sketch; and Will-
iam, who is engaged in fanning in the land of his
birth.

We now take up the personal history of our sub-



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.



789



ject. who was reared on a farm in the Fatherland,
and educated in the German language. On attain-
ing his majority he was called upon to serve in the
Hanoverian aiiny and took part in the war between
Hanover and Prussia, participating in the battle
of Laraensalza. After his return home, he de-
termined to seek his fortune in America. He bade
good-bye to friends and native land, and on the 1 1th
of April, 1867, boarded a sailing-vessel at Bremen,
which after a voyage of forty-five days dropped
anchor in the harbor of Xew York. Mr. Schriefer
at once came to the West and made a location in
Marshall County, 111., where he worked for a time
as a farm hand and then engaged in .agricultural
pursuits for himself.

Before leaving home, Mr. Schriefer was united
in marriage, on the 10th of March, 1867, with Miss
Anna K. Borchers, also a native of Ottendorf, and
with his young bride he sailed for this country.
Seven children have been born of tiieir union, as
follows: Samuel D., who died in his thirteenth
year; Emma, wife of Harm Ahrends, a resident
farmer of Dougl.as Township; Lizzie Mary died
December 6, 1892; Herman H., Anna R., IMina and
llenr}' Jacob.

In 1874, ^Ir. Schriefer came to Irocjuois County
and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of
wild prairie land, upon which not a furrow had
been turned. It was also entirely destitute of
improvements, and almost the entire locality was
under water. He has tiled the land and it is now
a desirable and valuable tract. Its well-tilled
fields yield to him a golden tribute, and the good
buildings and many other improvements upon
the place attest the care and supervision of a
thrifty- and progressive manager. As his financial
resources were increased, he extended the boundar-
ies of his farm, which now comprises two hundred
and forty acres; .Since coming to this county he
has engaged in agricultural pursuits and is now
recognized as one of the prominent and progress-
ive farmers of Douglas Township.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Schriefer hold memliership
with the Lutheran Church of Oilman, in which he
has served as Trustee. In his political affiliations
he is a Democrat but lias never been an office-
seeker. The cause of education finds in him a



warm friend, and he has done effective service in
the interests of the schools while serving as Direc-
tor. Socially, he is a member of the Order of
Druids. His life has been one of signal success.
When he came to this county he was 142 in debt
and had a family depending upon him for support,
but by his industr}' and the assistance of his esti-
mable wife he has acquired a comfortable compe-
tence and become one of the leading farmers of
the township.



l^OBERT FOWLER CUMMINGS, a promi-
Ikr nent citizen of Clifton and dealer in grain
AmV and lumber, is a native of Massachusetts,
his birth having occurred on the 17th of
June, 1848. lie is a son of Abel B. and Emily
(Fowler) Cummings, both of whom were natives
of Massachusetts. In 1853, they removed to Gran-
ville, Putnam County, 111., where the}' lived until
1856, at that time going to AVinona, this State.
There the J' made their home until 1864, when they
came to Clifton and resided for many years. On
the 26th of JMarch, 1888, the mother was called
to the better land, she being then about sixty-
eight years of age. She was a devoted wife and
mother, and left many friends to mourn her loss.
The father is still living and makes his home in
Marseilles, where he is engaged in the practice of
law. To Mr. and Mrs. Cummings three children
were born: Marion, Robert F. and Mary S. Our
subject is the only one of the family now living.
Robert F. Cummings received a good educa-
tion in the common schools, and supplemented
his training by a collegiate education in Winona
Seminary and Lake Forest Academy, being grad-
uated from the latter in 1866. After finishing his
schooling, our subject came to Clifton and entered
the employment of Cummings it Parmeter, dealers
in grain, lumber and general merchandise. At the
end of about a year, he went to Chicago and se-
cured employment with the firm of B. Fowler &
Co., grain commission merchants, and there con-
tinued for about the same length of time. He



790



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.



