Putnam County Illinois Biographies
A-C
Mrs. Ann Barnhart
Another Pioneer Gone
The name of Barnhart is familiar to Snachwine township, and old Peter Barnhart, who died a few years ago, was one of its first settlers. His wife, Ann, has just followed him beyond the vale, and was buried on Christmas, Rev. C. David of Henry conducting the services.
Mrs. Barnhart was a native of Pennsylvania, left an orphan at an early age. What her maiden name was is not known by her children, nor her exact age. January 1, 1824, she was married to Peter Barnhart in Hamilton county, Ohio. Eight years after, in 1832, they moved to Illinois, occupying a cabin on a piece of land a few miles southeast of Lacon. The next year they purchased the farm now owned by Mr. W. W. Hancock east of Lacon in Hopewell township, who sold it to Mr. Hancock, and then moved over upon this side of the river. Mrs. Barnhart had many experiences with the Indians in her day and passed through the Blackhawk war with a clear record of narrow escapes and severe trials of those times. On this side the family settled on the David Culver farm, thence to the Templeton place, remaining a summer each, thence moving to Snachwine along side of J. R. Taliaferro and Condit, building a cabin and opening a farm, owning at one time 1000 broad acres, most of it in one tract.
The family consisting of nine children, 7 boys and 2 girls, six surviving the parents. John, William and Ira remain in Snachwine; Martha Hoselton, who has married a second time, lives at Quincy Iowa; James Barnhart in Clinton county, Iowa; and Asa Barnhart at La Veta, Colorado.
Mrs. Barnhart was a woman of remarkable physical vigor. She was never sick, and was able to help herself up to a week of her death. When she gave up, she yielded her spirit and was gone. She was truly a pioneer woman, with all the characteristics of the early days. She was warm hearted, kind, neighborly, highly esteemed,a nd had lived a useful, industrious, noble, womanly life. Her funeral was attended by a large concourse of old friends and acquaintances in spite of the extreme severity of Christmas day. --Taken From the Henry Republican, January 1, 1880
Simon Beck, an influential citizen and well-to-do farmer, owning and operating one hundred and thirty-eight acres of land, which lies on section 31, Hennepin township, is a native of Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, his natal year being 1854.
Andrew Beck
His father Andrew Beck, was likewise born in Lebanon county, October 8, 1819, and he was there married in April 1848, to Miss Elizabeth Clemens, also a native of that country, born October 30, 1825. They remained in their native place, where the father engaged in farming, until 1865, when they made their way westward, coming to Putnam county, making the journey from the east by rail to Bureau Junction, from which place they continued their journey to Hennepin, this county. The family home was established on Hennepin prairie, where the father rented a tract of land and continued his operations as an agriculturist.
Mrs. Beck was very lonely after coming to this country and often longed and cried for her old home in Pennsylvania. Her husband would try to console her by telling her of the success which they would enjoy later on in their new home, although he, too, was equally as lonely, and he would then go to the barn and resort to tears. They, however, worked on earnestly and persistently until they acquired a competence that after a few years enabled them to purchase land, this being a part of the property which is now operated by the son, Simon. There the father continued his operations and made his home until his death, wich occurred August 27, 1892, being found dead in his bed. He had been in poor health for several years, but upon retiring the night previous to his death was feeling as well as usual, but was found dead in the morning, his death supposed to have resulted from heart failure. Both he and his wife were reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, but after their removal to Illinois they became identified with the Methodist denomination.
The father was a democrat in his political affiliation, but was never active as an officer seeker, preferring rather to concentrate his time and energies upon his private interests. After his death, the property was divided among his heirs, and his widow still survives, now making her home in the village of Florid with a sister of her husband. Although Mrs. Beck is in the eighty-first year she retians her mental faculties to a remarkable degree and is still an intelligent and interesting old lady. In the family of this worthy couple were four child, of whom our subjest was the third in order of birth and he is the only one surviving at the present time, a son and daughter having died in Pennsylvania previous to the removal of the family to this state, while a brother, Jerry, died in Granville in August 1906.
