BIOGRAPHIES
‡
Source:
The
Biographical Record of McLean Co., Illinois
Illustrated
Publ. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1899
JOHN H. SPENCE,
an enterprising and successful farmer residing on section
21, Cheney's Grove, McLean county, was born in Xenia, Green
county, Ohio, Aug. 19, 1850, a son of John A. Spence,
a portrait painter and artist of considerable ability.
The father was born in St. Louis, Missouri, of which place
his father, Henry Spence, was an early settler and
business man. In Xenia, Ohio, John A. Spence
married Miss Maria Horn, a native of that city and a
daughter of John Horn, who was born in Germany and
was a pioneer of Ohio. For some years after their
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Spence continued to reside in
Xenia and then removed to Illinois, locating in Stanton,
where the father died in 1858. The mother is still
living, a hale and hearty old lady of about seventy years,
and finds a pleasant home with our subject. In their
family were six children, five of whom are still living,
namely: Sarah, now the widow of Elijah Stephens,
and a resident of Denver, Colorado; J. H., our
subject; Mary, wife of David Shelbrick, of
Columbus, Ohio; Julia, wife of John Saylor of
Saybrook, Illinois; and Catherine Gard, a resident
of McLean. Anna died in childhood at Heyworth,
this county.
When a lad of ten years,
John H. Spence came with his mother to Heyworth, and in
this county he grew to manhood, his education being mostly
acquired in the public schools of Heyworth. As his
father was dead, he lived upon a farm with his uncle,
Robert McIlvain, an early settler of McLean county, and
he early acquired an excellent knowledge of agricultural
pursuits. On starting out in life for himself, he
rented and operated some of Kerrick's land in Funk's Grove
township, and later farmed on the Sherwood land in Anchor
township for four years. In 1883 he purchased one
hundred and sixty acres near Gibson City, in Ford county,
and to the cultivation and improvement of that place he
devoted his time and attention for seven years. He
then sold out and returned to McLean county having a fairly
well-improved farm of one hundred and twenty acres on
section 21, Cheney's Grove township, where he now resides.
He has since added to this a twenty-acre tract, and now has
a valuable and fertile farm of one hundred and forty acres,
which he has placed under a high state of cultivation.
It is divided into fields of convenient size by well-kept
fences, and he has built a good barn and cribs, set out
fruit and shade trees and made many permanent improvements
on the place, so that it is now one of the most desirable of
its size in the locality.
Politically, Mr.
Spence is identified with the Prohibition party, but
formerly was a Republican. He and his mother hold
membership in the Methodist Episcopal church in Saybrook,
and have the respect and esteem of all who know them.
He started out in life for himself in limited circumstances,
untiring perseverance and good management he has become
quite well-to-do, and is regarded as one of the most
successful as well as one of the most reliable farmers of
his community.
‡ Source: The
Biographical Record of McLean Co., Illinois - Illustrated -
Publ. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company - 1899 -
Page 19 |
HUGH
D. STINE, who is engaged in the hardware business in
Saybrook, is one of the most active and enterprising of the
younger business men of the county. He is a native of
McLean county, and was born in West township, Mar. 28, 1875.
He is the son of James M. and Margaret (Lamen) Stine,
of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. He
remained with his parents until he attained his majority.
His primary education was obtained in the district school of
Saybrook. He then entered the State Normal school at
Normal, which he attended several terms, finishing his
education in that institution. He then engaged in
teaching, which profession he followed about two years and a
half. In 1896, he entered into partnership with his
father and engaged in his present line of business. In
the three years which have followed he has built up an
excellent trade. His father remained with him until
1898, since which time he has been alone. In addition
to a stock of shelf and heavy hardware, he handle in the
seasons agricultural implements of all kinds, including
repairs for the various kinds of machines in use by the
farmers. He has shown himself a good business man, and
is well deserving of the trade which he has secured.
Religiously, Mr. Stine is connected with the
Christian church of Saybrook, and takes quite an active part
in the work of the church. Fraternally he is a member
of the Knights of Pythias, and has passed through all the
chairs of the lodge in Saybrook, and is now past chancellor.
He is also a member of Saybrook Lodge, No. 460, I. O. O. F.
As a stockholder in the Fair Association of Saybrook, he
takes an active interest in it, and gives of his time and
means to make it a success. In everything of a public
nature for the best interest of his adopted city he shows
his public spirit, and is regarded by the people of the city
as one of its most enterprising men. Politically, he
is a Democrat, and is now serving as one of the aldermen of
the city.
‡ Source: The Biographical Record of McLean Co.,
Illinois - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1899 - Page 18 |
JAMES
M. STINE, of Saybrook, Illinois, after years of
honest toil, is now living a retired life, enjoying the
fruits of his industry and thrift. He was born in
Monroe county, Indiana, May 15, 1847,and in his native
county and state he grew to manhood, being reared to farm
life. His educational advantages were fairly good, and
he received a good common-school education. He
remained with his parents until grown, in the meantime
assisting in the farm work. He was married in Monroe
county, Indiana, July 16, 1868, to Miss Margaret Lamen,
also a native of Monroe county. After his marriage he
located on a farm in that county and there engaged in
farming for five years.
Believing he could better himself in the prairie state,
Mr. Stine came with his family to McLean county in
1874, and located first in West township, where he rented a
farm and there remained three years. He then moved
into Arrowsmith township, rented land and farmed for nine
years. At the expiration of that time he moved into
Cheney's Grove township, and purchased a farm of one hundred
and sixty acres. He did not, however, locate on that
farm, but rented it out, and on another rented farm he moved
with his family. Four years later he sold the farm he
bought at a nice advance, and later bought a farm of three
hundred and twenty acres in Jasper county, Indiana. He
did not move to his new purchase, but continued to reside in
McLean county and still continued to farm. He later
sold his Indiana farm, but continued farming in McLean
county until his removal to Saybrook, in 1898. In the
meantime he bought some nice lots and built a good
residence, in Saybrook. In 1896 he purchased a
hardware establishment in Saybrook, and taking into
partnership his son, H. D., he carried on that line
of trade, the son taking the active business management.
He continued in this line for about two years and then sold
his interest to the son, the latter continuing the business.
Mr. and Mrs. Stine are the parents of six
children, H. D., mentioned above, being the eldest.
William R., the next born, is engaged in the draying
business in Saybrook. J. B., Ila M., James and
Daisy are at home.
Politically, Mr. Stine is an earnest and true
Democrat, having supported the men and measures of that
party since casting his first presidential vote for
Horatio Seymour in 1868. He would never accept any
local office save that of school director. For fifteen
years he served as a member of the school board, the greater
part of the time being clerk of the district. He is a
member of the Christian church of Saybrook, of which body
his wife is also a member. Socially, they are held in
high esteem, and they have many friends in the eastern part
of the county, where they are well known and where they have
resided a quarter of a century.
‡ Source: The
Biographical Record of McLean Co., Illinois - Illustrated -
Publ. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company - 1899 -
Page 17 |
NOTES:
|