next returned to Clifton and operated the grain
business of B. Fowler & Co. until tbe year 1870
with good success, when lie returned to Wenona
and engaged in the dry-goods business with E.
S. Fowler & Co.. in which firm he was the junior
partner. For the succeeding seven years he made
his home in that place and assisted in building
up a large and flourishing business. About fifteen
years ago, he again came to Clifton and entered
the grain and coal business, which he still follows.
He also operates the Wabash Elevator at Gihnan,
and an elevator at Chebanse. He is a member of
the firm of Cummings & Kent, lumber merchants
of Chebanse, and also of the firm of George R.
Ashman & Co., grain merchants of Oilman. For
a time he operated an elevator at Onai-ga, and
one at La Hogue, but has since sold out his busi-
ness in those places. He is also a large real-es-
tate owner, now being the possessor of thirteen
hundred acres of land in the neighborhood of
Clifton. In addition to all of his other lines of
business, he is interested in banking, and carries
on these various and diverse undertakings with
wise business sagacity and ability. He is enter-
prising and progressive in his methods, and pros-
perity has attended his efforts.

On the 6th of July, 1874, Mr. Cummings was
united in marriage with Miss Minnie A. Marston,
daughter of Sanford K. and .Sarah (Field) Mar-
ston, of Onarga, 111. To our subject and his
estimable wife have been born six children, five
of whom are now living: Lenore, Marion, Flor-
ence, Irene and Marston. Mrs. Cummings is well
known in musical circles, is a member of the Lj'ric
Club, of Kankakee, and has appeared in numer-
ous concerts of a high order. In 1889, our sub-
ject and his wife spent a number of months in
Europe, and had an enjoyable and profitable trip.

Sociallj', Mr. Cummings is a member of We-
nona Lodge No. 284, I. O. O. F. He is a stanch
and lo3'al Republican, and a supporter of that
party and its principles. His fellow-citizens have
often called upon him to assume the duties of
responsible positions, he having been a mem-
ber of the Village Board of Trustees of Clif-
ton almost continuously since his residence
here, and vvas President of the Board for about



four yeai-s. He has always discharged the duties
devolving upon him, whether as a private citizen
or an official, in a creditable and faithful manner.
Both he and his wife have a wide circle of friends,
who hold them in the highest regard.



e^+^1— =1



^^AMALIEL G. BAKER, watchmaker and
(II (—-. jeweler, is an old resident of Chebanse,
^^j|( having lived here for nearly- a quarter of
a century. His birth occurred in the township of
Waltham, near Ottawa, in La Salle County, on the
1st of .lanuary, 1863. He is a sou of John W.
and Catherine C. (Baker) Baker, who were both
natives of Washington County, N. Y. Their fam-
ily consisted of two sons and a daughter. Selby
S. married Miss Amanda Tallman, of Kankakee,
and to them have been born four children: Will-
iam S.; Imogene; Arthur, who died when two
3'ears of age; and Ethel. Mr. and Mrs. Baker now
make their home in Brookdale, near Chicago. The
second child, L. Anna, married Alvin P. Faile^', a
photographer of Manteno; they now reside in
Kendallville, Ind. Our subject completes the fam-
ily-

The father came to Illinois in 1858, settling in
Ottawa, wliere he followed the carpenter's trade for
a number of j'ears. He then purchased a farm in
AValtham Township, about five or six miles from Ot-
tawa, where he carried on farming until the fall
of 1865. He then sold that farm and came to Iro-
quois County, purchasing two hundred and eighty
acres of land in Chebanse Township, about a mile
and a-half from the village. This property now be-
longs to Messrs. P. C. Burke and Leroy Payn^, of
Chicago, and is now divided into two farms. Mr.
Baker lived upon his farm until the spring of
1869, when he removed with his familj' into the
village. After a residence here of about two
years, he went to Iowa and now makes his home
in Grinnell.

The education of Gamaliel G. Baker was ob-
tained in the public schools of Chebanse. After
completing his studies, he served for five 3-ears
at the cabinet-maker's trade, and then for three



LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

URBANA



^^\




'^



^





PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.



793



years followed the occupation of a painter. He
next opened a grocery store, and carried on that
business for about two years, when he sold out to
('. P. Beck. His attention was next turned to the
watchmaking and jewelry business, and he opened
an establishment in that line, which he is still car-
rying on. From a small beginning he has built
lip a good business, and enjoys the confidence
and friendship of his many acquaintances. He is
industrious and careful in his purcluases and in-
vestments, and has met with good success.

