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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of Thomas H. TRAVERS 

Pages 796-798, transcribed in full by Karen CRANE Goggin 

[Surnames: DAVIS, HUTCHINS, MORSE, TRAVERS, TURNER, VOORHEES, YOUNG] 

    
THOMAS H. TRAVERS is numbered among the gentlemen of English birth and parentage who make their home in the prosperous township of Fairview, and he is generally conceded to be one of the most substantial and enterprising men in the whole community. His residence is about the finest in this section of the country and he has amassed a large fortune by means of his natural ability and energy. He is at this writing the owner of three valuable farms and also much timber land, all of which has been accumulated by earnest and unceasing labor on his part. 
    
Our subject was born in Dorsetshire, England, February 10, 1839, being the son of Charles and Jane (Hutchins) Travers, both natives of Dorsetshire, England. As a boy in his native country he received only a common-school education, his father a flaxdresser by trade, being a man of limited circumstances. Coming to America with his father and brother, they started from their home February 4, 1850, and he immediately began the battle of life in real earnest and under exceedingly adverse circumstances. In the course of eighteen months they had enough money between them to send for the rest of the family, who joined them at New Diggings, Wis. At a later date the father purchased thirty acres of land near White Oak Springs, Wis., and upon it sunk a shaft and for some time both father and son did a good business in lead mining. 
    
In 1860 our subject in company with his brother Robert and a friend started with four horses and a wagon across the plains for Pike's Peak, reaching that place after a long and tiresome journey. They remained there three weeks mining, but soon pursued their course westward to the gold fields in Nevada, on their way passing through Salt Lake City, where they stopped a few days. They saw much of Mormondom and became quite well acquainted with some of the Mormons. Our subject heard Brigham Young preach, and is of the opinion that Mormonism is not so bad as usually represented. 
    
Arriving in Carson Valley the Indians were so hostile and provisions so high as to make life very uncertain. The company therefore hurried on to the fields of California. Our subject says he could at that time have bought stock in the "Comstock" at $20, which in a few weeks sold for $7,500. At Carson City they sold all the horses but one, and packing their provisions on the back of the remaining horse, proceeded on foot to Hot Springs. There they sold their horse and took the stage to Horsetown, Shasta County, Cal., and at once engaged in sluice mining. Later they engaged in quartz mining at Muletown. 
    
Our subject had a rich experience as a miner on the Pacific Coast, engaged in placer mining, building a mill, and alternately losing money and regaining his foothold. He was on the whole successful, but lost more than $5000 while in that State, mainly through misplaced confidence. About this time the coal fields of Central Illinois were attracting a great deal of attention, and the father of our subject was persuaded by a friend to come to Fulton County for the purpose of opening a coal bank. Being a practical man he was well pleased with the outlook and at once wrote to his son, who was engaged in the gold mines of California, to come to Illinois and enter the coal business. The father came to Fairview October 5, 1865, and the son arrived on the 23d of the same month. They were successful and their mine became widely known as Travers' Coal Bank. They also began farming and through good management accumulated good estates. The father made two visits to England, remaining there on his last visit and dying in 1882 at the age of seventy-two years. 
    
Mr. Travers was married January 20, 1870, to Miss Sarah Augusta Turner, daughter of Elisha and Sarah (Morse) Turner. Her mother was a sister of Chief Justice Morse, of Ohio. Mrs. Travers' birth occurred at New Diggings, Wis. Her father died in 1876 when seventy-two years of age; the mother died in 1876 when seventy-one years of age. To them were born five children, viz: Mary, Amy, George, Lewis M., and Sarah A., the wife of our subject. 
    
After their marriage Mr. And Mrs. Travers settled upon a farm with our subject's father, who was his partner in all business matters. To our subject and his wife were born five children, viz: Amy Jane, Agnes A; Violet, deceased; Laurence B., and Sylvan M. Mrs. Travers is a member of the Reformed Church and is a member with her husband of the Eastern Star. He is serving his third term as School Trustee, has served as School Director a great many years, and as Highway Commissioner for nine years. He has also been on the grand and petit jury. In politics he is a strong Republican, and is a decidedly public-spirited man. Mr. Travers has been a successful man in various enterprises, and has made a fortunate venture in the manufacture of cider. He has belonged to the Masonic fraternity for over twenty years, and was one of the organizers of Lodge No. 120, I.O.O.F., at Fairview. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen lodge, being Treasurer in both organizations. He donated liberally to the building of the Fulton County Narrow Gauge Railroad, and upon its completion engaged in the grain, stock and lumber business, forming a partnership with L. W. Davis and P. B. Voorhees under the firm name of T. H. Travers & Co. They bought and shipped the first carload of hogs and cattle shipped from Fairview, and also bought the first carload of lumber forwarded to Fairview. His latest venture is a partnership in the Fairview Bank, of which he is President.