Simon Beck
Simon Beck was reared and educated in the Keystone state to the age of twelve years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Putnam county, where he continued his education in the country schools of this county and assisted his father in the operation of the old homestead farm until he attained his majority. He then made arrangements for having a home of his own, by his marriage to Miss Sarah Celemsn, who was born in Virginia. Her father, Jerry Clemens, removed to Putnam county about 1865, but later took up his abode in Carroll county, Missouri, where he died in the spring of 1906, having reached the venerable age of eighty-four years, while his wife was called to her final rest several years previous.
Following his marriage Mr. Beck located on the old homestead, operating his father's land until the latter's death, when, upon the division of the estate, our subject came into possession of a tract of eighty acres of land which was unimproved, save that a small frame house had been erected thereon. He took up his abode on his newly inherited property and at once began to develop and improve the land, and in due course of time he ........(continued page 508 - not copied). - Taken From the Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, By John Spencer Burt and W. E. Hawthorne, Page 507, Printed by the Pioneer Publishing Company, Chicago, 1907
Abner Boyle
Abner Boyle who died at Lostant on Friday, was one of the pioneers of Putnam County, locating on the farm he still owned in 1829.
He was a native of Bedford Co. Va, born in 1808. A portion of his early life was spent in Kentucky. He moved to Illinois in 1829. Married Matilda Wilson in 1834 (correction - married Nov. 24, 1831), five children resulting. He was the first Post Master in Putnam County, located at Magnolia. He has also represented the county as supervisor and assessor. He owns about 800 acres of land, lying in Putnam and LaSalle counties. Mr. Boyle was one of God’s noblemen, conscientious, strictly moral and upright in all his dealings and intercourse. Beloved as father, neighbor, citizen and friend and departs at the sundown of a usefull, well ordered and successful lifes work. --TAKEN FROM THE HENRY NEWS REPUBLICAN, HENRY, IL, Thursday, Mar. 11, 1886
Eliza A. Camp, nee Ham, widow of Abner Camp, is one of the honored and highly esteemed residents of Henry, Illinois. She was born in Dover, New Hampshire, April 27, 1817, and is a daughter of Titus and Nancy (Purse) Ham, natives of New Hampshire and Massachusetts respectively. She is descended from good old Revolutionary stock, her parental granfather having aided the colonies in their struggle for independence, while her father was valiant soldier of the war of 1812. By occupation the latter was a farmer, and was a man widely and favorably known. He died at Dover, New Hampshire, as did also his faithful wife. In their family were eight children, two sons and six daughters, of whom four are still living. Mary, a sister of our subject, is the wife of David Littlefield, of New Hampshire; Louisa is the widow of Leander Hough, and a resident of Massachusetts; and Carie E. completes the family.
Since 1852, Mrs. Camp has been a resident of Henry, Illinois, where was celebrated her marriage with Abner Camp in 1853. He was a native of New York, and from 1870 until 1887, conducted a hotel at Henry, of which place he was an old and respected resident. In politics he was an ardent republican, and was a great temperance worker. He was well known and honored throughout the community as a man of inflexible honor and stability of character.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Camp; Clara Belle, who is with her mother, and Charles A., who is now conducting the Camp house.
From the Biographical Record Published in 1896
James Carton
Donated by Lois Osborn
Taken From the Biographical History of Crawford, Ida, and Sac counties, Iowa by the Lewis Publishing Company Chicago: 1893 pg. 508
James Carton is one of the well-known and enterprising citizens of Cedar township and a resident on section 21. He was born in Antrim County, Ireland, June 1, 1833 a son of James Carton, Sr., who was born in the same place, and the name of his mother was Elizabeth Troland Carton, a native of the same county in Ireland. There the parents died, and there our subject grew up and attended school until he was twenty years of age.