On the 13th of .January, 1892, Mr. Baker was
joined in matrimony with INIiss Grace L. Morri-
son, daughter of .lames K. and AngelineC. (Aborn)
Morrison, who are both natives of Connecticut,
and at the time of their daughter's marriage lived
in Otto Township, Kankakee County, about three
miles from Chebanse. Since casting his first bal-
lot. Mr. Baker has always voted the Republican
ticket. Although but a young man, he is quite
an old settler of Chebanse, and has a large ac-
quaintance in this part of the county. By his
characteristics of quiet perseverance and unosten-
tatious demeanor, he has won- the respect and
friendship of all, and is a good citizen, devoted
to tlie best interests of his fellow-citizens.



^f/_j^OWARD LYON, one of t
iT jV and progressive farmers

i£)^ ship, who owns and operr
(^i and ten acres of land, is



^(j_^ OWARD LYON, one of the representative
rs of Onarga Town-
rates four hundred
1, is one of the early
settlers of the count}'. He was born in Stock-
bridge, Windsor County, Vt., on the 1st of March,
1831, and is the son of Ani.asa and Polly (Barnes)
Lyon, both of whom were natives of the (!reen
iSIountain Staff. Four oliildren were l)orn iiiilu
them, throe of whom are living.

In the State of liis nativity, our subject s|)ent
the days of his boyhood and youth, and after at-
taining to mature years he was married, on the
22d of April, 18o6, to Mi.ss Betsy Brown, daugh-
ter of Robert Brown. In the fall of the same3'ear,
they removed to Illinois, settling in Iroquois
County, west of Onarga. In December, 1857,
37



while returning on a visit to her old home, Mrs.
Lyon was drowned while crossing the river at De-
troit, Mich. After the death of his wife, Mr. Lyon
remained for eighteen months in Vermont, and
then returned to this State, in the spring of 18.59,
locating on a farm four miles south of Onarga,
where he has silice resided. He had at first rented
a farm in connection with his brother.

On the 14th of February, 1864, Mr. Lyon was
again married, his second union being with ]\Irs.
Caroline Sanders, widow of Ricliard Sanders.
There were five children born of that union, all
sons: .James, born March 29, 186.5; Edward, Octo-
ber 17,1867; William, November 22, 1868; Perry,
December 1.5, 1869, and Robert, .July 17, 1871.
One is married, Edward, who wedded IMiss Sadie
Hiller, daughter of George and Mary Ililler, and
they have a little child, Howard. The mother of
this family was called to her final rest on the 12tli
of May, 1879. Mr. Lyon was again married, March
3, 1880, the lady of his choice being Mrs. Eveline
Libliart, widow of P. T. B. Libhart. The lady was
born in Bainbridge, Chenango County, N. Y., De-
cember 22, 1833. Her parents, Isaac and Eliza
(Miller) Dalton, were both natives of Pennsyl-
vania. In childhood, thej' emigrated to New
York. In 1845, they moved to Wisconsin and a few
years later returned to New York. In 1861, they
moved to Iroquois County, and there the father
spent his last da3's, d^'ing in 1877, aged about sixty-
three years. His widow lives near Oilman, aged sev-
enty-eight years. After thirteen years of age, Mrs.
Lyon lived with her relatives in Michigan, where
she married October 23, 18,53, Mr. Libhart. In the
fall of the same j'ear, Mr. Libhart moved to Del
Rey, where he ran a sawmill. He died in Buckley
in 1873. By her former marriage Mrs. Lyon had
five children,. as follows: Hubert ('., born Septem-
lier IM, 18.54, married Miss Dora Hayhurst, anil re-
sides in Momence, 111., with his wife and daughter
Leo. .Julietta, born August 6, 1856, is the wife of
And(-ew Camp, a resident of Monona County,
Iowa, and they have six children, namely: Helen
D., Ilosea, Fred, Annie, Agnes and .Josie. .Mary
Alice, born April 20, 1858, is the wife of Alfred
Vanordstrand, by whom she has three children:
Mabel E., Hubert R. and Mildred, and they reside



794



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.



near Momence, 111. William R., born April 8,
1859, wetldcd Miss Mary Beatle, daughter of
Abraham and Elizabeth Beatle, and they reside in
S^'camore, 111., with their four children: Coila,
Frank, Myrtle and Marx. Estella B., born J.anu-
ary 3, 1861, is the wife of James Nichols and their
home is near Lake Village, Ind. They have four
children: Floyd, Fay, Beulah and Eunice.

