Daniel Grafft

ANIEL GRAFFT is a son of David and Anna (Grove) Grafft. The father is a native of Lancaster County, Pa., and the mother of Wirginia. After marriage they settled in Preble County, Ohio, where they resided until their death. Their family consisted of ten children, three of whom preceded their parents to the silent land, seven remaining to endure the sorrows and enjoy the blessings of life. Our subject was the sixth child in order of birth. He was born Aug. 6, 1829, at his parents' home in Preble County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, making his home in the bosom of his family until he was twenty-one years of age.

In 1850 Daniel Grafft came to "Woodford County, remaining one year. His mother taking sick about this time, furnished the occasion for his return to his parents' home in Preble County. On his mother's death he returned to this county, in the following summer, having been absent some six or seven months. He then entered 560 acres and spent his summer breaking the prairie. In the fall of 1853 he was raarried'to Miss Dianah Grove, who was born Nov. 13, 1830, in Virginia. This union resulted in seven children: Albert M., William IL, Abraham J., Mary E., John J. and David E. Albert M. is deceased and one child died in infancy. The parents of Mrs. Grafft were Abraham and Sarah A. (Grinei) Grove, both natives of Virginia. They came to this. county about 1835, making the journey in the usual style of pioneer times, settling in what is now Olio Township, where Mr. Grove died in November, 1868, being seventy-three years old. Mrs. Grove is also deceased. This couple had eleven children, of whom Mrs. Grafft is the third.

Mr. Grafft has pursued the occupation of a farmer during all his life, with the exception of three years spent in the service of his country during the late war. He enlisted in Company A, 129th Illinois Infantry, in August, 1862, bravely enduring the heat of the lowlands and making light of the hardships entailed by the frosts of the mountains, always endeavoring to be in the forefront of the battle; undaunted by danger and fearless of results, he upheld the starry flag throughout the fierce fighting of Chanttanooga, Resaca, Big Shanty, and throughout the continual assaults on the Confederate position before Atlanta, sharing in the wild enthusiasm with which Sherman's boys greeted the downfall of this key to the Southern Confederacy. Afterward at Peach Tree, Ark., he did yeoman duty, and shared the honors showered upon our returning soldiers. Coming North to Chicago, they were mustered out and honorably discharged, and our subject immediately returned to his home and family in this county, where his wife had bought a farm during his absence. This place he has added to his original possessions, owning at the present time 220 acres. By intelligent industry he has carefully improved his place, putting up buildings and fences, and planting orchards, etc.

In addition to growing the usual cereals and other useful products of a farm, Mr. Grafft pays attention to raising fine stock, including hogs, cattle and horses. Politically, he votes with the Republican party. He is a member of Dan JMiles Post No. 270, G. A. R. Having always shown a deep interest in educational matters, his neighbors

PORTRAIT AND BIOaRAPHICAL ALBUM.

have considered him fitted to look after school affairs, mid have kept him in the office of School Director for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Grafft attend the Methodist Church, of which body Mrs. Grafft is an active and efficient member.

0. B. CRAWFORD, M. D., one of the oldest practitioners of this county, and the oldest 3 resident physician of Eureka, is a native of Illinois, having been born on Crawford's Prairie, Franklin County, Sept. 1, 1839. His father, John Crawford, one of the earliest settlers of this county, was born in Virginia, whence he emigrated to Illinois as early as 18II, and occupied himself as a farmer and teacher combined. He was the first Sheriff of Franklin County, and died in 1847. The mother, Mrs. Elizabeth (Randolph) Crawford, was born in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and died in Franklin County, Ill., in 1844. They were the parents of five children, of whom our subject was next to the youngest.

The early life of Dr. Crawford was spent on his father's farm in Franklin County. When a lad of seven years he was caught in a wind storm, during which a tree fell upon him and both his legs were broken. He, however, recovered from this accident and acquired a practical education, attending the common school until twenty years old. He then entered the Union Academy at Jonesboro, where he pursued his studies for a time, and then for two years was engaged in teaching. In 18G2 he began the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. M. M. Goodman, of Jonesboro, with whom he remained one year. Later he was a student one year in the medical department of Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, and afterward he entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, from which he was graduated in the spring of

Our subject now returned to Illinois with the intention of joining the army, but changed his mind and located in Washington, Ill. Shortly afterward, however, he changed his residence to

Eureka and began the practice of his profession, in which he has become very successful. He is an active member of the Democratic party, and, socially, belongs to William C. Hobbs Lodge No. 306, A. F. & A. M. He is also identified with the Chapter in Washington and the Commandery in Peoria. In religious matters he is identified with the Christian Church. He has for several years been a member of the Board of Trustees of Eureka College, and President of Woodford County Medical Society, aside from being a member of the State Medical Society.

Dr. Crawford was married in this county Oct. 22, 1868, to Miss Sarah J., daughter of the late Caleb Davidson, who was one of the pioneer settlers of this county, where Mrs. Crawford was born Oct. 22, 1843. Mr. Davidson was a native of Kentucky.

s' AMUEL H. McCLURE, one of the representative farmers of Cruger Township, resides on section 36, and is Supervisor of the township. James McClure, father of our subject, and his wife Mary G. Campbell, were both natives of Kentucky, being of Scotch ancestry. After marriage they settled in Knox County, Ind., removing from there to ermilion County, Ill., in 1827, and afterward changing their above to Knox County, this State. Not being able to obtain a clear title to their land, they removed about 1830 to the vicinity of Washington, Tazewell Co., Ill. Then leaving the farm, they removed into the village of Washington, residing there several years, when they again removed, making Peoria their home for some time. Their next removal was to this county, where they bought a farm near Versailles, afterward moving to Oskaloosa, Iowa, and there lived about eight years. They then returned to Washington, Ill., in which place James McClure died in 1870. His wife laid aside her mortal body in Cruger Township, at the home of her son, our subjerl, April 2M, !87J.

'I'he father uf nur subject iire liimseii;is a Aintriotic citizen of our country should, battling bravely during the sanguinary campaign waged against the red men of the forest, gallantly charging under the intrepid Harrison, at the famous l)cattle of Tippecanoe. The parental family consisted of ten children, Samuel H., being the sixth. He was born in Vermilion County, Ill., Nov. 2, 1827, going with his parents to Tazewell County, and afterward to Oskaloosa, Iowa. He remained under the parental roof until his eighteenth year, when he entered the employ of a mercantile firm in Washington, remaining with them about three years; he afterward engaged in the business of general merchandise, being employed by his father, and the firm of which he was a member, until 1856.

On June 11, 1856, Samuel H. McClure was united in marriage with Miss Missouri IMeek, a daughter of Henry B. and Thena Meek, of Kentucky, who were among the first settlers of this county. Mr. Meek departed this life in Cruger Township, leaving his wife to the loving care of her daughter.

In March, 1865, Mr. McClure removed his family to Oskaloosa, Iowa, and engaged in the general merchandising business,? carrying on a large and successful business for some seven 3'ears, when, tiring of the place, he came to this county, and settled in Cruger Township. Since that time he has been one of our most prominent men, employing himself in an intelligent oversight and operation of his large farm, also engaging largely in stock-raising. He owns in the county, something over 800 acres, and has erected a spacious and elegant home in the midst of fine grounds, over which his wife presides with dignity and grace. Mrs. McClure is a native of this county where she was born April 7, 1836. Two children have been given to tiie, one of whom, Henry E., was laid to rest in his sixth year. The other. Miss Annie J., is a young lady of great amiability, and of a brilliant mind, being a graduate of the Eureka College.

Mr. McClure lias been Supervisor of Cruger Townsbip five terms, and in 1888-89, his fellowmembers of the Board testified to their high appreciation of his merits, by electing him Chairman. He was Justice of the Peace for two terms, and has held a number of other minor offices in the township. He is an ardent politician, and has always taken an active part in political affairs, supporting in all proper ways the men and measures approved of by the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Clure are intelligent and devoted Christian people, holding their membership in the Christian Church. A lithographic view of Mr. McClure's residence, appears elsewhere in this volume, and represents one of the most beautiful homes to be found in all Woodford County.

l OSEPH THEENA is a fine representative of our self-made men, as by his own efforts he has not only acquired a handsome competence, but has placed himself among the most prominent citizens of Metamora, whose interests he has been an important factor in promoting as a practical, successful business man, and as a farmer and an extensive raiser, buy'er and shipper of stock. He has also increased his exchequer by dealing in land. In 1879 he bought the property where he now resides, and in 1888 built a large addition to the house, making it one of the most commodious and conveniently arranged dwellings in the vicinity.

