**************************************************************************** File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project Copyright 2008, all rights reserved. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format without the written consent of the author at http://fulton.ilgenweb.net. **************************************************************************** Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890 **************************************************************************** The Biography of Peter PUMYEA Pages 807, 808, & 811, transcribed in full by Karen CRANE Goggin [Surnames: ADDIS, DAVIS, DYER, FOSTER, GOULD, HALL, PUMYEA, STRYKER, TEATHWORTH, WASHINGTON, WILSON] PETER PUMYEA, of French and Holland-Dutch descent, was born in Somerset County, N. J., in 1799, and married Catharine Sarah Stryker, a lineal descendant of Capt. Stryker, who raised the first Independent Company of Troopers in the State of New Jersey, of which he was chosen Captain. He was commissioned directly by Gen. Washington to serve in the Revolutionary War, and although justly entitled to a pension for wounds received in the service, looked upon it as a disgrace to apply for one, feeling that he had only done what every patriot should freely do for his country. The family of Mr. Pumyea included the following eight children: Simon P., John S., Nelson DeWitt, Luther, Theodore, Sarah Ellen, Lydia Ann and Sarah Ellen (after the first died). Thinking the West would offer greater advantages for his family, Mr. Pumyea started on a tour of inspection in company with a friend. Although the time of their visit was the year of the cholera plague (1835), yet Illinois lands were being boomed by speculators and prices were high, considering the few improvements the country offered, being netted over with laid out lines of railroads, and none completed, but a large debt incurred. Chicago, then a little village and Government fort called Dearborn, with other towns, felt the effect of these enterprises and consequently choice lots in Chicago advanced to $600 or $700 each. It was not uncommon to hear groans and curses from the various visitors, who would pass the nights on the floors of the taverns; these exclamations were called forth by chagrin at the inability of their wallets to respond to the prices of property. Prior to the arrival of Mr. Pumyea in Fulton County, Mrs. Gould, a relative of his, had lost a child in the great tornado which swept over the village of Canton on its route to New Brunswick and the Atlantic Ocean. Prior to this, Richard Addis, a relative who had been in the country many years, succumbed to the malaria incident to a new land, died and was buried in the brush or barrens near Canton. The district was afterward used as farming land and is now a part of the city. His grave to many is unknown. Notwithstanding obstacles and hardships, Mr. Pumyea determined to make Fulton County his permanent home, being convinced that Illinois, in advantages offered the farmer, was superior to the partially exhausted soil of the East. Leaving their Eastern home, the family of our subject drove through on the National Turnpike, plunging into sloughs and unworked roads, after six weeks of arduous travel reached Fulton County. They passed through the Grand Prairie (not inappropriately so called) near Danville, Ill., and Abram Teathworth, who with his wife accompanied the Pumyea family, exclaimed upon seeing the vast extent of prairie, "Mr. Pumyea, Mr. Pumyea, do stop here!" To those whose eyes had for weeks wearied of the timber country, the prairie, which reached far as eye could scan, was a pleasant sight. However, having arranged to settle in Fulton County, they concluded it was best to proceed thither. In June, 1836, a settlement was made on sections 34, 8 north and 3, on the Indian trail, (on which land as a guide, was a large elm tree, seen many miles), between Farmington and Ellisville. The improvements consisted of a few acres fenced and a double cabin, purchased of Samuel Dyer, who occupied it. Afterward this cabin was enlarged, for the continued influx of visitors rendered the additional accommodations necessary. These numerous speculators and immigrants always found Catherine Pumyea an obliging hostess, never tiring in entertaining visitors, and in Peter Pumyea they found a genial host, kind-hearted and hospitable. Many cherish in fond recollection the memory of those pioneer days, and the warm-hearted Mr. Pumyea and his estimable wife will live long in the hearts of their grateful fellow-men. In 1836-37, Moses Hall and Benjamin Foster having laid out a forty-acre tract in town lots, Peter Pumyea and Richard Davis conceived the plan of adding thereto by the purchase of an addition, which they laid out and named Utica; but finding another town by that name, they changed it to Fairview. The first schoolhouse in the town was a log cabin with puncheon floors, and slab seats, without backs. The teachers were almost always efficient instructors and disciplinarians, and used ferules and long switches to command respect and obedience. After the town was started every effort was used to induce mechanics and merchants to locate here; lots were set apart for religious sects, and the Rev. A. D. Wilson was sent as a missionary. He arrived here October 3, 1837, and on the 16th of that month the Dutch Reformed Church was organized with eight members. Mr. Wilson volunteered his services as pastor, and immediately after his arrival the congregation united in the determination to erect a church edifice. The pastor and our subject were sent East and returned with a large donation, which they had solicited in small amounts from their friends in New Jersey. This donation, together with that received from many prominent citizens in Fulton County, enabled them to erect a large structure on the beautiful square of ground donated by Peter Pumyea for that purpose, in anticipation of a large influx of emigration. It is through the efforts of Peter Pumyea and a few others that Fairview owes its present influential position among the towns of Fulton County. Mr. Pumyea enjoyed the esteem of his many acquaintances during his life, and at his death was sincerely mourned. He passed from the scenes of earth January 22, 1851, at the age of fifty years. His estimable wife survived him many years, and died February 5, 1884, at the age of eighty-four years. For further reference to the family history see sketch of Theodore Pumyea on another page of this volume. Note: The following is the 1883 biography of Peter PUMYEA, thought to be a grandson of the Peter Pumyea whose biography appears above. It is from "History of Alameda County, California," 1883, page 962, transcribed by Barbara Venedam Pumyea: