The Record of Olden Times Biographical Department - Putnam County
From "The Record of Olden Times or Fifty
Year on the Prairie"
embracing sketches of the discovery, exploration and settlement of the
country.
by Spencer Elsworth, Lacon, IL Home Journal Steam Printing
Establishment
Copyright Date MDCCCLXXX (1880)
Hennepin Township
Page 641
Dr. C. M. Duncan
This gentleman is a practicing physician and surgeon of Hennepin. He was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1816, graduated from Beech Medical Institute in that city in 1837, and after practicing his profession in Philadelphia two years removed to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he also practiced two years. He then returned to Philadelphia. In 1842, at Louisville, Kentucky, he married Miss Jane E. Noxon, and in 1845 located in Hennepin. May 24, 1872, his wife died, leaving three children - Aspassia L., Zach. T., and Charles M. In 1875 he married Miss Vesta A. Turner, a native of Oxford county, Maine. He removed to Fairbury, Livingston county, Illinois, in 1868, but returned to Hennepin in 1870, since which time he has followed his profession successfully, securing an extensive and lucrative practice.
Joseph B. Albert, J. P.
Mr. Albert is a Pennsylvanian by birth, having been born in Dauphin county in 1836 and came to Putnam County in 1842. In 1865 he enlisted in Co. E. of the 124th Ill. vol. and served until the close of the war. At the Grange to the sea while on duty he met with a injury that incapacitated him from further service and he was honorably discharged, May 15, 1865 arriving home June 1. In 1867 he married Eliza Oderkirk Davis, a native of Steuben, New York to whom one child had been born Jessie Estella. he has served several terms as school director and filled other offices. He is proprietor of the Putnam County Nurseries and an extensive grower of trees of all kind. Mr. Albert is building a fine residence in the present season.
Charles O. Turner
Mr. Turner is a native of Hennepin, living on section 13. He was born in 1846, and in 1867 married Mattie Mowberry, also born in Hennepin, unto whom have been born four children, viz: May, Allie, Roy and Jennie. He enlisted in the One hundred and thirty-ninth regiment Illinois volunteers - one hundred day men - and was mustered in at Peoria. Mr. Turner is a farmer, and owns besides a portable saw mill, with which he manufactures large quantities of lumber.
Dr. J. F. O'Neal
A resident of the village of Florid, and a practicing physician and surgeon. He was born in Juniata county, Pa., in 1843, was educated in Pennsylvania and studied medicine there, graduating from the medical institute of Cincinnati in 1874. He first located in Henry, where he began the practice of his profession in partnership with Dr. Kalb, with whom he had studied before graduating. In the fall of 1874 he removed to Florid, and by industrious and studious attention to the profession of his choice has built up a large and lucrative practice. He has recently erected a very pleasant residence, the best possible evidence that he has come to stay; and as he is an eminent student and lover of his profession, and withal a pleasant sociable gentleman who improves on acquaintance is a valuable and sequisition to the community.
Oakes Turner
Mr. Turner lives on sections 13 and 14, and was born in Oxford county, in the state of Maine, in 1838, removed west in 1834 and located at He was an excellent penman and accountant and in 1836 was appointed county clerk and circuit clerk in 1838, which office he held by appointment until 1847. In the spring of 1848 he was appointed county treasurer to fill the unexpired term of Jos. Catlin who removed from the county, was re-elected in 1855 and again in 1857. He served the county in different capacities until he refused to be a candidate any further. In 1841 he served as assignee in nearly all the cases of bankruptcy. Since his retiracy he has been engaged in farming and owns a fine place of 400 acres, well improved and under a high state of cultivation. In 1840 he married Rebecca Butler by whom he has five children, Virginia (Mrs. Leech), Charles O., Mac and James W. In 1847 he served as a member of the constitutional convention. In the summer of 1835 he put up a carding machine for Fairfield and Leeper on Little Bureau above Leepertown, and run it that season. It was the second enterprise of the kind in this part of the state. Mr. Turner has been in active business all his life, and made one of the best public officers the county ever had.