As before stated, Mr. L^'on has resided upon liis
present farm since 1859, and now owns .and oper-
ates four hundred and ten acres of land, which
is under a high state of cultivation and well im-
proved. In connection with general farming, he
has also paid considerable attention to stock-raising,
and by his iudustrj', perseverance and good man-
agement has acquired a handsome competence.
Mr. Lyon is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church and his wife holds membership with the
Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is a sup-
porter of Republican principles and is. a valued
citizen of the community. For more than a third
of a century, he has here made his home, has
watched the growth and development of the
county, has aided in its upbuilding, and well de-
serves mention among its pioneers.



e^^)IIO:MAS B. COMPTON, one of the promi.
f/(^^ nent and highly-respected citizens of Che-
^^^y banse Township, who resides on a fine farm
on section 5, is of English birth. He was bjrn in
Leicestershire, England, November 16, 1841. and
is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Burberry) Comp-
ton, both of whom were natives of the same local-
ity. His father was a farmer by occupation and
was born and reared on the farm where the family
had lived for over three hundred years. Robert
was the first to leave the old home. In April, 1859,
he bade good-bye to friends and native land, sailed
from Liverpool and at length landed in New York
City. He settled in Oswego, Kendall County, III.,
where for a time he rented land. He afterward
engaged in farming upon land of his own, liaving
purciiased a tract of raw prairie, from whieli he



developed a good farm. He then sold out and is
still living, at the age of eighty-five years, with his
son. His wife died in England. She was a mem-
ber of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Compton served
as Tax Collector in England. He holds member-
ship with the Baptist Church and takes a very ac-
tive part in its work and upbuilding. In politics,
he was formerly a Republican but is now a sup-
porter of the Democratic party. In the Compton
family there were but two children. The sister of
our subject, Sarah Ann, became the wife of .John
Gritliths and died in Oswego, 111.

Tliomas B. Compton, whose name heads this
record, resided upon his father's fann until
twenty-two years of age. His education was ac-
quired in the public schools of his native land.
His privileges in that direction, however, were
much more limited than his training at farm work.
He remained in Kendall Count3' until 1867, when
he came to Iroquois Countv and puichased two
hundred and forty acres of raw prairie land, a
part of his present farm. Upon this was a shanty,
16x32 feet. In one end he had his bed, in
the other a store, and in the center sheltered his
horses. This building still stands, being now used
as an outbuilding, while upon the place are all the
impi'ovements and accessories of a model farm,
including a good residence, barns, the latest im-
proved machinery, etc. In connection with gen-
eral farming, which Mr. Compton has carried on
successfully, he also engaged in the breeding and
driving of horses for some years. He owns two
hundred and forty acres of rich land under a high
state of cultivation, but expects soon to rent this
and remove to one of the suburbs of Chicago.

Mr. Compton was married in Kendall County,
in 1863, to Miss Ellen Benson, daughter of Henry
and Anna (Heap) Benson, natives of Lancashire,
England, who came to America when Mrs. Comp-
ton was thirteen years of age. Her parents are
both deceased. The wife of our subject is two
months his junior. By their union have been born
the following children: George W., who was born
in Kendall Countj' and was educated in Fair-
mont College of Cincinnati, has now for several
years resided in Colorado for his health and is
there practicing medicine. Emily A., the daughter



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.



795



of the family, was born and reared in this county.
Slie acquired her early education in the public
schools, was a student in Belvidere Seminary in
New .lersey and afterward engaged in teaching
music in that institution. She is an accomplished
and charming young lady and is now studying
elocution in the Washington College of Elocution
in Wasliington, D. C, where she expects to pursue
a full course of study.

