|
|
ILLINOIS GENEALOGY EXPRESS
A part of Genealogy Express
|
Welcome to
Piatt County,
Illinois
History & Genealogy |
Biographies
Source:
Portrait & Biographical Album
of DeWitt and Piatt Counties, Illinois
Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical
Sketches
of Prominent and Representative Citizens
of the County
Together with Portraits and Biographies of all
the
Presidents of the United States
and Governors of the State
Publ.
Chicago: Chapman Bros
1891
A
- B -
C -
D -
E -
F -
G -
H -
I -
J -
K -
L -
M -
N -
O -
P -
Q -
R -
S -
T -
U -
V -
W -
X -
Y-
Z
< CLICK HERE
TO RETURN TO 1891 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
< CLICK HERE
TO RETURN TO ALL INDEXES OF BIOGRAPHIES >
 |
JOSEPH FAHRNKOPF Biography will be put on here at request.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Album
of DeWitt and Piatt Counties, Illinois,
Publ.
Chicago: Chapman Bros.,
1891~ Page 739 |
|
|
ENOS
FARNSWORTH. The name of
Farnsworth is indissolubly linked with the history of Piatt County,
as that of one who during his life was one of its most progressive
and public-spirited citizens. Especially was he intimately
connected with the rise and growth of Milmine and it gives us
pleasure to place on the pages of this volume a sketch of his life
and work for the benefit of his many friends.
Our subject was a Virginian by birth, born in Oudoun
County May 11, 1817. He was a son of Jonathan and Ann (West)
Farnsworth, who were of Scotch descent. His grandfather,
Jonathan Farnsworth, was a Revolutionary soldier, and
Mrs.
Farnsworth has in her possession an old bayonet carried by him while
in the service and also a knee buckle, worn by him during the
Revolution. Mr. Farnsworth passed his early life in the State
of his nativity and for a number of years after he became
self-supporting he followed carpentering. He was an ambitious,
wide-awake, venturesome young man, and during the gold excitement
was attracted to California, crossing the plains and mountains to
his destination being three months on the way from the time he left
St. Louis. He remained in California three years and during
that time did well at gold washing. He then set his face
towards home, coming by the way of the Isthmus and spending eighteen
months in Central America before he finally came back to this part
of the country. For a time he resided in Pickaway County, Ohio
came to Piatt County in 1856 with Robert Timmons whom he had
assisted to drive cattle to Macon County. After his arrival
here he was persuaded to invest the money he had made in
California, in land in this county. He then purchased eight
hundred acres of land in and about the vicinity of Milmine and
became the founder of that village was first called Farnsworth in
honor of him. He worked hard to secure the future prosperity
of the place and his enterprise gave it a good start. He did
the grading of the south switch free of cost in order to secure
railway accommodations and since that time a station has been built
here.
Our subject, through not a man of much education as his
early school advantages had been limited, was the owner of a fine
mind, having a clear, well balanced intellect, and possessed a large
fund of information, gathered from his travels and experiences in
life, and he had excellent business qualifications. He was
always fond of reading and was especially well posted in ancient
history. He was a prominent figure in the public life of Cerro
Gordo Township, and for several terms represented it as a member of
the County Board of Supervisors, and his influence was always felt
in whatever was for its best interests. In his political views
he was a stalwart Republican. He was more than ordinarily
prospered, as he possessed a good talent for finances and was an
excellent manager, and at the time of his demise left an estate
valued at $50,000. This handsome property he had accumulated
solely by his own efforts as he had begun life without means.
His death occurred February 10, 1887, and was a severe loss to the
citizenship of this county. He was a man of high reputation
and of unblemished honor, whom to know was to respect, and he
enjoyed the full confidence of the entire community where so many
years of his life were spent. He was happy in his domestic
relations, was ever a devoted husband and a loving father, and his
neighbors and associates found in him a stanch friend.
Our subject undoubtedly owed much of his success in
life to his good wife, formerly Miss Susan A. Nesbitt; to whom he
was married September 22, 1870. Mrs. Farnsworth is a native of
Illinois, and was born in Macon County, Sep. 21, 1849, to William
and Mary (Hudgen) Nesbitt, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and
Kentucky and early settlers of Macon County. Her father was a
soldier in the Mexican War. Mr. and Mrs. Farnsworth became the
parents of two children: Anna and
Emma. Anna is the wife
of George Hay, a telegraph operator and station agent at Bennington,
Neb.; and Emma is the wife of Prof. C. C. Walsh, principal of the Milmine schools.
Mrs. Farnsworth is a lady of culture and refinement,
and is an interesting conversationalist, having a good knowledge of
the general topics of the day. She is possessed of more than
ordinary business ability and is managing the property left by her
husband with great skill. By her energetic efforts her large
state in Texas has become remunerative. She is the owner of a
large tract of land and other valuable property. Milmine is
greatly indebted to her, as she has been instrumental in promoting
its growth. She built her a handsome and commodious residence
and has been the means of inducing others to build and reside in
Milmine thereby adding much to its attractiveness and wealth and
making it one of the most desirable locations to be found in the
county. Mrs. Farnsworth is a woman of large heart and generous
nature and contributes liberally of her means towards the support of
orphan children and other worthy charitable objects. She
understands well the benefits of a good education and is a stanch
advocate of the public schools.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Album
of DeWitt and Piatt Counties, Illinois,
Publ.
