The ancestral history of Mr. Pope can be traced back to
representatives of the Revolutionary period, including John Pope, who joined
the colonial forces and fought for the independence of the nation. He was
captured by the Tories and died while on his way home from the war, in 1781.
His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Atheran and was born on Martha's
Vineyard, in 1725. Her parents were Solomon and Sarah (Skiff) Atheran, and
her grandparents were Simon and Mary (Butler) Atheran. The next in the line
of descent is Benjamin Pope, a son of John and Sarah Pope. He was born
November 23, 1769, and in 1797 married Sarah Purcell, who was born on
Martha's Vineyard, August 28, 1777. He died October 18, 1838, and his wife
passed away January 12, 1848.
George Pope, the father of our
subject, was born in Lorain county, Ohio, December 21, 1814, and in 1843
came from the Buckeye state to LaSalle county, locating near the town of
Manlius in what is now Miller township. There he engaged in farming and
stock-raising until his death, which occurred March 2, 1860. He was
industrious and successful and his enterprise and capable management brought
to him a merited competence. He took a great interest in the newly organized
Republican party and joined its ranks, stanchly supporting its principles.
He married Miss Louisa R. Redington, a daughter of Harry and Lydia (Allen)
Redington. Her father was a native of London, England, where he was born
April 3, 1786, and his wife was born in Pennsylvania, December 14, 1793, and
was of Welsh descent. He died November 18, 1848, and her death occurred on
the 25th of April, 1836. Mrs. Pope was born in Girard, Erie county,
Pennsylvania, October 6, 1820, and with her parents removed to Lorain
county, Ohio, in 1821. In December, 1840, she became the wife of George Pope
and in 1843 they went to Cedar county, Iowa, but in August of the same year
became residents of LaSalle county. Mr. Pope died in 1860, and on Christmas
day of 1861 his widow became the wife of John Brundage, a wealthy and
respected citizen of Manlius township. He was born in Seneca county, New
York, April 27, 1808, and came to LaSalle county about 1843, residing here
until his death, which occurred September 7, 1891. Mrs. Brundage departed
this life April 5, 1896, when in her seventy-sixth year. By her first
marriage she had three children who lived to maturity and three who died in
infancy. Alanson became a member of Company C, Eighty-eighth Illinois
Infantry in the civil war, and while at Camp Douglas on his way to the front
was drowned in Lake Michigan. Milton is the next younger. Eva, the only
daughter, is the wife of Charles G. Werner, of Ottawa.
Milton Pope,
of this review, was born in the township of Miller, LaSalle county, June 5,
1852, and spent the years of his boyhood in a manner common to country lads,
a portion of his time being devoted to the acquisition of knowledge in the
district schools of the period. Subsequently it was his privilege to attend
school in Oberlin, Ohio, for about two years. Returning to his old home in
LaSalle county he continued to follow the occupation to which he had been
reared until 1891, when he retired from active agricultural labors. He
carried on farming along very progressive lines and managed his business
affairs so capably that he won thereby very creditable and desirable
success. At present he is the owner of about five hundred acres of fine
farming land in LaSalle county and three hundred and twenty acres in Kansas.
He is a director in the First National Bank of Ottawa, negotiates loans and
attends to his other business interests.
On the 24th of November,
1897, Mr. Pope married Miss Cora J. Pickens, of Ottawa, a daughter of James
H. and Clementine L. Pickens, old and respected citizens of that city. Her
father is a grandson of Henry Pickens, who was born in Middleton,
Massachusetts, June 18, 1785, and came to Otter Creek, LaSalle county, in
1839, accompanied by his wife, Mercy Pierce Pickens. He died in 1844,
leaving a son, James, who married Eliza Chase. James Pickens and his wife
came from Massachusetts to Illinois in 1838, traveling the entire distance
in a wagon and accompanied by their aged grandmothers, Mrs. Abia Hathaway,
who died a few years later, at the age of eighty-nine years. In 1848 James
Pickens removed with his family from Otter Creek to Ottawa, where he died
October 11, 1889, when almost eighty-one years of age, his birth having
occurred December 15, 1808. His son, James Henry Pickens, was born in New
Bedford, Massachusetts, August 16, 1834, and in December, 1856, married
Clementine Lavelia Ashley, of Lakeville, Massachusetts. In the same winter
he brought his young wife to Illinois, locating in Ottawa, where their
children — Cora Justene and John Ashley — were born. Mrs. Clementine L.
Pickens is a granddaughter of Noah and Ruth (Pickens) Ashley. The former was
born June 18, 1787, and the latter May 20, 1791. Their son, Silas P. Ashley,
was born April 4, 1813, married Phebe Davis and died in April, 1897, leaving
a daughter, Clementine L., who was born August 28, 1839, and is the mother
of Mrs. Milton Pope. Cora Pickens, the esteemed wife of our subject, was
born July 13, 1860, in Ottawa, acquired a liberal education and is well
qualified to grace any station in life to which she may be called. Mr. Pope
is a member of Marseilles Lodge, No. 417, A. F. & A. M., Shabbona Chapter,
No. 37, R. A. M., and Ottawa Commandery, No. 10, K. T. He and his wife enjoy
the high regard of many warm friends, and all who pass beneath the portals
of their pleasant home enjoy there a most gracious hospitality.
Extracted 13 May 2019 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 600-602.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
 |
Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