Mr. C'ompton and his wife iiave long been active
workers in the Congregational Church. For a
ijuarter of a century they have been prominentl3^
connected with the Sunday-scliool work, their
children have been numbered among its teachers,
and Mr. Compton has been Superintendent of the
Sunday-school for a number of years. He takes
an interest in all that pertains to the welfare of
the communit}', especially those enterprises calcu-
lated to upbuild or benefit the moral or educational
interests. He is a member of the Farmers' Mutual
Benefit As.sociation and was Master of the Grange
during its existence. He cast his first Presidential
vote for Gen. U. S. Grant, but is independent in
politics, not willing to be bound by anj- part}-
ties. He is an intelligent, valued and highly-re-
spected citizen of the community and a self-made
man, who by his own efforts has steadily worked
his way upward.



^>^^r<^



â– LEMING R. 5IG0KE, an attorney-at-law,
engaged in pr.actice at Milford, was born
in Iroquois Count}-, on his father's farm,
wliich was located nine miles from the city. His
parents, John K. and Sarah JI. (Fleming) Moore,
were both natives of C)hio, and in the spring of
18.31 emigrated to Illinois, settling in what is now
known .a.s Belmont Township, Iroquois County.
The father entered a quarter-section of land from
the Government, and by bis industrious efforts
the wild tract of prairie land was converted into
rich and fertile fields. The boundaries of his
farm he extended as his financial resources were
increased until lie owned four hundred acres. His
death occuirert on the 20th of November, 1«70.



Eight children were born unto Mr. and Mrs.
Moore, six of whom are yet living. .Joseph B.,
the eldest, married .Sarah Frame, and unto them
were born six children. Micajah S. enlisted for
the late war as a member of Company A, Seventy-
sixth Illinois Infantry. He served for a little
over two years, and was in a number of hard
battles, but was never wounded. However, in
M.ay, 1865, be was taken ill with cramp colic, and
died within twenty-four hours. Fleming is the
next younger. Martlia A. is the wife of Barton
Bishop, of Sheldon, 111., liy whom she has seven
children. "William V. married Lydia Frame,
daughter of Abner Frame, and they have a family
of three children. Nancy J. died in infancj'. Z. V.
is the next younger. .Tohn A., who completes the
familj-, married Sarah Tracy, and with their two
children they reside in Sheldon, 111.

The subject of this sketch spent the days of his
boyhood and 3'outh upon the farm where he was
born, and was early inured to agricultural pur-
suits. After acquiring a common-school educa-
tion, he became a student of Westfield College, of
Clark County, a school conducted under the aus-
pices of the United Brethren Church. After there
pursuing his studies for two years, he engaged in
teaching in the district where his own education
was commenced, and later he took up the study of
law, with the intention of making the legal prac-
tice his life work. This was in 1879. The follow-
ing j^ear he removed to Woodland, where he. con-
tinued his studies for a time, and then began
practice. In 1883 he came to Milford, and, open-
ing an office, has since prosecuted his profession
ill this place.

During the late war, Mr. Moore manifested his
loyalty to the Government by inarching to the
front and aiding in the preservation of the Union.
He was only seventeen years of age, when, on the
1.3th of May, 1864, he became a member of Com-
pany B, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Illinois
Infantry. He was honorably discharged on the
25th of October of the same year. In politics he
has been a stalwart Republican since attaining his
majority, ami warmly advocates that party's prin-
ciples.

Mr, Moore was uiarried October 23, 1872, to



796



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.



Angeline Walters, daughter of Ephraiin and Je-
mima (Good) AValters. Five children have been
born of their union: Lena L., born December 13,
1874; Lola Wild, born September 3, 1883; Free
Morris, born December 9, 1887; Morse Anderson
and Hazel, twins, born December 30, 1891. The
latter died January 27, 1892, and the former on
the 9th of March following.

Mr. Moore is a leading practitioner of Milford.
He has been a close student of his profession, and
is now well versed in the law. During the ten
years of his residence here his business has con-
stantly increased, and he is now enjoying a liberal
patronage.

^T^ASMUS JOHNSON, a prominent citizen of
Iroquois County, residing on section 22,
Milk's Grove Township, isa Dane by birth.
He was born in Sunde, near Swendborg,
Denmark, on the 3d of May, 1839, and is a son of