Page 642
John Lehmann
Mr. Lehmann is a farmer living on section 23, and was born in Germany 1824. He emigrated to Canada in 1854, and came to this county four years later, or in 1858. His wife was formerly Catherine Stuver, to whom he was married in 1859 at Hennepin. Her native country was Germany. Their children are Amelia, Anthony, Christopher, Lena, John, Katie and Minnie. Mr. Lehmann owns 240 acres of land in a high state of cultivation and his buildings are first-class. He is one of the live men of the place and a warm patron of whatever promotes the interest of the community.
Josephus Phelps
Mr. Phelps is a native of Worcester, mass., where he was born in 1904. In 1820 he enlisted in the regular army and served three years, after which he settled in Putnam county about 1833. In 1840 he married Miss Lydia Clark of Onondago county, New York and to them were born seven surviving children, Mary, Fabius E., Irene, Irvin, Flavious J. and Charles F. Mr. Phelps' patriotism was inherited in his sons, two of whom became soldiers in the late war. Fabius belonged to the 105th Ill. Volunteers and shared with Sherman the glory of the march to the sea. At Atlanta he was taken prisoner and was confined in Andersonville two months. Another son, Arthur, was in the 100 day service. Mr. Phelps in the olden time occasionally assisted escaping negroes on their way to Canada. He owns and cultivates a small farm on which he resides.
Joseph Forney
A prominent citizen of Florid, engaged in the grocery business. He was born in the State of Ohio in 1850 but with his parents came to Bureau county when only two years of age. In 1873 he married Miss Mary O'Neal whose birth-place was in Dauphin county, Pa. They have two children, LeRoy and Frank. Mr. Forney has been successfully engaged in business on his own account something over six years and in Florid since March, 1879. He has a new store and dwelling, carried a large and well-assorted stock of goods, and is prepared to sell on as favorable terms as any other dealer in his line.
William Stehl
This gentleman is a blacksmith by trade, carrying on business at Florid in Putnam county. He was born in Prussia Germany in 1854, and came to this country in 1872, staying two years in New York, and reaching Putnam county in 1874. The year after he married Maggie Hamel, a native of the same locality with himself. They have two children, Freddie and Lewis. Mrs. S. is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Stehl is an expert mechanic and does all kinds of repair work, horse-shoeing and jobbing. He owns a very pleasant home in Florid.
John Brumfield
Mr. Brumfield is a farmer, who came from Wayne county, Indiana, where he was born in 1831, coming here with his parents when one year old, and has ever since lived in Putnam county. In 1862 he became a soldier, enlisting in Company E., One hundred and twenty-fourth Illinois volunteers, and serving until mustered out at Chicago in 1865. Returning from service he married Margaret Markley, born in Missouri, and to them have been born three children, viz: Cora, Jessie and Mary. Mrs. B. is a member of the M. E. church. They own a fine farm of one hundred acres, well improved. Mr. B. is industrious, careful and thrifty.
Henry Griner
Mr. Griner is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Lancaster county in 1813, and emigrated to Putnam county in 1853, locating in Hennepin township. He married Martha E. Spalmon in 1839, also from Lancaster county. She died February 18, 1879. The names of their children were Mary E., Susan, Maria, Rachel, Annie and John.
Asaph Paralee
Mr. Parmalee is a farmer and was born in Putnam county, in the house in which he now resides in 1851. He was married in 1872 to Miss Agnes Thomas, likewise a native of Putnam county. They have one child, Irton, born in 1875. Mr. Parmalee is a member of the local protection society and cultivates about one hundred acres of land.
James L. Patterson
Mr. Patterson is a farm and mechanic, living in Florid. He was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1843, coming to Putnam county in 1860. When the rebellion broke out, he promptly offered his services , enlisting in the