Dr. John E. Powell
Taken From the Henry Republican
August 31, 1876
Dr. John E. Powell, reached on Sunday last, the venerable age of 76 years. Though so far on life's journey, he is still physically quite robust and enjoys a reasonable degree of good health. He is an Englishman by birth, his native place being London and the date August 27, 1800. At 14 years of age he entered London hospital as a student of medicine and surgery, and after seven years of careful preparation, was commissioned as physician, and assigned to duty of the British transport "Mary" then engaged in carrying femal convicts to New South Wales. After a cruise of 25 months, he was relieved and place in charge of St. James hospital in London, where he remained until 1828.
In that year he visited America, and was charmed with it. Going back, he resigned his commission, and removed permanently to this country, settling first at Utica, N.Y., but in 1833 came to the Prairie State, which has since been his home. He is as hale, hearty and cheerful as a man of 50, and many years are seemingly yet in store for him.
With this little personal history we may add, as a fitting addenda to a long and pleasant life, the little surprise that awaited him on Saturday afternoon. A few personal friends were invited in to tea, and to congratulate the doctor on his good health and to enjoy the occasion with him. This of course was as merry and delightful as such as occasion could well be. Then came a presentation from his children, two sons and three daughters, as follows: A gold headed cane, with inscription of the donor, from J. A. Powell of Rockfield, Ind. A pair of gold framed spectacles from F. A. Powell of Henry. A set of gold studs and sleeve buttons from Mrs. L. H. Wikoff of Hinkley. A medicine knife and folding scissors, an ingenious novelty from Mrs. J. M. Ellis, and a pair of gloves and a paper weight, form Miss Louie Powell of this city.
The occasion and the presents were a joyful surprise to father Powell, who received these tokens of filial affection with intense gladness, and his wife, who may be said as to be the author of this pleasant event, witness its success with heartfelt delight. Occasions of this nature are always agreeable, and Father Powell will ever point with pride and satisfaction to his 76th birthday.
James E. Porterfield, manager and stockholder of the Toluca Lumber and Hardware Company, and one of the wide-awake and energetic business men of Toluca, is a native son of Illinois, his birth occurring near Dover in Bureau county, October 9, 1849, and with the commercial anti agricultural interests of this section of the state he has been prominently identified. His father, James Porterfield, Sr., was a native of Belmont county, Ohio, and a son of John Porterfield, who was born in the north of Ireland, and on coming to the new world first located in Pennsylvania, but finally settled in Belmont county, Ohio, where he engaged in farming throughout the remainder of his life. In his family were sixteen children, all of whom reached years of maturity. The father of our subject was reared and educated in the county of his nativity, and in 1836 emigrated to Bureau county, Illinois, where he married Eliza Brigham, a native of New Hampshire, and they became the parents of three children: Joseph B., of Normal, Illinois, who is married and has two children; John, of Fullerton, Nebraska, who is married and has six children, and James E., of this review. After the death of his first wife the father was again married, but had no children by the second union.
James Porterfield, Sr., was one of the honored pioneers of Bureau county, where he entered government land, and although he was in limited circumstances on his arrival, by industry, enterprise and good management, became well-to-do. Being a strong anti-slavery main, he assisted many a helpless negro on his way to Canada and freedom, and aided Lovejoy and Hollbrook in their good work. He was a consistent and active member of the Congregational church. His oldest son was in the one hundred days service during the civil war.
Upon the home farm in Bureau county our subject grew to manhood, and besides the country schools also attended an academy. At the age of nineteen he began teaching, which profession he successfully followed for four years. On the 25th of December, 1872, Mr. Porterfield was united in marriage with Miss Icedora Miller, daughter of Henry J. and Jennie (Williams) Miller. Two daughters blessed their union: Edna, who was born near Spring Valley, acquired her education in Princeton and at Oberlin college, Ohio. She is now the wife of C. A. Brown, of Princeton, by whom she has one son, James E. Ada Lois, the younger daughter, is at home.
For a few years after his marriage, Mr. Porter field followed farming in Illinois, and then removed to Wilson county, Kansas, where he dealt in live stock for over a year. On account of his wife's health he returned to Bureau county, where he remained until 1881, when he went to Emporia, Kansas, where for a year he engaged in stock dealing. Subsequently hie purchased land in Greenwood county, that state, where lie still owns eight hundred and seventy-five acres of productive and well stocked land. Two years later he again came to Illinois, this time locating in La Salle, where he engaged in the manufacture of brick and tile for a short time, and then removed to a farm near Spring Valley. Later he became connected with the Spring Valley Coal Company, and in 1885 again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he followed for three years. On the expiration of that time he embarked in the grocery and shoe business at Spring Valley, being at that place during the memorable miners' strike. For a few years he was in the employ of a lumber firm in that city, and in 1893 came to Toluca, to accept his present position, which he has since filled to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. He is also a director and stockholder in the First National bank of Toluca, and secretary of the Devlin Coal company. He is a man of good executive ability, sound judgment, and is one of the most capable business men of Marshall county.