Joseph Theena was born near the far-famed river Rhine, in Prussia, Jan. 17, 1840. His father, whose given name was Mathias, was a native of the same locality, and was there reared and married, Anna M. Poffenholz becoming his wife. He early learned the stone-mason's trade, which he followed in the Fatherland until 1 846. In that year he determined to avail himself of the superior advantages possessed by America over the mother country, for a poor man to rise in the world, and crossing the Atlantic with his wife and three children, he made his way directly to Chicago, which was then a small place, giving no indications that it was destined in less than half a century to be the second city in size on this Continent. He stayed there but two years, and then removed with his family to Peoria, the journey.y being accomplished by team, as it was before the time of railways in this State. The first year he was employed at various kinds of work, and then resumed his trade of a stone-mason, besides working at the brick and plaster-mason's trade. From the proceeds of his liard toil he purchased a comfortable home there, and was doing well linanciaily, when the terrible war broke out. He laid aside all personal considerations, and cast in his lot with the other brave defenders of our country's honor, becoming a member of the 108th Illinois Infantry. He served faithfully with his regiment two years, and then, his health seriously impaired by the hardships of a soldier's lot, he returned home on a furlough, and died very soon afterward, thus sacrificing his life for the country of his adoption, as much as if he had fallen in battle. His widow survived him a number of years, her death occurring in October, 1885. That worthy couple had four children who grew to maturity, as follows: Anna, who married Robert Creters, and lives in Kansas; Margaret, who married John Goddard, and lives in Chillicothe, Ill.; Michael, also a resident of that city; and our subject.

The latter was the eldest of the family, and being but six years of age when became to this country with his parents, he has but little recollection of his native home. He was reared and educated in Peoria, and early commenced to learn the trade of a butcher. He first engaged with John C. Calhoun, with whom he worked four years. He then was employed by Ralph Phillips, remaining with him eleven years. In the meantime he was very industrious and prudent, so that he was finally enabled to invest his earnings by establishing himself in business, and in 1869 he came to Metamora for that purpose, and has ever since been a most important factor in the community, contributing his quota to its advancement and material prosperity. On his arrival here he purchased a lot of land with the frontage of eighty feet east of the square, upon which stood a small building which he utilized as a meat-market, and at once commenced a successful career as a business man. That same fall Mr. Theena bought a residence three blocks north of the square, and in 1870 he bought three acres in the northeastern part of the city. In 1874 lie made further investments, purchasing eighty acres of pasture land one and one-quarter miles north of the city, buying his present place of residence in 1879. In 1883 he bought fifty-six acres of improved farm land within the town limits, and in 1889 purchased thirty acres adjoining, and during the time he bought and sold various other tracts of land very profitably. In 1889 he rented his market,-and at the present time is engaged mostly in farming, raising, buying, and shipping stock.

April 19, 1868, occurred a most important event in the life of Mr. Theena, namely his marriage with Miss Catherine Kalista, in whom he has found an admirable wife and helpmate. She was born in the city of Vienna, Austria, Nov. 11, 1847, a daughter of Joseph and Anna Kalista, natives of Austria. Mr. and Mrs., Theena have ten children living — Joseph W., Celia M., Michael F., Carrie K., Lillie B. and Ella J. (twins), John Leo, Emily M., George S., and Edward J. The family are devoted members of the St. Mary's Reformed Catholic Church.

Mr. Theena is a man of good habits and sterling principles; prompt and systematic in his method of conducting business, and always dealing fairly and honestly by all. In him Metamora has found an invaluable citizen, one who earnestly supports all schemes for its improvement, and gives liberally towards all worthy objects. A man of such fine traits of character cannot fail to make an honorable and useful public official, and his fellow-citizens, in just recognition of that fact, have selected him as a most desirable member of the Town Board, with which he has been connected for several terms, and is still, and is also Chairman of the Water Committee. In National politics, he is a supporter of the Democratic party, but in local affairs he acts independently.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Woodford County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits (1889). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.