At that time he left the old country and came to America, landing at Philadelphia and making his way to Chester county, in that state, where he remained for one year, and then removed to Putnam County, Illinois, and lived there many years. One year he spent in Cherokee county, Kansas, but later returned to Illinois, and in 1879 came to Sac county Iowa. After coming to Cedar township he first improved a good farm on section 4, and then sold it and bought eighty acres where he now lives, and this he has well improved also. Some of it had been improved by Asbury Young, and is now a good and valuable farm, having on it an excellent residence of six rooms, a good yard and lawn and grove with a fine orchard. There is plenty of small fruit, sheds, stables, yards, pastures and meadows, and all in good condition.
Our subject was married February 28, 1862 in Putnam County, Illinois, to Miss Julia D. Packingham, a woman of great intelligence and many graces of mind and person. She was a native of Putnam County, Illinois, was born and reared there, and received her education in the schools of that state. She was a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Dysart) Packingham, natives of Pennsylvania, whose last years were passed in Illinois. They reared a family of four sons and four daughter.
Our subject and wife reared a family of five children: James P.,k Archie Lorenzo, John Calvin; Susan Elizabeth, the wife of Frank Hamilton, of Early; and Mary Luella, wife of Leon E. Jaynes, of Early. Our subject is one of the enrolled Republicans of his neighborhood, and has held some of the positions of confidence in the township. He was for some time on the school board. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Cedar, and is a man of great good sense. Mrs. Carton is also a member of Cedar Methodist Episcopal Church. They are well-informed and hospitable people and Mr. Carton is regarded as one of the most reliable citizens of the county.
January 3, 1813 and February 8, 1901 are the dates by which are identified the life of Augustus Cassell. One whose long life was one of activity and usefulness. A kind and loving friend and neighbor, none knew him but to love and honor him.
Augustus Cassell was born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania January 3, 1813. Coming west in 1836 and settling in Putnam County. His wife was formerly Miss Mary Baar, to whom he was married November 14, 1832, she being also a native of Lebanon. To this union were born 9 children. John H. , William B., Sarah A., Allson K., Rufus L., Mary E., Isador, Augustus, and Sidney. Three of which the reaper death hath gathered into his fold. Both himself and wife were members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Cassell was a cabinet maker by trade and very ingenious in the use of tools. For several years, he owned and conducted a steam saw mill, and was once a mercantile business at Florid. He was elected county judge in 1872 and again in 1876 and was Justice of the Peace for 27 years. Mr. Cassell's last sickness was of but short duration, although he had been failing in health for some time. But patiently he bore it, and seemed waiting to be born by angels hands to that celestial home above, where we'll never know a sorrow when we are there. Many times during the day, he spoke of going home to Jesus. The remains were taken to Florid and placed beside those of his wife and children, Monday, February 11, at 10:00 AM. --TAKEN FROM THE PUTNAM RECORD, HENNEPIN, IL, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1901
Cortlandt R. Condit
Taken From The Henry Republican, Henry, Illinois
September 29, 1870
Cortlandt Rodman Condit was born in the village of Hudson, New York, November 22, 1802 and in that place his early boyhood was passed, until the claims of a more thorough education came, with additional years, when he applied himself to liberal efforts in that direction, studying with unabating zeal, not only the best known methods of business and trade, but also spent come considerable time in studying for the legal profession, in which study he had for classmate the afterwards renowned statesman and scholar, Martin Van Buren.
Thoroughly qualified by education – and some experience – for trade, he commenced by engaging in the grocery business, corner of Broome and Bowery streets, New York city, where he built up a prosperous business. In 1826 he married Mary L. Teneyck, who as wife and mother, shared the vicissitudes of his long and varied life.