Mr. Porterfield is a firm adherent in the principLes of the republican party., which he has always supported since casting his first vote for General Grant in 1872, but has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office, preferring to give his exclusive time and attention to his business interests. He is a faithful member of the Congregational church, and while a resident of Spring Valley served as trustee of the church at that place.
Taken From The Biographical Record, Published
in 1896
Pages 533
Frederick Story Potter of Henry, Illinois is one of the best know and most highly honored of the attorneys of Marshall county. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, November 3, 1827, and is the son of Frederick and Caroline A. (Story) Potter, who were also natives of the nutmeg state. His father was a contractor and builder and followed in that occupation the greater part of his life. In 1840 the family came to Illinois, locating in Christian county, between Decatur and Springfield, where they remained until 1846, and then removed to Beardstown, where the mother died in 1865. Some years after the father removed to Henry, where he too, passed away April 2, 1892, at the age of seventy-eight years.
The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent with his parents until sixteen years of age. His health failing him at Beardstown, he came to Henry, where for three years he was in the employ of Robert Dawson as bookkeeper. He then engaged in general merchandising on his own account and continued in the business until 1862 with fair success. Closing out his stock of merchandise he entered the office of P. S. Perley, under whose instruction he read law, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1864. Forming a partnership with his preceptor, they were associated together until August, 1873, since which time he has practiced alone. Mr. Perley, who is now a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, is a man of great ability, a graduate of Bowdoin college, being a classmate of Gen. O. O. Howard, John N. Jewett, and other men who have since become noted in the history of our country. In 1870 he was a member of the Illinois constitutional convention which framed our present state constitution.
In 1872, Mr. Potter was elected state's attorney for Marshall county, and served four years with credit to himself and to the county which he represented. Faithful in the discharge of every duty, he prosecuted the evil-doer without fear or favor, while tempering mercy with justice. Since his retirement from that office, he has given attention wholly to his private practice, of which he has always had his full share. He is regarded by all who know him as a safe counselor, one whose advice it is wise for the client to follow. It has never been a practice with him to advise litigation when other counsels would subserve the same ends. He has followed in this respect in the footsteps of such wise counselors and advocates as Abraham Lincoln, John T. Stuart and others who became noted at the Illinois bar.
Politically, Mr. Potter was originally a Douglas democrat, following the lead of that eminent statesman during that great contest with Lincoln in 1858, when the latter represented the newly organized republican party as its candidate for the United states Senate in opposition to Douglas, who was then serving as United States Senator, and was the democratic candidate for re-election. With all the ardor of a young man, Mr. Potter entered into that canvass at a time when he should exercise the rights of franchise for the first time. Again, in 1860, he followed the lead of Douglas, who had been nominated by one wing of the democratic party for the presidency. But Douglas was defeated, some of the southern states passed acts of secession, the war followed, and young Potter became a war democrat. The transition from that postion to republicanism was easy, and from early in the '60s to the present time, he has been an uncompromising republican.
In every campaign his voice is heard upon the stump and he has dealt some stalwart blows for the principles espoused. In 1880 he was quire active, supporting the side of Grant against Blaine, but his purpose was accomplished with the defeat of both by the nomination and election of Garfield.
Mr. Potter has been twice married, his first union being in 1858, with Miss Louisa V. Dawson, of Henry, by whom three children were born; Ellsworth Story, now a traveling salesman, residing in Peoria; Carrie Louisa, who married Daniel S. Schneider, but who died in September 1892; and Ida, now the wife of Eugene D. Lane, of Sterling, Illinois. The wife and mother died July 21, 1871, her death being mourned by husband and children and a large circle of friends who esteemed her for her worth as a genuine womanly woman, a loving wife and mother, and faithful friend.
Some three years after the death of his first wife, on the 29th of April, 1874, Mr. Potter was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Isabella House, daughter of Willard House, an early merchant and miller of Grand Detour, Illinois. By this union three children were also born; Gertrude and Fred W., graduates of the high school class of 1895; the latter is now a student in his father's law office; and Sarah Elsie, a high school student.
In addition to his legal duties, Mr. Potter is interested in everything calculated to build up and strengthen the business of his adopted town and county. For twenty-four years he has been a director of the Henry Bridge Company, and for fifteen years its president. A friend of educaton, he does all in his power to promote the interests of the public schools. For many years he has been an active worker in the Masonic order, and is a member of Henry lodge, No. 119, F. & A. M. and of Chilicothe chapter, R.A.M., of Lacon. He is not a member of any church, but contributes to the support of the Protestant Episcopal church of Henry, of which his wife is a devoted member. As a citizen he is held in the highest esteem by his fellow townsmen.
Transcribed and Donated by Nancy Piper
Taken From The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties,
Illinois., Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1896, Pages 46, 49