Chicago: Chapman Bros.,
1891~ Page |
|
|
JOHN A. FLANIGAN is one of those men who, starting in life
empty-handed, have arrived at comfortable financial circumstances
and gained a prominent position among those of their own vocation.
In his case the result has not been reached without arduous toil and
much study of ways and means, it being necessary for him to manage
well in order to obtain the best results, even after he began to
rise on the ladder of fortune. He is full of life and energy, and at
home and in society is equally interested in that which tends to the
true advancement of mankind.
The Flanigan family has been represented in
Pennsylvania for at least three generations, that being the native
State of our subject, his father and his grandfather. The
grandfather whose given name was Andrew, was a Sergeant during the
War of 1812 and died about the year 1880. The father, Thomas
Flanigan, a farmer by occupation, is still, living, while the
mother formerly Catherine Marker, died in 1850. She
also was born in Pennsylvania. The father is a member in good
standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The parental family
consists of six children, all living.
Our subject was born in Fayette County, Pa., January 31, 1830, and
acquired as much knowledge as possible in the school which he
attended only during the winter months and which was kept in the
old-fashioned log schoolhouse, and embraced but a limited
curriculum. In 1858 he came West as far as Bartholomew County,
Ind., where he worked by the month for two years. He then came to
Piatt County, this State, where he worked as he had been doing for
three years, at the expiration of which time he began farming for
himself. He now owns four hundred and thirty acres of choice
land which affords himself and family a good maintenance and enables
him to lay aside something for the rainy day. Mr. Flanigan
handles from seventy-five to eighty head of cattle, and in addition
to his farm work, has been engaged in the grain business at White
Heath for about five years.
In his efforts to build up a home, Mr. Flanigan lias
been ably seconded by a capable wife with whom he was united in
marriage March 15, 1866. She was born in Champaign County, Ohio, in
1842, bore the maiden name of Elmira Raridon and is a
daughter of William Raridon, who was a native also of
the Buckeye State. To Mr. and Mrs. Flanigan live
children have been born—William T. and Norah M.,
deceased; Edwin C., Bessie M. and one who died in
infancy. Both parents belong to the Baptist Church and endeavor to
exemplify their religious faith in their lives. Mr.
Flanigan votes the Democratic ticket.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Album
of DeWitt and Piatt Counties, Illinois,
Publ.
Chicago: Chapman Bros.,
1891~ Page |
|
|
SAMUEL
J. FOLK is a worthy member of the farming community of Piatt
County and since he took up his residence within its limits,
locating on section 21, Bement Township, he has been actively
identified with its agricultural interests. He was born in
Somerset County, Pa., Jan. 31, 1843, and is a son of Jacob G. and
Barbara (Gingerick) Folk, natives respectively of Pennsylvania
and Germany. They both died in Somerset County, Pa. They
were the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters,
of whom Samuel J. was the third in order of birth.
The early life of our subject was passed in his native
county. In March, 1864, after he attained his majority, he
being then an energetic stalwart young man, he came to Illinois to
devote himself to his chosen calling, that of a farmer, on the rich
soil of the Prairie State. He had been reared to farm life,
and was quite competent to carry on agriculture on his own account.
He first settled in McLean County, where he lived five years and
then he came to Piatt county, and located on its present farm in
Bement Township. He is the proprietor of one hundred and
twenty acres of land, which is under fine cultivation, and is
subject to excellent modern improvements, among which we find a good
set of farm buildings. Everything about the place is kept in
good order, and evidences of thrift and careful management are seen
on every hand.
In the upbuilding of his present home, our subject has
had the valuable assistance of a capable, active wife, who has done
her full share in promoting the general prosperity of the family.
They were married in Somerset County, Pa., Dec. 24, 1863, and to
them have come these four children: Emma, who died in
infancy; Alsinus; Orville, and Earl E. Prior to
her marriage Mrs. Folk was Miss Lizzie Welfley, a
daughter of Israel and Susannah (Beachy) Welfley natives of
Pennsylvania. The mother died in Somerset County, that State.
The father is still living. They had eleven children, five
sons and six daughters. Mrs. Folk was the second child
in order of birth and was born in Somerset County, Pa., July 26,
1842.
Mr. Folk is interested in political affairs and
is a stanch advocate of the Republican party. He and his wife
are people of genuine worth, whose many excellent traits have
brought them the general esteem of their community. They are
among the most zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and
are conscientious Christians in word and deed. Mr. Folk
takes a prominent part in the affairs of his church and has filled
the office of Steward and Class-Leader.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Album
of DeWitt and Piatt Counties, Illinois,
Publ.
Chicago: Chapman Bros.,
1891~ Page 223 |
NOTES:
* Picture
|