Selling out in New York City, in company with a partner, he commenced business in a town in Pennsylvania. This partnership resulted disastrously, as the partner, taking advantage of the confidence of Mr. C. secured to himself the entire business of concern, leaving him no alternate but to return to New York, where after a while he sold out to advantage, and then concluded to come west, where land was cheap, and undertake the business of farming.
With this view he came to Madison county, Illinois in 1834, where he purchased a farm for $1000. After living on it about a year, he sold it for $1600, and in search of more favored localities he came to Marshall county, and landed at Lacon, where he came near trading for a place known as the Swan farm, and would have done so only he wanted more land. He took a claim on what is now the “Merritt” farm in the lower end of Henry prairie, selling the same after a while to Nehemiah Merritt, and finally laid claim on what is now the Condit homestead in Snachwine, Putnam county, where he erected a house of the primitive kind, occupying it in 1835.
No land was subject to entry as yet, and the trading in real estate was all done on the claim basis; nor was the land at that early day very valuable. When, however, in 1839 land could be entered at the land office in Dixon, through the solicitations of Mrs. Condit, her husband was induced to purchase the quarter on which the residence now stands, and her own careful savings, made from the loose change of the past few years, (and which but for her, might have been spent, as were larger sums, in the “free and easy” times of which we are writing), furnished the money to buy it. This purchase was the nucleus of the large estate, now embracing some 900 acres, mostly in a body, and now worth not less than $50,000.
The early stages of Mr. C.’s farm life, were not as prosperous in a pecuniary sense, as were the last 10 or 15 years, thought the raising of large quantities of grain and large annual yields of stock, principally cattle, were never disconnected from good results on the right side of the ledger. These results led to buying more land, and improvements in buildings, and the present brick dwelling took the place of the original one in 1849 or ’50.
Mr. Condit was the fortunate possessor of a more than ordinary physical constitution, which, with his business qualities rendered him unusually active, in all the occupations claiming his attention. His neighbors, Taliaferro, Thompson, Nock, Rowe, Bacon, Morgan, and the Williams, who moved into the neighborhood in the order named, relied much on his judgement and counsel in those early days; and very many in the locality, who came in with the railroad era, recollect his careful movements, and sound business principles. Nor was he lacking in those social qualities, the outgrowth and development of the period and the locality. The hearty, jovial, jolly times, which any one 30 years in Illinois so well recollect, contrasts strongly enough, with the present order of things, and while we may behave a little better now, and claim to be something ahead of these old times in many respects, it is questionable if we think as much of one another, or would make as great sacrifices to accommodate one another man, as they did then.
Six children, five sons and one daughter, were born, the oldest in New York state, the second in Pennsylvania, the rest in Putnam county. The oldest son died some years ago, the rest are all living on or near the paternal home. These with their mother, are in sorrow, for the death of the husband and father, which occurred August 3d last. His health had been good up to two years last past, with exceptional attacks of epilepsy. In November 1869, he was stricken with palsy, from which he never fully rallied, and from which time he became comparatively helpless, owing to the frequent recurrence of fits. He lingered in gradual decline until the date as above, when the worn spirit, weary of its frail earthly tenement, took its flight for brighter climes, leaving its habitation of dust to a quiet resting place in the grave.
Of the personal habits of the deceased we need only speak, so far as as to say that the companion of his youth, the partner of his toils and triumphs, the survivor of his earthly existence, his wife – speaks of his conversion in the city of New York, and of much satisfaction derived from religious consolation, during the period of his business mis- fortunes. He never joined any church organization, though often expressing intentions to do so; was a constant bible reader, and for many years kept up family prayers, failing in this only when declining health made it inconvenient to do so. Much might be said further, in which his old neighbors would be interested – much to praise, something to condemn. He has filled the measure of his days, and been gathered to the embrace of mother earth. Let his virtues be remembered, and imitated by all his old companions, as well as his own children; nor should any of us forget for a moment that there is a termination to long years of labor and effort, and that each in his turn must furnish the oft repeated proff of the mortality of our earthly existence.
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